Automotive designers seem to be looking backward to design the
future, namely, the cab will be moving further and further backwards. Straight through the ’90s, the cab-forward design dominated this
era of the economobile. Front wheel drive, size constraints and small
displacement 4- or 6-cylinder engines pushed the cabin further forward
to squeak some more room into the car. This design even permeated into
the van market, with the notoriously wedge-shaped Chevy Lumina Van
(Pontiac Trans Sport, Oldsmobile Silhouette). However, the V-8 is back
in a big way, and it’s really mixing up automotive design.
Automotive designers seem to be looking backward to design the
future, namely, the cab will be moving further and further backwards. Straight through the ’90s, the cab-forward design dominated this
era of the economobile. Front wheel drive, size constraints and small
displacement 4- or 6-cylinder engines pushed the cabin further forward
to squeak some more room into the car. This design even permeated into
the van market, with the notoriously wedge-shaped Chevy Lumina Van
(Pontiac Trans Sport, Oldsmobile Silhouette). However, the V-8 is back
in a big way, and it’s really mixing up automotive design.
The problem with the cab-forward design is that it’s hideous.
Downright ugly. Part of the reason I like trucks so much is that the
cab isn’t right on top of the front wheels. It gives the truck a
better looking balance than the FWD economobile. The simple aesthetic problem with cab-forward design is that in order to maintain proper
symmetry (we all 
know that beauty can be measured in symmetry), the
tail end is almost equally as short. Snub rear ends make cars look
like hatchbacks, or driving turtles (1996 Taurus anyone???).
Stretching the wheelbase has its advantages, but aesthetics isn’t one
of them. The less sheet metal or plastic there is on a car, the fewer
stylistic variations are possible, it seems.
In the last few years, Daimler-Chrysler has lead the cab-backward
thrust. Interestingly enough, that’s the same company that really
brought the cab-forward design to American soil. Perhaps that’s why
they understand better than anyone that the cab-forward design’s time
is up. As far as Daimler-Chrysler’s reasoning for the cab-backward
push, I would chalk it up to their egregious use of the
Hemi™ engine (I’m looking forward to the Hemi Neon, myself, *cough
cough wheeze*). To offset the cost of developing the Hemi, it only
makes sense to drop it into multiple applications, and the most recent
whoring of the Hemi is attributed to the Jeep Grand Cherokee.
The wonderful thing about these higher displacement engines is that
the cab simply cannot sit on top of the front wheels. More room is
necessary in the engine compartment. This of course, contributes the
added effect of “pushing” vehicles to rear wheel drive. In my
experience RWD is both more satisfying and fun to drive, and the
engines are far easier to service. Without having to mount the engines
sideways, the parts are easier to get to. And the spacey engine
compartments make service easier. Just ask a 2003 Jetta driver how
difficult it is to perform the most common and possibly important
auotomotive task; the oil change.
A perfect example of the elegance provided with a longer front end is
the Chrysler 300C. People have reacted well to its styling just as
well have they have responded to its RWD and Hemi engine. Cars with
longer hoods simply look more elegant. I’ll call it, “The Bentley
Effect.” It’s almost as though a long hood and vertical windshield
projects an “I don’t care about gas mileage” concept. It’s that sort
of non-chalance that attracts people to this design.
And of course “The Bentley Effect” refers to the beautiful Continental GT coupe, and it’s cab-backward design we all love.
How long will the cab-backward design persist? It’s really hard to
say. After the gas crisis in the 70s people wanted more economical
vehicles. Apparently 9 or 10 miles per gallon isn’t a good idea. We’re
in a gas crisis now (local prices run around $2.10/gal and there are
areas significantly higher), so that may very well snub the idea of
buying a powerful yet fuel-inefficient V-8 Hemi. 17 miles per gallon
(city) isn’t far off the 15 mpg (city) you can get out of a V-8 F-150.
It all comes down to how much people are willing to pay. Despite the
immense cost, I still expect this trend to round out this decade and
sustain itself into the ’10s, especially if gas prices drop.
11 comments so far
God, I love the GT. Too bad they’re bastardizing it by adding a few more doors I heard. Oh well, we’ll see if they increase the length as well.
And another term we may need to use for cars with big butts (G35 Sedan, Maxima, Accord, etc.) is The J-Lo Effect. I think it speaks for itself
October 22nd, 2004 at 1:49 am
Mixing the old school with new school is a good thing at least when it comes to the new 2005 Ford Mustang. That car is hot.
October 22nd, 2004 at 2:22 am
Yeah Rod, the new ’stang is hot.
Another car that is going back to the old school for a new look is the new Porsche 911 with bulbous headlights ala late 20th-century Carreras. I’m not sure if I’m as much of a fan of the new 911, but I’m sure it’ll grow on me in time.
October 22nd, 2004 at 2:31 am
I want again to see the hood emblem on the front of the hood when I drive. Not only did they make great necklas charms for juvenile delinquents, they made great gun sights on long boring drives. And the more acreage the hood has the the better. Think of it as the difference between the laid back ‘don’t give a damn’ attitude of a chopper rider verses the bent over butt in the air ‘I’m an idiot’ attitude of a crotch rocket jockey.
October 22nd, 2004 at 8:59 am
How can you not love long hoods its a beautiful thing… The 70’s crisis really screwed us, it was not that long ago when you were driving around in ‘cuda that had a 440 engine in it with a swooping body style and a front end that would make anyone want to feel it up. How could you stop making big engines, loud exhausts, and long front ends…. Now we have to look at these little cracker jack toys and listen to these loud lawnmowers ride around town (aka civics w/can). Its a shame… Some are trying to make a return the GTO amazing engine some forgot to style the body- ouch. Give me my american muscle pure power theres nothing better.
October 22nd, 2004 at 9:11 am
I think Chrysler is really leading the pack in car design today. The 300c is a great looking car with high style, just not my style, but style nonetheless. I personally have the hots for the Dodge Magnum, Hemi of course. Cab backward, rear wheel drive, and a Hemi. What more could a man ask for? Maybe an in cab cappuccino machine.
October 22nd, 2004 at 9:17 am
I might be into the magnum if I didn’t think it looked like a herse :P. From the front I like it, from the back, not so much. To each his own however, and it definitely has its merits. I do appreciate its long hood and RWD. There’s something about a long hood that looks better out the windsheild.
Rod, excellent call on the Mustang. I suspect I’ll be writing about the reborn ‘05 Mustang soon enough ;). Hopefully I’ll get around to test driving one in November. Ford made excellent decisions about which cues to save and which to scrap, so they’ve maintained the “brand” look of the car but made it modern at the same time.
October 22nd, 2004 at 9:56 am
I agree I do like the new mustangs as well but there is nothing that can compare to the old ones.. Oh they were sweet… Speaking of old mustangs, I just read in one of my magazines that they are looking to take the GT off the line and replace it with the Shelby, this babys supposed to have over 600hp. This is a sweet looking ride. Check it out its in the newest Sport Compact Cars.
October 22nd, 2004 at 11:23 am
Agreed. The more sheet metal I can see while in the car, the better. And don’t hold back on the curves!
October 22nd, 2004 at 4:56 pm
I love FWD. I just got a ‘97 golf and it’s my first real car (a van isn’t a car). Tested it’s driving against a RWD car and I just couldn’t stand the RWD. Maybe it was just a bad car.
Anyways… the golf is my first manual and I’m not sure if I’ll ever go back to auto.
October 25th, 2004 at 4:50 am
Although I also think that the Continental GT is an exquisite specimen of automotive design, it actually is a poor example of cab-aft design. Being, as it is, based on the Volkswagen Pheaton platform, and thus an FWD/AWD architecture (not a true RWD setup), the architecture of the GT does not have the same proportions as, say, the 300C or even a BMW 3-series. The design is compromised by that fact, and can be seen in this comparison. The front overhang of the Conti is far more pronounced than in the 300c or 330i, though clearly is less than it’s VW brethren. True ‘Bently Effect’ is indeed a beautiful, stately thing and is seen on the Arnage, but isn’t really executed right on the GT.
That said, cab-forward is not inherently ugly. The original Dodge Stratus, Audi A8, and even early-90s vintage Honda Accords are all examples of attractive cab-forward design. Cab-forward combined with excessive front overhang, on the other hand, is definitely hideous (see most contemporary Renaults or the current Accord coupe).
But, as you noted, car design is moving away from cab-forward and that is, indeed, a good thing.
November 1st, 2004 at 4:51 pm
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