I've been riding my bicycle a lot lately so I get to spend a lot of time looking at the cars in people's driveways. I've noticed this styling trend, mostly on cars built in the last 15-20 years. In older cars(in that time frame) it seems to be mostly on cheaper cars while in modern times I'm seeing the same thing on German cars, Korean cars, American cars and everything inbetween. I don't like it, especially on luxury cars as it cheapens the visual.
I'm referring to the way the fenders have a flat/vertical surface where they come to the wheel well. I picked these two as they're what my parents drive and I have to see them every day. So, what gives? Is this some weird trend that all auto manufacturers follow? Secret fuel savings? IIHS defeating?
Could the objective be to maximize contact area with the wheel well liners to reduce interior noise?
I definitely remember a thread about this topic already existing, and a fairly detailed explanation from a member of the automotive engineering or design community, but I certainly can't find it now.
I also read something about this maybe a year or so ago. It might have been on jalopnik, maybe? I can't recall. I think what I recall is that it is a way to cheaply put rigidity into the panels.
EDIT: Found it: https://jalopnik.com/heres-why-most-modern-cars-have-that-weird-flat-edge-in-1832739443
b13990
Reader
5/13/20 7:57 p.m.
'99 Mustang and similar-vintage Focus are the cars I remember as early adopters of this. I don't dislike it. It's functional.
I've gotten used to it. The first Mustang that got them was around 2000 and I thought the looked awful. Don't really care anymore.
It looked pretty good on the AC Cobra.....
Gives the stance guys some extra material to roll
In reply to wae (Forum Supporter) :
I guess that's the answer. Huh, I'm surprised a flat edge is stronger than a crisper fold but I'm not the engineer. Just another thing to complain about like an old man I suppose.
Ugh, one of my least favorite design characters of new cars. After reading the article my takeaway was manufacturers want to save money by stamping fenders out of the thinnest material possible so they add strength back in using geometry. Smart, but ugly.
I remember liking that aspect of the BG chassis Mazda 323 where I thought it was a nice touch. This is far from a new thing.
In reply to buzzboy :
In terms of strength to weight ratios, all things being equal, compound curves > simple curves > flat planes.
But the designers have many constraints and one of them may be maximum width of the body (aero guys were promised that frontal area would be no greater than X, production guys were promised that only X width would be required for the assembly line, manufacturing guys were promised that the hydraulic presses only needed a reach of X, etc.).
I can't infer what the rational was in this case and I am over simplifying "strength"...are we talking tensile, compression, or sheer...are we talking terminal force or fatigue life...etc.
I do medical device engineering for a living (obviously very different than auto) but in my world, sometimes we'll specify a flat plane on a component or assembly for no other reason than to provide a datum (master reference point) that is easy and precise to measure. So, it's possible that the styling element comes down to quality...let's bake in a feature that's quick and easy to get reliable and precise measurement on.
Added later...
Ops, I just read the link to the Volvo engineers explanation...it's about holding the shape; Never mind.
mblommel said:
Ugh, one of my least favorite design characters of new cars. After reading the article my takeaway was manufacturers want to save money by stamping fenders out of the thinnest material possible so they add strength back in using geometry. Smart, but ugly.
Remember, we like light cars!
T.J.
MegaDork
5/14/20 6:25 p.m.
I hate those things and look forward to this trend being replaced by whatever comes next.
I too remember the thread about this a while back.
T.J.
MegaDork
5/14/20 6:28 p.m.
