Is it me or does it seem like
car designers are getting lazier or perhaps
just running out of ideas. In either case, some models
are becoming less original from one generation to the
next. When you look at some particular manufacturers'
models, there's less individualization and more
replication. Granted there needs to be some resemblance
across an automaker's lineup for brand distinction but
it has gotten to a point where different models look like
carbon copies. Some cars no longer need alphanumerical
names, they just need sizes like small, medium, and
large with the option of super-sizing in
the form of long wheelbase versions.
To illustrate my point, look at some models from Audi,
BMW, Cadillac, and Volkswagen in
the photo gallery. Their current lineups
seem to utilize one template for every model with only minor
tweaks applied to their designs. What's worse is that
the Audi template has made its way into the hands of
Volkswagen designers. The visual line the separates an
Audi from a Volkswagen is fading which is great news if
you're buying a Volkswagen but cheapens the look of Audis.
These automakers are not the only ones applying this
design principal but they are the most apparent.
Ironically, Lexus often gets criticized for producing
drab-looking vehicles and yet their lineup looks fairly
diverse in comparison. So which is the real crime,
having cars that are different but slightly boring or
having cars that look good but all look the same?
Audi is especially guilty of the latter point. Their top
three models, the A4, A6, and A8 have always looked
identical. Across
their current lineup, every vehicle seems to just borrow
existing design cues from a single concept with the
exception of only two models,
the R8 and TT. Speaking of
which, if Audi is capable of designing eye-catching
original cars as the R8 and
TT, what's stopping them
from doing the same with their sedans and SUVs?
BMW has begun to follow Audi's footsteps with their new
5 and 7 Series. The new 5 not only shares its looks, but
also more parts
with the 7 Series. The previous generation of
each vehicle designed in the Chris Bangle-era drew heavy
criticism for their designs but at least they were
original and you can tell them apart from one another. And
despite critic's reactions, those designs have
influenced other automakers who are now incorporating some of
Bangle's design elements into their automobiles. I doubt
these new generation models will be able to do the same.
Porsche is one exception to this dilemma. The
911 has
had no revolutionary update to its design in its entire
47 year history and so now Porsche has no choice but to
continue the legacy. Its hardcore customer base would
demand it. And since the 911 has become the face of
Porsche, it only makes sense that it would become the
face of other Porsche models. This however leads to a
new problem. The recent increase in unconventional
Porsche models have made it difficult to stick a 911
face on say... a massive SUV body like the first
generation
Cayenne. This was corrected with the second
generation where the design focused on resemblance and
not replication. The
Panamera is a different story.
Everything just went wrong from the beginning. Adapting
a body to look like a 911 yet comfortably seat four is
no easy task and Porsche has failed miserably. If they
weren't so focused on designing a four-door 911
and focused instead on designing a four-door Porsche,
it might have worked.
Another exception is Aston Martin. When an Aston Martin
flies by you at 100 miles an hour, you'll have a hard
time figuring out if it was a
Vantage,
DB9 or DBS since
they all look identical. But when you have a template
that looks as good as it does with Aston Martin models,
you can't really blame them. I don't even blame them for
trying to increase profits with the creation of the
Rapide which successfully retains the look of a DB9
despite the added doors.
The one automaker we can depend on to not conform to a
design template is Mercedes-Benz. In the past few years,
they've given the world one of the most original and elegant
designs in recent history,
the CLS. It looked like no
other Mercedes but was still easily recognizable
as a Mercedes. The same is true across the entire
lineup. When you see a Mercedes, you know it's a
Mercedes.
It's odd that luxury automakers are the ones that this
design dilemma applies to most. If you're willing to pay
forty to a hundred thousand dollars on a car, wouldn't
you want some distinctive style to go along with the
performance and luxury of your automobile? But I guess
some people don't care about originality. All they care
about is the brand name and recognition you
get when you buy an Audi or BMW. They have no care about
how their car looks and to be quite frank, we have no care for
them. For us enthusiasts, we want a car that can ignite
the soul and stir passion every time we drive and look
at it. Like the clothes we wear, it's an expression
of who we are. If this trend of |
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