Tuesday, March 4th 2008
The next big (small) thing
The new Fiat 500 has started to appear around the streets of Headingley and it seems to be this years’ ‘must have’ fashion accessory.
Like the New Beetle, Audi TT, and Mini Cooper, these tend be driven around for a year to 18 months by young Estate Agents and over-priced Hairdressers until the next ‘fashion’ automobile comes along.
With exception of the TT these cars have all got something in common – they’re a rehash of an original, an original design classic in most cases. The original VW Beetle and Mini where both great pieces of automotive design that also had that little something extra – a soul.
As an owner of an original Beetle I gave mine a name. I wouldn’t do that with a modern car, it just wouldn’t be right.
So where will all this lead – will the up-and-coming automotive designers start looking back at recent history for more vehicles that have soul – Morris Minor, Vauxhall Viva, Ford Anglia?
I don’t know about you but I’d take the original over the rehash everytime.
Posted by Richard on Tuesday 4th of March 2008 at 1:52pm
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Granted - next to the original, it doesn't have the soul, but new blood continually enters the target market, and nowadays most of them aren't lucky enough to remember the classics on the road. So the new stuff just looks 'cool' because they've little or no historical reference for it.
I have to say, this point of view has only just occurred to me, because I in fact don't remember the original Fiat500 so did think the new one was kinda cute (even if it does look a bit like a toy). This is not the case for the new (massively mis-named) 'Mini' or the even worse travesty of the new Bug.
Posted by Siân on Tuesday 4th of March 2008 at 5:08pm