Critique of modern car design

[Nnylf]

What has happened to car design since about 2000, am I the only one who thinks the stylists have utterly lost the plot? It seems to me that they have really deep bonnets making the front look really tall in comparison to cars of old. It also seems to center around the front in that the headlights seem to be halfway up the bonnet and very large I have prepared some examples below:

Peugeot 406


Peugeot 407


Vauxhall Vectra

From this:



To this:



5 series:

From this:



To this:



Who thinks the new ones don't look as good as the older ones, infact look worse? The common trend being the unnecessarily high bonnet.

[MXM]

The bonnet issue I think is dictated by safety regulations and NCAP ratings. They talked about it with Aston designer on Top Gear in first seasons. Has to do with pedestrian safety, and how the bonnet can't be too close to the engine, so people that you run over don't crack their heads on it.

[airmenair]

I agree that alot of new car designs are how do say, not my style and some are just ugly. I think some of this has to do with new pedestrian crash restrictions which essentially mandates the car must have a bubble hood.

[sonza68]

In addition, the sucess of Toyota has shown that the public doesn't really want bold or exciting. They want to blend in and would rather have a safe, reliable, boring looking car.

[argatoga]

The hood is higher due to government safety standards that dictate there be enough room between the hood and engine to not hurt a pedestrian if you manage to hit one.

I personally interpret this to mean that it is now O.K. to run over pedestrians.

EDIT: That'll show me not to refresh threads before posting in them.

[luvcars]

I prefer all the new ones

[marcos_eirik]

Originally Posted by MXM

The bonnet issue I think is dictated by safety regulations and NCAP ratings. They talked about it with Aston designer on Top Gear in first seasons. Has to do with pedestrian safety, and how the bonnet can't be too close to the engine, so people that you run over don't crack their heads on it.

The video in question can be seen right here... (YouTube videos added by the BBC is not allowed to be embedded...)

It's not only the pedestrians either, it's also the mindless inbeciles that don't wear seatbelts. Car manufactuers are obliged by law to try and protect them. This has an affect of the car's design in relation to the A-pillar and how steep an angle it can have, and how far back it can be in relation to the position of the seats. So part of the reason for car design getting worse is due to stupid people, if it wasn't for them the regulations in question wouldn't be necessary... Then the other part is due to health & safety, enforcing rules and regulations trying to protect these idiots from themselves... Oh, how I miss a decent dose of Darwinism from the people in power of these regulations.

Argh, death to health & safety, and stupid people...

[MXM]

Originally Posted by marcos_eirik

The video in question can be seen right here...

Embedding didn't work

Funny thing about that video. I actually really dislike those sketches they did at the end. High wasteline, tiny windows, bleh...

[Adunaphel]

I think the problem is that when it comes to design manufacturers now think "If a little is good, a lot must be better" so they keep on overdesigning their cars, crease here, fake vent there, pink frilly edge here, spiked wheelhubs there, etc. Result: the design is too busy, the details are no longer details but are main design features, no more long flowing lines, but short, sharp, cut-off edges, no more flowing portions of sheet metals but creases and lines everywhere. The latest fad seems to be to get a crease that goes from the front lines down towards the middle of the car and another that goes from the taillights down towards the middle of the car. Result: the car looks like it's sagging. I dunno, but i'd rather not get a saggy car. I can go on for a while like this. To me, car design peaked between 1980 and 1995. 99% of what came after is just a downward spiral.

[MadCow809]

You never buy the new BMW 5 series without the sportspack, it looks bloody ugly without it.

With the sportspack on, I think the new one looks slightly better than the old one (E39).

And the Peugeot 407 looks better than the old 406

[H0nzik]

Originally Posted by MadCow809

You never buy the new BMW 5 series without the sportspack, it looks bloody ugly without it.

With the sportspack on, I think the new one looks slightly better than the old one (E39).

And the Peugeot 407 looks better than the old 406

Bah. You're so wrong. A car that looks better than the E39 is yet to be invented.

And you're wrong about the Peugeot as well.

[Cobol74]

406 Estate with the 110 HDI = Win

NB Oh I've got one. ...

[fbc]

Originally Posted by Adunaphel

I think the problem is that when it comes to design manufacturers now think "If a little is good, a lot must be better" so they keep on overdesigning their cars, crease here, fake vent there, pink frilly edge here, spiked wheelhubs there, etc.

Bingo - the designers just don't know when to stop. Don't get me started on fender vents...

[Blind_Io]

The BMW is a perfect example of how far we have fallen. From one of the most beautiful cars ever made to... that.

[Donington]

I think a lot have improved though.

Mondeo



Alfa 156-159



Audi A4



Citroen C5



Hyundai coupe (by a country mile!)



Mitsubushi Lancer



Mazda (basically the range except for the RX) 323 to 3



Lexus IS




On the other hand, there are some truly epic failures
From this

to this

[MadCow809]

Originally Posted by H0nzik

Bah. You're so wrong. A car that looks better than the E39 is yet to be invented.

And you're wrong about the Peugeot as well.

Your opinion is wrong!

[starfox07]

Originally Posted by Donington

...

I disagree with you on ALL but the Mondeo and the Alfa. I despise new car styling. No brand has identity any more, stylists instead flock to the newest fad which produces an entire fleet of too similar look cars! [/rant]

[Night_Hawk]

new cars are fat, plain and simple

think about it

[Donington]

Seriously? I thought the old model C5 was a suprised-looking pup of a car and the old model Hyundai was ugly as sin, but both had handsome replacements. If any of mine were to be agreed with, I thought it would've been those.

I think Citroen is doing well, regaining an identity it lost in the mid ninties when they started making genric stuff. With the C4, C5 and C6 they have some very good (if temperamental) very recognisable cars.

Of course, there's always my personal choice