Sorry, but the sportscar segment (Ferrari, Corvette, Lambo, et al) is about appearance as much as anything. Fast windshields are the price of entry for the time being. So you'll have to deal with it.
Dumb to automatically exclude x% of buyers due to design criteria. First thing I do with a potential sport car is sit in it. Can’t tell you the number of times I’m out of the car in 60 seconds. Ferraris, all Lambos, Honda 2000, Miata, Fiat, Corvette and on and on. Cool looking cars, but I’m not buying one I can’t drive. Sent from my iPhone using FerrariChat
Im only 1" shorter than you, but never had a problem fitting in either my F355 or my CS vette. The only two cars i can recall being too tall to fit in are the Countach and a first Gen Miata (with the top up) Otherwise Ive been comfortable.
As the gals say, dat one inch makes all the difference in the world. Again, I’m 6’2” and long waisted. When I sit upright in a F355, with the seat as low as it can go, my eyes hit the top of the windshield, coupe or convertible. BTW, I have NEVER had this problem in any Porsche I have ever sat in. I think they make sport cars, don’t they? [emoji6] Sent from my iPhone using FerrariChat
Someone mention focus groups? EPORT GM says focus groups loved its Chevy HD styling Here's how the Silverado HD design got the green light Image Unavailable, Please Login ZAC PALMER Feb 8th 2019 at 1:45PM Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Heavy Duty truck designs continue to get more outlandish. Chevrolet shocked everybody with its Silverado HD a couple of months ago, and now we get to see all the designs in person at the Chicago Auto Show. If you paid any attention to the outcry and internet comments surrounding this angry face, you'll know it wasn't exactly welcomed with open arms. We asked Hugh Milne, Silverado marketing manager, about what Chevrolet thinks of all the criticism leveled at it, and how the HD ended up this way in the first place. "How much of that reaction is from people who actually buy these trucks? I read all that stuff, I hear about all that. All of our research that we ever did on this, we're talking to Heavy Duty buyers of all brands. This front end and this design over the top was one of our best-ranked designs," Milne told us. So in short, focus groups is how we got here. Most car companies use focus groups to help make design decisions. The court of public opinion doesn't seem to agree with those focus groups for the time being on the many Silverado HD grilles, though. Comments sections across all of our previous posts and the internet writ large are littered with snarky remarks toward the HD. Related: Chicago Auto Show photo gallery: All of the grilles Chevrolet does appear cognizant of the controversy surrounding the truck. Milne posits that a lot of the negativity surrounding it won't make much of a difference anyway, questioning where the reaction is coming from. It's impossible to know if heavy duty truck buyers specifically are upset with the design, but positive reactions are hard to come by from onlookers. Still, he has a point, because truck buyers certainly appear to enjoy tough-looking designs. If any segment is going to like this face, it's going to be this one. As we look upon the array of grilles up close and in person, they're not as offensive as the pictures make them out to be. The LT trim initially shown is still a bit egregious, but the High Country is much classier. None of them fix the double stacked headlight design on every truck, but you can do a lot to change the look depending on the trim you choose. Regardless of which side of the argument you fall on the Silverado HD, we at least have an understanding of where it came from. Focus groups and market research don't always produce a pretty vehicle. The Aztek happened, and many other misfires followed in its footsteps. Perhaps the "top ranked" designs in research don't always translate to good designs in practice. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Nice way to hide behind the claim of the clinic but wonder what the raw data really showed. Favorable could have been certain features like the steps in the side of the bed and the rear bumper while the overall aesthetics got a lukewarm reception. I guess the design could have been worse.
I believe they took their inspiration from BBQ grills and the focus group was hungry at the time. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
you only need to look at the backround auto show photo; they were "inspired" by all those mid & high rise buildings of the Big City! 12 stories, no waiting - grab the elevator to the penthouse!
The only focus groups are the ones where they are focused on their checkbook. If they’re willing to pay, I’m willing to listen. Sent from my iPhone using FerrariChat
Truck design inspired by skyscrapers Atleast they have a couple of nice cars on the Alfa stand. I like the new color on the speciale Italia Alfa 4C and the Sauber F1 Alfa at Chicago this week. Image Unavailable, Please Login
While discussing cars with strakes in another thread, I happened across this one, the Fina Sport Convertible (Coachwork by Vignale). I don't think I've ever seen or heard of it before. So I learned something new about cars today. https://www.hemmings.com/blog/2018/07/25/the-coachbuilt-hot-rod-fina-sport-convertible-prototype-emerges-from-restoration/ https://www.bonhams.com/auctions/24811/lot/39/ The Fina was produced from 1953 to 1954. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fina-Sport Image Unavailable, Please Login
He sold it already?? I met the owner at the Milwaukee Masterpiece last August. . Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
That was a great video. Amazing to see the amount of talent from the designers, clay modelers and color and trim team, especially on something so familiar as a 911. Nothing overlooked..
Here's a fun article imagining if today's vehicles were designed decades ago. https://www.automobilemag.com/news/modern-cars-retro-design-ruben-ooms-art-paintings-photos/ Image Unavailable, Please Login
I can absolutely see why the unwashed masses would love this. Same reason they love gaudy jewelry, tattoos, clothing, etc...
I’m not a big fan of focus groups. I’ve ridden with customers in their vehicles, visited with them in their homes, and sat in countless classroom like surroundings. I’ve sat through endless versions. I don’t believe they were an asset for the design team. Having said that, the Ford Taurus and the Pontiac Aztek were both bombs in their respective clinics. The Taurus wound up being a huge hit.........the Aztek..well It’s about ‘reach’ vs ‘appeal’ Too much reach, and the customers get uncomfortable. Too safe a design/great appeal and it’s probably too much like todays product. Getting the right balance Is what separates the winners from the ‘also ran’ group It’s easy to get it wrong, so today most companies want to play it safe.
