Why have cars got so big?

[vixen1700]

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

Inspired by this thread over in the Classics forum, got me thinking why have new cars got so big over the last few years?

I had a Polo that was as big as an old Golf, and they just keep getting bigger and bigger, how big will cars be in 15 years time if they keep increasing at such a rate?

That 928 used to be quite a big car, but look at it against a Panamera.

[Matt UK]

I think it's a combination of Amercians & an inability to say "yup, I'm pretty full up now, no more food required"

[14-7]

Crumple zones, crash protection, airbags, big leather seats etc etc.

And the more and more technology goes in to a car the more it weighs.

[PaperCut]

As more people have become 'bigger'?

Safer?

Perception held by many these days that bigger means better?

Fit more markets ie. USA?

[joewilliams]

Mostly safety legislation. Bonnets need to be higher for pedestrian protection, waist-lines are higher for side-impact, doors are much thicker, etc etc.

[SitCet]

Very sexy 928.

[MC Bodge]

Marketing. Each generation of car gets bigger/better

The Mondeo will be discontinued after the next generation and the Micro-Ka introduced at the bottom of the pile.

[Bill]

Huh? Why is a 4 door, 4 seat luxury car bigger than a 2 door 2+2 coupe?

[james_gt3rs]

vixen1700 said:

Looking at that picture is making me think my eyes are wrong, the 928 looks like a toy car!

[telecat]

Yep pretty much the case that somebody asks for a slightly Bigger boot, legroom etc followed by the extra safety improvements. Hence the B class focus is nearly as big as the original Mondeo. What were Super Mini's are as big as the B class cars from the early nineties. Of course at some stage those same buyers then realise the car is now too big for them and move down a class. Then they start asking for a bigger boot..........

[sparks_E39]

I've been in a brand new 3 series. It's pretty much the same size as my E39 5 Series.

[IanMorewood]

joewilliams said:

Mostly safety legislation. Bonnets need to be higher for pedestrian protection, waist-lines are higher for side-impact, doors are much thicker, etc etc.

This and focus groups being asked if they would like an extra couple of inches of leg room, a bigger boot etc.

[TameRacingDriver]

The current VW Polo is larger than the first Golf. Same for the likes of the current Fiesta versus Escort etc. I remember reading that in VAG circles, the Lupo GTI was regarded as the spiritual successor to the Mk1 Golf GTI.

[mat777]

There was a picture in classic and sports car a few months ago of an MGB - a good sized grand tourer - being dwarfed by a modern fiesta. It is ridiculous frankly

[vixen1700]

mat777 said:

There was a picture in classic and sports car a few months ago of an MGB - a good sized grand tourer - being dwarfed by a modern fiesta. It is ridiculous frankly

[hornetrider]

vixen1700 said:

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

Inspired by this thread over in the Classics forum, got me thinking why have new cars got so big over the last few years?

Great thread in the classics forum there

[shouldbworking]

On the radio yesterday it was reported that the record for number of people in a mini had been broken, reaching 28.

Then it emerged they were comparing the record for the proper mini to the bmw mini.... twunts.

[TameRacingDriver]

vixen1700 said:

in isolation, the Cerbera looks quite a big car as well. FFS!

[TameRacingDriver]

shouldbworking said:

On the radio yesterday it was reported that the record for number of people in a mini had been broken, reaching 28.

Then it emerged they were comparing the record for the proper mini to the bmw mini.... twunts.

So in fact, the record hasn't been broken

Its not a mini. Its a Bini. FACT. Its big, its german, and theres nothing mini about it

[kambites]

Forgetting model names for a moment (which are largely a marketing thing), have cars actually got much bigger? Is, for example, VW's smallest four-seater car now much larger than their smallest four-seater car was 20 years ago?

Cars have certainly got wider, taller and heavier (and uglier), but I'm not convinced that the foot-print has increased much overall. A Toyota iQ is shorter than a Mini.

Edited by kambites on Friday 16th November 11:45