car design thread

I generally also prefer smaller wheels, but not always. I think with cars getting so large now they also need huge wheels now compared to the 15-16 inch that was normal back in the 1960's - 1980's. It's all in relation to the size of the car. I do not like oversized wheel openings and prefer a flared out lip most of the time as opposed to a flat edged opening as it looks more aggressive. Ital Design was very good at this. Gandini's rear openings were flamboyant looking to me.

I like the top one Jim. Almost Opel like with nice flaring on the wheels. Execution is more important than size.

 

Tires and wheels - what makes a car a car. For some of this discussion go back to the early 1950s for the inverted bathtub designs where the wheel/tire was virtually hidden and not really part of the visual. The sketches tend to always overstate the wheel size - there is design in the wheels versus the black stripe.

I'll pick up on something that Tom said, execution of the treatment and relationship of the rest of the body to the tire/wheel combination is more important that the exact wheel diameter.

 

Question: Are customers the ones pushing bigger and bigger wheels? Some of this stuff looks like rapper grill work.

 

Initially, yes. People were buying larger aftermarket wheels before they were offered by the car companies. The car companies saw that they were leaving money on the table and dove in. Finally being persuaded (by money) to do what the designers had been pushing for since the beginning of time.
Things have maybe gone too far for some consumers who do not want to pay for expensive giant tires on their economy cars.

 

I seem to recall this started with the Escalades.

 

Very very nice.

 

I think the key is you notice the car first, not the tires.

 

Amazing how deep the side glass is and how shallow the body side is compared to the current designs.
The 'butterfly roof' in the third picture looks like it would barely support the weight of a butterfly! Yet those wheels in the third picture look like the would support 5,000 pounds!!!
Thank you for sharing those images.

Is the first picture an Oldsmobile theme?

 

Forgot to mention "stance" as part of the tire/wheel relationship to the body. This is the body side to the tire/wheel - is the body draping over the tire/wheel so it looks like it is tucked back in the cave or is the body side and the inboard side of the tire/wheel on nearly the same plane?

 

Please credit that one.

 

That coupe sure is a clean design. It looks like GM was looking to use some of the European tooling?? I suppose even today you could cover the larger window pillars with glass for that greenhouse effect.

 

Dodge went from worst to first in '94, and they managed to top that on the followup. The first time I saw one I had to have it. Still the most beautiful pickup ever. Mine was a 2002 Quad Cab 4x4 Sport, to which I added a 4" Rancho lift and other goodies. Next pickup is the new Ford Raptor, though.
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Hahaha

 

I don't get the dislike for the new Alfa Giulia. I have zero need for a sporty sedan, and my garage is full with two Ferraris, so I've decided to spend considerable bucks on a carport with a metal roof that matches my house so it can sit in the shade beside the Ford Raptor I'm getting. Another love-at-first-sight experience, and of course I want the Quadrifoglio.
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It's pretty hot for a crossover!

 

I feel for anybody who gets an Alfa here in the Chicago area. City of Chicago Police will ticket any car without a front license plate. So stupid.

 

I love the chassis on the Giulia and overall the design is very nice if not BMWish. I don't like the angry insect front end very much and hope they don't slap that on the front of the next Alfa Romeo F-type Jaguar size sportscar. Also I hope they don't put that on the front of the 4C refresh coming in 2019.

 

I am from the Chicago suburbs and don't have front plates on any of my cars. Never get pulled over. I do drive in the city and also never get pulled over. Maybe if you park downtown and have no plate they will ticket you(or run into an angry cop).