Torque talk: Car Design

Within the last century of motoring, the look of the motor car has undergone many stylistic revolutions.

There have also been key figures, who have given us fresh, beautiful, striking, and sometimes controversial designs.

Harley Earl of General Motors was a pioneer for big fins and chrome during Detroit’s halcyon days of the 1950s. Leonardo Fioravanti, Marcello Gandini and Giorgetto Giugairo gave us some of the most beautiful sports cars ever built, and the likes of Ian Callum and Henrik Fisker have given us unique and handsome looking cars released 20 years ago which still look modern today.

These days, things seem to be rather different. While it is rare to find a modern car which one could rightly describe as ugly, there seems to be hardly any dynamic individualism when it comes to mainstream car design. The mid-sized SUV segment is a case in point. Put the current competition next to each other side on, and the term “separated at birth” springs to mind.

Yes, safety and sustainability standards must be met. The only downside of this is that most cars are becoming less of a statement of individuality. Sure, many cars today look good, but they can’t hold a candle to a classic Jaguar
E-Type or Ferrari 250 GTO.