Safe, Boring Car Design

[RosscoPCole]

I have noticed that a lot of manufacturers have an interesting design feature on a specific model. Then when the next generation or facelifted version appears that feature vanishes even though it made it different.
Three examples that come to mind all involve rear lights.

Maserati 3200 vs 4200:



Ford Focus Mk2 vs Mk3



Nissan Note



Personally I think that the newer cars are much more nondescript and bland and make them look like like part of the crowd. Whilst the older model stands out and is a much more attractive car as a result.

There must be lots of other examples out there. Also why do manufacturers do this? Do they want to blend in with everyone else?

[Jimbo.]

The Maserati 3200-4200 change was, IIRC, due to US regulations and/or customer clinics not linking them, and Maserati needing to sell in the 'states.

[ModernAndy]

That new Note looks absolutely horrible. The old one was quite good looking as well. They did the same with the Patrol recently.

[anonymous-user]

Can I be the first to mention Audi as this will no doubt turn into a 'all Audis are boring and look the same' thread!

[Jimbo.]

"Also why do manufacturers do this? Do they want to blend in with everyone else?"

'nuvva thing, and following on from my earlier post. Manufacturers want to sell their cars in as many markets as possible, yet with as few changes as possible to suit said markets, their regulations and customer requirements. Having the lights x-big, mirrors y-size and bumpers z-big, coupled to ever better understood aerodynamics, shared platforms/technology, means that car design is moving ever closer to one specific design, or at least range of. A bit like what's happened to F1 cars, really.