Design Analysis.

[NitroX]

I was thinking today .. what was the best car design in history .. I suppose this is really a controversial issue, but, what do you think is the best car design in history?

[Ree]

if you're talking design as car's appearance (that is, not technological decisions/solutions) then I'd probably say for me it's Porsche 911 series. i very much like the idea of cars retaining the styling through all the years. Porsche definately has got a unique design, and for me it appeals a lot like no other brand. if i had to pick a single model only, that would be 993 GT2. it's just god damn fantastic looking! now what can i do, i'm a porsche fan...

btw there are lots of exceptional design classic cars (Zagato, Pininfarina etc). i'm pretty sure someone will mention a few.

[NitroX]

Well, any design you like really .. I'm more into modern conceptual designs but I don't really think everyone is. www.conceptcarz.com .. I also subscribe to magazine like Automobile who keep pictures, analyzing the designs and keep relatively up to date on all recent auto shows.

[Detroit_Diesel]

personally..

one of my favourite concepts is

1988 Cadillac Voyage

Front view

its hard to discuss design

everyone have a diferent view for everything

[Kitteh]

That Cadillac is hawt :o

[autopilot]

Its sorta neat, it looks like a 1993ish fleetwood; just a little more 'futuristic'.

[NitroX]

Here is a fantastic design. perhaps not the best looking, but very nice nonetheless ..



that would be the peugeot 4002. more here

[Detroit_Diesel]

theres also the coupe Cadillac Solitaire 1989

Rear Perspective view

i would love to drive somethin like this..

i just keep wonderin why they wont builded 'em

[Beast]

The looks of a car are a subjective, though I've always had a thing for cars that seemed to be ahead of their time.

Anyway, since I can't really select one specific car that I like most, I'll just drop a top 10 list.

In no particular order.

Lamborghini Miura [ link ]

Jaguar E-Type [ link ]

Datsun (Nissan) Fairlady Z (Yes, it was a Jaguar knockoff, but I think it's gorgeous in it's own right) [ link ]

Ferrari Testarossa [ link ]

Mercedes-Benz 300SL [ link ]

1969 Ford Mustang Mach1 [

link ]

1997 Aston Martin DB7 GT [ link ]

2000 Porsche Carrera Turbo (996) [ link ]

Citroen DS [ link ]

Aston Martin V12 Vanquish S [ link ]

Ofcourse, these are not the only cars I like, design wise. I'd have to mention the Ferrari F40, Dino & 250 GTO, Ford GT, Nissan Z-series, various Maseratis, the Mini Coopers (old and new), the Koenigsegg CC-R.. the list could go on and on.

[Mustang]

the Ford RS200 road car, oh what i beast

and

the Mini Cooper, orginal style

but for a balls and in design i would have to go with

the Ford GT40 mk2

[Beast]

The RS200 - great car, amazing acceleration - it can go from 0 to 120 mph in 7 seconds. The problem with the RS200 road cars though, was the fact that because the engine was working under so much pressure, it could only run for 30 minutes at a time or so. Anything more, and you'd need a complete rebuild.

And there is no GT40 MK2 - the one built by Ford now is just called Ford GT. The original was called GT40 because it was only 40 inches tall. The new one is 42 inches tall.

[TTR]

I know there isnt a GT40 Mk2 but seeing as you said it in inches it could have been GT40 + MK2 = 42

[Small Block]

Well, actually, there is/was a GT40 mkII...as well as a mkIII and mkIV!

The GT40 design evolved quite a bit while they were racing them, the baddest(and my favorite) one being the 427-powered, long-nosed mkIV.

[NitroX]

@ Beast: You have very good taste in cars. The Koenigsegg has to be one of the best designs around .. or maybe the new mc12, previously the mcc concept..



maserati mc12 .. this car was designed to rival the enzo in a respect, as ferrari now owns maserati, this car was influenced by the enzo .. personally, I think this definately outstips the enzo. it goes for about $750 000 .. far beyond the affordable range



original .. koenigsegg from '98



that is the 2001 cc .. very nice.



the koenigsegg v8 s .. 2002.



shots like these are picture perfect .. 2004 koenigsegg CCR .. I believe there are two versions of this model for sale.. details on www.koenigsegg.com



oh.. and check this



or

[Kruszchev]

My fav cars are,

Transport wehicles (Vans) The newer Dodge Vans

Pickups Dodge Ram 04 (Think it was the 04 model) whit a Hemi inside... Neat

Standard station Wagons Dodge Roadmaster (90s model)

Standard Cars Nissan Skyline Late 95-02 of the most beefed up versions

Sports 70s Corvette SWEET BODY, Honda NSX form teh 90s (AKA Acrura NSX in US, acura is a US made Honda) Luv the Butt ALL Mustangs exept the first ones (To normal in looks if they have a rood, cabs are nice tho) All Shelby cars

Super Cars, Ford GT40 and Ford GT... Think the MK 2 Ford Gt is a LM racing car... it looks sweet



KoningsEgg, or Koningens Egg, wich rughly means The Kings Egg... Swedish Super car... What i read in a car magazine its THE fastest car that anyone can buy, if you can afford it that is... think the topspeed is about 350-400kmh, wich is way faster than my Volvo 240 Estate... the SUPER ferraris (F50 or F60, dont remember the name) and sutch arent for sale for anyone... Ferrari selects who can buy them

[NitroX]

Here are the specs Kruszchev ..

0-60 mph 3.2 seconds.

1/4 Mile 9 ONDS, END SPEED 235 KM/H (146 MPH). seconds.

Top Speed 395 km/h | 245.5 mph



very smooth.

[K@VeRa]

my fav cars are

Lamborghini Diablo

Chev Camaro 69

Caddilac Eldorado 59 i think it is...

let me see...nah i forgot...u can blame me ...mleh

[Beast]

The Maserati MC12 is basically a rebodied Enzo. Maserati has been owned by Ferrari for a while now (which in turn is owned by the Fiat group, which also owns Lancia & Alfa Romeo. Maserati will move under Alfa Romeo soon, and Ferrari might be for sale, but that's just talk.). The MC12 was built out of leftover Enzo parts to compete in a touring car championship, whose rules require that road-legal homologated cars must be made for a car to be eligible for racing. It has the same V12 built in the Enzo, only slightly detuned (down to 630 bhp from 660), and it's also slightly slower then the Enzo (205 vs 217 mph and 3.8 seconds to 62 when compared to 3.6 that the Enzo can do).

If you look closer, you'll notice the similarities even further - the door shape for example is almost identical, and the similarities go on.

I'm a huge fan of the Koenigsegg - if I ever have the chance to meet Christian Von Koenigsegg I'll shake his hand for building what I think is one of the best cars available today - and not just because it's the fastest. There are 2 versions available, the "slower" CC 8S (655 hp) and the faster CC-R (806 hp). Keep in mind that the block is basically a Ford 4.7 liter V8 block, so those numbers are impressive.

@Small Block: Hm.. I didn't know that they actually gave MK names to the design evolutions. I know the design changed while they were still racing, but I didn't know that the designs were actually given MKII & so on names. My bad. Learn something new every day.

[Vermilionvirus]

the best styling ever put into a car was done by Harely Earl of GM.

i like all of his designs. He had his hand in most GM designs of the 50's. He was part of the corvette design, and was the man who first added fins on the back of cars like caddilacs

the most exotic was probably the Firebird III. I don't remember fully, but i think it was made in `58



My favorites were the `38 buick Y-job and the `53 lesaber. The Y-job was the worlds first dream car.

[PumaY2K]

mhhh, I liked the top 10 thingie Beast got in here... lets see, I'll do mine.

They don't have an order either...

1. Chevrolet Corvette C6. (2005) <- Since I saw it, I fell in love with it.

2. Shelby Mustang GT500. (1966) <- True american muscle!

3. Dodge Viper GTS/R. (2002) <- American muscle reborn lol.

4. Lamborghini Countach 5000QV. (1988) <- Real high technology for its age.

5. Peugeot 907. (2005) <- Awesome concept car, don't think it'll ever see the light but meh.

6. Pontiac Trans-Am. (1979) <- More muscle, awesome thing... in yellow please.

7. McLaren F1. (1993) <- Engineering at its most, an awesome machine.

8. Porsche 911 Turbo. (2003) <- Same as above, though the F1 is faster, heh.

9. Ford Mustang Cobra. (2003) <- New (2005) Mustang design aint that nice for me, and this car ruled.

10. Honda Civic SiR. (2000) <- I just loved that car ever since it appeared.

[Beast]

I've always been a fan of the oldschool Italian designers - Pinninfarina, Giugiaro, Bertone - all timeless designers that have always been ahead of their time. They seemed to have grasped the importance of aerodynamics and downforce long before the rest of the world. But, an interesting bit of trivia - the Lambo Miura was designed by a 21 or 22-year-old. So it's not just the big names that can come up with amazing designs.

The Miura was quite flawed though, but that's another story.

Anyway, I'm quite a fan of Chris Bangle's design. He's the one that has done the new BMWs. Although most will probably disagree, I think Bangle's work is very forward-thinking and has given BMWs something that they somewhat lacked in the past - identity and presence. Sure, they were always technically superb cars, but the E30 and E36 are not what I would call passionate cars. But I think that the new 6-series [ link ] and the pre-facelift 7-series [ link ] are really good looking and have a lot of presence. The new 5-series (and the M5) is pretty good looking too, and the 3-series is acceptable. I don't like the 1-series and X3 at all. The X5 is acceptable.

What I'm trying to say is - good design can come from anywhere - it doesn't mean that specific designers are always good - heck, the Hyundai Matrix [ link ] is styled by Pinninfarina, and is hideous. But the Ferrari Enzo is styled by a Japanese dude working for Pinninfarina - so you never really know where a good design is going to come from. New Aston Martins are absolutely stunning for example. The DB9, Vanquish and now AMV8 are trully the pinnacle of today's design.

[NitroX]

Hmm ..Did pininfarina design the Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione?

[Beast]

As far as I know, it was designed in-house, at the Alfa Romeo Style Centre. Gorgeous car, shame it never made production.

[NitroX]

Yeah .. too many great designs never make production .. kinda sad really

[Tony]

A few thoughts went through my mind and said... Amazon - Volvo Amazon!

[AcdTrip]

damn... that car kicks ass with the V8 of course