2007 Acura MDX exceeds safety and environmental design standards with AliasStudio
Autodesk today announced that Honda Canada engaged Autodesk AliasStudio software for the widely recognised design of the 2007 Acura MDX sports utility vehicle (SUV). The Acura design team in Los Angeles, California designed the improved 2007 MDX model with a new styling direction. The innovative design embodies Acura's commitment to performance, luxury, quality and style, together with a global mandate for safety and environmental care. Acura worked with INCAT, an Autodesk Authorised Reseller, to choose AliasStudio software for their automotive design process.
Autodesk AliasStudio is a world leading industrial design software solution for the consumer product and transportation design markets. It delivers a comprehensive suite of tools for the rapid creation, evaluation and visualisation of design ideas - from concept sketches to engineering. Along with virtually every automotive design company in the world, Acura's designers relied upon AliasStudio to turn their creative ideas into the new and exciting Acura MDX.
"When designing a vehicle like the Acura MDX, designers require a seamless, single-system design process that provides unparalleled quality from first sketch to 3D model, to visualisation and collaboration," says Ricky Hsu, principal designer of the Acura MDX. "With AliasStudio, our design team has this solution. Not only are we working with a highly creative tool but also one that lets us reduce time-to-market constraints, helping Acura deliver high-quality and aesthetically innovative designs that inspire and stimulate our customers, as well as keep them safe."
Hsu and his team used AliasStudio throughout their entire design to visualisation workflow. Quick digital product design and prototyping allowed designers and engineers to preview the texture, reflection and lighting of various car components, facilitating the decision-making process. The ability to continually refine the design was an essential feature for Hsu and his team, as was the ability to effectively articulate, communicate and eventually sell the team's design intent to Acura marketing and engineering departments.
"In today's automotive market, design has become a key competitive advantage for every manufacturer," says Robert "Buzz" Kross, vice president of Autodesk Manufacturing Solutions. "AliasStudio software supports our automotive design and manufacturing customers' main business initiative - to create designs that resonate with their consumers and raise demand, driving potential buyers to the vehicle. Autodesk takes pride in the important role AliasStudio software plays in making this happen, as design matters more than ever before."
