What is a front grill and what are its functions on a vehicle?.

Using an appropriate display of exterior components, designers create the styling of the car and give it a unique character. One of the most important components in the Exterior category, along with bumpers, spoilers, or sills, is the car’s grille. For many car enthusiasts, a glance at this element is enough to recognise the make and sometimes even the model of the car they are dealing with. The appearance of the grill should harmonise with the design of the car, emphasising its nature and aesthetic qualities.

When designing a front grill, care should be taken to ensure both its visual appeal and its functionality. The purpose of this element is not only to decorate the exterior of the vehicle but also, among other things, to protect the radiator from overheating and mechanical damage. So the question is: how should a car grill be designed in such a way that it is an attractive decoration on the one hand, and durable and practical on the other? In this article, we answer questions such as: what exactly do we call a car grill, where is it located, what role does it play in the vehicle, and what is the design process for this element?

What is a front grill?

The front grill, also referred to as a dummy or grille, is one of the essential elements of the car body. Depending on the designers’ intentions, it can take very different forms. One popular type of grille is a grill consisting of an aesthetically shaped frame filled with mesh in a specific shape, such as a honeycomb. Stylish grilles with vertical or transverse, often chrome-plated, elements are also popular.

The grille on a car is usually positioned between the headlights, where it plays the role of a radiator grille. This placement of the grille helps to provide the necessary airflow to the radiator and engine, which aids the cooling process for the hot parts hidden under the bonnet of the car. The use of a grille also protects the engine compartment from contaminants that could contribute to damage and failure. On some models, additional grills are used in addition to the main grille, such as in front of the wheels to cool the brakes, or under the front bumper.

Although the grill on a car has various functional roles, according to many people in practice its visual value is much more important. The quality and aesthetics of a car’s exterior significantly influence how a vehicle presents itself in the eyes of potential buyers. A striking grille makes a car stand out from the competition and is more likely to appeal to a specific customer group. Minimalist grilles, for example, are an attractive feature of modern city cars because of their elegance and simplicity. On the other hand, more expressive grilles with a more dynamic, aggressive flair are used on sports cars to attract the attention of hard-core driving enthusiasts.

Front grill – what materials can it be made of?

The choice of material for a car grill depends on several factors. Among these are: the technical parameters and aesthetic qualities to be characterised by the grill and the expected cost of production. What materials are typically used in the manufacture of car grilles?

Thermoplastic materials

Many manufacturers use thermoplastic materials to manufacture car grills. One material in this group that is used in the manufacture of car grilles is ABS or acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene. This material is characterised by its rigidity and resistance to mechanical damage and high temperatures. The properties of components made from it are also influenced by the processing conditions. Components made by molding ABS at high temperatures gain better gloss and temperature resistance, while lower-temperature manufacturing processes ensure higher durability. Corrosion resistance and low production costs are also important factors in the context of car grills made from this material.

Composites

Composite materials are primarily used to manufacture grills for exclusive car models. Manufacturers are particularly keen on carbon fiber, which, apart from its elegant design, is also characterised by its low weight and high resistance to mechanical damage. This material is also often chosen by customers deciding to buy an elegant bespoke grill. However, the unique qualities of carbon fiber grills go hand in hand with a higher production cost than, for example, thermoplastic grills.

What are the functions of the grill in the car?

The grille in a car performs several different tasks. Some of these car users are not even aware of it. What are the most important functions a car grill performs?

Ensuring adequate airflow to the radiator

The primary role played by the car grill is to guarantee the correct airflow to the car’s cooling system. This is important because, during driving, the parts under the engine compartment lid heat up and a lack of external airflow could lead to overheating and subsequent failure. The use of a grill tailored to the needs of a specific vehicle model enables the vehicle to maintain the right temperature under the bonnet and assists the radiator in cooling the engine.

Protecting the radiator and engine from contamination

The car bonnet is a kind of barrier between the external environment and the engine compartment. Its purpose is to protect the radiator and engine from various types of debris, such as leaves, insects, or small stones that could get under the bonnet and damage the car.

Improving the aerodynamics of the car

Aerodynamics is of particular importance in vehicle design. As a result, it requires a great deal of care in the way the vehicle’s exterior components are constructed. The design and technical parameters of the car grill can, to some extent, influence how the air resistance acting on the car is shaped. Among other things, the shape and size of the openings in the grille, as well as its height and width, play an important role. However, it should be noted that at the lower speeds at which cars are driven, for example in the city, the impact of the grill on the aerodynamics of the vehicle is much less noticeable.

Shaping the aesthetics and unique character of the car

Whether it is the unique “kidney grille” of a BMW, the stylish horseshoe design of a Bugatti, or the distinctive triangular shape of an Alfa Romeo, there is no doubt that the grille’s function as a “business card” for a brand, and sometimes also as an identification mark for a specific model, is one of the most important tasks of a car’s grille. The grille with the manufacturer’s logo attached to it gives the car an identity and contributes significantly to its aesthetics. A beautifully crafted grille that has been well matched to the car’s design is one of the key aspects influencing how a model will be perceived by potential customers.

An example that perfectly illustrates the aesthetic importance of the grille and the extent to which drivers are attached to this element is the evolution that the Nissan Leaf underwent between the first and second generations. The first generation of the electric car did not have a grille – in purely functional terms, the grille was not needed on the battery-powered model, so the decision was taken to eliminate it. This move was met with a mixed reception among the brand’s customers. However, the voice of the proponents of traditional design was so strong that the grill has already been returned to its place in the second generation Leaf model, to the satisfaction of many Nissan fans.

The aesthetic function that car grills have played in combustion cars for years is difficult to overestimate. Brands with a rich history often choose to use this body element on electric cars as well. This allows aesthetic consistency to be maintained especially for models available in both electric and combustion versions. Manufacturers with a shorter history on the market are more likely to opt for the elimination of grilles from their vehicle designs, as exemplified by Tesla and some of its models that are devoid of the classic grill.

How does Endego’s front grill design process work?

Creating a front grillthat combines functionality and remarkable aesthetics is quite a challenge for designers and engineers. At Endego, we have unique know-how and extensive experience in the area of industrial design of Exterior category components. We have been successfully implementing technological projects in this area for more than a decade, working with leading companies in the automotive sector. What does the process of designing automotive fascias look like for us?

The initiating stage of the entire process is the Concept Studies phase. In this phase, we carry out several activities, such as

• establishing the customer’s needs and requirements,
• comparative analysis with existing competitive solutions on the market
• we select materials to achieve the expected properties of the designed front grill.

The information obtained in this phase is used in decision-making and the implementation of activities in subsequent phases of the project.

Once the Concept Studies phase is complete, we move on to the design phase, which includes the following:

• parametric CAD modeling,
• performing tolerance chain calculations,
• carrying out CAE analysis,
• verification of design feasibility,
• preparation of comprehensive documentation.

At this stage, our main objective is to design a component that will have the required technical parameters and aesthetics to match the design and character of the car.

Once the design phase is over, the prototyping phase begins. The work carried out within this is based on so-called prototyping loops, which consist of:

• creation of a 3D model,
• production of the prototype,
• assembly of the prototype,
• validation of the created model.

We repeat the prototyping cycles until one of the versions of the front grill prepared by us fully satisfies the customer and is accepted by him.

Comprehensive product development by us involves maximum involvement in every stage of the work: from the preparation of the initial concept to the start of series production. In this way, we increase the chances of the ongoing project being a complete success. Importantly, we provide our partners with professional advice throughout the duration of the cooperation, including, among other things, on-demand support.

Do you need the support of a team of engineers and designers with experience in automotive projects to help you develop a stylish front grill that perfectly complements the exterior of the car you are designing? Get in touch with us!