Design Contest Ferrari Owners Site

I've always found the site to be on the slow side.

 

There's only one I saw that looked like an Enzo derivative. The email announcement I received had a red and silver front-engined car in the banner that looked pretty cool. Basically, I just saw those 2 cars. Not the 20 the site claimed.

The owner's site is just too slow.

 

I think the one I picked awhile back was the Zero P.

 

I found it. Looking now.

 

Some of them looked like cars designed by students who have absolutely no interest in automobiles whatsoever...

 

Chiaroscuro for me. The Ascari was second (really like the profile).

 

I'm for the 360's design, of course. But the top 2 I picked were the best executed designs of those choices, IMHO.

 

IMO they looked like student designs. None of them really blew me away. I think they need to hire this kid, Farina(or whomever he is) from the Rennteam site and forget the rest This is just one example of his stuff.
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Napolis-
Glad you asked.
Would be valuable to know more about the parameters of the competition.

All of the designs are (IMHO) very derivative of current/near past designs.
Nothing really very daring, all could be in production within <5 years.
Just another riff on today.

I studied transportation design for 5 years; none of these would have survived early crit for serious future thinking (say >10 years). Hey; they even look like cars!! When we did advanced designs, if our solutions looked this do-able, we were on our way to Printmaking 101.

I would rather have seen some designs (even just 1?) that broke through the envelope and really tested our predetermined and comfortable ideas of what a "Ferrari" could/might be like in 10-20 years; especially given the number of possible alternative fuel/power systems likely to become financially realistic in that timeframe, as well as the ever-increasing electronic componentry: engine & ride controls, navigation/guidance systems, political/environmental constraints, etc. Of course, that might have taken all the 'fun' out of the game.......

And now that I have firmly established my 'curmudgeons credentials', I do realize this is really just a PR exercise.....I expect to see at least one of these designs come available from Mattel Hot Wheels within 6 months.......

So Freeman/Ryalex/others, what's the view from people in the biz?

James
PS yes, the website is pathetically slow!!
It's a real slog to pull up all of the designs; even on >T1

 

Ditto, Where did they get these designers? I was not impressed.

 

A lot of the designs looked pretty derivative, but I think that's a necessity to some extent. A Ferrari should look like a Ferrari, a Corvette should be recognizable as a Corvette.

Some of them just looked like an existing, but modified design, but they had been stretched or squished out of proportion, or the cabin had been slid fore or aft too much, and they mostly just looked out of balance and non-useable by humans.

A few had some interesting lines, and interesting details, but none really had the whole package. The car they had shown as the teaser for the contest didn't look to be included, but I thought was the best. Looked 360/430ish, but the lower vent aft of the front wheel went diagonally upwards into a large Enzo-like side scoop in front of the rear wheel. That may have been the disallowed Pininfarina submission.

 

Don't forget , these are all the work of students . Personally , i was hoping for a bit better results. I was surprised that the schools represented didn't include Art Center College of Design and the Royal College of Art.
Just remember one thing , if it was easy , anyone could do it .Just like bellybuttons , everyone has an opinion. Everyone is certainly entitled to their opinion , but actually doing something like designing a Ferrari is a challenging task . There are probably less than 2000 profesional designers in the entire world working on automobile/truck design . Some more successful than others.
In the end the buying public is the final judge .These students gave it their best shot.

 

No, for example, the Enzo is fast but the design does nothing for me. I think I'm stuck in the 60s-80s.
I say, why not? Some of those designs were close to perfection and it gets to ronr's point below...

Agree, good points.

 

I was surprised by how little difference there was between the designs. They almost seem to come from the same school.

It's impossible to pick five out of that group. In my opinion, only two are acceptable. But that is just an opinion of course.

 

My sentiments exactly. I went thru all of the designs utilizing the slide show for each and came up with one. Being a fan of the Ferrari 2+2, the Ferrari 650 is definitely my choice for best overall design. Here's how my eyes viewed them: 1. okay; 2. too much bling (front view not too bad); 3. don't like back end (side view okay); 4. My choice; 5. would be second choice; 6. looks like a vette; 7. alas, a Ferrari with ground clearance to go over speed bumps! (but choppy appearance); 8. no comment; 9. front end looks like stylized BMW; 10. very stylized enclosed top fuel dragster; 11. older modified Z car or take off on Dodge Magnum; 12. Lamboish 13. is it coming or going? 14. might do well in the DP class in Rolex series; 15. futuristic except for Enzo front; 16. doesn't flow, choppy, "Viperish"; 17. different angles on current theme; 18. Chrysler Crossfire; 19. like front (like F1 noses - I have an SLK 350!) 20. two color doesn't do it for me

It's great that there are young people doing this type of thing, kudos to those who participated in this. . but perhaps my mindset on what a Ferrari should be and look like remains with those most popular/influential during my earlier car-crazy years and it's doubtful a mind change will ever occur.

Carol

 

I think we should ask Freeman Thomas about it - he is right person to justice this thread .

 

Thank you for the invite. Design and beauty is very subjective. In the end its all about great proportions and editing. Its like Sophia Loren vs Pam Anderson(Ferrari 250GTO vs 427 Cobra). I really enjoyed seeing the entries. Its really professional work for students. I also think its fantastic that Ferrari is asking our opinions.


Freeman

 

Great comparison !!!