Quote:
Originally Posted by Phase
I’m seeing a lot of newer cars having this “ jagged” rear where the sides of the car don’t fully extend as much as the roofline or even diffuser area. Is there a reason for having this shape versus it being straight and blunt and the same length in the back? Or is it just styling? I’ve also noticed the back of my Ioniq has a similar shape, versus just being straight vertical on the sides
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I'll guess that the Elantra is pushing the fascia out to extend the 5-MPH bumper where it will take the initial hit in a collision.
Mercedes is doing their upper overhang to recover as much pressure from the roofline as possible.
Any reason for not making the sides a clean 'chop' may date to 1927, when the Paris Dressmakers instituted the annual styling change, and design obsolescence. They can't stand for cars to 'look alike.'
Designers have told journalists that some of what they do is to create 'directionality' in a shape, like adding speed lines to a cartoon.
Aerodynamics demands that cars look identical, and fascias, front and rear are one of the few places where they can imbue corporate marque identity, to set their product apart from the competition.