Govt legislation has ruined car design

[KNS]

I believe there are still a few good auto designers left but their hands have been tied. Styling, particularly in the last decade, has really shown how Government regulations have irreparably hurt vehicle design.

High belt lines - cars have turned into submarines. The Camaro is a perfect example, in an effort to give the car an overall low height the roof has been squashed into the rest of the car. Like many cars now they are difficult to see out of (which itself has brought about mandated rear view cameras).

Raised tail lights: the 991's rear end has been ruined because of this. The classic 911 plunging rear profile has been changed forever.

Raised front hood height: this has hurt a lot of great profiles. From Mustang to Mercedes. The first generation new Mini was a sweet looking car. The latest third generation with the higher hoodline looks terrible (difficult to still call it a Mini in any case).

It's a shame designers can't just do what they want without having so much emphasis from safety and fuel economy regulations.

[KNS]

Beautiful example of Pre legislated production car design.

[nzporsche944s2]

That's why we don't see pop-up headlights anymore

I miss them

[KNS]

Originally Posted by nzporsche944s2

That's why we don't see pop-up headlights anymore

I miss them

Good Point. I owned a Prelude just like this one. Very low hood line (they bragged about it in their brochure), low belt line - visibility was fantastic, and pop up head lights. I miss that car, very well built. Yes it had 5 mph bumpers but Honda did a great job integrating them.

[pwd72s]

"I'm from the Government and I'm here to help you."

[island911]

High belt lines

This is to minimize AC energy needs.

IOW, when people can't see much it makes the cars more (Solyent) Green.

[Baz]

Please - don't get me started.......there are no more beautiful cars. None.

[Jrboulder]

[daepp]

What are the regulators trying to do with:

High belt lines?

Raised tail lights?

Raised front hood height?

And is this why the 911 lost its raised headlight/fender look?

[aigel]

I thought high belt lines were for show. I am also curious to hear how that is a result of government regulation, especially because there are still cars out there with reasonably low belt lines. Putting your elbow out the window is basically impossible nowadays ...

G

[biosurfer1]

Originally Posted by Jrboulder

Hm, first thing I notice about the graph is the huge dip during WWII. I guess having all those men off the road really saved lives?

[Arizona_928]

Originally Posted by biosurfer1

Hm, first thing I notice about the graph is the huge dip during WWII. I guess having all those men off the road really saved lives?

or the gas rationing.

[Nickshu]

Pedestrian and animal impact regulations, many of which are not American regulations (automakers design for the world market), have been a big factor in the high belt line designs. In the USA I think side impact regulations drive the high door/short glass/short roof pillar designs too.

[aigel]

Originally Posted by Nickshu

Pedestrian and animal impact regulations, many of which are not American regulations (automakers design for the world market), have been a big factor in the high belt line designs. In the USA I think side impact regulations drive the high door/short glass/short roof pillar designs too.

Speculation. Why does a truck 5 feet off the ground need high belt lines and a bed that looks like a hot tub? Anyone have a link?

In the end cars are tools and form follows function. If we are safer because of it, I am okay with it.

G

[aigel]

Originally Posted by KNS

Good Point. I owned a Prelude just like this one. Very low hood line (they bragged about it in their brochure), low belt line - visibility was fantastic, and pop up head lights. I miss that car, very well built. Yes it had 5 mph bumpers but Honda did a great job integrating them.

Doesn't get much fuglier than that! Haha!

G

[black_falcon]

Originally Posted by KNS

Good Point. I owned a Prelude just like this one. Very low hood line (they bragged about it in their brochure), low belt line - visibility was fantastic, and pop up head lights. I miss that car, very well built. Yes it had 5 mph bumpers but Honda did a great job integrating them.

I would love to get behind the wheel of an original low mileage Prelude. Always thought this was a beautiful car and it's aging very gracefully.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

The same thing has happened to a large extent with building design too. Nearly every design decision now involves one or more code mandates. There is very little design latitude. Most buildings nowadays - even "nice" or "high-end" ones are simply shoeboxes with different quantities and shapes of holes cut in them with fancier (more expensive) finishes glued on. The creative thinking that leads to better and more exciting uses and experiences is being snuffed out systematically by power-crazed bureaucrats, "code officials" and the like. It's really sad. One notable exception is high-end residential design but even that is starting to become a target and I suspect in a few years it'll be just as difficult to create a truly unique and beautiful home as it is to do so with a commercial building today.

Some solutions are better than others certainly, but it has gotten really, really heavy-handed and there's a LOT of money tied up in codes, regulations, constant "updates" and revisions, etc. It has really done a lot of harm and is really holding us back for minimal public safety benefit.

[jcommin]

Originally Posted by Baz

Please - don't get me started.......there are no more beautiful cars. None.

Its all about cd drag coefficient and fuel economy. Cars look alike as a result.

[KNS]

Originally Posted by daepp

What are the regulators trying to do with:

High belt lines?

Raised tail lights?

Raised front hood height?

And is this why the 911 lost its raised headlight/fender look?

High belt lines for side impact safety. Raised tail lights for higher visibility (like the third brake light that came out in '86).

As Nickshu mentioned, these regulations also come from overseas or Europe. The 911 Ducktail changed to a rubber tail because pedestrians may get hurt. The raised hood line is also for pedestrian safety. If a person is struck by a car from the front, there must be sufficient space between the top of the engine and the hood to provide a gap to "cushion" the impact. This has screwed up a lot of current vehicle proportions.

The 911/Boxster pull it off better in the front (no engine).

[Nickshu]

Originally Posted by aigel

Speculation. Why does a truck 5 feet off the ground need high belt lines and a bed that looks like a hot tub? Anyone have a link?

In the end cars are tools and form follows function. If we are safer because of it, I am okay with it.

G

Not speculation. See article: Taking the Hit: How Pedestrian-Protection Regs Make Cars Fatter - Feature - Car and Driver

Trucks probably just follow suit so model lines look similar, that part IS speculation on my part. The thread title is about car design so I guess I was just thinking cars.