There is little question that the future of automotive design is often first
seen in the shapes of the supercars. Auto manufacturers can afford to push
the design envelope in their production of low-volume, exotic sports cars.
The most recent crop of exotic cars provides a variety of design themes.
Both the Ferrari Enzo and Mercedes-Benz McLaren SLR have attempted to provide
a visual link between these machines and the current Formula One cars offered
by these companies. The shape of the nose of each car is based on the shape
of the nose on the F1 cars from Ferrari and McLaren. The Enzo also continues
this same theme with the curve of the side air intake and side window. While
Porsche does not have an F1 connection at present, their Carrera GT also
carries a side intake profile that is much like that of the Enzo.
The retro theme continues to be a strong design element in current supercars
but none so as much as the new Ford GT. The direct connection with the GT40
of the 1960's is obvious, even to the point of allowing casual observers
to confuse the two cars. That said, the original GT40 was a beautiful car
and the new GT is no less striking. The success of the new GT and the premiums
being paid for these cars is a clear sign that retro sells. The Aston Martin
Vanquish also make a strong visual tie to the DB models of the 1960's. The
nose and fast-back style create a link to the DB5-6 and DBS models. The
side air intake is a classic AM design theme as well.
The Mercedes-Benz
McLaren SLR reaches back to the original 300SL models for certain design
ideas. The retro
look of the side air intakes and fender
line are intended to provide a link between these two models. The nose of
the Carrera GT shows a clear Porsche profile but it is not really retro
as this look has been in continuous use since the original 911 of 1964.
The Lamborghini Murcielago is not a retro design but the angular lines of
the Countach can be seen as a consistent Lamborghini design theme. Like
previous Lamborghini models, the Murcielago has a brutal, sharp-angled style
that looks both fast and dangerous.
The Carrera GT is perhaps the most original design of the six cars shown
here. Siku has done an excellent job of capturing this style in their model.
While
it is clearly a Porsche, the Carrera GT does not immediately connect with
any previous model.
The Enzo seems to be the the most controversial design shown here. Many feel
that the variety of design themes demonstrated in this car seem to be fighting
against each other. One element does not seem to flow into another, rather,
it is as if the car was designed in separate pieces and them assembled by
committee.
There is some of that feel to the Mercedes-Benz McLaren SLR as well. In their
attempts to connect with the F1 cars, the designers have been forced to add
styling ideas from an open wheel car that look forced on a closed wheel car.
The Porsche,
Ford and Aston Martin are sleek, GT car designs by comparison. These designs
have the continuity of line that the Ferrari and Mercedes lack. The Lamborghini
seems somewhere in between.
The toy car
versions are good representations of the real cars although the Hot Wheel
Enzo is clearly the most toy-like.
It is the only $1 model
included here and therefore lacks the detail of the other collector models.
Both Siku models are excellent examples of a new level of quality from this
diecast veteran. Competition with Norev has forced Siku to add more detail
to their models. The Johnny Lightning Aston Martin is quite well-done and
a very solid casting. It was originally done as one of their James Bond
models. Maisto has moved to a whole new level of quality with their collector
series and the Lamborghini is an excellent example. The metallic paint and
low-profile tires and wheels provide an urbanized look that some may not
appreciate. The Jada Ford GT is also well done and it is a coup for this
small company to be the first to offered the small-scale GT. Good paint
detail and a metal base add to the quality.
The Carrera GT and Ford GT are the two designs most likely to influence the
look of future cars. Retro will continue to sell and other companies will look
to
their history to find their future. Using an Aston Martin DB4 Zagato, Ferrari
250GTO or Lamborghini Miura as a starting point would not be a bad idea for
sales. The Carrera GT shows that new ideas can also look good while continuing
the link
to past models. It will be interesting to see which direction is taken by the
supercars of the next decade.
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Mercedes-Benz McLaren SLR - Siku
Porsche Carrera GT - Siku
Ford GT - Jada
Aston Martin Vanquish - Johnny Lightning
Ferrari Enzo - Hot Wheels
Lamborghini Murcielago Spider - Maisto
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