When we look at the headlights and bumpers of many cars we see on the roads today, we can notice that these vehicles are quite angry. So why is this ‘edgy’ design so popular?
automobiles, first appeared It has undergone dozens of changes since 1886 and has become what we know today. Automobiles, which were used for transportation purposes and designed accordingly, are now seen as a prestige indicator and a design choice.
However, the biggest common point of automobiles, especially in ten or 20 years, is that almost every model is getting more and more. looking even more angry. When we look at the headlights and front bumper of the cars as if they are swimming, we can notice that the eyes of the vehicles are squinted and they stop like predators ready to attack other cars on the road. So why do automakers prefer this design?
Actually, this is all about our perception.
Today, many people involuntarily attach the objects or patterns they see around them to human faces or can mimic different creatures.. to this situation pareidolia it’s called. Although pareidolia is not a disease, people who experience this condition can no longer ignore this analogy when they compare an object to something different. Of course, among the simulated objects there are also cars.
Since many of the cars produced between the 1960s and 1990s have more rounded lines, we do not find them angry when we look at these cars, quite the contrary. we find it cute. However, nowadays it is very difficult to find a car that looks cute. So why?
People love aggressive cars
According to automobile design expert Paolo Tumminelli, people prefer cars that look aggressive over cute cars. There are several reasons for this choice. The first reason is that most of the car drivers are involuntarily aggressive in traffic and therefore the car they drive. think it reflects their ‘style’. Another reason is that other drivers in traffic give way to cars that look extremely aggressive and angry, and they see them in traffic. not to taunt. However, the reason why women drivers choose aggressive cars is a little different.
According to the surveys, the reason why female car drivers choose aggressive vehicles is that the vehicles are less likely to be in traffic. to feel safe. According to a popular belief, drivers who see women driving aggressively are afraid of yelling at them or squeezing them in traffic. That’s why today women prefer angry cars instead of cute looking cars.
Automakers want to take advantage of this perception
Automakers, who are aware of this perception of drivers, are aware of this situation. wants to take advantage and every year they are working to make their models more and more aggressive. In addition, automakers often have to comply with rules on certain issues such as aerodynamics, driver and pedestrian safety, and crash safety. similar manufactures cars. When this is the case, it seems like a copy of each other in traffic every year. looking angry and aggressive We encounter cars.
What about autonomous vehicles?
But there is one point on which all automakers agree, happy autonomous vehicles. It means that autonomous vehicles look aggressive because aggressive vehicles represent their drivers at one point, representing its artificial intelligence means. The aggressive appearance of a self-driving car also scares drivers and customers, which is why all automakers are designing their electric vehicles and autonomous vehicle concepts to look happier, curvier, and cute. According to automobile designers, cars with rounded lines and more cute looks are more environmentally friendly, user-friendly, and easy to use seen as.
This design choice may cause the traffic to be divided into happy and aggressive vehicles in the near future. However, now more masculine, muscular and aggressive Vehicles that appear are seen as the favorite of car owners. We will see together whether this situation will change in the near future.
Resources: MotorBiscuit, LiveScience, EarthSky