7 Automotive Design Trends That Need To Die
I want to make something abundantly clear. I’m not one of those guys who thinks all things new are crap and “my” generation was the best. I mean, I grew up in the 1980s for crying out loud - we thought cordless telephones, hairspray and glam rock were the meaning of life.
I say this so you won’t automatically dismiss the criticisms I’m about dish out on modern trends in car design and functionality. I promise it’s not a hardening of the attitude - Bluetooth and satellite navigation are awesome, and what’s not to like about 300bhp everyday family cars that still pull 30-plus miles per gallon? We have sinfully attractive hypercars, turbochargers galore, and freaking electric cars that hit 60mph in under three seconds, then drive themselves through traffic. Now is a very, very good time to be a petrolhead.
I just hope designers and engineers realise these particular trends need to die before it all gets ruined…
1. Big wheels
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. Big wheels are the enemy of performance. You need big wheels to clear big brakes, but even then there’s no reason for street cars or pickup trucks to sport massive rims. Modest 17-inch wheels offer plenty of room for a stout braking system underneath that would be just fine for street use where 99 per cent of buyers get the most from their cars. For hardcore enthusiasts, get 18s with bigger brakes and better pads, but that’s really all you need.
2. Ugly oversized angular grilles
It’s hard to say when this trend actually started. I tend to single out the 2004 Audi redesign, not because its grille was some weird trapezium, but because it was just big and out of proportion for the rest of the car. Wherever it started, it needs to stop now before everything looks like this Nissan Maxima, or worse, every new Lexus.
3. LED accent lights
I’ve heard people call these mascara or eyeliner for headlights. I’ve heard them referred to as automotive jewellery. I’ve even heard people call them those little light things. But I’ve never, ever heard someone call them anything positive. I know, now the comments will fill up with people saying how much they like these ugly, stupid, tacky, useless accessories, but I stand by my point.
I can sum up my feelings for this design trend like this: even when I see them on factory stock high-end luxury supercars, I immediately flash back to the automotive aisle at Wal-Mart. I think that says it all.
4. Plastic covers on everything
This has been going on for some time. I get it - manufacturers want to create a smoother look under the bonnet. Or do they just want to make it harder (and perhaps more intimidating) for people to wrench on their own cars? If the idea is to help keep the engine cleaner, engineers clearly haven’t removed one of these covers after a couple of years of driving to see just how much crap gets underneath. Again, here’s a simple weight-saving solution for vehicles that really need it. The savings wouldn’t be much, but every bit counts.
5. Basic controls buried in infotainment systems
Time to bust out some science. Occam’s razor is a very old principle that basically says the simplest solution is usually the best solution. It’s not an absolute mind you, but it’s a perfectly logical concept to follow. Why then must automakers continue to bury such basic functions like climate control and radio selection within increasingly complex infotainment systems? There are many cars now on the road that require you to navigate screens to do something as simple as turn on a fan. Technology is good when it makes things better, but not when it’s used simply for the sake of using it.
6. Keyless operation systems
Here’s another cliché - out of sight out of mind. When you don’t need to physically use a key to operate your vehicle, it’s very easy to forget all about it. When you forget all about it, losing track of it becomes more likely. When you completely lose track of it, finding it becomes far more difficult.
I won’t deny the convenience of just walking to the car and having it unlock automatically and fire up at the simple push of a button. But the whole keyless operation thing seems to be solving a problem that never existed. You need to have it with you anyway - is it really that tough to just insert it into the car?
7. Low rooflines and high beltlines
These designs look good. Actually, they look great. The Chevrolet Camaro pulls this look off arguably better than any other production car currently on the road. You’ve probably also heard about the Camaro’s terrible visibility, and this is why.
Aside from the scrunched windows that result from such designs, major blind spots often develop around the A- and C-pillars. Supercar drivers have known about this for years - it’s one of the vices of living with such a machine - but now we’re seeing this trend appearing more and more on every day vehicles. The last thing we need on the roads of the world are inattentive drivers in cars they can hardly see out of.
Comments
I’ll be honest with you, some of those problems are things that I agree with, but more than half of this list, I just hate. You gotta move on with time and deal with it, whether you like it or not. The first 3 problems are just part of modern day cars. No.6 is not a problem at all, it’s just a quicker process that saves you more time than you think.
I’d still prefer pop up headlights than number 3..
Pop-Up lights were a really cool thing back in the day! ;)
I totally agree with the keyless thing. I prefer the key because I don’t have to stress about whether my car is off when I’m away from it.
Having the headlights on during the day is compulsory in my country so using DRL LED lights is actually better both for economy and for preserving your light bulbs
I agree with 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 7, but still, on somewhat smaller cars like the 4c and MX5 17-inch is the absolute limit, for the NA Miata it’s even beyond, but a 458 has 19” as standard, and they look good, then the 17”s on the F80 M3, not so good, some cars look good with 17” but bigger cars dont, heck for big trucks, SUVs and Off roaders, 20” is my limit, depending on what off roader, since there is someone in my neighbourhood who has 23” rims on his Hummer… also low roof lines indeed require you to give up visibility, but it’s good for looks and aerodynamics
I like big wheels and I cannot lie.
The plastic covers on engines are usually there to keep the engine noise down. But they are still stupid.
We dont need gesture volume control.. Just give me some kind of thing that I can turn to adjust the volume.. And yeah, keyless go isnt my thing as well. I would like to have a real key to lock my car properly. I mean what should you do if your key runs out of battery ?
I like my keyless entry on my gt86. Its just more convenient for me and i’ve never had any issue of forgeting about it or no issues with it at all
Agreed, DRLs have their place but I think they should be on the back lights too, high beltlines are a massive problem, I almost felt claustrophobic going from a 51 plate to a 16 plate.