21st Century Cars all look the same
#1
21st Century Cars all look the same
I came across various car photos online and couldn't believe how common the design and execution of 21st century vehicles are...especially from the Japanese brands...and it's not just local or year preference. The vehicles below are 1) a 2007 Camry (Vietnam), 2) a 2005 Altima (U.S.) and a 3) 2008 Accord (U.S.)
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varietydesigners
#3
They actually have a Camry in Vietnam?
There's only so much manufacturers can do to differentiate their bread-and-butter models (family sedans) without alienating their customers. It appears like there are trends that work, and those who don't follow that trend lose the battle.
In 1990 Honda released a more rounded Accord compared to the boxy styling of the previous gen, and it worked. Toyota followed suit and gave the 92 Camry curvier bumpers and it worked too.
There's only so much manufacturers can do to differentiate their bread-and-butter models (family sedans) without alienating their customers. It appears like there are trends that work, and those who don't follow that trend lose the battle.
In 1990 Honda released a more rounded Accord compared to the boxy styling of the previous gen, and it worked. Toyota followed suit and gave the 92 Camry curvier bumpers and it worked too.
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#9
I see what your saying and those photos make a damn good point, but it doesn't apply to all currently mass produced vehicles.
Scion XB is a pretty unique looking vehicle, as well as the Smart car, Corvette, & Hummer. Most anyone can easily spot and recognize these models based on styling alone.
Scion XB is a pretty unique looking vehicle, as well as the Smart car, Corvette, & Hummer. Most anyone can easily spot and recognize these models based on styling alone.
Last edited by TCM 01 CL-S; 07-23-2008 at 02:58 AM.
#10
Originally Posted by Will Y.
Get glasses. In post 6, it's an Accord.
I see a Corvette in the first post... did you miss it? You probably need glasses It says image hotlinked.
#15
Originally Posted by onebadna1nsx
Ummmm... no I know what I see...
I see a Corvette in the first post... did you miss it? You probably need glasses It says image hotlinked.
I see a Corvette in the first post... did you miss it? You probably need glasses It says image hotlinked.
Will, onebadna1nsx's post was about minute past Type34's updated post (#6). So they were effectively posting at the same time.
#17
of course they all look similar.
A car is little more than a steel box on wheels and a plastic interior.
Everyone works with pretty much the same materials, has to conform to the same gov't regulations (emissions, capacity, CAFE, safety, etc) is targeting similar mass-market buyers and trying to minimize costs by buidiing to "platforms" within a product line. Within all these constraints they also have to make this box reasonably aerodynamic (i.e. Shape Limited).
You add it all up and .... duh .... lots of cars will have simlar shapes. Only a few design ques set one car off against another within most market segments.
A car is little more than a steel box on wheels and a plastic interior.
Everyone works with pretty much the same materials, has to conform to the same gov't regulations (emissions, capacity, CAFE, safety, etc) is targeting similar mass-market buyers and trying to minimize costs by buidiing to "platforms" within a product line. Within all these constraints they also have to make this box reasonably aerodynamic (i.e. Shape Limited).
You add it all up and .... duh .... lots of cars will have simlar shapes. Only a few design ques set one car off against another within most market segments.
#18
Meh, try comparing some of the 80's sedans. From a distance try telling apart a Chevy Monte Carlo, a Buick Regal, a Crysler LeBaron, and a Buick Grand National. Or take a look at the 80's Maxima against a Camry. Cars have always had a tendency to look alike. If an automaker finds a design that works the others copy them, if you make something different, you risk the public really hating it and you wind up getting crushed in sales.
#19
These threads always makes me laugh.
YES car designs are similar. It happens. People like curtain things and car manufacturers all are in tune with that. So some design elements may be similar. That said, if you look at 4 different cars of similar class and find no similarities then you are blind.
YES car designs are similar. It happens. People like curtain things and car manufacturers all are in tune with that. So some design elements may be similar. That said, if you look at 4 different cars of similar class and find no similarities then you are blind.
#20
Originally Posted by F23A4
If that particular Camry were stateside, you may be ballin' here. That is a nice looking Camry; WTH with the one here???
#21
Originally Posted by TzarChasm
if you make something different, you risk the public really hating it and you wind up getting crushed in sales.
BTW that Corvettaccord totally rocks.
#22
Originally Posted by TzarChasm
Meh, try comparing some of the 80's sedans. From a distance try telling apart a Chevy Monte Carlo, a Buick Regal, a Crysler LeBaron, and a Buick Grand National. Or take a look at the 80's Maxima against a Camry. Cars have always had a tendency to look alike. If an automaker finds a design that works the others copy them, if you make something different, you risk the public really hating it and you wind up getting crushed in sales.
#23
Originally Posted by RaviNJCLs
These threads always makes me laugh.
YES car designs are similar. It happens. People like curtain things and car manufacturers all are in tune with that. So some design elements may be similar. That said, if you look at 4 different cars of similar class and find no similarities then you are blind.
YES car designs are similar. It happens. People like curtain things and car manufacturers all are in tune with that. So some design elements may be similar. That said, if you look at 4 different cars of similar class and find no similarities then you are blind.
#25
Originally Posted by AznX TL
damn, i got ripped off on my accord, should of gotten the corvette aero package
#26
Originally Posted by RaviNJCLs
That's an Accord in your Avatar....hell I thought it was an Altima.
here maybe this will help you see better
Last edited by AznX TL; 07-23-2008 at 02:43 PM.
#28
I think there are five versions of the Camry. The one that they have above (from Vietnam and also sold in SG and Austrailia under a diff name) is the sharpest. I think the exterior of that car is much nicer than the accord, but anyway yeah I agree that they all look similar these days, but not too much they can do really.
#29
Originally Posted by I Go To Costco
They actually have a Camry in Vietnam?
#31
Yeah... they DO LOOK SIMILAR!!!
OMG the CAMRY, ACCORD AND ALTIMA ALL HAVE FOUR WHEELS!!! AND FOUR DOORS!!! AND THEY ALSO ALL HAVE WINDSHIELDS!!!
Cars (especially in the sedan segment) have always shared common design themes - look at the old BMWs, Benzs, and Volvos. They were all boxy as hell.
Imo, its not a bad idea for cars to share common silhouettes. I mean think back to all the cars that stepped "outside the box" in terms of design. Here's one that'll make you throw up a little.
OMG the CAMRY, ACCORD AND ALTIMA ALL HAVE FOUR WHEELS!!! AND FOUR DOORS!!! AND THEY ALSO ALL HAVE WINDSHIELDS!!!
Cars (especially in the sedan segment) have always shared common design themes - look at the old BMWs, Benzs, and Volvos. They were all boxy as hell.
Imo, its not a bad idea for cars to share common silhouettes. I mean think back to all the cars that stepped "outside the box" in terms of design. Here's one that'll make you throw up a little.
#33
I don't think car companies do it to be mean, they must have learned that stepping too far
outside of the box alienates business. What I find strange is that while you'd expect the
lesser brands to imitate the better selling brands, Hyundai had a car that looks like the
current Accord a year or two before it cam out.
outside of the box alienates business. What I find strange is that while you'd expect the
lesser brands to imitate the better selling brands, Hyundai had a car that looks like the
current Accord a year or two before it cam out.
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