By: Grattan
R.
On January 29,
2016, the car turned 130 years old. While many people believe the Ford Model T
to be the first car created, in 1886, Karl Benz filed a patent on January 29,
1886 for a gas-powered vehicle. Karl Benz would also go on to create Mercedes
Benz with Gottlieb Daimler.
The automobile
has changed quite a bit since the first machine. There was a boxy style in the
early days of the Model T, the curvy lines of the 50’s and 60’s, the wedge
shape of the late 19th century, the awkward phase in-between wedge
and modern sleek design, and of course modern design. Today, the design of most
cars is influenced largely on aerodynamics. Per say, if the Model T had the same
v6 engine from a new Ford GT, it would never reach the speeds or efficiency because
of its boxy shape. Clearly, when Henry Ford designed the Model T, he was not going
for smooth body lines, or a wind-cutting body. He was designing for
practicality, for families to transport themselves and their belongings. The
design of cars has changed with society and its needs.
The iconic
wedge shaped cars of the 80’s: the Corvette, the Lamborghini Countach, the
Ferrari Testarrosa and F40. All of these have triangular bodies, a common
feature from this time period. Some companies, did things differently however.
For example, Nissan, formerly known as Datsun at the time sold a car called the
240z, a very curvy car. It was not nearly as popular in the 80’s as it is
today, I believe due to its curvy body styles. Time and views have changed
people and now these curvy cars are sought after. 
As said before
aerodynamics play a massive role in cars today. The less drag a car produces,
the better fuel economy it gets, or vice versa with performance cars, the
higher speed it can achieve. In the 80’s Group-C grand touring race cars had
spoilers on the back that would produce upwards of 10,000lbs at 200mph, and
these cars’ top speed was close to 230. That means roughly 10,000lbs of force
is holding the car to the ground. While thousands of pounds may not be
necessary for a minivan used to pick up groceries and kids from school, they
still make use of it. On many mini vans you will notice a small lip on the rear
above the trunk, or how the whole front of the car up till the roof is slanted
downwards. This may not produce 10,000lbs of downforce but it will certainly
keep the car on the road on a windy day. Design in terms of aerodynamics has
changed greatly. If it were not for downforce many cars would fly away as if
they were kites if they reached 100mph. Modern Technology plays a major role in
how cars are shaped now. For example the McLaren P1, created in 2012, was
shaped entirely in a wind tunnel, allowing for the best possible airflow. With
this the P1 can rocket to 62mph in 2.8 seconds, and cross a quarter mile from a
stop in 9.8 seconds at 152mph. Since then, a company by the name of Hennessey
has made a car, the Venom GT, which reached a top speed record of 270.49mph and
sprinted to 62mph in 2.7 seconds.
It goes
without saying cars will evolve endlessly with time, from the boxes that were
early 1900’s cars, to the awkward early 2000’s, the Pontiac Aztek being a
fantastic example, to cars formed by wind. What do you think the next trend will be?
Sources
Marriage, Ollie. “McLaren P1: All the
Figures”. Top Gear Website. BBC
Worldwide. Web. 30 January 2016.
Moore, Johnathan. “A Spanish Affair
Part 2: It Always Comes Back To Group C”. Speedhunters. Electronic Arts Incorporated. Web. 30 January 2016.
Wendler, Andrew. “Cheers! Today the
Car Turned 130 Years Old”. Road&Track.
Hearst Digital Media. Web. 30 January 2016.
“2014 Hennessey Venom GT Specifications”. Hennessey. HPE Design. Web. 30 January 2016.
Pictures
http://www.roadandtrack.com/car-culture/news/a28039/karl-benzs-gas-powered-three-wheeler-turns-130-today/
http://www.speedhunters.com/2015/10/scoot-4-rotor-240z/
http://www.speedhunters.com/2014/08/p1-mclaren-special-operations/
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