What makes a car "beautiful"?

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LouDawg

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I subscribe to the belief that looks are, for the most part, subjective. And I'm usually amused or annoyed when I hear people make comments about how this car is "ugly" or that car is "beautiful", since it truly is in the eye of the beholder.

But I got to thinking (I know, I know...dangerous). Are there universal elements of automotive beauty? There are so many outrageous designs out there now, some of which are gorillas' abortions of automotive design to this individual. However some people seem to like them. And of course some people believe that certain brands are just beautiful...period.

So what types of things make an automobile almost universally beautiful, with respect to appearances? Are there timeless features? What tangibles and intangibles are there, things such as symmetry, balance, angles and curves, brand/model, features, size, performance, etc.? What kinds of things would judges at car shows be looking for in the "best looking" category?
 
I'm not really going to answer your question, but one thing that I also noticed is that we get conditioned, used to certain looks over time. It happens to me, too. When I first see some designs, I ofter feel like barfing. But then, when I see it more and more, especially in person, I get used to them and with time even begin to like them. I went through such a transformation with Audi A4 B6. When I first saw it in pictures, I quickly ran out and bought one of the last B5 because I thought the B6 looked horrible. Fast forward 6 years. Now, I wouldn't mind driving a B6 at all. The B7 on the other hand, I still haven't gotten used to.
 
Id say so... though i appreciate ferrari, maserati, etc., I consider a w123 MB design to be an absolutely beautiful car.

A bit more sweeping, my 04 saab 9-3 is, IMO a great look on a car.

IMO, it is totally subjective - some may dislike subarus, I like that they look different from any other car on the road, with a drawn, aerodynamic, yet high riding platform. Then again, the Honda civic looks different from most other cars too, and IMO, it is ugly.

We have a toyota previa. it is an ovoid take ona vehicle. Odd? perhaps... but we think of it more as humerous. Sure beats an old Lumina APV, IMO.

Getting used to a car's look is a big part too... sentiments change in time.

JMH
 
Quote:

Beauty can be measured by considering Durability, Reliability and Fuel Economy.

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Hard to argue that.
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well for me i think cars a truly a work of art, everybody would agree that exotic sports car are just beautiful! i think its just when you look at a car you can tell if the design engineers took 2months to design a car or 2years.color, symetry, size all pay a factor in eye candy!!
 
I heard a Rolls Royce designer talking about this on an auto show on speedvision. Well he went on to say that symmetry is one of the most important things with the design of their cars and that the height of the wheels and tires should equal half the height of the car itself. Thats why their tires are so big and that most tire manufacturers don't even make them for their size.
 
The ones that are in very decent shape that I can purchase well below market value. Can't resist a beautiful car like that!

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What makes a car beautiful? A great designer.

I've always thought that the original Mustang was one of the best. It has nothing to do with how it runs or how much it costs... just sitting there that car was gorgeous. Taking off from a stop light it was more gorgeous. I'd drive behind it to look at the taillights.

A lot of Japanese brands (not all) went into the mold of "generic Japanese" for many of their products. It's what makes a car an appliance. But there are a lot of appliance buyers out there.

Over the years it seems that Ford has always paid more attention to looks than their GM counterparts. Whatever it was, I always liked the Mustang, the original Taurus, the various F-150s, etc. Anything GM did just made we want to puke. All the dreadfully ugly Buicks, Chevrolets, and who can possibly like Pontiac with all the wavy plastic body panels screwed on. Sheesh!

Then GM hired Bob Lutz and things have started to turn around. The Solstice, the newer Buicks, just to name two. I could actually be seen in the newer Buicks, and I don't think it's all because I'm getting older.

Anyway, when Ford hires a J. Mays design studio to come up with works of art, I think that goes a long way. Yes, of course it's very subjective... but the Mustang never would have had a 40-year history if it hadn't been for the great design work that went into it.
 
Graceful, well integrated and proportionate lines do it for me. IMO, nobody does it like Aston Martin. A DB9 Volante is gorgeous from any angle and to me epitomizes what an exclusive, well-designed sports car should look like. Nothing garish, nothing extreme....just classic lines from nose to tail.
610x224_The_Cars_DB9_specification_453672e5-cfed-418f-8dfc-41fdf9c6d9d0.jpg
 
lets not start bashing companies i agree japanesse designs seems a little plain and ford make some nice looking cars, but not liking Pontiac WOW, i'm biased but i have always loved pontiacs' designs they are just different from every other car maker....awesome you will fall in love with the new trans am!
 
I am thinking more and more that nothing can be considered beautiful unless it can be considered ugly. Any design that embodies any principle or aesthetic to enough of an extent that it can even be noticed, much less loved, will inevitably offend someone.

Of course, that's not to say *any* offensive design can necessarily be considered beautiful...
 
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