Is there a perfect/ideal objective car design?
Discussion
Putting personal preferences aside, is there a perfect 'objective' car design?
A car cannot be too wide (parking/narrow streets), too heavy (efficiency) or too long (parking) or too tall (aerodynamics) or too short at the back (to accommodate for taller passengers)?
So with those constraints in mind, what are the cars (excluding minis) that in your view come closer to the ideal car design? Spacious, aerodynamic, practical and a bit of an eye candy
A car cannot be too wide (parking/narrow streets), too heavy (efficiency) or too long (parking) or too tall (aerodynamics) or too short at the back (to accommodate for taller passengers)?
So with those constraints in mind, what are the cars (excluding minis) that in your view come closer to the ideal car design? Spacious, aerodynamic, practical and a bit of an eye candy
Yes, there is
generally the MPV shape is the optimum, the more upright seating position is more comfortable and space efficient and gives a good view, the one-box shape is aerodynamically efficient. Which is why it's a shame it's died out!
Considering other genres of car, the RX-7 I had always struck me as a notably small car considering it had 2+2 accommodation and was also perfectly balanced front/rear and looked great.
In supercars, the McLaren F1 is the undisputed space-efficiency champion I think. The first two generations of MR2 were also meant to be quite practical for small mid-engined cars.
generally the MPV shape is the optimum, the more upright seating position is more comfortable and space efficient and gives a good view, the one-box shape is aerodynamically efficient. Which is why it's a shame it's died out!
Considering other genres of car, the RX-7 I had always struck me as a notably small car considering it had 2+2 accommodation and was also perfectly balanced front/rear and looked great.
In supercars, the McLaren F1 is the undisputed space-efficiency champion I think. The first two generations of MR2 were also meant to be quite practical for small mid-engined cars.
Funkstar De Luxe said:
Car design is an exercise in packaging. Whoever can fit the required features in the smallest package, wins.
The continuing rise of SUVs suggests otherwise. I'm pretty sure the answer is no. Good design broadly is about making compromises that don't feel like compromises, but there's a significant emotional element to car design so it often doesn't need to make logical sense to be popular.
It depends on what the vehicle is for.
I'm currently in Spain having driven here over three days with the dog in tow, so a long, large, smoothly suspended vehicle is what I want. When I go into town back home, the Up! is perfect. Track day? Neither is appropriate.
So the answer is, without specific conditions, no, there is not an ideal car design.
I'm currently in Spain having driven here over three days with the dog in tow, so a long, large, smoothly suspended vehicle is what I want. When I go into town back home, the Up! is perfect. Track day? Neither is appropriate.
So the answer is, without specific conditions, no, there is not an ideal car design.
Baldchap said:
It depends on what the vehicle is for.
I'm currently in Spain having driven here over three days with the dog in tow, so a long, large, smoothly suspended vehicle is what I want. When I go into town back home, the Up! is perfect. Track day? Neither is appropriate.
So the answer is, without specific conditions, no, there is not an ideal car design.
Exactly this. First you have to define the class/type of car.I'm currently in Spain having driven here over three days with the dog in tow, so a long, large, smoothly suspended vehicle is what I want. When I go into town back home, the Up! is perfect. Track day? Neither is appropriate.
So the answer is, without specific conditions, no, there is not an ideal car design.
Kei cars are very space efficient and fuel efficient, and easy to park as they're tiny. but for some reason haven't caught on over here, so i'd say the UK equivalent is the humble hatchback - a golf, or focus, something like that. and if more space is required, the estate versions of hatchbacks.
adding in 'a bit of eye candy' goes at odds with this, as better looking cars tend to be low, wide and long...
adding in 'a bit of eye candy' goes at odds with this, as better looking cars tend to be low, wide and long...
Funkstar De Luxe said:
Car design is an exercise in packaging. Whoever can fit the required features in the smallest package, wins.
Car design is an exercise in Based on this, the perfect 'objective' car design? Nissan Juke?
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