car design thread

I remember Mac saying that the Cumberford and Mott both went underground as they were afraid the GM might take some nasty retribution if they were found.

In what must have been 1999 I brought up the Ford banner in the reflecting pool story to Chuck Jordan. I was thinking it was a clever prank (maybe not in good conservative corporate taste). At this point Chuck was well retired and way more than 30 years after the event; he still no humor in their prank. Maybe the inquisition that went with GM trying to find out the culprit(s) left deep scars.

 

It’s been my understanding over the years that the Ford logo in the lake was the work of one of the Summer Programs. Cumberford had nothing to do with that.

 

A RETAKE ON THE C8 CORVETTE from **********.com


Design: The 2020 Corvette
JUNE 7, 2021
It's only after only a year or two but, hey, seeing them out on the road is not the same as going by pictures.

First of all I’ve seen damn few of the convertibles with the top down. I don’t know if they have a problem. But secondly, depending on the color, they can look terribly inept.

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I had a rethink about the Corvette after driving the Lexus LC500h, a sports GT which starts at close to $90,000 USD. And after hearing that demand for the 2020 -21 Corvette is so high (partly due to shortages from, first a strike, then a pandemic and finally a shortage of semiconductor chips) I realize they are now regarded as precious commodities, some going for $80,000.

I think it was priced too low originally. It should be $80,000 base and then have premium models with carbon fiber bodywork, and a hybrid, $20,000 more for each of those options. Not a plug-in but a full hybrid that’s got regenerative braking (every time you use the brakes hard, it helps recharge the battery).

But most of all, it needs a simplification of the styling. No more pointless creases in the body or scoops with a screen that looks like a cheap plastic kitchen strainer, or floor grate. Everything added from the frill-free clay onwards was a mistake.

Maybe ship five clays from the first go-round to outside design consultants and see what they can do. I fear its original sales boom was mis-read due to it being the first mid-engine Corvette on the market. Pent-up demand. But you look back on it, there’s no reason to be enthusiastic about its stylistic design.

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Mechanically, it will have to be a hybrid to make the grade in 2030 legally, and it will help if it has a refined exterior. I have yet to drive one yet but feel the driving is meeting expectations. What is needed now is styling simplification and a mechanical upgrade to where it’s half way to being full electric, the sooner the better.

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Full electric can come when internal combustion cars are outlawed. I doubt Ford will or Stellantis will get it together (though a one off concept done in 2005, the Firepower, using a Viper frame would have been a sophisticated response to the Corvette).

In sum, if GM redesigns the present Corvette stylistically and electronically, they can count on no domestic competition from the others composing The Big Three. So my take is: GM, be happy with what you did for 2020, but there’s no resting on your laurels–the Corvette has to evolve…and the clock is ticking…

Let us know what you think in the Comments.




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THE AUTHOR: Wallace Wyss has been an invited design lecturer to the Art Center College. He is a co-host on Autotalk, broadcast from KUCR FM Riverside.

 

Thanks for the vote of confidence!

I'd like to do something similar but I need to find the time. My daughter grew her YouTube channel to 100K in one year. The amount of time it takes to run a successful channel is no joke. Lol, she works on it every single minute when she isn't in school.

 

Yes, and they can provide a comfortable income with the right sponsorship.

 

i believe the Chinese are finally starting to find their own design vision.
They will be a force to be reckoned with, sooner rather than later, IMO.
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The Geely Vision Starburst. The name however........

 

Too busy and complex for me, but if judging in context to todays design aesthetics, its one of the better looking cars.

 

I’ll give it a shot but only if you promise to be my monthly Pro Speaker!

 

You’re on !

 

I really like it, but I'm still not sold on all the hybrid/electric technology. As these kinds of cars age, I can see the DIY enthusiast having a great deal of difficulty in doing any of their own work on them.

Agreed.

I really like Ford at the moment. Again, I'm not sold on the hybrid/electric technology, but as utilitarian vehicles and daily commuters, Ford takes a lot of beating. I've been impressed with my Edge.

I'm available too.

Anthony: "And now that we've heard from John, we'll next hear how this design is viewed by a complete philistine. Andrew?"

Andrew: "I like side strakes."

Anthony: "Ok... thanks for that. Moving on..."​

All the best,
Andrew.

 

a little something from Hagerty this morning; pretty interesting journey from rubble to riches...
I must admit, I had never heard of Luigi Segre - How did I not know this man?

https://www.hagerty.com/media/automotive-history/the-secret-agent-who-created-the-karmann-ghia/?utm_source=SFMC&utm_medium=email&utm_content=Friday_DailyDriver&hashed_email=9098eb71dbb5872ceda0b64fcb6d9d9fde5cc7cf13e4a1a5eb543a3e1db70b5c

 

What a great story, thanks.
I wasn't aware of him neither. So many unsung heroes.

 

Was a judge at the Cincinnati Concours this last weekend and saw 2 extreme ends of the vehicle size/package scale.

Rolls Phantom Extended WB Limelight Edition at 236" OAL 149" WB
vs.
1964 Scootacar Mk II
87" OAL no WB figure!

Both British

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Do I see a deck lid to hood length ratio present here?

 

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Not on the Roller but close on the Scootacar.

 

Anyone remember the Cizeta Moroder?
https://vintageracecar.com/cizeta-moroder-v16t-italian-musicianship-and-v16-thunder/?fbclid=IwAR1aCYWKJG7TRQM5bQX5bc6Ijsz9fgCMOTENz69E7Oi3_KfmeefUVuLlK5Y

 

I don't think I knew where the Moroder part of the name came from.

 

I feel love …



…not really, LOL. Never liked that car even if it was Gandini.

 

As a teenager I loved it.

 

Bugatti brings four turbo's; ya gotta go four extra cylinders!

 

I was remiss in not posting this with the Cizeta Moroder post

 

The Good: Better with the sharper lines than the Diablo as reworked by Chrysler.

The Bad: Too big; 16-cylinder was a bit over-the-top.

The Ugly: Too many typically ‘80s details.

Cool tune by another Italian composer, Ennio Morricone.

 

Posted in FChat News: https://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/news/ferrari-daytona-shooting-brake-hommage-shows-off-design-evolution.2293/
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Includes an xlnt series of images showing alternative profiles.....let the argument/discussion begin!

 

love the rendering/sketch, nice and shiny
the design? At first glance it looks Corvette to my eye. Same form language + flares.
I'll find the front & rear views

 

Looks Corvette probably because similar to the Eckler/Greenwood wagon body kits for ‘70s ‘vettes