Whatever Happened To Visibility?

TruthAboutCars.com ^ | January 17, 2011 | Edward Niedermeyer

[central_va]

So, to the designers and engineers in the house we ask: how important is reducing the amount of glass in a vehicle improve safety test performance? To what extent does this issue drive design? And to the consumers we ask: are you really asking for ever-tightening greenhouses in the name of fashion? Can you identify a point at which introducing more glass to a design makes a car look dorky but creating a tighter greenhouse hurts usability (and possibly even active safety)?

[central_va]

Check out the high beltline of the new Taurus

[central_va]

I played with the dimensions to lower the beltline. To me it looks SOOO much better like this,

[central_va]

Here is the original:

Cars are just goofy now.

[aruanan]

I played with the dimensions to lower the beltline. To me it looks SOOO much better like this,

Were it not for the fact they've resurrected that dopey Gran Torino look. Flip the below-the-bumper opening and it looks pretty cool. Once again Ford took something that looked REALLY good (the late 2000s Mustangs) and like the late 1960s/early 1970s Mustangs really screwed it up, though not yet as badly as the vomitous Mustang II, may its originator burn forever in automotive hell.

[jjotto]

Even gonzo car mag reviewers regularly complain that those cool big wheels and low profile tires make the vehicles bounce like an old truck.

Those wheels and the long slit windows are just for a cool look, at least to the non-threatening males that design cars these days.

[central_va]

The 55 Chevy design is back in style. High Beltline and all.

[Paladin2]

Maybe a booster seat would help to be able to properly drape one’s left arm out the window.

[antidemoncrat]

Would be ok if car wasn’t on fire.