Scuola Polytecnica Milan - Personal Car Project

One of the concepts which stood out was that of Alessandro Battaglia working on the exterior design, and Alberto Burger, who developed the interior design. The inspiration for this Personal Car comes from a helicopter cockpit where the broader spaces encourage contact with the outside. Traffic visibility and the sense of involvement in driving is increased.

The interior design concentrates on the simplification of the surfaces, which have been made light and reduced to the essential elements. The structural parts become functionally supportive, with the load-bearing bridge used for the air-conditioning. Elasticised fabrics create convenient areas for storage.

Technology is the overriding characteristic of the Personal Car. The design involves setting the data communications on the dashboard: a characteristically designed central console that apart from containing the standard aspects such as the airbags and light controls also houses the hardware and software. The user finds the onboard controls, CD player, navigation system and internet connections in one place. The display unit can be taken off and used independently as a normal palmtop or to control the Personal Car's personalized driving settings.

The onboard computer allows each user to be assigned their own driving profile: a combination of preferences that the car can recognise even before sitting in front of the steering wheel. The aim is to use personalisation to make technology more human. A design philosophy which is reconfirmed by the vehicle's modular configuration: the hardware elements can be added after the purchase thanks to very simple cabling and connections.

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