The query of whether or not automobiles may be thought-about artwork is one that usually will get thrown round. But when we glance previous the semantics, there’s little doubt that the mix of design, engineering and fervour can create icons—if not pure artwork. So what makes a design iconic? Time, endurance and a contact of destiny. None of those automobiles had been created to be icons. They merely grew to become them.
Right here’s our rundown of the very best automotive designs of all time—and why they deserve their place on the checklist.
1974 Lamborghini Countach
Assume “supercar” and also you’ll probably image one thing that appears so much just like the Lamborghini Countach. The format we now take as a right—mid-engined format, low stance, angular traces, futuristic detailing—began proper right here, dreamt up by a gaggle of eccentric, cussed, however in the end good Italians.
Lamborghini’s audacious spirit is captured finest within the unique Countach LP400. However the true genesis was the Miura: curvy, sultry, technically bold and the results of a dream staff of designers, engineers and take a look at drivers. The Countach, nevertheless, took these concepts and pushed them into the stratosphere—stylistically, at the very least.
Marcello Gandini performed a pivotal function in each fashions. Whereas there was debate over whether or not to incorporate the Miura or the Countach, the latter gained out for taking automotive design someplace nobody had gone earlier than. The Miura reinterpreted acquainted cues; the Countach threw them away and began from scratch. Its affect? Unmistakable.
1955 Citroën DS
The place the wedge and drama of a supercar is relatively simple to grasp in an costly automotive for the few, designing true innovation into an on a regular basis automotive is far more difficult. That’s precisely what Citroën did with the 1955 DS. This four-door saloon was designed round aerodynamic ideas and ground-breaking know-how, introducing a raft of world firsts in luxurious and security tools.
Have a look at the DS and it’s virtually unimaginable to imagine that its design was launched into mass manufacturing as early as 1955. Its shark-like nostril and complicated metalwork had been like nothing else on the highway, layered over a conservative front-wheel-drive saloon format. The main points—the high-mounted indicators on the C-pillar and the elegant integration of the chromed bumpers—solely deepened the sense of otherworldliness.
Beneath the pores and skin, Citroën launched a hydro-pneumatic suspension that was peak adjustable and delivered a luxurious trip high quality. The DS might even proceed driving after a puncture, a system that famously helped Charles de Gaulle survive an assassination try. Not simply lovely, then, however brilliantly intelligent too.
1946 Pininfarina Cisitalia 202
The grandfather of recent automotive design might need began with a mannequin you’ve barely heard of. The Cisitalia 202, designed by Pinin Farina himself, was among the many first to hold the Pininfarina badge. And regardless of missing a Ferrari or Lamborghini crest on its nostril, it arguably set the template for high-end sports activities and GT automotive design.
The 202’s forward-thinking design built-in the wings, bonnet and cabin into one steady type—a radical departure from the bolt-on look of earlier automobiles. The silhouette launched what would turn out to be the GT automotive’s defining proportions: a cab-rearward stance, arched wheel arches and a tapering tail. These cues nonetheless form front-engined sports activities automobiles to today.
It could not have pushed prefer it appeared—its underpowered Fiat-based four-cylinder was extra pre-war than post-war—however as a design object, it was a revelation.
1959 Morris Mini Minor
If we separate design from styling for a minute, it’s unimaginable to not recognise the affect the unique Mini had on the world of automotive design. The 1959 Morris Mini Minor, conceived by Sir Alec Issigonis, revolutionised automotive packaging by introducing a transverse engine format with the gearbox beneath.
This intelligent mechanical configuration allowed Morris to suit 4 usable seats right into a physique simply over 3m lengthy. Mixed with improvements in suspension and differential format, it answered the decision of the Fifties gas disaster with a small, environment friendly automotive that didn’t compromise usability.
The actual magic of the Mini, although, wasn’t simply its packaging. It was additionally good to drive, with responsive dealing with and a personality that turned utility into iconography. It didn’t simply match folks inside—it match into their lives.
1974 Volkswagen Golf Mk1
When VW got here to exchange the Beetle, it turned to Giorgetto Giugiaro—one of many biggest names in automotive design. The end result was the 1974 Golf Mk1, which swapped the rear-engined quirk for a pointy, fashionable front-engined, front-wheel-drive format.
It wanted to be easy, elegant and timeless—and Giugiaro delivered. His clear, angular traces and sensible hatchback type grew to become the brand new norm. The Golf was no mere Beetle substitute; it was a whole reset, and one which proved enduring sufficient to hold the mannequin line for generations.
Then got here the GTI, which took this unassuming household hatch and gave it a shot of adrenaline. With just some refined tweaks, the Golf was remodeled right into a cult traditional that proved efficiency might dwell comfortably inside a sensible shell.
1999 Audi TT
How do you create a brand new icon within the fashionable age? Audi’s reply was the TT Coupe. Launched in 1999 and primarily based on the Golf platform, it was a design assertion from prime to tail. It blended futuristic minimalism with nostalgic cues, all wrapped in an virtually architectural type.
Designed by Freeman Thomas and overseen by Peter Schreyer, the TT wasn’t nearly what it appeared like—though the round motifs, slick curves and pared-back detailing had been actually a part of its appeal. It was about coherence. From the wheels to the inside vents, the TT felt like an idea automotive that escaped the motor present and made it onto the highway.
It arrived simply earlier than the coupe market started to fade, but it left an enduring impression that even three follow-up generations have struggled to match.
1984 Mercedes-Benz W124
The W124 may not scream icon at first look, however its designer, Bruno Sacco, didn’t simply form a automotive—he helped outline an entire class. The W124 sat between the compact 190 and stately S-Class, and wanted to tread that line with care. It did so brilliantly.
This was the automotive that successfully invented the trendy government saloon. Its proportions had been spot on, its detailing restrained, and its highway presence unmistakable. It appeared proper in each color and each physique model—saloon, coupe, property—and has aged with a uncommon form of grace.
The place the BMW 5 Sequence leaned sporty, the W124 leaned subtle. And that refined confidence grew to become Mercedes-Benz’s calling card for many years.
2002 BMW 7 Sequence (E65)
A lot has been stated about BMW’s design course through the years, however no automotive triggered extra debate than the E65 7 Sequence. Designed by Adrian van Hooydonk below the attention of Chris Bangle, it changed the elegant E38 with one thing way more radical.
At launch, it was divisive—particularly its boot. However look once more. The E65 launched daring surfacing, distinctive proportions and a stance that demanded consideration. The detailing, color decisions and volumes had been fastidiously executed, even when not at all times universally beloved.
It marked a turning level for BMW’s design language and ushered in a brand new period of confidence. It’s possible you’ll not prefer it, however you may’t ignore it.
1990 Renault Twingo
When Patrick Le Quément got down to design the Twingo, it wasn’t nearly creating an inexpensive automotive. It was about making a automotive with coronary heart. The end result was a design that linked with folks like few automobiles ever have.
Each aspect was tailor-made for simplicity and pleasure: the playful face, the compact proportions, the brilliant color palette, and the intelligent, minimalist inside. It was constructed to a price range, sure, however it by no means felt compromised.
Its smile was greater than a metaphor. The Twingo introduced character and appeal to thousands and thousands of city streets, proving that small, reasonably priced automobiles might nonetheless stir the soul.
2003 Renault Mégane II
Sticking with Renault—and Patrick Le Quément particularly—the Mégane II was the results of a daring rethink in a conservative section. This wasn’t simply one other hatchback. It was an announcement.
The place rivals performed it secure, Renault launched sharp angles, sturdy graphics and an immediately recognisable rear finish. The three-door, specifically, had a novel silhouette that stood out in site visitors and in reminiscence.
It proved that mainstream automobiles didn’t must be boring and that design aptitude wasn’t the unique purview of coupes and idea automobiles. Like flared denims and the Spice Women, it outlined its period—and that’s no dangerous factor.
