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makes a great car? When people talk about 'great cars' what exactly do they mean? Great cars can come in all shapes and sizes, from ultra exotic Ferrari's to the lowly Beetle, so there is obviously no exact formula to which a great car can be built. Legendary cars do all have one thing in common, and that is something unique which sets them apart from the competition. Whether it be astounding performance or a huge fanbase, they all have their own instantly recognisable identity. The first steps to a great car car be started by any number of people, great reviews by motoring journalists, word of mouth by owners, intense media publicity, high profile movie roles, or just by capturing the publics imagination. Almost every model from companys such as Lamborghini, Ferrari and Porsche could in some way be considered a great car, but it's the real icons of motoring such as the Testarossa, Countach and 911 that stick in everyone's mind, Why? The Testarossa was one of the most excessive and angular Ferrari's of all time. The
The Countach epitomizes Lamborghini's outrageous design philosophy, ridiculous rear views, completely unreasonable ergonomics and radical wedge proportions were the traits which helped to guarantee the Countach's place in the automotive hall of fame, there is nothing quite so impractical. Porsche on the other hand has formed the legendary 911 over decades, refining and remodeling the car into one of the most sensible and competent supercars on the planet. The 911's greatness was assured by it's long running sales performance, relative accessibility and natural good looks. But what about cars like the Volkswagen Beetle? This car has all the wrong
So engineering, style, performance, personality and charm all play a part in creating a great car, you don't need all of them, but you do need at least one. But what about a story. One of the the most important ingredients of a great car is a good story, one which people can relate to or find interesting, and therefore remember forever. The story of the Ford GT40 immediately springs to mind. The GT40 was a great
Great cars can happen spontaneously, the Countach, or slowly over time, the 911. So what of future icons? Unfortunately modern companies are increasingly influenced by profit margins and bureaucratic red tape, this is true of the automotive world more than any other market. Big company's love setting a products lifespan to sell the next model a few years down the line, hardly an environment conducive to producing legends. However, some manufacturers, especially the smaller ones, rely on superior quality as one of their major selling points. To start lowering their standards, to far, would be stock market suicide. So it's decided, there is no formula, predictions are erratic and there will always be some 'great cars' on the rise. We don't know exactly what they are yet. But it is us, the public, who eventually decide. Related articles: Where do ugly cars come from? Retro or Rehash? 21st Century muscle car race Green car production facilities Ascari Race Resort Artificial intelligence Related sections of the site: Sports cars Home page |
