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macintologist · Jan 21, 2007, 02:38 AM

After watching this video on Youtube (http://youtube.com/watch?v=FpOewZhxMMU) which is basically a slideshow of the each model year Pontiac Grand Prix from 1962 or so onto 2007. In hindsight you can look at the car designs from the 1960s and say "yes and now the next logical step in car design would obviously be x and y." Which makes me think.. looking at the general design of cars today, I find it very difficult to predict the next logical step. What ideas do you guys have in mind?

BasketofPuppies · Jan 21, 2007, 03:49 AM

ObiWan Flanders · Jan 21, 2007, 04:06 AM

Originally Posted by BasketofPuppies

Thats ridiculous. It would be certain death for my family and dog in a head on.

moonmonkey · Jan 21, 2007, 06:11 AM

The car on the right.

kmkkid · Jan 21, 2007, 06:17 AM

Design-wise, cars seem to be going back to the boxy shapes. Which I don't like.

Doofy · Jan 21, 2007, 06:31 AM

They'll look like this if the environazis have their way:

mrtew · Jan 21, 2007, 06:38 AM

Somewhere between this and this is the next step I guess....

http://www.seriouswheels.com/cars/to...HS-Concept.htm

http://www.seriouswheels.com/cars/to...am-Concept.htm

sknapp351 · Jan 21, 2007, 06:39 AM

Originally Posted by kmkkid

Design-wise, cars seem to be going back to the boxy shapes. Which I don't like.

I am quite happy, aesthetically at least, that we are going back to boxy. The Scion XB, Ford Trucks they all are quite nice to me now. I realize that this is hindering the MPG though. There is nothing quite as bad to me as a car that looks like a blob.
SAm

TailsToo · Jan 21, 2007, 07:44 AM

NYK Ace · Jan 21, 2007, 08:33 AM

ford reflex
diesel / electric hybrid
68 mpg

centerchannel68 · Jan 21, 2007, 09:18 AM

Pretty much like they do now, only with more retro character, newer lighting technologies, bigger wheels, and funky stuff like diesels, regenerative braking, and direct injection.

macroy · Jan 21, 2007, 10:02 AM

I think they talked about this a few years ago (which I haven't seen mentioned since) where either Ford or GM was looking at an electric car that basically is just a chassis (picture a big skate board)... and then they would simply place the body type of your choice on top (be it a 2 door, 4 door, wagon etc)..... And if you like to change it out.. you'd keep the chassis, and just get a new body style.

I thougt that was pretty cool.

besson3c · Jan 21, 2007, 10:28 AM

How far are we away from making cars fly?

macintologist · Jan 21, 2007, 11:04 AM

It seems like cars are progressing technologically now instead of much in exterior design and shape.

Top Gear made the point that ten years ago you had to buy a Mercedes S Class to get all the gizmos and widgets. Now all you need to do is buy a some Hondo family car and you can get basically the same stuff.

Jawbone54 · Jan 21, 2007, 11:25 AM

Everything old is new again.

Retro styles will continue to blend with modern for the next decade (my own speculation). I remember reading Disney Adventures (magazine) as a kid, and they showed this car that was sort of Jetson's-like. They said that by the year 2010, they would be available for something like $250,000,000. I thought it was the coolest thing, and wondered if the future would be like Disney Adventures predicted. We all know how that kind of stuff turned out.

My point: who knows? We can't predict future designs, but we can have a lot of fun speculating.

Kerrigan · Jan 21, 2007, 11:27 AM

Soon cars and houses will all look like iPods.

Jawbone54 · Jan 21, 2007, 11:29 AM

Originally Posted by Kerrigan

Soon cars and houses will all look like iPods.

YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYES!!!

Someone will get mad and demand they be touchscreen-controlled.

Sub · 04:28 PM

Damn environazis...I hate toyotas, and the fugly design of the prius isn't making hybrids look any sexier to me. Can't anyone just come to the conclusion that were are soon doomed, and a few years of some hybrid cars isn't going to do us any good, might was well make the best of global warming and pollution, and not give a damn.

slpdLoad · Jan 21, 2007, 11:41 AM

I really liked GM's drive-by-wire prototype car that had the electric motos and hydrogen powersource, etc built into a "skateboard" chassis. The rest of the car/truck/suv/whatever would just then be fastened to this chassis.

Agasthya · Jan 21, 2007, 11:53 AM

Originally Posted by besson3c

How far are we away from making cars fly?

about 3 years.

macintologist · Jan 21, 2007, 12:11 PM

Originally Posted by besson3c

How far are we away from making cars fly?

Son, the future is now.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skycar

Gossamer · Jan 21, 2007, 12:23 PM

Originally Posted by centerchannel68

and funky stuff like diesels, regenerative braking, and direct injection.

I love seeing direct injection on a car, it's just gorgeous.

cjrivera · Jan 21, 2007, 12:28 PM

macintologist · Jan 21, 2007, 02:01 PM

Originally Posted by cjrivera

That reeks of the early 90s

turtle777 · Jan 21, 2007, 02:16 PM

I have seen the future and teh future cars. Trust me, they look like turtles on wheels

-t

Railroader · Jan 21, 2007, 02:24 PM

Originally Posted by macintologist

That reeks of the early 90s

I hope your trying to be funny.

macintologist · Jan 21, 2007, 02:51 PM

Originally Posted by Railroader

I hope your trying to be funny.

It looks like a Pontiac Firebird from the early 90s.

turtle777 · Jan 21, 2007, 02:54 PM

Originally Posted by macintologist

It looks like a Pontiac Firebird from the early 90s.

No, it's 80s design through and through.

-t

xi_hyperon · Jan 21, 2007, 03:05 PM

Originally Posted by Doofy

They'll look like this if the environazis have their way:

[snip]

Well, here's to hoping you get your own custom version.

gargamel123 · Jan 21, 2007, 05:49 PM

Originally Posted by ObiWan Flanders

Thats ridiculous. It would be certain death for my family and dog in a head on.

Population control

Cadaver · Jan 21, 2007, 08:33 PM

My prediction:

Railroader · Jan 21, 2007, 09:46 PM

Originally Posted by macintologist

It looks like a Pontiac Firebird from the early 90s.

No, it doesn't.

Gossamer · Jan 21, 2007, 09:48 PM

Originally Posted by Railroader

No, it doesn't.

Originally Posted by cjrivera

Among other years, yeah it does.

Railroader · Jan 21, 2007, 10:01 PM

Originally Posted by Gossamer

[img]http://www.davidt.com/images/Customer%20Sale%20Cars/eddie%20kwan.JPG[img]

Among other years, yeah it does.

A volvo could look like Kit at that angle.

Kit is a 1982 Pontiac Firebird.

This is a 1990 Firebird.

Although they both look like Firebirds, Kit looks like a early 1980's car because it was made in the early 1980's.

centerchannel68 · Jan 21, 2007, 10:01 PM

Originally Posted by slpdLoad

I really liked GM's drive-by-wire prototype car that had the electric motos and hydrogen powersource, etc built into a "skateboard" chassis. The rest of the car/truck/suv/whatever would just then be fastened to this chassis.

Problem with that is crumple zones, and center of gravity. Instead of having the components integrated into the body, the body has to sit 'on top' of that, making the CG higher... but who knows, maybe that thin thing is really heavy, so the CG is still low even with a body on it. Anyway, I don't buy it. The chassis wouldn't be stiff enough for it...plus... side impact protection, yada yada.

mrtew · Jan 21, 2007, 10:14 PM

Originally Posted by Railroader

A volvo could look like Kit at that angle.

Kit is a 1982 Pontiac Firebird.

This is a 1990 Firebird.

Although they both look like Firebirds, Kit looks like a early 1980's car because it was made in the early 1980's.

Dude I used to think you knew what you were talking about. Those two cars look identical except for the aftermarket nose cap that Kitt had. The moral is you're both right since early 80's firebirds looked exactly like early 90's firebirds.

TailsToo · Jan 21, 2007, 10:29 PM

Oh man... now I feel old... How could anyone not know K.I.T.???

turtle777 · Jan 21, 2007, 10:31 PM

Originally Posted by mrtew

The moral is you're both right since early 80's firebirds looked exactly like early 90's firebirds.

Doesn't matter.

Even the 90's Firebird looked like a 80's car.

-t

turtle777 · Jan 21, 2007, 10:33 PM

Originally Posted by TailsToo

Oh man... now I feel old... How could anyone not know K.I.T.???

Oh man... now I feel old... How could anyone not know how to spell K.I.T.T.

"Knight Industries Two Thousand" !!!11!111oneone

-t

gargamel123 · Jan 21, 2007, 10:33 PM

turtle777 · Jan 21, 2007, 10:35 PM

^^^

WINNAAAAR !

-t

gargamel123 · Jan 21, 2007, 10:36 PM

For some reason I thought you would like it.

turtle777 · Jan 21, 2007, 10:36 PM

Originally Posted by gargamel123

For some reason I thought you would like it.

It's freaking awesome.

-t

gargamel123 · Jan 21, 2007, 10:40 PM

I knew VW beetles were useful for something.

Doofy · Jan 21, 2007, 10:50 PM

Originally Posted by xi_hyperon

Well, here's to hoping you get your own custom version.

Sweet.

brassplayersrock² · Jan 21, 2007, 11:22 PM

Originally Posted by gargamel123

is it just me or does that look like a big green car giving birth??

Alex

gargamel123 · Jan 21, 2007, 11:24 PM

Looks like a turtle to me. Maybe you need to go to a zoo and see what a turtle looks like.

brassplayersrock² · Jan 21, 2007, 11:27 PM

its called a joke son. ya know:

Dictionary
joke |jōk| noun a thing that someone says to cause amusement or laughter, esp. a story with a funny punchline : she was in a mood to tell jokes. • a trick played on someone for fun. • [in sing. ] informal a person or thing that is ridiculously inadequate : the transportation system is a joke. verb [ intrans. ] make jokes; talk humorously or flippantly : she could laugh and joke with her colleagues | [with direct speech ] “It's OK, we're not related,” she joked. • [ trans. ] archaic poke fun at : he was pretending to joke his daughter. PHRASES be no joke informal be a serious matter or difficult undertaking : trying to shop with three children in tow is no joke. can (or can't) take a joke be able (or unable) to receive humorous remarks or tricks in the spirit in which they are intended : if you can't take a joke, you should never have joined. the joke is on someone informal someone looks foolish, esp. after trying to make someone else look so. make a joke of laugh or be humorous about (something that is not funny in itself). DERIVATIVES jokey (also joky) adjective jokily |-kəlē| adverb jokiness noun jokingly adverb ORIGIN late 17th cent.(originally slang): perhaps from Latin jocus ‘jest, wordplay.’

Thesaurus
joke noun 1 they were telling jokes funny story, jest, witticism, quip; pun, play on words; informal gag, wisecrack, crack, one-liner, rib-tickler, knee-slapper, thigh-slapper, punch-line, groaner. 2 playing stupid jokes trick, practical joke, prank, lark, stunt, hoax, jape; informal spoof. 3 informal : he soon became a joke to us laughingstock, object of ridicule, stooge, butt; Brit. informal Aunt Sally. 4 informal : the present system is a joke farce, travesty, waste of time. verb 1 she laughed and joked with the guests tell jokes, crack jokes; jest, banter, quip; informal wisecrack, josh. 2 they didn't realize you were only joking fool, fool around, play a trick, play a practical joke, tease; informal kid, fun, pull (someone's leg), pull/jerk/yank someone's chain, make a monkey out of someone, put someone on.

a joke

Alex

Kerrigan · Jan 21, 2007, 11:30 PM

It looks a bit like the car is ******* * **** ** **** ******.

gargamel123 · Jan 21, 2007, 11:38 PM

I can't believe you actually looked joke up in a dictionary. Apparently you don't get sarcasm, quick go look that up too. crazy fool