[/RANT/]
Browsing my facebook news feed today, I see a link to this:
2016 Chevrolet Chevelle SS Concept Predictions and Price
I guess it started with the Mustang redesign in 2005 (and then every iteration thereafter becoming more gaudy), or maybe it started with the PT cruiser? The 1994 Dodge Ram? Well somewhere along the way, the retro styling has made a comeback. And now, it is way overstaying its welcome.
At first, I was into it. I gushed over the 1994 Dodge Ram. Being 14 years of age at the time, I kept shoving pictures of the concept in my dad's face until he finally caved and bought one, brand new. 16 miles on the odometer, the first new vehicle in his life. I still have it, mint condition, with 60K babied miles on the odo. Then, after scrimping and saving, I bought my first vehicle at 17 - my sister's 1993 Ford Probe. When I brought it home, my mother's words were almost prophetic: "wow, look at it - no hard edges, so smooth and rounded - where else can automotive design go from here?" Well, apparently not that much further after all.
In the late 90s, we were headed fast to the jellybean look and most cars were leaning toward that styling, so I found the retro styling refreshing and unique. I grew up wanting to design cars for a living, and was obsessed with 40s-60s styling, so this was right up my alley. Fast forward, now we have the newest generation Mustang, which looks more like a '67 than the 64.5 from 2005. I wonder if they are going to evolve it to the Mustang II on the next "freshening"? Also, we have the Camaro, Charger, Challenger, Thunderbird, soon to be Firebird and now this monstrosity. Of course let us not also forget the Fiat 500, Mini, and VW Beetle.
Since the inception of the automobile, its styling underwent a natural, fairly stepwise progression up until the 1990s. Then, something happened. We hit a wall. We went the furthest that we could at the time - the jelly bean. Since then, sure there have been technological developments here and there - projection and then LED headlights, alloy wheels, better bumper materials, more use of aluminum, etc, but no real advancement in vehicular design with regard to function and efficiency. I mean, the war between engineering and aesthetics is supposed to be what automotive design is about, right? Apparrently not.
Now, what we seem to have is nostalgia gone awry, with more and more catering to the Joe-Dirtish lowest common denominator. Art, efficiency, and function are being replaced by nostalgic pseudo-machismo, but apparently that is what sells. Look, I am not arguing that all vehicles should look the same, and there is always room for nostalgic niche vehicles. However much like some of the classic movies over the past several years, the dollar's lure is just too great and crappy sequels get made with basically no attempt at advancing the plot. The new Chevelle SS is 2016's Dumb and Dumber To. Don't get me wrong, I know that the Ford Probe was not necessarily the pinnacle of design, but the sad fact is, after 22 years it would still look downright futuristic parked next to some of these abominations.
[/END RANT/]
Browsing my facebook news feed today, I see a link to this:
2016 Chevrolet Chevelle SS Concept Predictions and Price
I guess it started with the Mustang redesign in 2005 (and then every iteration thereafter becoming more gaudy), or maybe it started with the PT cruiser? The 1994 Dodge Ram? Well somewhere along the way, the retro styling has made a comeback. And now, it is way overstaying its welcome.
At first, I was into it. I gushed over the 1994 Dodge Ram. Being 14 years of age at the time, I kept shoving pictures of the concept in my dad's face until he finally caved and bought one, brand new. 16 miles on the odometer, the first new vehicle in his life. I still have it, mint condition, with 60K babied miles on the odo. Then, after scrimping and saving, I bought my first vehicle at 17 - my sister's 1993 Ford Probe. When I brought it home, my mother's words were almost prophetic: "wow, look at it - no hard edges, so smooth and rounded - where else can automotive design go from here?" Well, apparently not that much further after all.
In the late 90s, we were headed fast to the jellybean look and most cars were leaning toward that styling, so I found the retro styling refreshing and unique. I grew up wanting to design cars for a living, and was obsessed with 40s-60s styling, so this was right up my alley. Fast forward, now we have the newest generation Mustang, which looks more like a '67 than the 64.5 from 2005. I wonder if they are going to evolve it to the Mustang II on the next "freshening"? Also, we have the Camaro, Charger, Challenger, Thunderbird, soon to be Firebird and now this monstrosity. Of course let us not also forget the Fiat 500, Mini, and VW Beetle.
Since the inception of the automobile, its styling underwent a natural, fairly stepwise progression up until the 1990s. Then, something happened. We hit a wall. We went the furthest that we could at the time - the jelly bean. Since then, sure there have been technological developments here and there - projection and then LED headlights, alloy wheels, better bumper materials, more use of aluminum, etc, but no real advancement in vehicular design with regard to function and efficiency. I mean, the war between engineering and aesthetics is supposed to be what automotive design is about, right? Apparrently not.
Now, what we seem to have is nostalgia gone awry, with more and more catering to the Joe-Dirtish lowest common denominator. Art, efficiency, and function are being replaced by nostalgic pseudo-machismo, but apparently that is what sells. Look, I am not arguing that all vehicles should look the same, and there is always room for nostalgic niche vehicles. However much like some of the classic movies over the past several years, the dollar's lure is just too great and crappy sequels get made with basically no attempt at advancing the plot. The new Chevelle SS is 2016's Dumb and Dumber To. Don't get me wrong, I know that the Ford Probe was not necessarily the pinnacle of design, but the sad fact is, after 22 years it would still look downright futuristic parked next to some of these abominations.
[/END RANT/]
Last edited:
