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Why have car makers really fallen off the cliff today?
- Thread starter Bubble99
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Apple fanboy
macrumors Ivy Bridge
Scepticalscribe
macrumors Haswell
Which Fiat was that?
I must say that I rather liked the attractive Fiat Coupe (with the colour-coded dash) of the 1990s.
Herdfan
macrumors 68000
Except that area where the headlights are was a huge source of drag. Which is why this existed:
Huntn
macrumors Penryn
More classical, what strikes me most is how computerization as turn what was relatively simple, pure feeling into technological monsters, while I acknowledge this is an emotional, romantic view.
1982 Fiat Spider
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Scepticalscribe
macrumors Haswell
edubfromktown
macrumors 65816
The front ends on most vehicles are too tall/wide and grotesque today. Same with gaudy/blinding tail lights too!
The manufacturers copy each other's ugly designs which is the ultimate form of something other than flattery
The manufacturers copy each other's ugly designs which is the ultimate form of something other than flattery
Huntn
macrumors Penryn
…massive prominent grills. 🤔The front ends on most vehicles are too tall/wide and grotesque today. Same with gaudy/blinding tail lights too!
The manufacturers copy each other's ugly designs which is the ultimate form of something other than flattery
1rottenapple
macrumors 603
JoeG4
macrumors 68040
I saw this discussion on reddit a few times before and the consensus was people didn't want cars that would stand out on the road because they didn't want people recognizing them. Lest they be the target of revenge for some kinda road rage or something? IDK.
My cars are not that generic lol 😀
My cars are not that generic lol 😀
adrianlondon
macrumors 604
My first car was a 3-door (never liked that counting system, unless the Italians often traveled in the boot!), beige 900cc Fiat 127.
I have very fond memories of that car. Extremely easy to maintain, and part of me wishes I still had it. Don’t think it’d pass any modern safety standards though.
I have very fond memories of that car. Extremely easy to maintain, and part of me wishes I still had it. Don’t think it’d pass any modern safety standards though.
MacsRgr8
macrumors G3
Yeah…modern cars are electric cars being SUV’s, styled for aerodynamics, weighing 2 tons, and stuffed with electronic gadgets.
Basically I see hardly any difference anymore between a Tesla, Audi, Kia, BYD, <insert a new Chinese brand>, etc.
You still have electric cars that are electric version of “classic sedans”, but a dying breed it seems.
Basically I see hardly any difference anymore between a Tesla, Audi, Kia, BYD, <insert a new Chinese brand>, etc.
You still have electric cars that are electric version of “classic sedans”, but a dying breed it seems.
JoeG4
macrumors 68040
A big part of that is people wanting a vehicle that can do everything. The concept of renting something for use cases you would rarely encounter seems to be a foreign concept for most people.
Apple fanboy
macrumors Ivy Bridge
Front ends have to be tall by law in the UK and many other places. It gives pedestrians a better survival rate in a collision.The front ends on most vehicles are too tall/wide and grotesque today. Same with gaudy/blinding tail lights too!
The manufacturers copy each other's ugly designs which is the ultimate form of something other than flattery
So I think it’s less copying more working within the constraints.
That said I think my BMW i3s has one of the more unique shapes on the road. Pity they discontinued it.
It is the interior that is important to most consumers now I think. I know that is more what I care about, I want comfort and features that are aesthetically pleasing and comfortable. I honestly don't care a whole lot what the outside looks like of the car as I don't see it when driving.
Apple fanboy
macrumors Ivy Bridge
Agreed. Personally I can’t abide shinny black plastic in a car interior.
Mine has leather and wood.
StellarVixen
macrumors 68040
It's not the body styling that makes me sad that much, it's the color palette.Why have car makers really fallen off the cliff today?
Just look at 1980 cars to now so boring today.
BSDnostalgia
macrumors 6502a
Reference for what you are describing? I've read just the opposite, so, either I'm confused, or, we are not talking about the same thing.
Apple fanboy
macrumors Ivy Bridge
Nope because I was going from memory and apparently it is the opposite as you say.
However it offers better protection for the occupants which I think is what I was remembering. (see below)
Yes, car bonnets (hoods) have become higher on average in recent years, but while this design shift can offer enhanced safety for the vehicle's own occupants, it significantly increases the risk to pedestrians and cyclists. The average bonnet height in new European cars increased from 76.9 cm in 2010 to 83.8 cm in 2024, a trend largely driven by the popularity of SUVs.
Impact on Safety
- Passenger Safety (Higher): Higher, more blunt front ends often provide more space between the hood and the hard engine components underneath, allowing for better energy absorption in a crash. This design often creates a stronger, more rigid structure that can improve occupant safety.
- Pedestrian Safety (Lower): High-fronted vehicles are significantly more dangerous to vulnerable road users. A 10 cm increase in bonnet height (e.g., from 80 cm to 90 cm) raises the risk of pedestrian death by 27%. High bonnets strike pedestrians higher up—near the core, pelvis, or head—rather than the legs, increasing the likelihood of being knocked forward and run over.
- Visibility: Taller bonnets create larger blind spots for drivers, making it difficult or impossible to see children directly in front of the vehicle.
Reddit +6
Mousse
macrumors 601
I think it's partially driven by the increasing engine sizes. Full sized trucks in 'Merica are now offering 6 liter V8 and bigger because...bragging rights.🙄 Bigger engine needs more room. Since they can't make the car wider, they making them taller.
Apple fanboy
macrumors Ivy Bridge
Maybe in the states. My bonnet just has somewhere extra to store stuff. Most of the world can’t afford to feed a V8. Not at our prices (which is double yours).
1rottenapple
macrumors 603
Actually no. Due to the emissions (which are rolling back) turbo 4 cylinders are the norm. Look at toyota 4runner and tacoma 4 cyclinder turbo (some with hybrids); GM trucks have 4 cyclinder options; and ford are (2.3 cyclinder with v6 turbo). V8 WERE dead until trump watered down the emissions regulations. All of a sudden V8 are back but that just recent, 2025. Jeep for example was normally a v6, it had v8 but it was discontinued (I think 2023). But with the recent watering down of emission the v8 is back again. The JL my model year was common to have 4 cylinter turbo with the v6 being the old enging and hard to find on the delater lot.
Soooooo what I am saying is the big front end of trucks and SUV is mostly empty space. Its more aesthetics over function really. Check the engine bay its big open spaces in there. The big front end is not needed to fit the small engine.
Now with the watering down of emissions we will see when the big v8 are back with new designed coming out.
But this current Iran war geopotical strategiest now envision long term effects of oil (and food) prices (that's a long post) and that may cause engines sizes to go down permanently.
Apple fanboy
macrumors Ivy Bridge
I switched to a full EV 5 years ago. Switched Mrs AFB earlier this year. I’m done with ICE for good.
1rottenapple
macrumors 603