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Fiberglass laminated parts are used in automotive industry, especially for limited quantities of parts production. They are useful on prototypes and special vehicles, among other things. If the parts are not laminated with required quality, the result can jeopardize the vehicle parts application. This paper shows a simple manner of vacuum bagging process application for fiberglass and carbon fiber parts lamination with dimensional and surface quality required. It also shows the mould fabrication process and its importance to the laminated parts quality.

It is common to see application of simulations to Support product development, being parts, sub-system or complete product, like a passenger vehicle. Another possible application of the simulation is to simulate assembly of parts and sub-systems. This paper captures one example of this application, where the headlamp aim adjustment done during the assembly line, is simulated to provide design changes to avoid issues during the normal production.

The compromise for a race car can be completely different from a road car and these differences become even greater when this car is a light pickup. The target for a race car is to cover a determined distance in the shortest time and when this distance is a thousand miles, lap time is not the only objective. The compromise must include fuel consumption, tire wear, brake wear and even driver fatigue. This paper describes the full preparation, from the production vehicle to the final race car, which has competed successfully in the Brazilian 2004 Mil Milhas.

The suspension for a road car focuses in a good compromise between Ride & Handling. When this car is a light pickup, there is also an important compromise between driver and full load condition. For a race car, the suspension system must have a different compromise, were Ride is not considered, but it must be able to keep the tire in contact with the ground, transforming engine power into acceleration, brake power into deceleration and steering inputs in correct corner apex. This paper describes the suspension modification in a production Chevrolet Montana and the methodology used to specify springs, anti roll bars and dampers, which has competed successfully in the 32a Mil Milhas de Interlagos.