Have you ever wondered what it takes to design and bring a successful modern car to market? Inside the machine gives a rare glimpse inside the automotive industry through the development stories of three very different but highly significant vehicles – the Nissan Qashqai, the Renault ZOE and the multi award-winning Alpine A110 sports car.
What is it really like to work for the carmakers – the industrial giants that influence the daily lives of millions? How are mass-production cars really designed, engineered, and manufactured? And what does it take to engineer a successful vehicle? David Twhohig, Newspress Technical Writer of the Year 2023and writer at The Intercooler magazine reveals the answers from inside the industry itself.
Global journey
Told through the story of David's career, and his journey around the globe working for three industry giants, the book starts with David's work as a young graduate working for Nissan in the UK. David reveals the steep learning curve of a graduate engineer in a large and complex organisation, revealing the many commercial, financial and market pressures that help shape and mould some of the world's largest auto manufacturers.
From the UK, to Nissan Japan, and finally to Renault in France, working as Chief Engineer of its 'halo' sports-car, the Alpine A110, the car designed to relaunch the historic Alpine brand, David lifts the lid on an enormous and varied range of factors affecting every area of the auto industry.
Hard work
From the shifting boardroom politics, to industry alliances, and the hundreds of engineers and designers that contribute to every project, Inside the machine reveals the work that went into creating the Qashqai, ZOE and A110, whose development teams were led by David, telling some of the fascinating stories behind how these vehicles came into being.
Showing the hard work that goes on behind the glamour and glitz of the Motor Shows and well-honed corporate press releases – work that's sometimes exciting, but often grindingly difficult – this is a fascinating, engaging, eye-opening book, and a must-read for anyone interested in the automotive industry or these three significant models.
A fascinating glimpse of the industry behind the glamour and glitz of the Motor Shows
The grit and the passion of engineering modern cars
The highs and lows of engineering a modern car
Focus, pressure and risk-taking: how to engineer a successful car
How to design a real car, by someone who's been there and done it
A unique insider's take on the modern auto industry
A tale of three sisters – the Nissan Qashqai, Renault ZOE and Alpine A110
A guided tour of the highs and lows of car-making
From backstage disasters to the pizzazz of car launches
UK, Japan, France – a whirlwind tour of the global auto industry
