WOMAN AND CAR DESIGN

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22391, 11 April 1936, Page 11 (Supplement)

WOMAN AND CAR DESIGN

r FHE profound influence exercised by women on the designs and appearance of the cars of to-day, although not acknowledged by a large number of men, is none the less given due consideration by designers and manufacturers in every country. Tlio purely utilitarian car is gone, and the graceful model that has taken its place owes its flowing curves had delicate colours to the part women play in the selection of the family car. It is not only, however, in such comparatively unimportant respects as lino and colour that woman's influence had made itself felt in connection with the modern car. Woman's entry into the field of motoring gave the designers furiously to think, and a direct result was the'smooth, gentle operation of the various controls that is now universal. When driving was solely man's prerogative, sheer physical strength was often necessary to hold the clutch down, while wrists with any tendency to weakness soon tired of dragging round the resisting steering-wheel. Features introduced for the benefit of women were rapidly appreciated by the men themselves, and soon there was a race among manufacturers to provide refinements for their various products. Ease of control and ease of maintenance became the makers' watch-words, until to-day it is possible to obtain cars which are as near automatic in their operation as could be desired. Automatic spark and choke controls, starters that operate with the turning of the key, tnermostatically-controlled radia-tor-shutters. even automatic gearchanging, are now realities, while research has reduced maintenance cares to a minimum, s So seriously do manufacturers take woman's opinion in regard to motor-

Influence Affects Latest Models

cars, that a leading United States factory, it is said, employs a whole army of investigators whose duty it is to obtain the views of representative types of American women on the current .year's products, and their suggestions for the following season's models. It is realised that while the man of the houso usually pays for the car, the womenfolk have the final say in selecting the model. A small matter at this stage may have a decisive effect, and, it is acknowledged that some attractive little accessory has probably sold more cars to women than a revolutionary discovery included in the design of a new engine.

So high a standard of performance has been achieved by all manufacturers for their latest cars, that there is comparatively little to choose in this respect between the various makes of comparable price. Thus, fittings and other relatively unimportant details are assuming steadily greater significance in their bearing upon sales. In addition to possessing pleasing lines essentially modern, and being finished in a variety of attractive shades, cars to-day must be completely equipped if the women of the motoring world are to be satisfied. Proof of this lies in the large part of the equipment of the latest models that is rarely used by men, but is none the less included to attract the approval of those who generally are a deciding factor when it comes to choosing a new car.