Aster_001 is my first exterior design, primarily a platform for practicing advanced and unconventional modelling techniques in Alias away from the professional workspace. As an interior modeller, it's difficult to gain exterior knowledge during working hours.
I was working for Lucid Motors at the time, and wanted to lean heavily into the interior to exterior packaging space ratio. A cabin-forward design with a moderately low belt-line gives occupants a clear view with plenty of space. My design landed on a Wagon profile as I was driving an Audi A4 Allroad at the time and fell in love with the sedan handling & CUV-like cargo space.
I went for an aggressive form language, striking a large singular line from ear to ear to keep things low and wide.
The splitter connects to the side pods as a singular unbroken form. Air flow enters above the splitter to cool radiators, and brake cooling from the side air curtains.
The body-side was designed to be as flat as possible with sharp feature lines breaking highlights. This increases interior cabin space and improves exterior aerodynamic drag co-efficent. Windows are a true barrel, and clear bodyside.
Similar to the front, a large unbroken feature stretches ear to ear leans heavily into the low & wide philosophy. Sharp trailing edges provide clean, controlled breaks for airflow, reducing turbulent vorteces & consequently reducing drag.
The central part of the rear is encompassed, almost 'hugged' by the ringed feature. This gives a clean way exhaust high-pressure air from the rear wheels, and extract underbody airflow via an integrated high mounted diffusor for increased downforce. The entire trailing portion of the diffusor changes shape & height, actuating based on mode and speed. Sub-surface solenoids to change the shape, dynamically changing the aerodynamics while moving. This was inspired by Boeing's Flexfoil technology.
The roof spoiler sports an air pass-through with similar dynamic-actuated aerodynamic features as the diffusor. The trailing edge of the roof surface lowers and raises to modify the overall wake.