Longevity is no bad thing, says our art editor, even in the elevated world of car design
The recent spate of automotive remakes, re-inventions and resuscitations has polarised design opinion. Since BMW’s Mini arrived in showrooms back in 2001, we’ve seen a wave of retro-inspired arrivals including Ford’s GT and Mustang, the Mini Clubman, Fiat’s 500 and the Chevrolet Camaro. Gorgeous cars that all of us would love to have on our driveways. Yet what I can’t understand is why this is considered lazy and unacceptable design!
Take the BMW 3-series, for example. We loved it when it came out and we still love it. But if it had stopped at Mk1 and returned today would we still love it? I think not… Just because we had a Fiat 500 in the past doesn’t mean we can’t update it, does it? Surely this is just the next generation 500, arriving a little later than anticipated, but still most welcome nonetheless. What if the latest Fiat 500 had come out say three years after the original? Would we still love it then?
We are due a lot more updated cars from the past, like the upcoming Scirocco, and as a designer, I think that’s a good thing. They were good then, so let’s keep them alive. But then I guess retro-inspire design is like marmite – you love it or hate it. But either way, the manufacturers can’t win…
Does reviving a past icon smack of design laziness or is it a means of ensuring the longevity of want-one design? Tell us what you think by clicking on the ‘Add Comment’ button below…