With every new car I see coming out, I notice one clear and horrible trend. The proportions are all wrong. I've been trying to work out how to demonstrate what I mean, so please see really poor paint diagram :P

 

The space from top of wheel arch to bonnet is getting larger and larger (A). Meanwhile the metal car side B is getting larger and larger and the glasshouse area C is getting smaller and smaller (which as a result of B is also getting higher up). Overall, the height is increased. I'm confused as to whether this is a safety thing or if genuinely every buyer out there wants a car that looks like a 4x4, but it's getting silly. There are very few 'modern' cars I'd consider because the proportions just look so un car like.

 

So come on - am I alone on this or does it make sense to anyone else? And more importantly, why is it happening? Even models like the 3 series that used to be proportionally spot on are starting to go this way. See Fabia, current Fiesta etc as well.

 

Basically when you used to be a kid and you drew a car the bottom looked like this    ---O-----O---  but the more time goes on cars seem to be trying to look like this ````o`````o````.

 

 

Oh and from behind as well, a car should like wide and low. Increasingly now I see new models that instead look thin and tall and as if they'd fall over in a corner. New Ka, 500 etc especially bad but Fabia also looks like this...

I see what you mean, and yes it's because apparently "everyone wants an SUV" (well except for the most of us that really don't).

I think it's mainly a safety thing. The window line is rising because there are bars in there for side impact. I think the rest of the car rises to fit with that. I think you're right though and it makes cars all look like their wheels are too small.

I think it's mainly a safety thing. The window line is rising because there are bars in there for side impact. I think the rest of the car rises to fit with that. I think you're right though and it makes cars all look like their wheels are too small.

 

In fact it's the exact opposite.  The decreasing size of windows in modern vehicles means that you can't see what you are doing so you are more likely to be involved in a collision.  The vehicle will protect you better in the collision but in an older vehicle you are less likely to have the collision in the first place!

In fact it's the exact opposite.  The decreasing size of windows in modern vehicles means that you can't see what you are doing so you are more likely to be involved in a collision.  The vehicle will protect you better in the collision but in an older vehicle you are less likely to have the collision in the first place!

LOL I'm not sure there is much evidence to back up that theory but interesting

In fact it's the exact opposite.  The decreasing size of windows in modern vehicles means that you can't see what you are doing so you are more likely to be involved in a collision.  The vehicle will protect you better in the collision but in an older vehicle you are less likely to have the collision in the first place!

 

 

LOL I'm not sure there is much evidence to back up that theory but interesting

 

Not sure the window line makes much of a difference but the massive 'A' pillars you get on some cars now certainly do obscure vision.

Yes some A pillars make a right blind spot thats for shure especially going around roundabouts. I personally dont like the smaller glass area in doors, dont know if its because of my height.

 

I think we are governed by the eu on these issues , do car manufactuers take any notice of what the general public want i dont think they do.

In fact it's the exact opposite.  The decreasing size of windows in modern vehicles means that you can't see what you are doing so you are more likely to be involved in a collision.  The vehicle will protect you better in the collision but in an older vehicle you are less likely to have the collision in the first place!

 

 

Not sure the window line makes much of a difference but the massive 'A' pillars you get on some cars now certainly do obscure vision.

I'd actually agree with Aspman that the thickness of the roof pillars is likely to make more difference to the likelihood of accidents (sorry but a "collision" is a planned impact between 2 bodies) above parking speed than the height of the glass baseline.

Dimension A is to allow you to mow down people on the road with less chance of killing them. 

 

There are two types of safety systems in cars.

 

Active safety.

 

Required due to the amount of distractions people seem to get away with while driving i.e, texting, emailing, phone calls, watching TV, eating, drinking, putting on seatbelt, lighting fags / spliffs, throwing chipper remains out the window etc or have to spend 10 times longer to do in a modern car now like, changing the ventilation setting, changing CD, choosing another media to listen to, etc.

 

These include things like ABS, so when you look up from your chips, TV, etc you might stand some chance of avoiding that accident you should have anticipated if you'd been paying attention.

 

 

Passive safety.

 

Required because despite the Active safety features manufacturers realise that many humans are numpties and will have an accident regardless so cars have strong passenger cages with energy absorbing front and rear and also turn into bouncy castles when you hit something.

This has been going on for a while, I think the first car I noticed was pug 206 models with the strange bulge running along the front wing to try and hide the extra bulk. It almost looks like two different cars joined at the front door/ wing with the windscreen base much higher than the side windows. Another annoying design feature becoming more common is the short bonnet with bumper moulding extending up between the lights to meet it. This leaves an unsightly shut line across the bonnet , although I dare say it knocks half a group off the insurance rating as its a bit easier to repair.