Counting the polygons: a peek at the C7s rear

[dreamcars99]

For this post, I'm simply going to count the number of polygons present on the C7s rear.

Then, for kicks, ask if anybody has ever seen any car ever percieved as beautiful that had a polygonal styling. Now, on to the counting:

The spoiler is effectively 3. The rear light on the spoiler is one.

Each taillight is effectively 2, mkaing 8. or 11 total so far.

The COMPLETELY NON FUNCTIONAL racoon eyes around the rear lights (only the vent is functional, which did not need to be part of a japanese cartoon robot eye) makes 13.

Call it 17 after the angular way the part of the rear that cuts back into the taillight racoon eye is handled. 2 on each side.

Make it 19 after teh strip of body colored paint that goes down each side. For petes sake at least tapered the body painted part in a little bit. See F430 (unbelievably beautiful rear end on a mediocre car) or even teh Hyundai Veloster.

Make it 21 after seeing the reflectors ont he rear.

Make it 24 after seeing the license plate area and its surroundings, which are curved in real life but tend to look like triangles.

25 for the exhaust outlet area.

27 for the brake vents, on the lower outer parts.

31 for the fake-diffusor (fake because this car has no smooth underbody at all, this is not a diffusor ala GT-R or F430) panels and the parts just under the reflectors.

And I'm being somewhat generous in saying there aren't other polygons back there. 31 polygons.

It looks like a rear designed by Mrs. Johnsons kindergarten class with a scissors. It kind of makes me want to cry.

Toss in the sharp edge of the rear when viewed from the side, the bottom rear, which so clearly could have been curved or at least angled, as it serves no aerodynamic function at all. I want an explanation.

If that explanation is a gigantic, 20 day, cocaine binge in las vegas that blew the entire design budget, so be it, i just want an explanation.

"every line matters" about as much as every line on my ... um, weiner. Seriously. This car has dozens of lines that do not matter.

[Texdentist]

Polygons can look good.

[dreamcars99]

Originally Posted by Texdentist

Polygons can look good.

or even better:



but those polygons served a purpose: stealth.

The polygons on the rear of the C7 are absolutely purposeless. The C7s rear serves a purpose in providing those (4) vents and thats it. The diffusor looking parts are false, that is not a diffusor, I took pics under the car at the NAIAS, I will post them. The car does not have a smooth underbody, that is not a true diffusor ala GT-R or F430 etc.

Styling that HAS A PURPOSE always winds up working. The C7 is a case of creases and angles and styling that servrs no purpose at all.

[Texdentist]

Overall I love the design of the C7. I will say that I think the exaggerated line that runs down the lower part of the side is a bit much. It's similar to the line on the C6 that starts at the bottom of the side vent, but on steroids. If someone opens a car door on that thing, it's gonna take out a chunk!

[Andonis]

thanks, every information counts

btw love the fighter jets

[Longtimer]

If Welburn had been around, I guess the C2 would have looked like this:



Fighters are beautiful aircraft, but plane design never has tranlated well to street cars.

We make fun of the fins of the 50's today. Wonder what they'll say about the Art & Science in 60 years.

[RTGordon]

Originally Posted by Longtimer

If Welburn had been around, I guess the C2 would have looked like this:



Fighters are beautiful aircraft, but plane design never has tranlated well to street cars.

We make fun of the fins of the 50's today. Wonder what they'll say about the Art & Science in 60 years.

C'mon, you know you'd love to drive around town in the original Firebird, with your dog Astro riding shotgun. With the split cockpit, you wouldn't even have to smell Alpo farts.


I really am convinced that they backed one of the Sideswipe Stingray cars into a wall accidently and said "Wow, just the look we were going for."

[OC Vic]

Well, sure, if you wanna get real, then nearly all styling changes are bullshit.

Bodies are changed every so often to make you feel like your model is out of date, and you need a new one.

Does anyone think this myriad of straight lines on the Aventador are really each all that important? Is this really an improvement over the Muci? Only a child would think that a new body style is actually any real change for the good. (Except if we're talking cooling, downforce) Actually, the Aventador, while largely angular, is really in interplay of angles and subtle curves. Like the the rear light tapering into the tail, as seen on this orange one below.

If a car is ALL angles, with no curves whatsoever, then it doesn't engage your eye. Kind of like a Hummer, or the Aztek. Those are examples of vehicles that don't have the needed balance between angles and curves, to approach anything that could be construed as artful.

Styling is really just fashion. But that doesnt bother me, even if it's only partly functional. Sometimes, bullshit styling can look exciting. Cars are art, as much as they are science. They change the way we feel about ourselves, and reflect our emotions.

[Chris Draper]

Automotive styling goes through phases.

1970's everything was big, bulky, muscular looking

1980's everything was boxy

1990-2000's everything got rounded edges and fatter.

mid 2000s-current everything is becoming more angular with sharper edges.

You can look across the board at every manufacture and see these things, it's not just GM/Corvette

[blckslvr79]

Polygons? No. Origami!

You Tube

You Tube

[raidmagic]

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

[bkuper]

Originally Posted by raidmagic

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Yep.

[Atheris]

I can't help but think if the C7 were a Lambo design everyone would be creaming over it. Both Lambo and Ferrari have some styling cues that are more about form than function. And some of the ugliest rears I've ever seen are on some of these beasts.

It's taken me about 2 weeks to fully appreciate the unique combination of curves and angles the C7 has. Polygon Folygon. Originally I kinda liked some of the round tail light chops on the C7 rear. Now I think the actual lights (afterburners) look fine. And they are 3 dimensional and very different from anything else out there. I think the comparison to the Camaro has FINALLY played out.

The hood has some hard lines that seem more about form, and I suspect they direct air in some advantageous way. Even if they don't, the hood looks great.

[Mr. Funk]

I think that this current polygon trend is to do in part with advancement in technology. With the machines of today I imagine it is much easier to mass produce a complex shape accurately compared to years past.

[rickv]

The F458 is a beautiful car that isn't polygon crazy. And it's the direction I was hoping the C7 would take.

Now as it stands I understand your argument. I also like the design though. It's different, and aggresive; the rear tail lights one me over the minute I saw them lit up and the brakes applied.

Take a look at that if you don't like the tail lights. Very cool how they illuminate, doesn't look camaroish at all.