What Makes a Car “Beautiful”?

When people hear I am a car designer, questions come up: “What is your favorite car?” “What car do you drive? “What makes a car beautiful and how come cars are not as pretty as they used to be?” The first questions are easy to answer. The last one, a bit more challenging.

With few exceptions, most cultures generally agree on what constitutes beauty. Symmetry, balance, proportion and clarity are all regarded throughout a range of cultures as visually pleasing. For the eyes to have lingering adoration over a physical object, there must be balance and uniformity of mass. This is somewhat given to our biological desire seeking out mating partners who exhibit symmetry and balance. These visual traits generally indicate genetic strength and physical confidence for helpful things like procreation and protection against enemies. This biological imperative toward beauty compels us to seek the same traits in our vehicles.