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A little surprising that even after 8 pages of discussion, the iconic Pajero is yet to be mentioned.
I do not understand how a beautiful vehicle like this,
became this,
Excellent thread. Took time out to go through the replies here and found myself immersed in thoughts about the evolution of Car design. My views on the same:
- Today people have forgotten that beauty lies in simplicity and vice-versa. The cars have been sporting complicated lines, more and more, with the facelifts they get every year.
- My point of view- The lines can be kept simpler, it would have positive impact on production costs, and easier to maintain in case of dents et al.
- There are certain Auto Manufacturers who always overdo the design. Some keep the design purposefully (Dunno what purpose, though) bland. Toyota is one, that never comes up with a exciting design and sells volumes. Fiat cars are one of the most tastefully done in design and sales these cars fail to achieve the volumes.
- Someone in this thread called Chris Bangle Era BMWs ugly. I disagree. Bangled BMWs were radical. Now they are two generations old, but make them stand beside the latest 3/5 and they would still look contemporary. In my opinion, the design of Bangled BMWs would still be fresh 10 years hence.
- Out of the Premium Car Manufacturers-(Jaguar, BMW, Merc, Audi), the best design language has to be Jaguar followed by BMW. Audi cars are too pimped (If that word can be used in this context). The new Jaguar XJ/XF are so simplistic and yet so elegant.
- With reference to points #3, #5, I am forced to infer, that Toyota treats their cars just like an object meant to achieve/carry out a function, while Jaguar treats their cars like an art form.
- An honorable mention to one of the most beautiful cars on earth- Alpha Romeos, from Fiat Family. Wonder how these never found a mention in this thread. May be because they are not sold in India(?). Alpha Romeo 159 was one of the best looking sedans. :)
- Coming to Hatchbacks, it seems a like a sin to expect a design language, given the shoe string budget they are developed on. Much of the time/energy/money goes into maximizing the fuel efficiency, and usable space out of the car. Design is perhaps the last criteria the Manufacturers look on, and the aim here would be to make design just palatable to all, so that it does not hamper the volume.
- Which leaves out the mid-segment sedans/SUVs. We, in India, have seen the best and worst of the design themes here. Some good examples have already been quoted in this thread-Mitsubishi Lancer, Opel Vectra etc. I would like to add Ford Mondeo to this list. Among the garish designs- I personally dislike the Honda Cars-City, Accord in the terms of their design.
- People in this thread have also talked about Family design language for particular Manufacturers. I wonder how it works out so good for BMW and not so good for Honda/Toyota ...Just from the design and looks perspective.
- All said, Everyone has his/her own tastes and what I would love, could certainly be hated by some. After all, One country's freedom fighter is another country's terrorist.
My personal favorite: BMW M5 F10
--
Abhijeet
Overall, I really feel that we have loads of cars now that are practical, efficient and comfortable but it is really difficult to find one which has another must have quality - "Good Looks". Verna fluidic looks proportional but the same use of fluidic concept on Sonata goes wierd on the rear. Loads of side lines on all fluidics.
Skoda gave new looks to its car. Superb might be a very good value, but isnt something wrong with the 3rd box on it. From the C pillar it looks unusually stretched and not proportional
Also, are we forgetting a hugely popular, ground breaking Nano. What was it, an egg?
I think VW has been playing safe all this time with the standard clean lines designs. But then, they are no head-turners either.
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To all those complaining about the Pajero being replaced by the Pajero Sport. There is too much of confusion i guess.
The Pajero we know-
And the real new Pajero ( Sold as the Montero here)
The old Pajero Sport-
And the new Pajero Sport-
We were being sold a 10 year old Pajero so we had it for a lesser price. The Pajero actually competes with the Toyota Landcruiser Prado and not the Fortuner.
But when it comes to looks nothing can beat the older Pajero. ;)
Asit
I was a proud owner of the second generation Zen MPFI (the second one in your picture sequence). The car looked simple yet elegant from all sides. The evolved and face lifted versions of Zen looked so out of place. Zen had completely lost its character with the Estilo face lifts. Moreover, the earlier versions of Zen was more planted to the road while the tall boy Estilo had more body roll (owing to design specifications). :deadhorse
Quote:
Originally Posted by saket77
(Post 3491873)
You have hit the nail right on its head in this thread. The designing has gone a little too overboard in my opinion and there is hardly any hatchback in the country currently except the Polo which has elegance in its design. There is nothing for those who like simple, clean, elegant and classic low slung looks which marked the character of some of the best looking cars especially in the hatchback segment.
Though, the newly found fluidic concept by Hyundai is looking good, but using the same concept on all cars is making it again boring. Plus, I have a feeling that the fluidic design may not be a timeless design.
Honda's latest fascination with chrome is not something many appreciate. The previous gen Honda City was a great looking car. Not that the current one is as hideous as many other newer models by other manufacturers but that grill could have been designed so much better; heck there is no 'grill' there. The older car had a much better grill.
Maruti Suzuki Alto 800, Stingray, Estilo are some of its near past disasters, which had better looking previous generations.
The Europeans, like VW & Skoda have evolved better in the models at least we get to see in India.
Manufacturers had got it right on the first attempt in many cases but later ruined the designs (and dynamics too) in name of tall boy designs/ international / latest tune.
What was this? Take your pick. Latest generation: Attachment 1267961 Previous Generation: Attachment 1267962 Oldest Generation: Attachment 1267963
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The Chevy SRV was a head turner (my perception). But a badly messed up product. Another good looking car, out of the public eye.
So.. nice to see that I'm not the only one who feels this way. Or maybe we are all growing old :).
I used to drool at car dealerships. Now I have to literally avert my eyes when passing a Maruti, Mahindra or Hyundai dealership. Especially Maruti!
Just returned to the US today, nice to see ugly cars so rare (but they still exist):
Quote:
Originally Posted by rajushank84
(Post 3495635)
Just returned to the US today, nice to see ugly cars so rare (but they still exist):
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Wow, that Nissan Juke is ugly even by the current Indian standards!
I agree wholeheartedly with the sentiment expressed in this thread but there are some newer models that I like more than the model they replaced which have been brand as not as good as the outgoing one. Chiefly the Safari Storme which except for the missing wheel the back SUV look, looks really proportionate and sophisticated. The outgoing model was a looker too but it was a bit too rounded and the smaller wheels also soiled the look. It did not look very aerodynamic too. Carrying on the similar lines, yes the new BMW's are nice but I love the Chris Bangle designs as well. Compared to any other luxury car of the same era, the Bangle design to me have aged the least and this is a hallmark of a great design. Among hatchbacks there are none which can match the timelessness and sheer simplistic beauty of the original Palio GTX. Heck I miss a beat even today if I see one well maintained even on stock alloy wheels. It also helps that it was the first car I ever owned and will always have a special place in my heart.
Quote:
Originally Posted by rajushank84
(Post 3495635)
So.. nice to see that I'm not the only one who feels this way. Or maybe we are all growing old :).
I used to drool at car dealerships. Now I have to literally avert my eyes when passing a Maruti, Mahindra or Hyundai dealership. Especially Maruti!
Just returned to the US today, nice to see ugly cars so rare (but they still exist):
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Apparently, the Juke (should be rather called
Joke) was awarded the ugliest car of the year title by Top Gear the year it was launched. Deserved it!
-Bhargav
Quote:
Originally Posted by rajushank84
(Post 3491544)
Designs like the Xylo make even things like Bolero and Sumo look handsome!
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The styling for the Bolero and the Sumo are derived from the all-time classic Mercedes Gelander Wagen. The number of times a Rs. 1 Cr. G Wagen owner is asked where he modified his Sumo is not funny!
P V Narasimha Rao was to unfurl the flag from the Red Fort on Aug 15 2 decades ago stepping out of a Tata Sumo. The then PM asked for a picture which we did not have. I, the rookie was entrusted with the task of getting an old G Wagen brochure photo airbrushed, get the T logo inserted and handing it over to the PMO. lol:
Quote:
Originally Posted by 500ContyCruiser
(Post 3491596)
I still love how the old Merc looked. They had a Class. New ones really dont appeal me! No matter what features they try to sell.
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Absolutely agree. It was just the other day I was telling my wife - replace the badge on the modern Mercs with a Hyundai badge and no one would doubt a Korean origin. Hark back even earlier to see how auto design died un-noticed!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ricci
(Post 3491636)
BMWs - the Chris Bangle era is a blot I assume most BMW fans would like erased from its history. It's like they lost the plot and went from being Jason Statham to Justin Bieber. .
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I just lost interest in BMWs after Bangle happened. I was standing just behind Bangle at the unveiling of a Ferrari model at the Tokyo Motor Show and wondered whether fellow BMW lovers would contribute to bail me out if I strangled him alive then and there!
The Indian automobile market lays more emphasis on practicality and ease of ownership than anything else. Hence we can find “good looking” or more appropriately better designed cars may not necessarily set the sales charts on fire. Hence in a similar price bracket, the practical but a bit oddly shaped Maruti Dzire fares much better than a beautifully crafted Punto. Also some manufacturers do not want to stop production of certain car models and keep on giving “refreshes” or minor changes to the body, which sometimes spoils the looks of the car. A very good example of this is the Maruti Alto 800, Hyundai Verna (prior to the fludic), Wagon R stingray.
Quote:
Originally Posted by a_myth
(Post 3495835)
Also some manufacturers do not want to stop production of certain car models and keep on giving “refreshes” or minor changes to the body, which sometimes spoils the looks of the car. A very good example of this is the Maruti Alto 800, Hyundai Verna (prior to the fludic), Wagon R stingray.
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HM used to do this to the Ambassador. Sadly same is being done to Innova by Toyota too like other few makers and their cars mentioned above. I guess this good old trick is still working for them.
For me no one describes this story or rather the tragedy better than Mercedes S Class. (still my favorite car though)
Leave you with these words from Keats 'A thing of beauty is a joy forever'.
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