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Login to post Forums » Grassroots Motorsports » Why are car designers doing this?

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April 13, 2009 3:05 p.m. P71 Dork

We talked in quite a few threads this year about car design and I remember ranting in all of them about "bulging" lights. Well now Mazda has done it as well to the new 3 and I found a shot that explains what I'm talking about.

Others have said stuff like it helps the lighting, but I just don't buy it. Why do the lenses have to unnecessarily stick out past the body? Why can't they just be flush? I think it's just plain ugly, and to me these taillights do far more to ruin the 3 than the giant happy face grin.
April 13, 2009 3:15 p.m. Type Q HalfDork

The short answer is because they think that is what people will buy.

Another possibility is they asked themselves "what would Chris Bangle do?" Look at the current current Honda Accord and tell me they didn't copy the BMW 5 series and put a big "H" where the kidney bean grill usually resides.
April 13, 2009 3:27 p.m. TR3only Reader

Stylists are equating bulges with muscles. What type of person has a lot of muscular bulges? Athletes, most especially football players and weightlifters.

Think I'm wrong? Look at what has happened to ALL pickup trucks.....except for that "antiquey" Ranger.
April 13, 2009 3:36 p.m. Raze Reader

TR3only wrote:

Think I'm wrong? Look at what has happened to ALL pickup trucks.....except for that "antiquey" Ranger.

Wrong about the ranger, I have an 07, and since it's the same basic truck mechanically from 1996 on they've updated the hood with 'power bulges', my sport model has 'plastic fender flares' complete with 'plastic faux hex bolts holding them on', and the grille is more of the horizontal 'bulging' F150 style, but by comparison the bodywork didn't get 'bulged' ;)
April 13, 2009 3:50 p.m. oldopelguy HalfDork

That and the flush mount lights require a flange pressed into the steel, wheras the bulging light requires only a lip. Tooling is expensive, after-all.
April 13, 2009 3:54 p.m. carguy123 Dork

I like most of the bulging headlights.
April 13, 2009 4:17 p.m. Josh HalfDork

As a driver on public roads, I am all for this because it generally means that the light is more visible around the corners of the vehicle. As a styling device, I could go either way.
April 13, 2009 7:50 p.m. Lugnut Reader

I really like tail lights that, er, bulge. I was saying just the other day that I like what Toyota has been doing with theirs. They have a number of designs that stick out or have interesting contours. The Aura has nice lights, too.
April 13, 2009 8:04 p.m. Jay Dork

Heh, well...
April 13, 2009 8:58 p.m. ReverendDexter Reader

Lugnut wrote:

I really like tail lights that, er, bulge. I was saying just the other day that I like what Toyota has been doing with theirs. They have a number of designs that stick out or have interesting contours. The Aura has nice lights, too.

My issue with this is the FJ Cruiser. Big bulgy taillights are just gonna get smacked and cracked if you ever get serious offroad.

On a car I'm pretty meh about it, I've never had any plans on buying a new car ever, so I don't really care what automakers do.
April 13, 2009 9:05 p.m. shifty New Reader

As cars get fatter, the develop "muffin top" taillights. The worst is the current Camry - just think of the trunk logo as a "tramp stamp".
April 14, 2009 2:15 a.m. nutherjrfan New Reader

"bulging", that's what she said!
April 14, 2009 6:52 a.m. matt New Reader

nutherjrfan wrote:

"bulging", that's what she said!

lmao!! ive seen both models of the new 3 in person (not the ms3) and i like the new grill. its like a sadistic evil plotting world domination smile that stewy griffin would have. the headlamps and tail lamps are ugly shape and protruding. its like when a slightly overweight chic wears clothes WAY too tight and all the bulges pop out. and not the good curvyness.

and the new ms3, now graduated to COP BAIT with that hood scoop.
April 14, 2009 7:03 a.m. z31maniac Dork

ReverendDexter wrote:

Lugnut wrote:

I really like tail lights that, er, bulge. I was saying just the other day that I like what Toyota has been doing with theirs. They have a number of designs that stick out or have interesting contours. The Aura has nice lights, too.

My issue with this is the FJ Cruiser. Big bulgy taillights are just gonna get smacked and cracked if you ever get serious offroad.

On a car I'm pretty meh about it, I've never had any plans on buying a new car ever, so I don't really care what automakers do.

If you take an FJ offroad and you crack the tailights instead of the frame (that will be denied under warranty) I'd think you would be doing well.
April 14, 2009 8:00 a.m. DirtyBird222 Dork

The FIt got flush tail lights, headlights are bulging to all hell though! Type Q have you seen the new Insight? I think Honda purchased a E36 M3load of Prius from Toyota and just slapped new headlights and some "H"s on there.
April 14, 2009 8:41 a.m. Type Q HalfDork

DirtyBird222 wrote:

The FIt got flush tail lights, headlights are bulging to all hell though! Type Q have you seen the new Insight? I think Honda purchased a E36 M3load of Prius from Toyota and just slapped new headlights and some "H"s on there.

Yes I have. I actually pulled up next to one at a stop light last week. The style is strongly "influenced" by the Prius to say the least. I must be getting older because I think the EF (4th generation) Civic hatchback is one of the evolutionary high points of Honda design.
April 14, 2009 8:59 a.m. Chris_V SuperDork

On a car I'm pretty meh about it, I've never had any plans on buying a new car ever, so I don't really care what automakers do.

Lol. I care because those will be the available pool of purchases when they get 10-12 years old.
April 14, 2009 9:46 a.m. kreb Dork

It's interesting how much pack-think the car industry does. The most henious example I remember is when trunks were rounded off and shrunk. Remember the Taurus or Infinty J30?
April 14, 2009 9:55 a.m. Tim Baxter Online Editor

kreb wrote:

It's interesting how much pack-think the car industry does. The most henious example I remember is when trunks were rounded off and shrunk. Remember the Taurus or Infinty J30?

Fins
April 14, 2009 10:09 a.m. joey48442 SuperDork

Chris_V wrote:

On a car I'm pretty meh about it, I've never had any plans on buying a new car ever, so I don't really care what automakers do.

Lol. I care because those will be the available pool of purchases when they get 10-12 years old.

That's funny. Whenever I see someone beating on a new car, I always yell for them to be nice to it, I may buy it in a few years!

Plus, I wonder if it's a sacrificial thing with the tailights, the break before the body gets dented, and are easier to be replaced.

Joey
April 14, 2009 10:37 a.m. Trans_Maro Reader

Yeah, protruding taillights are a new thing:

Shawn
April 14, 2009 10:57 a.m. P71 Dork

Those protruding taillights have style though. The current ones look like a fat chicks muffin-tops.
April 14, 2009 10:58 a.m. Tim Baxter Online Editor

Do these count as protruding?
April 14, 2009 10:59 a.m. aircooled SuperDork

What's old is new is old is new is old is new is old is new...
April 14, 2009 11:53 a.m. Duke Dork

What I want to know is what's up with all the giant overscaled grille openings these days, most of which are actually nonfunctional because they are just black plastic with fake ribs instead of a real air inlet?

I mean, if you're making something hideous, at least make it hideous and functional.

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