Design Details: Sedan Rear Proportions Edition

"Amoore100" (amoore100) 03/24/2016 at 20:42 • Filed to: Design Details, Mazda, sedans

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This week’s Design Detail is a bit different from what we normally do because it concerns a larger overall design element of a particular style of car, in this case, the sedan. The sedan has classically been represented as a three box design with a hood, cabin, and trunk. However, in recent years, automakers have toyed particularly with the rear haunches of sedans, tailoring them to fit both modern tastes as well as modern safety standards. To illustrate my point, here are two Mazdas from the ‘90s.

The 929 had a long rear overhang, a wide tail, and flat haunches

Whereas the Autozam Revue had a truncated tail, tiny lights, and a very stubby overhang

So what do you think Oppo?

What are the best/worst/most distinctive sedan rear proportions in the automotive world?

(Hint: Try things like the Fisker Karma, new S90, VW Ameo, etc. if you’re at a loss of ideas)

duurtlang > Amoore100 03/24/2016 at 20:46

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Autozam Revue

Sold in Europe as: the Mazda 121. And the circle is complete.

Amoore100 > duurtlang 03/24/2016 at 20:48

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From Autozam to Eunos and Back Again: The Mazda Saga of the ‘90s

Boxer_4 > Amoore100 03/24/2016 at 20:50

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If we’re allowing concepts and design studies, then I nominate the IAD Royale for worst Sedan Rear Proportions.

Honeybunchesofgoats > Amoore100 03/24/2016 at 20:50

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I’m biased, but I love the x308's rear. It tapers in a way that always reminds me of a classic roadster more than a sedan.

jimz > Amoore100 03/24/2016 at 20:53

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worst? Infiniti J30:

looks like someone cut a slit in a goddamned boiled potato.

Probenja > Amoore100 03/24/2016 at 20:56

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Sub 4 meter sedans from India are the best/worse:

Suzuki (swift) Dzire:

Honda Amaze:

The best one IMO, Tata Kite:

Also this is a sedan:

dogisbadob > Probenja 03/24/2016 at 21:01

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ooo an Aztek sedan

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > Amoore100 03/24/2016 at 21:21

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I’m not a fan of the RS7's rear, but I do love the A8 and the Model S.

I do think that Tesla did a better job with the styling of a liftback sedan.

gmctavish needs more space > Amoore100 03/24/2016 at 21:39

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I love the back end of the E32 7 Series. I mean, I love the whole thing, but I’ll choose it’s rear for this question.

The Hofmeister kink, the taillights, the curve in at the top and the edge kicking up into a sort of lip with lines that come from the bottom of the windows. So well executed.

It might be too understated for some, but to me its one of the most distinctive back ends.

Amoore100 > gmctavish needs more space 03/25/2016 at 00:45

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Oh my goodness so many times this. This rear end is practically the single greatest reason why I think the E32 is the best 7er. My personal favorite element of its composition is how long the tail is, almost a fourth of the car, and it’s ended in those perfectly curvaceous rear tails. Whoever designed this deserves many medals IMO. To me this is the quintessential big Bimmer.

gmctavish needs more space > Amoore100 03/25/2016 at 00:50

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It is really wonderful, I feel like it helps the presence of the car a lot.

Ercole Spada was the designer I believe, also responsible for this beauty

Amoore100 > gmctavish needs more space 03/25/2016 at 01:13

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It definitely beats Boyer’s work on the E38 tail for me at least. That was a great era for BMW between ‘85 and ‘95. The

The oval tail lights just ruin it for me, that and it looks so tall from the rear compared to the thin and lithe E32.

Amoore100 > Boxer_4 03/25/2016 at 01:14

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Competing closely with the Kensington Jag for worst rear proportions. Where the IAD looks way too wide, the Jag seems way too narrow.

Amoore100 > Honeybunchesofgoats 03/25/2016 at 01:16

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Ooooohhh I agree 11/10. I think some even described it as a “dragonfly” tail since it was so thin and long in comparison to the rest of the car. Definitely one of the best big cats. Then they went and screwed it all up with the redesign.

Amoore100 > jimz 03/25/2016 at 01:18

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Hah, I kind of like it because you have to remember it came from the era when these existed:

Compared to these gigantic taillights and squared off trunks, the Infiniti was infinitely more sleek and stylish.

gmctavish needs more space > Amoore100 03/25/2016 at 01:19

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I agree, the E38 can be a fantastic looking car, but it can also be somewhat lacklustre. It definitely isn’t as ballsy a design as the E32. I’d still take the E38 over the equivalent S-Class any day though. You’re totally right about 85-95 being a great time for BMW, although I would extend that back to 1980ish, just to include a couple of the old bimmers I’ve had :p

Amoore100 > gmctavish needs more space 03/25/2016 at 01:44

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Agreed, the E38 was much better than its contemporary W140 which started down Benz’s slippery slope into DaimlerChrysler. What I like about the E32 and not the E38 is that on the E32 you get a strong feeling of family connection in the related Bimmer family while still creating a fresh and incredibly elegant design and avoiding Audi/Benz Syndrome (three sizes of the same car). As for the era designation, I’d gladly extend it back since I’m not a Bimmer buff by any means so I’ll leave those classifications to those with hands-on experience ;)

gmctavish needs more space > Amoore100 03/25/2016 at 01:54

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Yeah I totally agree with you there. The E32, E34, and E30 were an aaesome trio of sedans. My friends and I almost had all three at the same time, but not quite

Amoore100 > Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap 03/25/2016 at 01:57

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It’s funny how the Audi has kind of an awkward looking design when its corporate cousins over at Skoda have come up with a Superb example of how to make a hatch look awesome.

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Still, the design team at Audi really managed to do pretty well on the A8, even if the basic appearance is the same as it was ten years ago.

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As for the Tesla, I do think it looks pretty good but that angle is not the most flattering; it looks a bit like a hunched dog pooping. This is many times more attractive IMO.

Amoore100 > Probenja 03/25/2016 at 03:04

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Yes! These are exactly why I created this post! I find it interesting that some companies just took an existing car (like the Brio, Swift, Polo) and just chopped off the back, whereas companies such as Hyundai designed their <4M from the ground up to look (a bit) less awkward. For the Hyundai, they just made the whole thing taller (which may have made it worse). It truly is a puzzling restriction.

Also, Mahindra says its Verito “sedan” is “ designed in an extremely artistic manner that people would have to guess on whether the car is a sedan or hatch ”. BHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAAHAH WHAT IS SUPPOSED TO EVEN MEAN wow marketing is a powerful thing.

Honeybunchesofgoats > Amoore100 03/25/2016 at 08:03

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I’d never heard that but I love that description.

I totally agree that they screwed up with the X350, although I do love the aggressive front of the face-lifted X358.

Probenja > Amoore100 03/25/2016 at 09:16

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Actually that Hyundai it’s just a city car with a trunk slapped on:

I am pretty sure there is no sub 4 meter sedan designed from the ground up.

IanZ - limited-slip indifferential > Amoore100 03/25/2016 at 14:33

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Worst: Ford Fiesta and others like it.

Best: Citroen DS, Saab 95

Amoore100 > Probenja 03/25/2016 at 20:26

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Ah, I see. Well I do think the [hatchback + trunk] formula works a lot better than the [sedan - trunk] formula.

Amoore100 > IanZ - limited-slip indifferential 03/26/2016 at 00:57

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You think the Fiesta sedan is bad? Try the Figo sedan in the <4 M sedan class in India.

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Big Citroens have always had handsome rumps.

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And the last Saab was definitely the most beautiful Saab.

Amoore100 > Honeybunchesofgoats 03/26/2016 at 01:46

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Agreed. Some didn’t like that grille, but the preceding one was a bit too much X-Type for my tastes.

Amoore100 > Probenja 03/26/2016 at 18:42

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Oh, I just found a great comparison photo of many of the sub-4-metre sedans of India!

...they’re all awful. Ironically, the Hyundai, Suzuki, and Tata seem to be the least worst. The new Ameo, though, may be ok in comparison.

Honeybunchesofgoats > Amoore100 03/26/2016 at 20:41

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Totally agree.

As luck would have it, I saw an X350 today, so I had to park next to it and take a comparison shot.

I never really realized just how huge the difference between the two it makes me feel much better about choosing the X308

Amoore100 > Honeybunchesofgoats 03/26/2016 at 22:00

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Wow! Beautiful Jag! I love the comparison, it so clearly shows the disparity between generations. I'm jealous of your big cat now :)

Boxer_4 > Amoore100 03/26/2016 at 23:11

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My compliant with the IAD Royal is the length and upward sloping angle of the trunk.

Amoore100 > Boxer_4 03/26/2016 at 23:43

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Ahhh, I kind of like it since it looks so huge and stately, whereas the Jag has the same sloping upwards but with less of the dramatic emphasis on the width of the car.

Honeybunchesofgoats > Amoore100 03/27/2016 at 12:37

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Thanks! It was a wallet killer when I first got it, because of all the stupid plastic bits that had to be replaced under the hood, but it's been totally worth it.

Amoore100 > Honeybunchesofgoats 03/27/2016 at 13:20

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Well that sounds about right for an old British car. Good to hear that you’re enjoying it! :D