RE: Caterham AeroSeven Concept

[Chapppers]

ewenm said:

Chapppers said:

That is really, really, really fking awful. I figuratively flushed something better looking not 45mins ago.

Do you think it looks worse than the BAC Mono, the Vuhl, the KTM X-Bow etc? To me they are all much the same - a lot of sharp lines and strange angles. I don't think this looks out of place amongst them. I also don't see that market as a step-change for Caterham (but perhaps they don't want a step-change from this).

OK the X-bow may have fallen from a slightly shorter ugly tree, but the Vuhl and BAC Mono are far better looking. Maybe it's the use of LED strips rather than traditional round lights that's so shocking about the caterham, and the fact you can still see a few shonky Caterham bits underneath, like the wheels. I looks a lot more home-made than the rest.

[OlberJ]

I'm in 2 minds. A quicker Caterham that can handle higher speeds is a cool idea.

But is what makes a Caterham special not the fact that it lies on mechanical grip (or lack of) solely? All that power to weight and it's mega lively.

If you give it aero then it will become quicker yet tamer?

I guess as long as they still offer both versions, it's no issue.

[Rumblestripe]

I quite like it. Presumably it is a case of function defining the form.

Though it does look a little...

[kambites]

I don't think it looks that bad; it's just rather fussy for something that I'd expect to be mostly "function over form".

Also, correct me if I'm wrong but isn't there a maximum height for step-over sides for type approval? If there is, there's no way that meets them.

[MX7]

kambites said:

Also, correct me if I'm wrong but isn't there a maximum height for step-over sides for type approval? If there is, there's no way that meets them.

Even for low volume?

[MiseryStreak]

[Bill]

I do quite like it, although from this angle it does look like a bed and just needs Eric and Ernie in their pyjamas to complete the image.

[CrutyRammers]

braddo said:

I would be surprised if anyone at Caterham finds that front end attractive but surely it has been designed that way for functional aero - it certainly looks like it might be quite trick (e.g. smaller frontal area because air can flow through front suspension and out the side? Gives good top speed AND downforce?).

In which case, when releasing the pictures they should be making clear what aero benefits you get as compensation for the ugly front end.

Perhaps one can take this as a lesson that as soon as you get F1 aerodynamicists seriously involved, don't expect anything pretty! F1 cars haven't been good looking since the early 90s.

I am intrigued by what this car can offer.

It'd have to have a massive aero benefit to justify the looks. Is it really going to be that much better than a Spire GTR or something?
And if it's for road use, then looks are going to be way more important to customers than trick aero I'd have thought.

[RJDM3]

The designer needs to be fired and stopped from ever designing another car again. Absolutely horrible.

[LuS1fer]

Wouldn't a screen improve the aero effect?

[RobM77]

I do wonder if the colour scheme isn't doing it any favours. Is the 'mouth' actually a mouth, or does it just look that way because the front's been painted black?

[MX7]

The lines over the front wheels remind me of a '60s Corvette. I think the front would look a lot better if they based the front on something more similar to that.

Actually, I really don't like it. I don't understand the point of keeping a 7 tub and then throwing a frock over the top of it.

[Cotic]

Reminds me more of him

[Axionknight]

RabRS said:

Um, that looks completely hideous!

Are you seriously telling me that someone finshed the design sketch, stood back and went 'yep, the wide mouth guppy fish look is exactly what I am tying to achieve'

Well, Ford did it with the current Focus and Fiesta and sell 'em by the bucketload, lol :P

[G0ldfysh]

I think it looks great.
Just me then, it isn't a uniform same as everything else car.
Well done Caterham.

[_Al_]

LuS1fer said:

Wouldn't a screen improve the aero effect?

You'd need two. A windscreen for the aero and a smoke screen for the looks.

[AA121]

ewenm said:

Chapppers said:

That is really, really, really fking awful. I figuratively flushed something better looking not 45mins ago.

Do you think it looks worse than the BAC Mono

Do you think Ann Widdicombe looks worse than Cameron Diaz?

[davo23]

G0ldfysh said:

I think it looks great.
Just me then, it isn't a uniform same as everything else car.
Well done Caterham.

I actually agree with you. But then again I do like the first gen Multipla. Something about quirky cars!

[ewenm]

AA121 said:

ewenm said:

Chapppers said:

That is really, really, really fking awful. I figuratively flushed something better looking not 45mins ago.

Do you think it looks worse than the BAC Mono

Do you think Ann Widdicombe looks worse than Cameron Diaz?

Sorry, we were talking about cars, not your threesome fantasies. There's probably a thread in the Lounge for that.

[bsvensso]

I'll join the minority and say I Like It!
Sure, they can do some work on the front but it's not that bad. The colour is quite striking too and surely there must be some nicer combinations. But the body shape is exciting and it's funny that it looks so much like a normal Caterham from the back.

Great stuff!