From Boxy to Curvy

If you look back at cars in the 1970s and 1980s, the vast majority of them were angular and boxy. But at some point in the 1990s, those corners started to soften, leading to the curvy and smooth designs we’re used to today. This short video from Vox explores this change, and explains some of the key factors which drove this dramatic change in design direction.

Basically, a combination of aerodynamics, fuel efficiency, and modern construction techniques are the primary drivers of the move away from the squared-off angles of days gone by.

Ironically, this story appears right next to a piece we just posted about the boxiest car currently in production: