Electric vehicle styling

[matacaster]

Styling of cars is a somewhat subjective matter. Petrol and diesel cars have always been constrained by the bulky engine at the front, yet there are many great styling examples... In fact the majority are quite stylish. Given that the battery in an electric car is not really an impediment to styling, how on earth have the manufacturers managed to produce some extremely ugly cars, with only the likes of kia evo 6 and tesla +even more expensive EVs looking reasonable to me. Opinions??

 

[thejuggler]

There have always been ugly cars. Changing the method of propulsion doesn't change the guidance high volume manufacturers have to meet. It is this guidance which dictates the shape.

Cars have bonnets because is safer in low speed pedestrian collisions and as a bonnet is required for this reason designers will use the space. With some EVs it is used for storage, with others it still houses the engine, which is a motor.

 

[telstarbox]

I think the Honda E looks good if unusual.

 

[Non Multi]

I think the Honda E looks good if unusual.

Its shape is an homage to the first generation 1972 Honda Civic. It's not though overtly retro styled like Frank Stephenson's 2001 BMW MINI or 2007 Fiat Nuova 500.

 

[BananaRepublic]

Styling of cars is a somewhat subjective matter.…….
……..with only the likes of xxxxxx looking reasonable to me. Opinions??

I think you’ve answered your own question there.

There have always been examples of ugly, or generally disliked cars.
In some cases, a new model with a different, modern or challenging design, is considered ugly by some car enthusiasts, only to be later considered a good looking and well liked design.
Some will always be pug ugly, come what may, e.g. the 1998 Fiat Multipla or the 1994 Ford Scorpio.

Most of the current crop of EV’s are fairly good looking, IMHO.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Most of the current crop of EV’s are fairly good looking, IMHO.

A personal view, but I find that body-coloured "fake grilles" which are quite common look cheap and plasticky. The Kia e-Niro, otherwise an attractive looking car to me, is ruined by this - only the black one (which gets a black "fake grille") looks good.

Obviously a grille isn't needed at all, but hiding it seems a bit early-90s-Ford-Cortina in look - I think things will evolve and someone will find a way it looks nice, but I certainly think a body-coloured fake one doesn't work at all.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 18 Jan 2022 ==

Its shape is an homage to the first generation 1972 Honda Civic. It's not though overtly retro styled like Frank Stephenson's 2001 BMW MINI or 2007 Fiat Nuova 500.

Sometimes that looks good and sometimes it doesn't. The BMW MINI and the Fiat Nuova 500 look great in my view, with the latter having a slight edge, while the new Beetle was an abject flop. I also think the new Land Rover Defender looks very good, even though it's really a boxy-Discovery replacement (with that becoming more sporty) and has basically nothing in common with the original bar being a 4x4 and the name. I'm definitely not sold on the Honda E, it looks like it fell out of a cheap Christmas cracker. Too much cheap-looking shiny plastic.

 

[gg1]

Can't say I've noticed EVs as a whole being any more or less attractive than ICE cars, the only ones I think look genuinely ugly are the BMW i3 and Kia Soul, but then neither are as bad as the ICE Nissan Juke.

only the likes of kia evo 6 and tesla +even more expensive EVs looking reasonable to me.

The Evo 6 looks 'interesting' on account of being a little different, in the case of Teslas the Model 3 (by far the most common) just looks bland and dull to me.

Its shape is an homage to the first generation 1972 Honda Civic.

Always thought it looked closer to a mk1 Golf.

1994 Ford Scorpio.

I used to own one of those. It's not ugly, it 'has character'

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 18 Jan 2022 ==

A personal view, but I find that body-coloured "fake grilles" which are quite common look cheap and plasticky. The Kia e-Niro, otherwise an attractive looking car to me, is ruined by this - only the black one (which gets a black "fake grille") looks good.

Completely agree, either have a slightly redesigned front end for EV variants or go for a fake grill which could pass for a real one.

 

[BananaRepublic]

A personal view, but I find that body-coloured "fake grilles" which are quite common look cheap and plasticky. The Kia e-Niro, otherwise an attractive looking car to me, is ruined by this - only the black one (which gets a black "fake grille") looks good.

I agree, the fake grills are unnecessary and can look tacky.
The e-Niro is a different case though, as the current model is on an ICE based platform and is available in ICE, Hybrid and EV versions.
The blanked off grill makes sense in that case, even if the colouring may be off for some people.

There are appalling examples though.
Audi and BMW are hell bent on using bigger and uglier front grills on almost all their models, whatever the power train.
The (full-fat) e-tron SUV is an adaptation of the Q5 platform and the blanked off grill, isn't much different from the functioning grills in the Q5, Q7, Q8 etc.
However, there's no practical reason for the large fake, pointless plastic grill on the otherwise, stylish looking Q4 e-tron.

Worst still, is what BMW are doing.
They've started replacing their signature "kidney grill" on the front of their cars, with what can only be described as a "Baboon's Arse".
Hideous.
The new BMW i4 EV prominently sports one of these and looks all the worst for it.
The flagship BMW iX SUV has an even more exaggerated and totally pointless version of this awful grill style.
Still, no doubt somebody must love the looks.


.

 

[pdeaves]

the fake grills are unnecessary and can look tacky.
The e-Niro is a different case though, as the current model is on an ICE based platform and is available in ICE, Hybrid and EV versions.
The blanked off grill makes sense in that case,

Any particular reason why an electric version can't still have a real grille? It may not need it but could it have the same standard component?

 

[Domh245]

Any particular reason why an electric version can't still have a real grille? It may not need it but could it have the same standard component?

Efficiency - if you don't need airflow over radiators to keep the engine from overheating then it is better to have a smooth (ish) front surface to send the air around the top and sides of the vehicle rather than having it rattle around the 'engine' bay. BMW even do this on their ICE cars with actively opening slots in the grilles only when they're actually needed. Some EVs do hide functional grilles inside the expanses of plastic - the I Pace grille for example sends some air out through a slot in the bonnet to improve aero, or in some cases you can use it very traditionally for any battery or aircon radiators.

Still, no doubt somebody must love the looks.

The Chinese market, supposedly

 

[david1212]

IMO the front still needs some sort of panel that disguises stone chips etc. A colour coded panel like e.g. Rear engined Skoda 100 is not a good idea. The later 105 / Estelle had a grill.

 

[dgl]

Well talking about styling, my Stepmum has just got her id.3 and went to pick my nephew up from nursery, only for him to see the car, comment on how he hates it, doesn't want to go in it and promptly walked off!
Me thinks the blue ioniq she had previous was a better looking car!

 

[XAM2175]

They've started replacing their signature "kidney grill" on the front of their cars, with what can only be described as a "Baboon's Arse".
Hideous.

They really are utterly hateful now.

 

[Factotum]

Well talking about styling, my Stepmum has just got her id.3 and went to pick my nephew up from nursery, only for him to see the car, comment on how he hates it, doesn't want to go in it and promptly walked off!
Me thinks the blue ioniq she had previous was a better looking car!

Well. If the styling encourages people to walk rather drive it, that can only be good.

 

[dgl]

Well. If the styling encourages people to walk rather drive it, that can only be good.

Yes, I don;t think my step-mum wanted to walk though, she's not the most mobile. But then again this is the same Nephew that called my Auntie just to annoy me, which was proved when he wanted something from me, said Auntie and quickly changed to Uncle! Cheeky mare.

 

[michael74]

I remember when the Ford Focus first came out it got a bit of bad press, I certainly didn't like it, but I ended up owning 2 and consider it a really good looking and iconic design, inside and out...

As for EVs I had a Mk2 Leaf (I think the Mk1 is as James May would say, 'gopping') and now have an Seat Electric mii, personally I have decided I preferer the mii mainly aesthetically, but despite the ride of the Leaf being smooth as anything, it just had far to much bonnet and too much tech for bimbiling around town and going from Torbay to Exeter and back).... It seems some companies are designing their EVs totally wild and wacky because they can, they want to stand out from the crowd (I wonder if that was Fords idea with the Focus)

 

[LastMinuteLoco]

‘modernising’ the look and style of EV’s is surely outdating them when this modern styling goes out of date. Remember how ‘modern’ building styles in the 60s and 70s soon became outdated

 

[birchesgreen]

I think the Honda E looks good if unusual.

Yes, i think thats the best looking EV. Most EVs look pretty ugly but then again many ICE cars arn't much better.

Though to be honest as my dream EV would be an electrified Ford Prefect 100E its best to ignore me...

 

[LOL The Irony]

Worst still, is what BMW are doing.
They've started replacing their signature "kidney grill" on the front of their cars, with what can only be described as a "Baboon's Arse".
Hideous.
The new BMW i4 EV prominently sports one of these and looks all the worst for it.
The flagship BMW iX SUV has an even more exaggerated and totally pointless version of this awful grill style.
Still, no doubt somebody must love the looks.

The worst part is they've doubled down on it, calling anyone criticising them "boomers". I mean, with their nazi links, unreliability, poor build quality, extensive use of plastics in the engine and now their hideous grills and marketing, it's a wonder anyone still buys their crap.

As far as the iX goes, I have an image that I would be unable to share here, that goes into great detail tearing the grill to pieces.

The Chinese market, supposedly

Yeah, that's the reason they give. Surely, they could offer a smaller grill for more refined markets? If Aston Martin (a company who aren't exactly swimming in money) can offer 2 grill designs on the Vantage, then what's everyone else's excuse?

The people who started this humongous grill nonsense off though, were surprisingly Lexus.

IMO the front still needs some sort of panel that disguises stone chips etc.

Paint protection film is your friend.

‘modernising’ the look and style of EV’s is surely outdating them when this modern styling goes out of date. Remember how ‘modern’ building styles in the 60s and 70s soon became outdated

Having said that, Audi's Bauhaus design language that debuted on the TT, still looks good today.

 

[Bletchleyite]

It's interesting that the new 2022 MG5 dispenses with the upper "fake grille" (though does still have a small black area) and looks quite good for it. Still sort of has a lower one, but I suspect those ribs aren't a "fake grille" but rather for strengthening purposes.

Does have fake air intakes though, unless those are for battery cooling!

New MG5 EV 2022 review | Auto Express

The updated MG5 EV estate is now better than ever, with smarter styling and a boost in range

www.autoexpress.co.uk

 

[matacaster]

I agree, that mg5 is a pretty decent design in my opinion.

 

[RailWonderer]

For nearly a century now car designers have had to design cars with a grille that it will take some time for them to imagine cars without one.

Some cars like the BMW have made their kidney shaped grille so iconic, so is Alfa Romeo's triangular grille that the identity of the car needs it even in the EV era (although BMW have turned their grille into beaver's teeth). I think we're seeing a change already, Mercedes' concept F015 was more of an egg shape than a bonnet - body - trunk shape and even their EQ cars are more swoopy than their mainline cars.

 

[jamesontheroad]

It's interesting that the new 2022 MG5 dispenses with the upper "fake grille" (though does still have a small black area) and looks quite good for it. Still sort of has a lower one, but I suspect those ribs aren't a "fake grille" but rather for strengthening purposes.

Does have fake air intakes though, unless those are for battery cooling!

I agree, that mg5 is a pretty decent design in my opinion.

The MG5 is kind of an interesting example, because the photograph above is of the mid-life refresh of the design. The first generation of the car had a much more traditional appearance, with a faux grille to try and appear more like a car with an ICE (Internal Combustion Engine). As consumer preferences adapt to the changed aesthetics of electric cars, so too can designers begin to be a little more adventurous.

 

[jon0844]

I think Tesla made the front of its cars a bit too plain and dull, but I totally agree that as people get more used to EV's, designers will be able to be more creative - and so they should.

It's rather like the humble light bulb. With the introduction of LEDs, companies have been able to produce more than just the traditional globe/spot/round bulb and be adventurous - although it would seem apparent that people still opt to buy the bulbs that look like old-fashioned incandescent bulbs.

As such, I would expect to see many cars still coming with grilles (which can both identify the marque and also give designers the ability to make a humble car look more 'menacing' as seems to be favoured for cars that must look sporty and powerful) for the foreseeable.

 

[antharro]

Tesla look utterly bland and boring to me. Complete and utter forgettable white-box appliances. There is nothing about their design that goes in hand with the price tag and hype. And as for what BMW have done with the grille... ugh ugh ugh. Not only have their engineering teams gone downhill, apparently their design teams have too. Mercedes lost me a long time ago; all their stuff looks the same to me. Lexus are also on the "big grille" bandwagon, but not as badly as others; I still like their designs. Honda's HR-V is rather nice looking too, and the "e" is cute in a very Japanese way! Must admit I do also rather like the current MG designs, and I quite like Jaguar's current design language too.