American Car Companies are Becoming a Bit More European

And why it might be a good thing.

The automotive industry is a truly confused place at the moment. Tech companies want to be car companies and car companies want to be mobility companies. The future is all electric but it also isn't and there's a mad dash for efficiency, sustainability... and the fastest 0 to 60 times. Lambo, Ferrari and Aston Martin are selling SUVs and sedans are dying.

Somewhere in all the fray, American car companies are starting to copy the European design ethos. One design. Many shapes. All Porsches answer to the styling of Porsche 911. The Macan, Boxter, Cayenne, Taycan all look like different versions of the bug eyed, rear engined halo car.

Ford and Chevy have killed off their cars and it seems that every new product save for their pick up trucks are beginning to resemble their main sports cars, Mustang and Corvette respectively.

The Ford Mustang Mach E looks like, well... a Mustang. I don't hate that concept. I just think Ford missed out on two key decisions. They should have offered a hybrid option and they should have just called it the Mach E. Had they done that, they would've captured the attention of a much larger audience. Instead, they seemed to capture a lot of hate by people who were screaming the Mach E isn't a Mustang. And honestly, those people were right. It isn't. Porsche knows this. That's why although their entire lineup looks like a 911, they acknowledged that only the 911 is the 911.

Ford is also making a Mustang Raptor. A concept that is exactly like the Porsche 911 Dakar. The Mustang has no off-road motorsport history and this is a clear copy of the 911 Dakar idea. After I got done throwing up in my mouth a little at the site of the thing, I actually warmed up to the idea. It's different and kinda fun. Heck, make a shooting brake version with for more cargo area, throw a non 700 hp v8 in it to drop the price ($90k is F'ing ridiculous), and I could be interested in a Mustang for the first time since 2001. A manual transmission and I'd dang near sell my entire collection for one of these.

The Corvette SUV is the most blatant copy of the Lambo Urus I've ever seen. Surprisingly I'm not mad at it. It's got tailpipes and will be in the neighborhood of $60k to $70k. If I were forced to have a street oriented SUV, this is something I'd consider.

Even Chevy's baby SUV, the trailblazer is following the Corvette styling guidelines.

One design, many shapes. It's not just Porsche that has followed this brand philosophy for many years. Every Audi looks like an A4. Every BMW looks like a some sort of 3 series. Every Mercedes looks like a... um... I don't know Mercedes very well, but they all look the same.

My only request to the American car companies is to shit or get off the pot already. If you want Mustang to be a Brandon and of itself or you want Corvette to be a brand, just do it. Make an announcement and be bold. I would welcome the change. I mean car design can't get worse than the Fusion and the Lumina. imagine a world where they could never exist ever again. It would be a much better place. What Ford and Chevy need to do is bring back some sedans and station wagons with their new design brief, incorporate all the SUVs under this umbrella and completely separate their trucks and hatchbacks (but still make them). And for F sake... stop confusing everyone. There's cool stuff underway. Just stop being afraid. It'll be ok... because it can't get any worse.