Feature Spotlight: Cadillac’s Line Weighting Design Technique
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Much has been said about Cadillac’s Art & Science design language and its eventual evolution presented by the Cadillac Escala concept, but very little (if not anything at all) has been said about the brand’s line weighting technique.
Look closely at the aluminum trim surrounding the side windows (daylight window openings, or DLOs) on current Cadillacs, and you’ll see that it is thicker in some areas, as it flows from the front of the car to the rear. That’s line weighting.
Cadillac says that it employs line weighting for higher levels of detail, thereby reinforcing the high levels of craftsmanship in its vehicles, and to further emphasize their different proportions, front to back.
The technique came to be when a designer’s sketch was meticulously turned into a design study. The artist used a pencil for the sketch, and the transfer from sketch to prototype was so detailed, that it carried over the variations in line thickness.
Though line weighting is not exclusive to Cadillac (some BMW and Mercedes-Benz use it, too) we believe Cadillac has mastered the method over the various A&S iterations.
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slab-sided profile.
^ Slab-sided comment.
Translation: imbecile comment.
Cheers mate!
I love the Art & Science aesthetic; it’s a modern form of American Art Deco and needs to be refined but never watered-down (e.g. Escala). They also need to stick with the gun-slit side windows (no way am I calllng them ‘daylight window openings’ – what the–?!) because they give the vehicles awesomely low glass-to-sheet metal proportions and high window sills which look bad-ass.
DLO or daylight opening, is the standard industry design term that is used across pretty much every automaker’s design studio to refer to the elements we are discussing.
I wasn’t under the impression that you had coined what I think is an awkward term, so that comment wasn’t intended as a dig.
Understood 🙂
I wish Cadillac’s future design direction skewed toward the Escalade. The current generation looks classy, and badass at the same time. I was hoping
Back on topic: I finally noticed the line weighting. I never realized how such a minor detail could make such a difference. It’s really well done.
Totally agree. The Escalade is akin to an eidolon of the streamlined passenger locomotive – imposing, formidable, and arrestingly beautiful in its deceptive simplicity.
The gunslit Windows causes horrible blind spots and clousterphoba and it make cars look bloated.
What are we taking about here, Rye? The windows, or the trim that surrounds them? Hint: it’s the latter, so keep the focus on that please.
the high beltline and gunslit Windows make me feel like I’m in a prison cell…..I do miss those low beltlines and big Windows.
I agree. I liked the lower beltline/bigger windows cars used to have. From the outside the current models (of all cars) do look “cooler” but functionally they are not as good for the driver and passengers. It’s a fad, eventually the beltline will go lower and the windows will get bigger again.
I do think A&S still has some life in it….but I won’t buy a new Cadillac till Cadillac takes on a all-new design theme and stop watering down the same designs….and I do hope the lower beltlines and big Windows will come back….the low roofline and high beltline interferes with head room and visibility.
Usually the DLO’s on the doors frame the opening created by the sheetmetal underneath and don’t create less visibility . It’s basically just a frame for the glass . It’s definitely the higher belt lines that reduce visibility .
I think GM uses more chrome surround moldings ( DLO’s ) than some mainstream automakers . It’s just a trim piece to highlight the design and slope of the roof , and the glass area of the car .
As automakers add more content to the interior of a cars door the more door panel they need to cover up the inner parts like door wires , air bags , lighting , speakers etc.
Some companies use all black and GM still likes the chrome as jewelry as an accent .
the ATS looks weird in the exterior design stand point.
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