Hypersonic

A few months ago EniLab posted an excellent interview with Chris Bangle.

One paragraph of that article has been on my mind ever since then.

In the article Bangle says:

"I worry that the industry isn't looking far enough forward. We're closing in rapidly at the end of the current paradigm in the evolution of the car, and if this paradigm lasts beyond 2020, I'll be amazed. After that, cars, as we understand them now, will be different animals."

I am fascinated with the idea that we're coming to the end of the current paradigm in the evolution of the car ....but how should we interpret this?

What do you guys think the next step for the automobile is?

Curb Zone

 

Harry Plopper

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Snake Vargas

I suppose it all depends on what Bangle is referring to as the "current paradigm".

Internal combustion engines? Four doors and four seats? Three box sedans and two box hatches?

Or something more prosaic - single frame grilles? Flame surfacing?

I don't see cars changing too much - it'll be evolutionary rather than revolutionary. If not because of a lack of visionary designers or engineers, and not because of the inherent inertia of a large and largely conservative industry, then because I don't see that a lot needs to change about the essential premise of the motor vehicle.

People will always need personal transport, and the ability to carry other people and cargo. Fuels and ecological factors may change, but it's already in the pipeline. Many other things are there because they're the most effective way, like having four wheels.

Of course, if he's talking about design trends and less drastic changes in technology, then I don't have much to say, since I don't think changing those things can be called a paradigm shift at all.

donau

I'm with SV on this one. I think Bangle could have "drilled down" a bit on what paradigm he had in mind. To discuss the concept of a car as a paradigm is too high level for easily understanding which functions and/or features he thought are getting dated.

Curb Zone