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Is it simply me, or has all of the enjoyable been sucked out of the auto trade? In earlier a long time, the distinctive design of a automobile was one thing to be celebrated. Automobiles had been an extension of 1’s persona and had been supposed to make an announcement.
A bit earlier than my time, not simply fish might have fins … vehicles did too. And possibilities had been taken. Some fashions succeeded and a few didn’t (I’m taking a look at you, plastic and puffy AMC Pacer). General, again then, there appeared to be extra of an environment of journey and risk-taking.
Quirky and odd had been qualities to be celebrated. VW beetles and bugs got here with a tiny flower vase constructed into the sprint, maybe as a reminder to have a good time life. VW buses and campers had a glance that dared you to have enjoyable, and Porsches simply regarded like they had been constructed for velocity.
Lately, no less than within the U.S. market, SUVs nonetheless rule, and they’re being pumped out in normal white, black and grey colours — many makes and fashions will not be distinguishable from their rivals — very vanilla. These residing rooms on wheels are the bread and butter of U.S. automakers.
Tesla Cybertruck in NYC on Might eighth, 2021. Picture courtesy of Mira Shahan & Brendan Miles for CleanTechnica.
I’m hoping with EV innovation, automakers new and previous will take extra possibilities. Like it or hate it, the Tesla Cybertruck design will not be boring. Elon Musk definitely doesn’t get every little thing proper, however his concept that the manufacturing automobile must be even higher than the idea is spot-on. All too usually, we get excited at a automobile idea solely to have our desires dashed because the manufacturing automobile is revealed.
And don’t get me began on the Honda “e” and the way that attractive little sled will not be out there within the U.S. market as a result of Honda feels they gained’t promote right here. Effectively, BMW took an opportunity with the Mini and that offered rather well and doesn’t look to be half as enjoyable. And speak about odd, the Honda “e” has an aquarium mode for its humongous all-screen sprint. Odd? Sure. Sensible? No. Enjoyable? Completely.
This lack of uniqueness may be the rationale that basic automobile conversion companies like Michael Bream’s EV West are doing so properly. You get your distinctive basic design and your clear last-forever energy supply too. An amazing possibility, however not low-cost. Have a hearken to my podcast dialog with Michael for extra on that subject.
There may be hope. New EV makers have a chance to depart conference within the mud. Fisker will ultimately take the wraps off its Undertaking Pear. Legendary designer and Fisker CEO Henrik Fisker mentioned he will likely be taking possibilities with the automobile and use it as a platform for brand spanking new concepts. Some could like it and a few could hate it, however no less than it most likely gained’t be the identical previous usual!
I hope with the ushering in of the brand new EV wave, we are able to have a good time the enjoyable in taking journeys and embracing adventures and our autos will likely be given extra persona. And whereas we’re at it, I’ll take a small dose of wierd too.
By Stuart Ungar
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