Remember When
Cars Had Faces?
Once upon a time, cars had personality. You could spot a car from across the street, sharp BMW grilles, round headlights on a Mini, boxy Volvos that screamed function.
Now?
Line up ten SUVs from different brands you’ll struggle to tell them apart.
The Real Reasons Behind the Clone Army
1. Safety Rules
Modern crash regulations shape how cars must absorb impact.
That means high hoods, thick pillars, and wide bumpers, design is now limited by safety zones.
Result? Every brand’s front end looks roughly the same: tall, blunt, and slightly angry.
2. Aerodynamics
Efficiency killed creativity.
Sharp edges and boxy shapes increase drag and drag means wasted fuel or battery. So, designers chase the wind tunnel instead of the imagination.
Sleek, rounded bodies with sloping roofs all hit similar aerodynamic targets and all end up looking… familiar.
3. Platform Sharing
Brands save money by building multiple models on one platform.
Volkswagen’s MQB, Toyota’s TNGA, Hyundai’s N3 same bones, same proportions.
Change the lights, tweak the grille, badge it and the new model is done.
It’s efficient, yes but it kills uniqueness.
4. EV Architecture
Electric cars freed design… but also trapped it again.
No engine = more freedom up front, yet aerodynamics matter more than ever.
So, every EV ends up as a smooth pod with a sealed nose and LED strip eyes.
5. Market Research
Designs aren’t made to excite anymore they’re made not to offend.
Focus groups, global appeal, and data-driven aesthetics lead to safe, “neutral” styling.
Cars aren’t expressions of brand identity anymore, they’re products engineered to please everyone.
What We Lost
We lost charm.
We lost the era when a car’s silhouette told its story.
Now, everything looks premium, perfect and soulless.
The Future: Can Cool Return?
Yes! in niches. Brands like Hyundai (Ioniq 5), Kia (EV9), and Rivian are rediscovering bold design through minimalism and geometry. As EVs mature, expect designers to break the rules again. Because when every car starts to look the same, the only thing left that stands out is character.
