Is it me or all cars starting to look the same...

[tcal69]

So I have been noticing lately, all cars are looking the same to me... I'm talking about the same brand but different model.

Example:

Front of the A, C, CLA class merc looks exactly the same to me, I would have to look at the rear for me to distinguish the different model.

Saw the new X4 the other day from the front, and I couldn't tell if is a X3 or X5:fishwack:

And talk about Audi... I don't know any difference between an A3 sedan, A4 sedan, A6 sedan... goddamnit it all look the same to me... well of course by telling the size of the car I can kind of guess... but other than that I had to like look for the badge in order for me to know which model it is....

I remember I could tell the difference between a e46 3 series and 5 series right away, or E-class merc and CLK merc.... but now:flyfun: Maybe I'm just getting old and is less interested in cars now:bangdesk:

 

[Xeqtr]

Dude!!! I am starting to have the same damn problems...

If you see these cars head on they look identical, especially on the road when you dont have time to look for the subtle differences.

I am not too fussed about the grandpa mercs or the ladies car audi's... :roflol:

But def with the new range of BMW cars I have this problem.

The 1 series M sport looks the same as the 3 series Msport which looks the same as the 4 series M sport...

 

[131GAV]

Preach on brother.... A model to fit every taste and fill ever segment gap :yuck:

 

[adamr]

Agree, they share design queues... With the e90 era the interiors of all BMW's were the same... Now they share the simular exteriors.... People ask why I hate on the new m3 m4... Simple because for example those wheels that's are on the car are the same fucken wheels that come on the m6 m5 and heck some other non m BMW's (very similar designs if not exactly the same ) .... Now before anyone thinks I'm being petty think how desirable those e36 m3 wheels are or those mirrors...They were unique to the m3 and Its these small design queues that make these cars special, which shows manufacturers think about customers... These days it's a cookie pressing machine to maximise profits... And yes it's all the manufacturers

The M4 is 41% more expensive than its 435i sibling... Yet share allot more in common than when you compare the previous generation.... The amount of profit Bmw is making on that M car must be insane... I hate feeling shafted

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[ChefDJ]

Also noticed this.

Even the E-class Mercedes is starting to look like the others as they've done away with the signature double headlight into a single unit.

BMW's too. And Audi. And Jag. And Land Rover / Range Rover. Have you seen the 2014 Discovery? Looks exactly like a Range Rover.

And bakkies are getting ugly with their slanted headlights. The only new model bakkie I like is the Ranger.

I think the salaries of designers have dropped big time or something.

 

[moranor@axis]

Agree, they share design queues... With the e90 era the interiors of all BMW's were the same... Now they share the simular exteriors.... People ask why I hate on the new m3 m4... Simple because for example those wheels that's are on the car are the same fucken wheels that come on the m6 m5 and heck some other non m BMW's (very similar designs if not exactly the same ) .... Now before anyone thinks I'm being petty think how desirable those e36 m3 wheels are or those mirrors...They were unique to the m3 and Its these small design queues that make these cars special, which shows manufacturers think about customers... These days it's a cookie pressing machine to maximise profits... And yes it's all the manufacturers

The M4 is 41% more expensive than its 435i sibling... Yet share allot more in common than when you compare the previous generation.... The amount of profit Bmw is making on that M car must be insane... I hate feeling shafted

Sent from my Sony Xperia Z2 using Tapatalk

agree with almost all you say but...

under the skin the chassis of the new M3/M4 is very different to the lower models the e46 and e90 had more in common with their M equivalents...

personally I prefer the that M car chassis to have alot in common with the whole range

Other brands that have the Performance model then the others are POS Fwd econoboxes :yuck:

dont get me wrong M cars should always be much more than their base but they should always be heavily refined versions of the normal car as they have always been rather than a radically different new car that is more or less the same shape...

 

[Rory]

I'm also struggling. I almost can't even tell from the front any more... On the mercs it's easier at night or even with the drls switched on as they have different patterns. I really struggle identifying between a 2 series and 4 series at the front. I'm assuming designers are cutting costs. One thing i really like any my E60 is that it is very unique. You couldn't possibly mistake it for another model or shape from any angle (unless you're my mother and wouldn't even realise it's a bmw).

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[Divio]

Agree Tommy Boy!

Well said Adam

 

[Webmaster]

I sat in the new X4 today. Very nice. I could have been sitting in a 1, 3, 4, X5 or X6. I couldn't tell the bloody difference. But it was nice.

 

[China]

Noticed this as well. Manufacturers are giving cars "family faces".
Which I understand, but like you guys said, they all look alike now :yuck:

 

[msm]

Agree with the comments.

Strange how all the big manufacturers have created their "signature" brand identities (e.g. Audi's big corporate grill, BMW kidneys, Merc, etc) and tried so hard to differentiates themselves from other brands, yet, somehow have lost focus of trying to differentiate between the products within their brands.

 

[OppositeLockMT]

Totally agree.

Was thinking of this when I saw the new Jaguar XE, looks exactly like an XF to me.

 

[UpNcOmiNg!]

+1
3, 5 and 7. All damn similar.
Makes it eff off boring!

 

[tranzit]

seen the x4 yesterday and totally agree. they all look the same :flyfun:

 

[zaleonardz]

Bangle FTMFW...

Yea, I fully agree with this.

Even within our own brand, its a stuffup.

I was parked next to a friends E38 750iL with the F10, there was prob about about 10cm or so difference in length... that's an LI compared to a common 5.

The previous range, you could CLEARLY distinguish between the ranges,

Now you have to look really close from the front to tell if its a 7 or a 3 series from the front.

The interiors are also carbon copy of each other, you can say what you want about chris bangle, at least when he designed there was a distinct difference between the interiors.

Don't get me wrong, the F series is def a looker, however they could have paid more attention to distinguishing inter models...

I fully understand the economy's of scale principle, but that was never a design criteria...

 

[DieselFan]

Sometimes I see the new 5 series and think it's a new 3

 

[Chucky]

"2012-2013 German Car Manufactures meeting:"

Guy that pulls the strings:"Ok Audi, BMW, Porsche and Mercedes, you guys make the same car and sell it in different sizes, the customers will never know."

And everybody said AMEN:thumbs:

 

[prado]

Gone are days when humans with a sense of emotion and feeling designed cars!

Today, cars are designed by a whole lot of data input!

And different classes of the same design are a result of adjusting data!

Once, cars had character - a life like presence. Now, they have a generic appeal. Kids see older cars and find them more desirable than the new ones. That says there was something special about human beings designing cars.

Of course I am being overly simple about it but the real designer, stylist has given way for computer design where turning out new styles is just about adjusting data.

---

Sometimes I see the new 5 series and think it's a new 3

And sometimes I see the new 3 and think it is a 5! :fencelook:

 

[ASH]

I think a while ago, I was just part of a handful of people who found the styling of the Nissan Juke interesting when it was launched, there where lots of jokes going around Nissan Puke, Nissan Joke, etc. Today it is a sales success, due to people liking the quirkiness of the car, and a need to stand out out from the crowd.

Very few manufacturers have balls to create something totally different, its always bits and pieces pinched from from other brands combined with the usual
corporate face.

I think too many models kills the mystique of a brand, look at Ferrari they limit production to 8000 units per year. Not comparing Ferrari to the German Trio, but I think, its down to the point that the Germans are losing brand appeal as their model ranges expand and expand.........

 

[tcal69]

Agree with the comments.

Strange how all the big manufacturers have created their "signature" brand identities (e.g. Audi's big corporate grill, BMW kidneys, Merc, etc) and tried so hard to differentiates themselves from other brands, yet, somehow have lost focus of trying to differentiate between the products within their brands.

Spot on buddy:thumbs: