Why are so many new cars so badly styled?

[lukeharding]

Hungrymc said:

Do you know any car designers who hate cars?

I know plenty who love drawing/designing rather than actually loving cars. A simple clean design doesn't make for an interesting design that will get your boss' attention.

[lukeharding]

Hungrymc said:

That's a no then. I wouldn't have thought the stylists are yet very involved in the autonomous cars projects.

It's quite a big focal point for new designers coming through actually, its in the wings waiting to be used and companies like MIRA are trying to put it to use.

[Hungrymc]

lukeharding said:

I know plenty who love drawing/designing rather than actually loving cars. A simple clean design doesn't make for an interesting design that will get your boss' attention.

But what will get your bosses attention is something that hits the brief and that will attract customers. Clean design will have its day again, we're just in a phase of bling and detail like the 60s.

And I don't mean to be pedantic, but the claim was these stylists producing today's cars 'hate' cars.

Edited by Hungrymc on Monday 29th May 12:57

[Hungrymc]

lukeharding said:

It's quite a big focal point for new designers coming through actually, its in the wings waiting to be used and companies like MIRA are trying to put it to use.

Autonomous vehicles are not yet a focal point in the OEM studios. Very early concept work maybe, but far from a focal point. They are a much stronger focus for the technical design, but this is a styling thread. If you're looking further up stream to education, then I'm sure you're right, but they're not the stylists who are producing so much "bad" styling today

[lukeharding]

Hungrymc said:

But what will get your bosses attention is something that hits the brief and that will attract customers. Clean design will have its day again, we're just in a phase of bling and detail like the 60s.

And I don't mean to be pedantic, but the claim was these stylists producing today's cars 'hate' cars.

Edited by Hungrymc on Monday 29th May 12:57

I agree with you, clean design will come back, it all goes through phases like everything else.

I'd say pedantic is exactly what you meant to sound like.

[lukeharding]

Hungrymc said:

Autonomous vehicles are not yet a focal point in the OEM studios. Very early concept work maybe, but far from a focal point. They are a much stronger focus for the technical design, but this is a styling thread. If you're looking further up stream to education, then I'm sure you're right, but they're not the stylists who are producing so much "bad" styling today

Believe me there are many students producing bad styling. Autonomous isn't a focal point yet for the OEM studios but you can bet they will at the very least be looking into it. Looks at Rolls Royce and their recent concept, which was aesthetic not technical.

The whole point of modern cars being badly styled is a massively generalised statement that can't really be taken seriously and is simply a matter of opinion. Styling is where it is because that has what has been selling cars, yet it never will appeal to everyone.

[Hungrymc]

lukeharding said:

.

I'd say pedantic is exactly what you meant to sound like.

One poster says cars are styled by people who "hate" - And I asked if that was something the poster knew from some personal experience.... You then arrive saying designers love design (did you mean therefore they do "hate" cars? That would be relevant and interesting).

So, I really wasn't being pedantic, you had actually missed the point - the claim that stylist actually resent / wish ill on cars - hence my clarification.

[lukeharding]

Hungrymc said:

One poster says cars are styled by people who "hate" - And I asked if that was something the poster knew from some personal experience.... You then arrive saying designers love design (did you mean therefore they do "hate" cars? That would be relevant and interesting).

So, I really wasn't being pedantic, you had actually missed the point - the claim that stylist actually resent / wish ill on cars - hence my clarification.

My point was that if they don't actually enjoy designing cars they might as well hate them because the results would be similar. Disinterest doesn't make for a good product. I didn't miss the point but was adding to it, I don't believe someone would be so petty as to make a career in a field they hate just to create something that they and others didn't like.

I will say that I do know designers who have lost love for their field because of the way they are worked by some of the larger OEMs though.

[Funk]

There are still some good designs making it through; I think the new Alpine is a fantastic looking car for example:

[mgtony]

Are some cars that we would call badly styled here thought of as well designed in other parts of the world?
The rear and rear quarter of the new Suzuki Ignis.
That contrasting panel/slab behind the rear window of the new Audi Q2.

[lukeharding]

Love the Alpine, and the interior is a great place to be too. Just wish they'd kept those concept wheels.

[Hungrymc]

lukeharding said:

My point was that if they don't actually enjoy designing cars they might as well hate them because the results would be similar. Disinterest doesn't make for a good product. I didn't miss the point but was adding to it, I don't believe someone would be so petty as to make a career in a field they hate just to create something that they and others didn't like.

Had the original point been that not all car designers are enthusiasts I'd have agreed. The original "hate" comment was a typical of the exaggeration, stated as fact, that seems to common on here. I 100% agree that surely no one would make a career to be destructive in that field, but that's essentially what was claimed - it's what hate infers.

Wether we like it or not, car manufacture is a business and they have to make products that the market wants and be well ran else they will decline and fail sooner or later.

Another edit for clarity - the last paragraph is a general comment that many on here over look - I'm not meaning to suggest that you don't understand the industry.

Edited by Hungrymc on Monday 29th May 19:37

[russy01]

In your OP you say, "my personal dislikes are", end thread.

There are badly styled cars in all generations and everybody has different tastes, you just simply don't like the current trends - where you will find lots of others worldwide will (hence manufacturers making them!)

[threespires]

"Why are so many new cars so badly styled?"

They aren't, it's called fashion.

Deliberately designed to make your car look old and encourage you to buy the latest look. Fail to update & all your friends will sneer at you. Women will ignore you and if you have children they will hate you for making them feel stupid when they are dropped off at school.

[chrispmartha]

lukeharding said:

Hungrymc said:

But what will get your bosses attention is something that hits the brief and that will attract customers. Clean design will have its day again, we're just in a phase of bling and detail like the 60s.

And I don't mean to be pedantic, but the claim was these stylists producing today's cars 'hate' cars.

Edited by Hungrymc on Monday 29th May 12:57

I agree with you, clean design will come back, it all goes through phases like everything else.

I'd say pedantic is exactly what you meant to sound like.

Clean simple design is very much back in most areas of design but maybe just hasn't hit the car market yet.

Having said that every era of car design has had its shockers, and there are some very fine looking modern cars.

[99dndd]

threespires said:

"Why are so many new cars so badly styled?"

They aren't, it's called fashion.

Deliberately designed to make your car look old and encourage you to buy the latest look. Fail to update & all your friends will sneer at you. Women will ignore you and if you have children they will hate you for making them feel stupid when they are dropped off at school.

Spot on. If cars are "edgy" and on current trend they'll look old quickly and have to be replaced by the new trend.

Also have to agree with those that say that Mazda are making some cracking looking cars, although I'm not fussed on the round taillights on the MX5.

[RBH58]

For contemporary design, Citroen probably remain the standouts for me although I quite like what Peter Schreyer is doing for Hyundai/Kia. I liked Renault under Le Quément but now they've gone "safe" (sad). Nothing contemporary really bowls me over though. Maybe the new Ford GT. Maybe the F-Type Coupe.. Even Aston has gone south IMHO with the DB11 and its fussy gratuitous details. Strangely I'm liking the current 911 more than I ever have. And I quite like my own MX5 RF but I know in polarises opinion (which is often a good thing). But there is no getting modern cars required hard points. The days of elegant pillars and glasshouses, ultra low bonnets and minimal overhangs as sadly been legislated away.

Edited by RBH58 on Saturday 3rd June 03:51

[Surdjoe]

RBH58 said:

I quite like what Peter Schreyer is doing for Hyundai/Kia.

Edited by RBH58 on Saturday 3rd June 03:51

Agreed, some cool designs coming out of Korea

[Colonial]

This is basically old man shakes fist at clouds.

[Leins]

While I'm not necessarily a fan of all the "aggressive" styling around at the moment, there was a time when things seemed even more depressing on the design front



However, the one advantage of this was it made the performance models stand out from the crowd, which may be a factor in why these days they don't hold the same cachet over the cooking ones

TSCfree said:

Just how big can the Merc grill get!

It's also a shame the star has been relocated, but I guess it doesn't fit with the modern design or is it the modern audience?

A certain section of Mercedes customers have wanted this for quite some time