The state of automotive design for the masses

I don't know if it's me or what, but off late, I do find quite a few cars to be weird. And the funny part is, people actually think it is cool and stuff and buy it in the dozens. What has happened to great automotive design. Practical yet great looking cars like for example the Beetle are rare to spot nowadays. It's like if you are buying your car at a price, don't expect great design to be part of the package!

Let's start with this, The Suzuki Swift. Yes its curvy, can be modified to one's whim and fancy, has a somewhat cute front end, but then go to the back, its squat rear is kind of weird. Quirky, but somewhat cool too. It does leave an indelible impression, but I would not call it a great looking car or anything, though it does carry of certain character, the cheeky one.

Then came along the i10 and I was aghast. Just look at the front it. It's oriental. Chinese eyes, you think that looks great??? The rear is fine though. Normal. But the interior is really a great place to be, so owning an i10 is a good thing, because you will be seeing the good part of it rather than the weird front end.

Suzuki then launched the A-star, it's got check written all over the front and that is good. Interiors are cramped but fun, specially that pop up tacho. But go behind and, you are for a shocker. It looks like the hulk sat on a Swift rear end! Really, where did the designers go wrong?? Did they get drunk??

Another similarly design gone wrong, I don't understand what your car is trying to say piece is the New Honda city. Amazing front end. That grille, headlights, all exemplify Honda design. Then we walk to the back and all we see is a stubby boot with those slightly cross tail lights. It just doesn’t seem to match with the front end!

Similarly goes the Honda CR-V. I just don't understand what people see in that gaping front grille. Everything else in that car is good, in fact great. But the front end is nothing short of Horrendous. I would rather buy a more simple looking Mitsubishi Outlander than buy this (Another reason for this being the 10 speaker including subwoofer Rockford Fosgate music system in the Outlander :P )

Talking about butts gone wrong we do have the Indigo and the Swift Dzire there too, but you know what? Both these butts actually exude some richness with the chrome and stuff. I may be making a blunder here, but the Dzire actually kind of reminds me of The Bangle (older BMW 7 series with the big boot). Isn't that a good thing??

The Honda Civic though has been one of those cars that fit perfectly from bumper to bumper. That sharp aerodynamic front end, a simple linear monoform design that ends with jet fighter afterburner style tail lights, just combine to scream futuristic that you might just about expect the car to take off! Interiors are ultra cool with the dual level display, really it looks like a car that's back from the future. You want more future by the Civic Hybrid which comes with those completely covered alloy wheels.

Another design that has pretty much captivated my heart is the Fiat Linea. I have to say it's just so elegant that I could literally marry it! It's not the kind of hot ramp model, but the madamoiselle in an elegant dress. There is certain grace and elegance to the Maserati inspired front and the simple vast rear end. Those Audi style side windows that stretch from pillar to pillar just add to it all and then sit inside, the dash design just mersmerises you. It's a little retro styled, but just totally classy. This is a car that you will love to see out of your window everyday, parked outside your house, pretty much like the ad on TV goes. It is I have to say, one of the best Italian designs for the masses, after cars like the 500 (old and new) and stuff. :D

And amidst all this I just realised that the new Toyota Corolla is also a pretty sensibly designed car. People who know me will know that I am not a fan of Toyotas, but it's pretty simple, almost plain, but has those hints of Camry here and there with those new headlights, tail lamps and front grille. Hey being a baby Camry is surely a good thing, especially when the Camry is considered to be a baby Lexus; You can't be far of from well designed luxury right??

I have to quote, the new i20 makes a much better case for itself in terms of design than the i10. It's pretty sporty looking with all those creases and curves, which also remind me of the BMW 1 hatch.

Ahh well I've said what I want to say, but I guess all this ranting will fall on deaf ears, because as I speak, the i10 and A-star continue to rake in sales in big numbers for their mommies, as customers will flock to buy these cars…

New dawn.....

Within the next 48 hours, something that one would have never imagined, something that Martin Luther King could only dream for is going to happen. The most powerful post is being given to a man of Kenyan Origin. A man who is technically black, but as I see it as American as any other American. Obama's father was Kenyan while his mother was of English and Welsh Descent. So theoretically speaking he is not of American descent. Yet the fact that he has climbed to the top seat of power talks about the incredible person he must be. But I am guessing this happened only because he was a Democrat and not a Republican.

For one I can say that, his varied heritage and the experience of growing up on so many cultures will help him understand the world so much better than all those people who throughout the years have hardly had any idea of what the rest of the world looked like and yet, insisted on being the supreme power poking their noses into all and every affairs.

Anyways his predecessor, the butt of our numerous jokes, President George W Bush is leaving Mr. Obama a very interesting situation as a welcome gift. He must be smirking right now "Lets see how you figure this out sucker!". But I have reason to believe that he will tackle it with much more intelligence than a kindergarten kid as we have seen over the past 8 years. Lets see how he handles it in the days to come...