5 ms·

O great. More cars that look identical.

dietr1ch 2y ago
Isn't this more efficient? Cheaper parts, everyone benefits from improvements to it. I wouldn't mind if there were only a handful of designs around with some tweaks depending on performance/comfort. Also, nowadays many different models share parts, like lights or rearview mirrors, showing there's a need for efficiency and scale bigger than the made-up need for fashionable cars.
- grecy 2y ago
  I’ve always been shocked there are not way more common parts between vehicles and brands. Alternators, starters, ac compressors and so much more could just be small, medium, large, extra large. The price would drop dramatically.
  - psychlops 2y ago
    > The price would drop dramatically. Aaaaand, that's why they aren't modular. Take a look at something with obvious common parts like a side mirror. They are all intentionally designed adding special shapes to make them as unique as possible to the car. Never a simple square or rectangle.
- cwayon 2y ago
  Good design is emotional. It adds spark to most of our everyday sightseeing, inspires and is too often overlooked- at least in recent times. Regarding the recent trends among car design... We are in a dark age. I agree that many parts can be interchangeable but modularity can be done in a way that doesn't result in every car looking like the blobs we see about today. I wouldn't mind if there were only a handful of designs around with slight variations in trim and specs -so long as I like those designs of course! I know that is subjective so lets keep things interesting and focus on making things that get the job done but also in varying styles. Both can be achieved. The need for fashion is made up, yes- but so is everything else. There's a balance between overly individualistic cars and the most cost efficient, reliable and uninspiring 4 door. Lately we have been leaning too far into the latter.
- spookie 2y ago
  No one wants that. Neither consumer nor business. Think about every GPU having 8GB VRAM. Nobody wants that.
  - dietr1ch 2y ago
    I don't buy 8GB VRAM GPUs of different form factors, but GPUs as powerful/efficient/cheap as I can get with a standardised form factor. Business don't want standards because they care about selling non-practical bits of the car for a price, like how good it can make you feel because you think it's cool, even if it's dumb (dummy exhausts, fake carbon, LED logos and fashion oriented design)
- EasyMark 2y ago
  It is. I would prefer the advantages of a “cheap as possible but robust” basic car design. I want a car that is air gapped and not phoning home, that is electric (or good hybrid), and gets me from A to B. I want it to be reasonably comfortable and inexpensive to replace the parts, which comes about via mass production and minimized labor costs. Unfortunately almost all of those go against what car manufacturers want to do. That’s why I drive a 2010 corolla for now and until it blows up.
ForHackernews 2y ago
Aerodynamics is aerodynamics, but we should embrace wild paint jobs.
billfor 2y ago
Just give me something that looks like a Buick Grand National or a '92 Camaro..... I'll pay the extra money for gas. Why can't they be creative and reduce the efficiency just a tad.
- dotancohen 2y ago
  That was actually the design goal of Saturn - Ferrari style with Chevrolet price tag. A few cars have got it right after Saturn. I would say the Hyundai Veloster and Tesla Model 3 top that list.
  - projektfu 2y ago
    The Saturn Sky and Pontiac Solstice were top notch design concepts.
dunwaldo 2y ago
in shift to electric we need to hit reset on design and just build the best car not one that is an iteration of design from our older gas cars
- dotancohen 2y ago
  I believe that l the Tesla Models S and 3, and the Hyundai Ionic 5 and 6, are the only vehicles designed from the ground up as electric. It's funny, this is the second comment that I mention Tesla and Hyundai together. Two very different companies - entertaining to find this overlap.

Isn't this more efficient? Cheaper parts, everyone benefits from improvements to it. I wouldn't mind if there were only a handful of designs around with some tweaks depending on performance/comfort. Also, nowadays many different models share parts, like lights or rearview mirrors, showing there's a need for efficiency and scale bigger than the made-up need for fashionable cars.

grecy 2y ago
I’ve always been shocked there are not way more common parts between vehicles and brands. Alternators, starters, ac compressors and so much more could just be small, medium, large, extra large. The price would drop dramatically.
- psychlops 2y ago
  > The price would drop dramatically. Aaaaand, that's why they aren't modular. Take a look at something with obvious common parts like a side mirror. They are all intentionally designed adding special shapes to make them as unique as possible to the car. Never a simple square or rectangle.
cwayon 2y ago
Good design is emotional. It adds spark to most of our everyday sightseeing, inspires and is too often overlooked- at least in recent times. Regarding the recent trends among car design... We are in a dark age. I agree that many parts can be interchangeable but modularity can be done in a way that doesn't result in every car looking like the blobs we see about today. I wouldn't mind if there were only a handful of designs around with slight variations in trim and specs -so long as I like those designs of course! I know that is subjective so lets keep things interesting and focus on making things that get the job done but also in varying styles. Both can be achieved. The need for fashion is made up, yes- but so is everything else. There's a balance between overly individualistic cars and the most cost efficient, reliable and uninspiring 4 door. Lately we have been leaning too far into the latter.
spookie 2y ago
No one wants that. Neither consumer nor business. Think about every GPU having 8GB VRAM. Nobody wants that.
- dietr1ch 2y ago
  I don't buy 8GB VRAM GPUs of different form factors, but GPUs as powerful/efficient/cheap as I can get with a standardised form factor. Business don't want standards because they care about selling non-practical bits of the car for a price, like how good it can make you feel because you think it's cool, even if it's dumb (dummy exhausts, fake carbon, LED logos and fashion oriented design)
EasyMark 2y ago
It is. I would prefer the advantages of a “cheap as possible but robust” basic car design. I want a car that is air gapped and not phoning home, that is electric (or good hybrid), and gets me from A to B. I want it to be reasonably comfortable and inexpensive to replace the parts, which comes about via mass production and minimized labor costs. Unfortunately almost all of those go against what car manufacturers want to do. That’s why I drive a 2010 corolla for now and until it blows up.

ForHackernews 2y ago

Aerodynamics is aerodynamics, but we should embrace wild paint jobs.

billfor 2y ago

Just give me something that looks like a Buick Grand National or a '92 Camaro..... I'll pay the extra money for gas. Why can't they be creative and reduce the efficiency just a tad.

dotancohen 2y ago
That was actually the design goal of Saturn - Ferrari style with Chevrolet price tag. A few cars have got it right after Saturn. I would say the Hyundai Veloster and Tesla Model 3 top that list.
- projektfu 2y ago
  The Saturn Sky and Pontiac Solstice were top notch design concepts.

dunwaldo 2y ago

in shift to electric we need to hit reset on design and just build the best car not one that is an iteration of design from our older gas cars

dotancohen 2y ago
I believe that l the Tesla Models S and 3, and the Hyundai Ionic 5 and 6, are the only vehicles designed from the ground up as electric. It's funny, this is the second comment that I mention Tesla and Hyundai together. Two very different companies - entertaining to find this overlap.