Art of Gears
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Car design: why cant things be simple anymore?

By Andrew Hulse

DETROIT, MI - JANUARY 09: Akio Toyoda, President and member of the board of directors at Toyota, introduces the all-new 2018 Camry at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) on January 9, 2017 in Detroit, Michigan. The show is open to the public from January 14-22. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI - JANUARY 09: Akio Toyoda, President and member of the board of directors at Toyota, introduces the all-new 2018 Camry at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) on January 9, 2017 in Detroit, Michigan. The show is open to the public from January 14-22. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images) /
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Car design has gotten more complex lately, doubly so on cars that maybe are better off boring on the outside.  Are quad exhausts and fake vents really something everyone needs?

Automotive design has a newish trend to make cars look as much like high tech racecars or to look as different as possible in the face of regulations that lead to very similar looks.  Increasingly, safety regulations have dictated things like bigger pillars and more door space.  Auto designers are having to get creative to still make a good looking product, but sometimes less is more.

I want to make it clear right now, I am not saying cars should compromise safety in favor of interesting design.

I do not think designers need to compromise, a good simple design can still be had without false vents and intakes.  This isn’t limited to false vents, Nissan is guilty of starting the design language of floating roofs where the C pillar is blacked out.  This can be seen below on the Nissan Leaf.

Design: floating roof
(Photo by John Phillips/Getty Images for Nissan) /

I have no issue with these if they are functional and actually help from a performance, safety or efficiency standpoint.  If there is an intake, it should actually take air to somewhere that is aiding the car in doing its job.  If the C pillar looks see through from outside, it shouldn’t look exactly the same as all C pillars from the inside.

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False exhaust tips.

A long time offender of unnecessary design is false exhaust tips.  I can understand exhaust surrounds, however full-blown fake exhaust tips are infuriating to me.  Not talking about exhausts with actuated flaps like some performance vehicles have, there is a use for that, not waking the neighbors primarily.  I am talking about an exhaust tip that doesn’t actually have an exhaust attached.

I first noticed this on the Lexus IS-F, the exhaust design is wonderful until you notice the top one is completely false.  The same sentiment is held towards vehicles that do not need and never should have a quad exhaust, I am looking at you Toyota Camry.

So why can’t some cars just be boring?

I do not have an answer to this, I am sure some automotive designer can comment to tell me why.  I just do not understand why a car cannot be well executed in other areas apart from design.  If the automaker has nothing but the design to differentiate themselves on, is the car really that good?

Buyers and automakers need to realize a car does not need to look complicated.  Automakers can focus more on interior, or tech and fuel economy instead of making a non-sporting car look like it is.

Next: Ford, Mazda issue “Do Not Drive” warning for light trucks.

This is why I like my 2014 Jetta, the whole car is simple.  There isn’t anything super exciting about it, and that’s what makes it nice.   It does the job of moving people from A to B safely and efficiently very well.  There are no unnecessary vents, intakes, exhausts and it makes the car easier to care for.  Volvo is also doing the same, they are focusing on simple design and I love it.

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