DuPont Reveals 'Synthesis' -Global Themes Inspire Automotive Design

TROY, Mich., Jan. 10 -- Vehicles today are not just a means of transportation -- they are a lifestyle. Consumers expect more from interior and exterior designs and seek vehicle styling that reflects their personality. On Jan. 10 at 9:30 a.m., DuPont revealed ``Synthesis,'' an entirely new presentation of trends in the latest automotive interior materials and exterior finishes sure to meet consumers' individual desires.

``Synthesis is about aesthetics, the look and feel, or expression of desired colors and textures,'' said Larry Cole, executive product planning manager, interior systems, DuPont Automotive. ``A custom, hands-on display, ''Synthesis`` demonstrates how outside influences impact automotive design inside and out.''

``Synthesis'' utilizes 19 different DuPont technologies from 12 DuPont businesses as part of a holistic approach to showcase a unique style for each of six vehicle concepts. The displays reflect the current trend of integrating interior and exterior designs and address brand challenges, such as creating highly individual vehicles that stand out in a diverse market place. ``Synthesis'' builds on the success of ``Vision,'' a presentation that displayed trends in automotive interior materials and exterior finishes in 2001. ``DuPont has a long history of providing expertise to the automotive industry on future trends in exterior colors,'' said Bill Kings, color marketing manager, DuPont Performance Coatings Europe. ``In today's industry, where color design is an integral part of branding, a close coordination of interior and exterior design is increasingly important.''

The ``Synthesis'' concepts illustrate a range of ideas often drawn from sources other than the world of car design. Both U.S. and European ideas have been incorporated, showing similar and yet sometimes different approaches to automotive design. They combine urban motifs, along with inspiration from nature, diverse textures and seasonal elements into key themes that are influenced by design elements from different regions of the world. Launched in the United States and Europe in November 2001, DaimlerChrysler, General Motors, Ford Motor Company, Jaguar, Volvo, Peugeot and Renault were among the first to experience ``Synthesis'' concepts.