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Direction in which modern car trends are heading

29th April 2021, 17:30 by Chirag Moro

While most of the modern car trends and features are great, few things need some rethinking in my opinion.

BHPian mohitchalla recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

The Indian automobile scene is exploding and customers now have more choices than ever. While most of the modern car trends and features are great, few things need some rethinking in my opinion. So let me jump right into it.

Oversized wheels

Big wheels are one of the most sought-after features/specs in modern cars. Manufacturers have realized this and are pushing big wheels in cars that do not necessarily need them. While big wheels look nicer and offer marginally better high-speed performance, there is a noticeable loss in the ride quality. Moreover, the replacement cost for the tyres increases significantly with bigger wheels.

The 4x2 Fortuner gets 17" wheels while the 4x4 variant gets 18". The off-roading variant should get the smaller wheels with thicker sidewalls. I believe the new Thar is also sold with this silly specification. Manufacturers should offer choices in wheel sizes to the customers.

Lights

Most modern cars come equipped with LEDs, projectors, etc. I agree that they do look good and have higher reliability and longer life than the traditional halogen lamps with reflectors, but they also cost more. I miss being able to upgrade the wiring harness and use the more powerful 100/90 or 130/100 H4 lamps. Even today, they out-perform any modern projector or LED setup and cost way less.

Disclaimer: I am not advocating using a high beam on the oncoming traffic. The upgrades mentioned are solely for user-friendliness and performance on dark and empty roads.

Independent rear suspension (or the lack thereof)

Back in the day, cars like the Suzuki Esteem, Suzuki Baleno (old sedan version), Mitsubishi Lancer and Hyundai Accent were equipped with independent rear suspensions. Today, this is reserved only for super-expensive cars. With roads full of potholes and ride quality being an important factor for most users, this is something that needs to be brought back. Glad to see that the Mahindra XUV 500 still has this setup and I hope that they would retain this in the next generation as well.

I understand that the torsion beam is cheaper and simpler to manufacture and maintain, but is the cost difference really so huge?

Turbo petrol

Turbos add complexity and come with higher costs - upfront and maintenance. A smaller engine churning out more power and torque does not make a good case for the longevity of the engine. All that for slightly improved low-end performance?

I just wish that eventually, the turbos should not kill the naturally aspirated engines. As long as they are sold side-by-side, I will be happy.

Conclusion

Do you agree or disagree with me? Why? Let me know in your replies to this thread.

This is the first time I am posting a thread. I am looking forward to constructive feedback on improving my writing. Wishing you happy and safe driving. Cheers!

Here's what BHPian haisaikat had to say on the matter:

I will add few more trends to this list:
Automatic Gearbox
Manufacturers have on one hand understood (most of them, if not all) the importance of this convenience factor in modern 4 wheelers so much so that some car OEMs are offering 15+ variants with different automatic gearbox options (TC vs DCT, etc) for the same model (eg: Kia Seltos) and their success is also seen first hand. On the other hand, even though automatics have come a long way in terms of FE, the common mentality for premium hatch onwards have come a little beyond just FE in judging a car which is good for the market.
Sunroof
Someone once said on this forum, Indians will accept a car without an engine or tyres but not without a sunroof and this trend is also a good marketing success in recent years. 10/12 years back, there were no takers for the i10 top model that came with an optional sunroof on the top model. Nowadays this is different.
Crossovers over Sedans
This needs no additional discussion, our nomadic mindset has nurtured this added to the good development of highways and roads in the last decade.

Here's what BHPian Sanidhya mukund had to say on the matter:

For me, the best new trend is safety. While we still do have some cars that are far from being called safe, there is no denying that cars are much, much safer than cars from 2 decades ago. Even an Alto can now be purchased with 2 airbags. Also, most cars are now being built with various crash test regulations in mind. Not very long ago, safety features were only reserved to the top variants and luxury cars.
Next up, engines are now getting much more silent and fuel efficient. My 20-year old Ford Ikon has a 1.3 Endura-E engine. Despite being a petrol, it has a very diesel-like clatter. A modern day EcoSport on the other hand barely makes any noise while idling.
Then there are exhaust fumes. Cars nowadays are way cleaner and way less dangerous for the environment. The ever-evolving emission norms and EV adoption have ensured that motoring is less taxing on the environment than before.
Nowadays, cars are also being built better. Gone are the days when the brand new Amby went straight to the weld shop after purchase and the 118NE broke down right in front of the dealership. Speaking of dealerships, they have also gotten infinitely better. Rather than driving them from the stockyards to the delivery bays, dealerships now transport them in large trucks. Thanks to increasing competition, most manufacturers now have professionally run, technologically managed and well fitted, premium looking dealerships.
However, there are some trends that are absolutely terrible! The first-gen Santro and WagonR had adjustable headrests even in the rear. So did the Alto of that vintage. Today, these cars and most other budget cars don’t even get front adjustable headrests!
Also, I just hate the fact that cars nowadays are being offered with very few colour options. Very few cars now have black as an option. Most cars only have white, grey, silver and maybe a boring shade of maroon. I also don’t like the fact that cars are getting unnecessarily large and complicated. The cuts and creases in the design also tend to lead to very poor visibility.