2008 Paris Auto Show: Similar Shapes of Things To Come

2008 Paris Auto Show: Similar Shapes of Things To Come

By Bill Visnic

PARIS -- There's a lot of talk these days about how auto styling is converging -- or being ripped off.

At the 2008 Paris Auto Show earlier this month, there wasn't much mistaking the distinctive shapes presented by France's home-market biggies, Citroen and Peugeot; French styling remains unique (and largely uncopied, perhaps for a reason).

But a number of vehicles on display at the show looked strikingly similar to other vehicles on the show floor -- or ones we've seen elsewhere.

Triplets Born of Different Mothers

Three vehicles on display at the show (two of them enjoying world debuts) struck us as more than a little similar -- the Chevrolet Orlando , Kia Soul and Mercedes-Benz GLK .

Three vehicles, three different market segments. Is it us, though, or is there at least a little, ah, "design analogy" here. Particularly around that truncated, uniquely vertical C-pillar area?

The Italian Do 4-Door Muscle

Meanwhile, the Lamborghini stand was packed for the duration of the show as journalists and industry insiders elbowed to gawk at the four-door Estoque. The shark-mouth GT car had a certain presence, true, but to our eye, some bodywork details appeared hastily finished and the paintwork rough (perhaps intentionally).

While there's a luscious bend in the Estoque's broad rear-wheel arches, we couldn't help but recall a similar but already-existing view from the   rear three-quarters: the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro . And you know what, Lambo? The Camaro does it better. 

If This is the Look of Efficiency, We're Tired of It Already

Finally, everyone else is saying it, so we'll join in: Honda's Insight hybrid - unveiled in concept form here and coming to the U.S. in the spring - looks to be nothing more than a calculated ripoff of the Toyota Prius.

So, too, for the Chevrolet Volt "extended-range" electric vehicle. Take off the badges and you could park any of these three in any of its competitors' showrooms.

GM defends the ovoid-with-a-flat-rear shape as dictated by the wind tunnel. Given the Prius predates both the Volt and the Insight, perhaps Toyota's aerodynamicists actually were the first to arrive at this physics-driven conclusion. Recently leaked photos of the 2010 version show Toyota didn't stray far from the original formula.

Whatever the case, it's a wearyingly dull and insipid shape, with equally clinical proportion. Although Honda's Insight photos had been seen before its de-sheeting here, seeing the Insight in the metal seemed to emphasize the fact the shared Prius/Volt/Insight design is wimpy to the point of annoyance.

If this shape of the future was emotionally satisfying, carbon copying might be justifiable, even productive. But the Prius was designed to be efficient, not beautiful. Glory will come to the manufacturer that can merge the two.

Photos by Manufacturers
1. Chevrolet Orlando concept
2. Kia Soul
3. Mercedes-Benz GLK
4. Lamborghini Estoque concept
5. Chevrolet Camaro
6. Toyota Prius
7. Honda Insight concept
8. Chevrolet Volt
 

Michelle Krebs:  is Editor-in-Chief of AutoObserver.com. Follow @AutoObserver on Twitter.