Today's automobile design

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Yeah all those millions that F1 and other teams spend into the aero development and testing of their race cars is clearly wrong 'cause the parfessor knows better.

[oldE]

There are, of course exceptions to every rule, but I would add the following:

Part of the reason for the 'mega-mouth' trend would be memories of cars such as the Cobra. That big intake (relative to the size of the car) said performance.

Also, people tend to equate the fronts of cars with faces. They like to see the eyes/mouth shape. Just scroll back up to the Avanti on the first page. or the 'Aston Martin' show car.

I agree wholeheartedly about the disturbing trend towards aggressive looks. I wonder if VW will have any success as they re-invent the corporate nose (again) to a narrow slot running across the nose between the hood and bumper.



Incidentally, Tcar, the Ford Taurus was introduced in '85, following the Audi 5000 by three years.

Good discussion. Thanks for posing the topic, Milt.
Les

[exc911ence]

I'm a big fan of the late-model Mazda3 just because it has a comically friendly face.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

LOL - I'd love to see that nose with a mouth full of sharp teeth... It'd look like a pirranha.

[island911]

Originally Posted by RWebb

high back end is also for better aero
....

Originally Posted by Porsche-O-Phile

Yeah all those millions that F1 and other teams spend into the aero development and testing of their race cars is clearly wrong 'cause the parfessor knows better.

The Parfessors revelation IS going to change F1 fo' evAr.



Anyway, to Sammy's point.... There is a difference between design and styling.

He's right that pragmatic engineering needs drive much of the design.

But the styling .. . that part of the look is all some theme and variation of . . ..

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[scottmandue]

Originally Posted by oldE

There are, of course exceptions to every rule, but I would add the following:

Part of the reason for the 'mega-mouth trend would be memories of cars such as the Cobra. That big intake (relative to the size of the car) said performance.


Good discussion. Thanks for posing the topic, Milt.
Les

I would even back date the big mouth = performance to the Ferrari's of the 40's & 50's
It has been suggested the large grills on the mid 50's Chevy's were a styling cue taken from the Ferrari.

[pwd72s]

No "angry" headlights here...just nice round ones. BTW, HID's are really nice!

[Porsche-O-Phile]

That's 'cause it's a recycled 1960s design.

[Zeke]

Lotta talk here about aero. I just don't see this snow shovel being very aerodynamically efficient.



I'm sure 20 years from now that car will have to hidden or destroyed. It's so ugly it will have to sneak into the gas station under the cover of darkness alone and afraid to get any.

I'm pretty sure cars will become more sleek as this abominable phase passes.

[pwd72s]

Originally Posted by Porsche-O-Phile

That's 'cause it's a recycled 1960s design.

You mean like this?




Still better looking than the new stuff...

But as explained, much of today's "ugly" is because of Govt. regulations...

[RWebb]

Originally Posted by Porsche-O-Phile

Yeah all those millions that F1 and other teams spend into the aero development and testing of their race cars is clearly wrong 'cause the parfessor knows better.

hey mow-ron - take a look at a PHOTO of the rear of those cars sometime

[kach22i]

FYI: The Factory Five Racing kit car design contest ends at midnight. A bunch of the guys have been posting some of their designs and design development schemes.

Yes, lots of wide mouth Bass front intakes, but not all of them are that way.

Link:
Open Design Discussion and What's NEXT!!

Some of these designs are much more exciting that what's on the road today.

[Chocaholic]

POP is so down on humanity it's almost hard to take him seriously. At the ripe ol age of 52, I can say with some confidence that the performance, reliability and overall technology coming out of Detroit and Japan is the best in my lifetime. Design and/or styling is equally attractive with appropriate use of LED's, ducting and the like. I loathe the smiling face concept so common to Mazda, but the new Accord, Odyssey, Explorer, Taurus, Cad STS, CTS-v, Corvette, Mustang, and the list goes on....are extremely attractive and well appointed for the money.

Gotta disagree with most of you. BTW P-O-P....try hanging out with a different set of friends. Mankind is pretty effing great if you ask me.

[RWebb]

I like the '60s styling the best.

BTW - there is a wiki on Kamm tail - not the greatest but...

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by Porsche-O-Phile

There is NO aerodynamic benefit to having a squared-off back end.

Professor Kamm would no doubt argue with you. I'm not going to. Look it up if you want to be educated.

[Zeke]

What could have been a discussion of predictions of trends or a lot of other topics became the usual Mustang laden cheap shots. Not much intellectual breadth here anymore.

Going to Chip Foose's shop tomorrow. I wonder what they are up to. Probably no large mouth bass there.

[jcommin]

Originally Posted by sammyg2

"form follows function".
There is a reason why so many cars nowadays look almost identical in size, shape and appearance. It's because that design makes the most sense. They've evolved to the point where original design and artistic freedom have nearly gone by the wayside, unless you're talking about a car designed for spiky-haired teenagers (scion B, kia soul, nissan cube, etc).

Aerodynamics, MPG, crash testing, DOT regulations all that stuff means that all cars must meet the same rules and in order to do that they all the cars in the same class are gonna look alike if they're gonna be worth a darn.

Sammy: right on!! The laws of aerodynamics and Cd coefficients.

[sc_rufctr]

Styling seems to be a big reason to keep updating your car. Modern cars just aren't desirable to me.

A Benz used to be special. Now it looks like a Camry.
BMWs were always great looking cars. Now they can't even get the tail lights right.

Even the current Rollls Royce cars are hideous.

The only new car that I want right now is an Aston Martin.

[jcommin]

There were great car designers of the 50's and 60's

Harley Earl
Bill Mitchell
Virgil Exner
Raymond Lowey and more

and others. Styling changed annually but in the 70's that began to change. Car designed radically changed in the 50's. The overall height decreased over 8 inches. Look at an early 50 or 51 Chrysler product and the look at a 57 Plymouth. What physically changed in the 50's, 60's and early 70;s changed due to fuel economy, safety standards and the consumer demand for more creature comforts, A/C. heated seats, stereos and the like. I would guess the biggest changes in the last 10-15 yrs are electronic in nature while the exterior hasn't evolved as much.

[jcommin]

One of my all time favorite cars: 1947 Cisitalia