Top Gear Live 2010
For the 2010 show, Top Gear producers wanted to create the
ultimate car to star in the finale of the live show. After much
debate regarding model, materials, specifications etc. they
decided on an almost impossible concept.
"A car will come out and become invisible” Richard Hammond.
The producers were faced with a problem. How would they
design a car which could change state instantly and give this
magnificent illusion? What type of materials would allow them
to create this?
It was decided that a switchable glass would be used to make
up the bodywork of the car which could switch on and off
simultaneously giving the effect of changing visible/invisible
states.
The interior of the car was visible when in its clear state
showing the famous “Stig” and his female sidekick; when the
glass switched to its “invisible” state the passengers could not
be seen.
SmartGlass International was approached to quote this project
at the early design stages and to investigate whether the
concept would be viable.
SmartGlass International is the leading worldwide manufacturer
of electronically switchable glass and provides the perfect
solution to this design problem. SmartGlass can be used in
almost every glazing application as it is available in a number
of different shapes and can also be curved making it suitable
for a range of different applications specializing in the
hospitality, healthcare and commercial sectors.
LC SmartGlass
LC SmartGlass is one of the trademarked electrochromatic
glass products available from SmartGlass International.
LC SmartGlass panels are bespoke manufactured using a
lamination process which encapsulates a PDLC film between 2
or more glass sheets. When a minute electrical current is
activated, users can immediately switch the LC SmartGlass
from clear to private (opaque) and vice versa precisely meeting
the proposed design brief.
In this case, polycarbonate replaced traditional glass to make
up the panels. The panel sizes were much smaller for this
application than usual and required much more detailed wiring
so that each individual panel would switch at the exact same
time on the car. Another design problem would be the
convertible roof feature which would be manufactured entirely
of SmartGlass.
This was a challenge for the SmartGlass team, but through
careful testing of the materials they found the ideal solution.
The panels would be aligned and connected in such a way to
allow the roof to lift up without the connection being lost so that
the panels would switch simultaneously during this particular
action scene of the show where the roof rises up to release a
passenger from the car. A similar system is used when fitting
SmartGlass panels into a folding door system.
SmartGlass International is thrilled to work on such a
remarkable and exciting project.
Top Gear Live is a live arena show of the award winning TV
program Top Gear. The live show features breath-taking stunts,
remarkable special effects and epic driving sequences. The live
show is home to an array of pyrotechnics, a bombardment of
noise and a spectacle of motoring.
A collection of the finest cars from all over the globe grace the
arena floor. Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James
May host the live show with their cheeky approach to motoring
and humour whilst some of the world’s best precision drivers
perform awe-inspiring stunts live in the arena.
"This show is like nothing we have done before. It will have
some very very special, special effects,” Jeremy Clarkson.
Ever since it made its live debut on the World Stage in 2008
Top Gear Live has been seen by over 1,000,000 fans and is
continuing to push the boundaries of car theatre.
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