Automotive Industry Shows Off Latest Vehicles, Concepts at L.A. Auto Show This Week; Glass Usage Continues to Grow and Evolve
December 3, 2009

The Los Angeles Auto Show officially opens tomorrow at the Los Angeles Convention Center, and, despite a tough year for the automotive industry, the annual auto event promises several new launches of innovative vehicles-many of which will feature expansive amounts of glass, as in recent years.

Honda Personal-Neo Urban Transport Concept

One of the futuristic concepts to be displayed is the Honda Personal-Neo Urban Transport, known as the "P-NUT," which is equipped with an all-glass roof for maximum visibility. The company says it was designed for city driving, specifically.

"The Personal-Neo Urban Transport concept explores the packaging and design potential for a vehicle conceived exclusively around the city lifestyle," says Dave Marek, director of advanced design for Honda R&D Americas Inc.

The vehicle's windshield serves as a heads-up display for its navigation system and back-up camera.

The new 2011 Hyundai Sonata uses a design element Hyundai calls "Fluidic Sculpture," in which designers say they focus on combining "the interplay of natural, fluid elements with more rigid surfaces to create the illusion of constant motion."

Using this method, the Sonata was developed to be long, light, and low on the exterior, and is equipped with a third window on each side that manufacturers say accents its long, sleek roofline.

Subaru introduced its Hybrid Tourer concept at the recent Tokyo Motor Show, and will again show it in Los Angeles. Several automotive news outlets have reported that the vehicle is equipped with a specially coated windshield that helps reduce eyestrain under various lighting conditions, but glassBYTEs.com has not been able to confirm this directly with the manufacturer. (CLICK HERE for related story.)

Lexus also will be displaying its luxury hybrid vehicle, the 2010 HS 250h, which was first introduced early this year at the Detroit Auto Show. The vehicle is equipped with an infrared-reflective windshield to keep its interior cool-the type of windshield that could be mandated by the upcoming California Air Resources Board Cool Cars regulations.

2011 Hyundai Sonata

2010 Lexus HS 250h

Subaru Hybrid Tourer Concept

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