Car body shapes - why can't cheaper cars be supercar shaped
Discussion
Something I've always wondered about.
Aside from the fact that people often need four seats and a big boot, why can't a cheaper car be made the same shape as a supercar for a similar cheap car price.
For example, this is a BMW i8 which costs a squillion pounds ...
OK, so a vast amount of the squillion pounds is taken up by the running gear etc.
But consider, for (a random budget car) example, the Hyundai i40. This is, in terms of the body pressings and so forth quite a complex (and good looking) car...
Just what is to stop just about any manufacturer knocking out something that is every bit as good looking as a Lotus/i8/Ferrari etc etc but with "real life" running gear, and selling them for the sort of money that mere mortals can afford (and with more real world running costs and performance as well)?
I'm not making my point very well here; what I'm trying to say is that why do all the "normal" cars have to look so bland? In these days of computerised/roboticised manufacture I can see no reason why we can't all be tooling round in stuff that looks awesome. There's no reason I can see for knocking out boring looking cars.
Aside from the fact that people often need four seats and a big boot, why can't a cheaper car be made the same shape as a supercar for a similar cheap car price.
For example, this is a BMW i8 which costs a squillion pounds ...
OK, so a vast amount of the squillion pounds is taken up by the running gear etc.
But consider, for (a random budget car) example, the Hyundai i40. This is, in terms of the body pressings and so forth quite a complex (and good looking) car...
Just what is to stop just about any manufacturer knocking out something that is every bit as good looking as a Lotus/i8/Ferrari etc etc but with "real life" running gear, and selling them for the sort of money that mere mortals can afford (and with more real world running costs and performance as well)?
I'm not making my point very well here; what I'm trying to say is that why do all the "normal" cars have to look so bland? In these days of computerised/roboticised manufacture I can see no reason why we can't all be tooling round in stuff that looks awesome. There's no reason I can see for knocking out boring looking cars.
Would you not say an Elise meets the criteria? Off-the-shelf transverse inline four engine; <£30k starting price; 40mpg;...
It's very hard to get a four seater to look sleek without giving it a pathetically small interior or huge exterior. Even two seaters have to make significant compromises (see Elise entry/exit) in order to be low enough to work.
It's very hard to get a four seater to look sleek without giving it a pathetically small interior or huge exterior. Even two seaters have to make significant compromises (see Elise entry/exit) in order to be low enough to work.
Edited by kambites on Thursday 16th October 15:53
Probably no reason why they couldn't, but I doubt they'd sell.
Supercars have plenty compromises in interior space, visibility, ease of getting in and out, rear visibility for parking, the space they take up on the road etc etc.
Most people buying a Hyundai i40 just want something 13 feet long that can carry 5 people and a tumbledrier. Therefore they all end up looking like a rounded box on wheels.
Supercars have plenty compromises in interior space, visibility, ease of getting in and out, rear visibility for parking, the space they take up on the road etc etc.
Most people buying a Hyundai i40 just want something 13 feet long that can carry 5 people and a tumbledrier. Therefore they all end up looking like a rounded box on wheels.
kambites said:
Would you not say an Elise meets the criteria? Off-the-shelf transverse inline four engine; <£30k starting price; 40mpg;...
I would indeed, but when was the last of those made? And they're not exactly a workaday car...(I want one. In black. With black speedline alloys. And a big f
k off spoiler).
Think about the height of the engine/gearbox/radiator package, which sets the height for the front end.
Now think about the height of the eyeline for the front seat occupants to see over the bonnet/wing.
Then think about the two rows of seats plus boot space that have to fit behind them, into the overall length.
Once you've done that, think about the overall width of the car.
Finally, think about what the typical supercar would look like with wheels and tyre sizes similar to those on a cooking-spec Hyundai.
THAT is all why normal cars aren't supercar shaped.
Now think about the height of the eyeline for the front seat occupants to see over the bonnet/wing.
Then think about the two rows of seats plus boot space that have to fit behind them, into the overall length.
Once you've done that, think about the overall width of the car.
Finally, think about what the typical supercar would look like with wheels and tyre sizes similar to those on a cooking-spec Hyundai.
THAT is all why normal cars aren't supercar shaped.
Alfa GTV, Fiat Coupe, Ford Cougar, Peugeot 406 coupe, Toyota Celica etc are examples of cheap cars with interesting styling. They could have gone the whole hog and given them 4 exhausts and a see through engine cover, but it looks a bit daft when you've only got a 1.6 under the bonnet.
The type of person that drives an econobox isn't really too fussed about aesthetics so wouldn't really demand supercar looks.
Also, think about practicality. People now want a small car, but with five doors so they can get their kids in the back and shopping in the boot. Kind of difficult with a supercar body.
Finally, good looking cars cost money to design.
Also, think about practicality. People now want a small car, but with five doors so they can get their kids in the back and shopping in the boot. Kind of difficult with a supercar body.
Finally, good looking cars cost money to design.
IanCress said:
Alfa GTV, Fiat Coupe, Ford Cougar, Peugeot 406 coupe, Toyota Celica etc are examples of cheap cars with interesting styling. They could have gone the whole hog and given them 4 exhausts and a see through engine cover, but it looks a bit daft when you've only got a 1.6 under the bonnet.
I think they're certainly as close as you'll get with "sensible" packaging. V8Ford said:
The type of person that drives an econobox isn't really too fussed about aesthetics so wouldn't really demand supercar looks.
Also, think about practicality. People now want a small car, but with five doors so they can get their kids in the back and shopping in the boot. Kind of difficult with a supercar body.
Finally, good looking cars cost money to design.
A lot of people buy a car like they buy a washing machine.Also, think about practicality. People now want a small car, but with five doors so they can get their kids in the back and shopping in the boot. Kind of difficult with a supercar body.
Finally, good looking cars cost money to design.
You wouldn't buy a space age looking washing machine, it'd look stupid in your kitchen.
Or another analogy. You can buy gaming PCs all lit up with LEDs and glowing interiors etc. But no one except teenage boys would want one because it'd look stupid in their office/study.
Mostly exclusivity. Almost any in house car designer can knock up a supercar styled model, it’s what they probably scribbled on pieces of paper long before they became professional stylist. There are practical reasons. As well as legislation, more adventurous styles can be more expensive to manufacture.
Much of a cars cost is the R&D, and setting up the factory etc. Not that many people want a supercharger shaped car, especially one with normal running gear. That means the cost of the car needs to be more.
Lotuses are the nearest thing to what you are after as they have Toyota drivetrains, yet they are not Toyota money.
Cheap cars can only be made in vast numbers.
Lotuses are the nearest thing to what you are after as they have Toyota drivetrains, yet they are not Toyota money.
Cheap cars can only be made in vast numbers.
Surely brand and platform image plays a part here? Ultimately they could fairly easily but then what differentiates between your supercar styled Clio and an actual supercar? Ok yah the engine but then your assuming most supercar owners are buying a special car to get a special engine and not just to have some bling other people can't have? If we all drove superbly styled cars then the top end of the market would need something extraordinary to stand out and I'm guessing since most brands are owned by companies who also have supercar manufacturers they're in no hurry to devaluate their up market brands.
I have often thought about this.
Its a shame the last BMW 6 looked like a bag of st, when its quite big but tiny on the inside.
Why couldn't it look like the Astons or any front engined super car.
"Lets make a £70'000+ 500bhp V10 or 370bhp V8 in a 2 seater GT car, make it light with plastic and alloy body parts, alloy hubs and anything else we can think."
Even the gearbox sump is plastic!
"But lets make it look as boring as we can."
"But fun on the inside?"
"No thats the best bit, lets fill it full of black wood thats so dark it looks like plastic. Lest make it feel like you're inside the 316 coupe."
6
3
"Oh and pop down to Halfords and gab a Max power cup holder"
Its a shame the last BMW 6 looked like a bag of s
t, when its quite big but tiny on the inside.Why couldn't it look like the Astons or any front engined super car.
"Lets make a £70'000+ 500bhp V10 or 370bhp V8 in a 2 seater GT car, make it light with plastic and alloy body parts, alloy hubs and anything else we can think."
Even the gearbox sump is plastic!
"But lets make it look as boring as we can."
"But fun on the inside?"
"No thats the best bit, lets fill it full of black wood thats so dark it looks like plastic. Lest make it feel like you're inside the 316 coupe."
6
3
"Oh and pop down to Halfords and gab a Max power cup holder"
I've always wondered the same as the OP. The second generation Toyota MR2 was the closest thing we've had to a supercar-shaped affordable car. Shame no one makes anything similar now. I'm sure there'd be a market for such a thing though this maybe isn't apparent as the people who'd buy it will be driving relatively boring cars on account of the fact that they can't afford the purchase price of a new high end sports car or the running costs of an affordably priced used supercar.
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