Why all new cars look the same

[Ludachris]

Got a kick out of this article:

Why Does Every New Car Look Like Every Other New Car?

Drew Magary talks with two titans of automotive design to find out why new cars all look so generic.

www.roadandtrack.com

It touches on the design requirements others have alluded to here in different discussions (by those who have worked at Ford and/or another automotive companies). We all get so frustrated by auto designs for vehicles that we think should look better, or just different than they do. But there are always very strict requirements the designers have to meet - and a lot of those requirements are a result of consumer demand, which doesn't always mean the car will look the way we think it should. Their hands are tied. We shouldn't always blame them. We should blame the average consumer and globalization for all the bland look alike designs.

 

[Fat Boss]

It's certainly nothing new. Automotive design has been in lock step for a hundred years.

 

[302BOB]

Back when I was growing up in 60's., I could name every car by it's features and upgrades from year to year.......Now they all look the same, except for that Mustang!!!

 

[blacksheep-1]

Back when I was growing up in 60's., I could name every car by it's features and upgrades from year to year.......Now they all look the same, except for that Mustang!!!

and then the camaro copied it

 

[302BOB]

and then the camaro copied it

And don't forget the Firebird...Dodge was last in line with the Challenger................don't forget that Beefed up Dart and the Charger..................

 

[Dave_W]

Not mentioned in the article is also having to meet various government standards, like the European pedestrian-protection regulations.

On a sidenote, having been a long-time reader of Road & Track, I'm stunned they allowed an article with that language to be published under their imprint. Car and Driver maybe, but not The Ampersand. Thos L. Bryant and Henry N. Manney III are rolling in their graves. It's been going downhill ever since they left Newport Beach.

 

[blacksheep-1]

I like it when the news posts a pic of some foreign car from India, and talk about what great mileage it gets, everyone cries about how that's the kind of car we need here. Problem is, they don't meet any EPA standards, no DOT crash tests, if they did, they'd look like what we have here. This is one reason the Camaro ended up with "mail slot" side windows, DOT side crash standards changed. As long as the Feds dictate the standard, the design team is limited.
Along those lines, is the DOT requirement for trucks that limit their speed. This is why you follow 2 of them side by side for 60 miles, because they are only about 1mph difference in speed, depending on their load. If anyone needs a "push to pass" it's the trucking industry.

 

[blacksheep-1]

Not mentioned in the article is also having to meet various government standards, like the European pedestrian-protection regulations.

On a sidenote, having been a long-time reader of Road & Track, I'm stunned they allowed an article with that language to be published under their imprint. Car and Driver maybe, but not The Ampersand. Thos L. Bryant and Henry N. Manney III are rolling in their graves. It's been going downhill ever since they left Newport Beach.

Why? we could use some outlaws in the automotive field. Automotive journalism has gone to crap ever since Brock Yates and Pat Bedard left Car and Driver

 

[Ludachris]

On a sidenote, having been a long-time reader of Road & Track, I'm stunned they allowed an article with that language to be published under their imprint. Car and Driver maybe, but not The Ampersand. Thos L. Bryant and Henry N. Manney III are rolling in their graves. It's been going downhill ever since they left Newport Beach.

I was really surprised as well.

 

[302BOB]

My Wife's Nissan Juke looks like a vehicle lost from outer space....................or maybe they were just trying to get rid of it??......Hon, only kidding...............

 

[blacksheep-1]

My Wife's Nissan Juke looks like a vehicle lost from outer space....................or maybe they were just trying to get rid of it??......Hon, only kidding...............

Queue the Velobster... eerr I meant Veloster

 

[TymeSlayer]

All these new SUVs are like Tacos. They all look the same on the outside but the guts vary.

 

[carver]

I think Homer was on to something !!

 

[302BOB]

My Son's Jeep Grand Cherokee looks nice!...He could have gotten one with a Hemi, but he was worried about gas milage...I think He's having second thoughts now............ one reason I didn't get a 6 popper Mustang..............My Boss fills my needs and then some!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[ChrisM]

That "article" reads like one of the rants I would send to a friend.

That said, the more new cars I see coming out the more I am convinced I need to hold onto mine. Things were already well on their way before I went overseas, but after being away for four years and coming back, everything new looks the same everywhere. I used to be pretty proud of myself for being able to identify just about every car from blocks away at night just by the design of the headlights, and now I just don't care enough because they're all so similar looking.

 

[302BOB]

the more new cars I see coming out the more I am convinced I need to hold onto mine

ChrisM, You are so right to hold on to what you got...Stangs will be precious in the future..........nobody's taking mine!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!