Cars and Personality

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    Researchers Study 'Personality Traits' of

    Cars

    Passive fenders, aggressive grilles: Researchers studyhow design shapes cars' 'personalities'

    The Associated PressBy BILL KACZOR Associated Press Writer

    TALLAHASSEE, Fla. July 6, 2009 (AP)

    Dennis Slice, a Florida State University associate professor of scientific computing,

    analyzes a Volkswagen Beetle's personality, Monday, June 22. 2009, in Tallahassee,Fla. Slice, and other researchers, conducted a study that confirms the belief that cars

    project personalities. Slice concluded that the Volkswagen Beetle is the classic cute car,not dominant and not aggressive.(AP Photo/Phil Coale)(AP)

    Passive fenders, aggressive grills: Researchers study how design shapes cars''personalities.'(Volkswagen AG/Getty Images)

    http://topics.abcnews.go.com/topic/Tallahasseehttp://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wirestory?id=8009321&page=2http://topics.abcnews.go.com/topic/Tallahassee
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    The butterfly decals on the front bumper, flowers in the dashboard vase and lime-greenpaint job only confirmed Dennis Slice's perception of a Volkswagen Beetle parked in alot at Florida State University.

    Slice, a shape analysis researcher, said the narrow body, wide-eyed circular headlights,

    tall windshield and curve of the bug's hood match the facial features of a smilingwoman or child.

    "This is the classic cute car not dominant, not aggressive," said Slice, an associateprofessor of scientific computing at FSU. "I don't think anyone could be mean tosomeone else in a Volkswagen Beetle."

    Slice and fellow researchers at Austria's Vienna University, where he's a guestprofessor, are exploring the widely held belief that cars project personalities becausethey look like human faces when viewed head-on.

    Cartoonists, for instance, long have drawn anthropomorphic cars with toothy grilles thatgrinned or frowned and headlights that winked or blinked. The creators of the recentanimated film "Cars," though, used windshields for eyes. They were afraid headlight

    peepers would have given racer Lightning McQueen and other denizens of RadiatorSprings a snakelike appearance.

    Three cars parked near the Beetle offer examples of the opposite end of the personalityspectrum. A Mitsubishi Eclipse,Ford Mustang and Dodge Chargereach practicallyooze testosterone.

    Their low, wide stances, long hoods, gaping grilles and relatively narrow headlightsgive each of these sporty models a look that's consistent with the facial features of anadult male, Slice said. Each projects a mature, dominant, aggressive and powerful

    personality.

    "This is a car that's ready to take care of business," he said standing in front of theEclipse. "You don't want to mess with this car."

    Slice and his Vienna colleagues hope their work one day may help designers determinewhat parts of a car, such as the headlights, grille or windshield, they can change andhow to project traits that make cars more appealing to different kinds of customers.

    They're taking the emerging field of shape analysis, or morphometrics, in a newdirection. Most other applications have been biological or medical. For example,researchers are trying to determine if bone shapes can be used to help identify the age,gender and race of unknown human remains and how variations in facial features affectthe fit and function of respirators.

    The idea of seeing faces in inanimate objects is part of a survival instinct that goes backto prehistoric times, Slice said.

    Facial features offering clues about a person's sex, age, emotions and intentions helped

    early humans "know whether the guy that just stepped out of the bushes is going to takeyour head back for a trophy or invite you to lunch," Slice said.

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    Those identifications are so important that people also tend to see faces even where theydon't exist.

    "If you get it wrong and you see a face in a cloud or a stone or a mountain or some burnttoast then you might be frightened a little bit, but it's no real cost to you," Slice said.

    "But if you should ever miss a face and that person wants your head, then that's aserious omission."

    Slice said future research may look at whether cars' personalities relate to drivers' habitsand interactions.

    "Possibilities are if you see an aggressive car in your rear view mirror you may be morelike to pull over and yield to it," he said. "By the same token, if you see a submissive ormore immature car trying to get into traffic you may be more likely to yield to it andhelp the innocent little car get into traffic."

    Another question is whether drivers have the same personalities as their cars.

    Slice got a bit of anecdotal evidence in the parking lot from Gwen Oliver, a custodialsupervisor at Florida State, after telling her that her black Eclipse is dominant,aggressive, powerful and "ready to take care of business."

    "I am. Everything you said, I'm like that," Oliver told him after she briskly walked overto see why he was interested in her car. "I'm aggressive, I'm straightforward and I'moutgoing and I believe in getting the job done."

    Copyright 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be

    published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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    Face it, your car has real personality

    Every once in a while my seven-year-old daughter will

    watch a car go by as we're driving and comment,

    "That car looks angry," or "That car looks sad."

    By Canwest News ServiceOctober 9, 2008

    Every once in a while my seven-year-old daughter will watch a car go by as we'redriving and comment, "That car looks angry," or "That car looks sad."

    It's something we've all thought at some point or another (or at least I have) regardlessof age: The fronts of cars look just enough like faces that our brains insist on readingexpressions onto them, even though they're just inanimate hunks of metal. (Which, ofcourse, is why the animated movie Cars worked so well.)

    Now researchers in Vienna have studied this phenomenon scientifically, aiming to findout if our tendency to attribute personality traits to cars spills over into the ways we

    interact with cars as both drivers and pedestrians.

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    It's not surprising we see faces in cars. Humans see faces everywhere (witness the Manin the Moon and the various supposed apparitions of Jesus or Mary in everything from

    pieces of burnt toast to mildew on walls). The reason is simple: There are few things welook at that are more important to our well-being than other people's faces. We need to

    be able to judge whether, for example, someone is telling us the truth or not

    (particularly helpful in election years) or whether they're about to do somethingunpleasant to us (ditto).

    So how does this hard-wired behaviour apply to cars? Truls Thorstensen of EFSConsulting Vienna, Karl Grammer of the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of UrbanEthology and other researchers at the University of Vienna decided to find out.

    The researchers asked people to report on the characteristics, emotions, personalitytraits and attitudes they attributed to car fronts, then tried to match that information tospecific car shapes.

    They confirmed that the perception of faces on cars is widespread. All of their subjectssaw the headlights as eyes, the air intake or grill as a mouth, and the nose as, well, anose, in more than half of the cars, and one third of the subjects saw a human or animalface in at least 90 per cent of the cars.

    Unlike my daughter, who likes "happy cars," both men and women liked cars best thatwere "mature, dominant, masculine, arrogant, angry-looking"-- characteristicscorresponding to what the researchers called "power." In design terms, that meant carsthat had a wide stance, a narrow windshield, and/or widely spaced, narrow headlights.

    The questions the study raises are intriguing. Do people think that an angry-looking carwill help them battle traffic, perhaps, by intimidating other drivers? The researchershope to find out in future studies.

    Perhaps they'll also answer some of the questions the study raises for me. For instance,do some people deliberately avoid buying angry-looking cars because they don't want to

    be seen as aggressive on the road? Do happy people buy happy-looking cars and angrypeople angry-looking cars, or are the former bought by depressed people trying to cheerthemselves up and the latter by wimps trying to compensate for their wimpishness?

    Why, the research possibilities are endless. Are people in bored-looking cars more

    likely to fall asleep at the wheel? If a happy person drives a sad-looking car longenough, does the happy person become sad?

    Does driving an angry-looking car make you more inclined to road rage? Are angry-looking cars or happy-looking cars more likely to be involved in accidents?

    And how do pedestrians react to car faces? Are you more likely to assume an oncomingcar will stop at the crosswalk if it has a happy face? Do angry-faced cars or happy-facedcars come to a complete stop at stop signs more often? (Of course, they'll have to testthat one in Vienna. Around here, almost no cars come to a complete stop.)

    The researchers talk about coming up with a tool that could help designers imbue carswith a desired expression, but I've got an even better idea: make a car with moveable

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    features that constantly mimic the actual facial expression of the driver. All you need isa video camera in the cabin and some clever software.

    Just think: no more guessing if that oncoming car is driven by someone in a pedestrian-killing mood.

    You'd sell thousands in Regina alone.

    - Edward Willett is a Regina freelance writer. E-mail comments or questions [email protected]. Read (or listen to) this and past columns online atwww.edwardwillett.com or edwardwillett.blogspot.com.

    (c) CanWest MediaWorks Publications Inc.

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    Do you know what your cars face says about you?

    An Austrian anthropologist recently released a study on what features we find mostappealing on our cars faces.

    As you might assume, the study is intended to give auto designers a peek into the headsof Mr. and Mrs. Consumer. While a study can tell us what kind of face we prefer on ourcars, it cant tell us what a cars face says about the driver.

    Thats why Im here. Behold:

    1. The Angry Face.

    The above-mentioned survey concluded that angry faces, like on a BMW, topped thelist of attractive traits. The further the stock market slides, the angrier these owners are.

    2. The Startled Face.

    The Mini Cooper always looks surprised to be where it is. Especially when it ends up atCostco and the driver needs to load in a weeks worth of groceries.

    3. The Sad Face.

    http://www.cargurus.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/mini-cooper.jpghttp://www.cargurus.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/bmw.jpg
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    Some cars try to look luxurious, but end up looking like the sad kitten from Shrek.Owners of this droopy-lidded Jag are sad they didnt wait for the newly introduced XF.

    4. The Aggressive Face.

    Designers were going for a look that demands authority of the road. What they got wereowners who demand authority of themselves, and need a car to suit the image.

    5. The Happy Face.

    When a car smiles at you, you just have to smile back. Even when the driver is applyinglipstick, talking on her cell phone and sipping a non-fat caramel macchiato.

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    6. The Confused Face.

    Are we designing a tug boat or a car? Oh an SUV? OK, well this should still work.Luckily the owners get to sit behind this cars face, and drive in a state of blissfulunawareness as the rest of us just shake our heads.

    What does your cars face say about you?

    -tgriffith

    http://www.cargurus.com/blog/2008/10/17/do-you-know-what-your-cars-

    face-says-about-you

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    People Like Angry Car Faces. I Don't.

    McLaren+Torchinsky at 3:42 PM Friday, Jul 31, 2009

    Jason Torchinsky is a guest blogger on Boing Boing. Jason has a book out now,AdNauseam: A Survivor's Guide to American Consumer Culture. He lives in Los Angeles,

    where he is a tinkerer and artistand writes for the Onion News Network. He lives with

    his partner Sally, five animals, too many old cars, and a shed full of crap.

    First off, I love cars, I own an odd one, and, thanks in part to Make: magazine, I've evenraced them a little bit. That's why I've deluded myself into thinking my opinion on thishas any relevance here at all. So, if you don't mind, indulge me.

    Recently, a study showed that people tended to prefer cars with "angry" faces. Autodesigners have known this for a while, as the vast majority of cars available today have

    "faces" (you know, the front end arrangement of headlights, grille, and shapes that wetend to read like a face) that are at least aggressive, and at most absolutely freakinglivid. This is across the board, too-- from entry-level cars to minivans to expensivesports sedans-- they all look like pissed-off turtle robots. There are exceptions, ofcourse, but many of the most notable ones (New Beetle, Mini) are modern updates ofvintage designs.

    Now, Ithink there is absolutely a place for aggression, determination, and even a bit of anger inauto design-- some of my favoritecars use this as a major styling inspiration-- it's moreabout raw power and aggression becoming the defaultlook for all cars that disturbs me.

    Personally, the visual character I've always sought out in a car is a certain degree ofplucky fun-- something upbeat, capable, but not so damn serious all the time. Now, Idon't expect everyone to have the same tastes as me, but there seems to be a growinghomogenization in auto design to favor these cars that look like douchebags. The factthat the statement everyone wants to make by the vehicle they drive is one ofintimidation and power seems like it's the symptom of something unpleasant going on inour culture.

    Maybe someone smarter than me can shed some light on this; I know people want toseem successful and powerful, to some degree, so maybe that's it. I don't think this is thecase in all cultures, as Japan seems full of cars so confusingly cute you want to spit.

    Cars form part of the constant background of our visual lives, so it's worth taking a lookat them every now and then and seeing how they make you feel. Lately, when I look

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    around a parking lot, it feels more like I've stumbled into a den of demented robot land-sharks. If I had it my way, the land sharks would still be there, but there'd be a goodassortment of other faces out there, some of which would be looking like they just wantto chug some 87 octane, go fast and have fun. Oh, and maybe get your ass to work ontime.

    108 Comments Add a comment

    Anon #1 4:25 PM Friday, Jul 31, 2009 Reply

    i dunno, american car faces look more smug than angry to me

    nanner #2 4:30 PM Friday, Jul 31, 2009 Reply

    oh i totally prefer the happy little car (and i'm an american) maybe that's why I've nevermuch liked american cars. hmm

    cstatman #3 4:41 PM Friday, Jul 31, 2009 Reply

    my corvair does NOT look angry... ;)

    caldrax #4 4:45 PM Friday, Jul 31, 2009 Reply

    Strangely I'd been thinking about this lately, looking at my own angry car. I bought itbecause it had a low pricetag, I didn't take the angry faced nature of the car intoconsideration, and I think that many Americans don't. If it was a conscious decision thatfelt like one we were truly allowed to make when walking into a car dealership, abovesafety and mileage and all that other important stuff, more americans might choosehappier looking cars, but as it stands, for many of us it's a "take what you can get"market. I've always liked the way VW bugs looked but I've heard horror stories aboutthe engine blocks landing in drivers laps, etc. So I avoided them myself... and yeah,that's a retro style anyway.

    I'm with you, though, bring back the happy car. Or better yet, how about a car that isn't

    personified in any way.

    wunderkammer#5 4:46 PM Friday, Jul 31, 2009 Reply

    Whenever I see faces in cars, the headlights are the eyes, but other people (and cartoonslike Pixar's Cars) tell me that the windshield is the eyes. What's the majority view onthis?

    My own car (95 Dodge Intrepid) looks like a weird alien catfish. Crosseyed. Not sosmart. Not so hot. I think I'll go with a happy one if it dies for good.

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    sanity #6 4:47 PM Friday, Jul 31, 2009 Reply

    Where do these articles mention that the study involved Americans? Did I miss it? Itwas a study done by a European research group, but I couldn't find a reference toAmericans being in the the focus group.

    I couldn't find any info stating which nationalities were in the focus group.

    Try harder next time. Or don't.

    Sekino #7 4:53 PM Friday, Jul 31, 2009 Reply

    That has to be the friendliest, sweetest-looking car I've ever seen! It looks exactlylike :D

    @ Caldrax Or better yet, how about a car that isn't personified in any way.

    I don't know... You'd have to pretty much get rid of the headlights and grill (or at leasttheir symmetry). Pareidolia is hard to work around.

    Anon #8 4:56 PM Friday, Jul 31, 2009 Reply

    The BMW E39 M5 and E65 M5's both have gigantic smiles on their faces, and those arevery much sought after cars in the US. Even the E46 BMW M3 has a big grin.

    They look very much like they're rage-laughing at 155 MPH.

    khappucino #9 4:56 PM Friday, Jul 31, 2009 Reply

    In America, smiley cars can end up provoking a beat down =) I think that most considerangry looking cars as masculine.

    Junior #10 4:58 PM Friday, Jul 31, 2009 Reply

    Maybe you should photoshop the German license plate off the front of the 'angry'looking car that Americans supposedly like.

    Just sayin'.

    Anon #11 4:58 PM Friday, Jul 31, 2009 Reply

    The happy-go-lucky face on the original-style xB had to have been part of what sold uson it. The Brave Little Toaster is like a family member at this point (and I say that fullyaware of how sickly materialistic that sounds.)

    @Wunderkammer:

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    Definitely headlights, IMHO.

    Anon #12 5:08 PM Friday, Jul 31, 2009 Reply

    There are exceptions. Look at Mazda's current lineup of smiles

    sforslev #13 5:12 PM Friday, Jul 31, 2009 Reply

    Have you noticed that most white SUV's look like Star Wars stormtroopers? My cardealer thought I was nuts when I bought my hybrid Escape because I wanted any color

    but white.

    Anon #14 5:19 PM Friday, Jul 31, 2009 Reply

    I think that as people feel like they have less and less control in their lives, they want toSEEM in control, and buy cars that make them look and feel powerful (in their eyes atleast).

    My car here in Japan is a very happy little fellow

    http://www.goo-net.com/cgi-bin/search/disp_pic2.cgi?10451505_200806.jpg

    ...but there is a huge trend toward customization and models that look like customs, andmost of them look very agressive. It may be no coincidence that Japanese society is

    under a lot of stress now and is very unhappy.

    nanner #15 5:25 PM Friday, Jul 31, 2009 Reply

    hmm, had to look up my car to see if it was happy or angry and suprised to see that evenmy Nissan Quest minivan is pretty snarly looking!http://www.autogaleria.hu/autok/nissan/quest/nissan_quest_m11.jpg

    Teresa Nielsen Hayden #16 5:28 PM Friday, Jul 31, 2009 Reply

    I've noticed the angry faces on American cars, but I've never understood it. I prefer acheerful-looking car. Then again, I react to other drivers' shouts, threats, obscenities,and rude gestures by waving cheerfully and yelling "Hi, Mom!"

    Driving is not a test of manly dominance, and I refuse to help encourage my fellowdrivers to think in those terms.

    Anon #17 5:32 PM Friday, Jul 31, 2009 Reply

    Well, I wish they would put an angry face on my MINI John Cooper Works, becauseI'm tired of hearing "It's soooo cute."

    http://www.boingboing.net/2009/07/31/americans-like-angry.html#comment-556527http://dynamic.boingboing.net/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&blog_id=1&id=88680http://www.boingboing.net/2009/07/31/americans-like-angry.html#comment-556533http://www.boingboing.net/2009/07/31/americans-like-angry.html#comment-556533http://www.boingboing.net/2009/07/31/americans-like-angry.html#comment-556536http://www.goo-net.com/cgi-bin/search/disp_pic2.cgi?10451505_200806.jpghttp://dynamic.boingboing.net/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&blog_id=1&id=66708http://www.boingboing.net/2009/07/31/americans-like-angry.html#comment-556540http://www.autogaleria.hu/autok/nissan/quest/nissan_quest_m11.jpghttp://dynamic.boingboing.net/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&blog_id=1&id=94http://www.boingboing.net/2009/07/31/americans-like-angry.html#comment-556542http://www.boingboing.net/2009/07/31/americans-like-angry.html#comment-556542http://www.boingboing.net/2009/07/31/americans-like-angry.html#comment-556545http://dynamic.boingboing.net/scripts/form.php?comment_id=556545http://dynamic.boingboing.net/scripts/form.php?comment_id=556542http://dynamic.boingboing.net/scripts/form.php?comment_id=556540http://dynamic.boingboing.net/scripts/form.php?comment_id=556536http://dynamic.boingboing.net/scripts/form.php?comment_id=556533http://dynamic.boingboing.net/scripts/form.php?comment_id=556527http://www.boingboing.net/2009/07/31/americans-like-angry.html#comment-556527http://dynamic.boingboing.net/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&blog_id=1&id=88680http://www.boingboing.net/2009/07/31/americans-like-angry.html#comment-556533http://www.boingboing.net/2009/07/31/americans-like-angry.html#comment-556536http://www.goo-net.com/cgi-bin/search/disp_pic2.cgi?10451505_200806.jpghttp://dynamic.boingboing.net/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&blog_id=1&id=66708http://www.boingboing.net/2009/07/31/americans-like-angry.html#comment-556540http://www.autogaleria.hu/autok/nissan/quest/nissan_quest_m11.jpghttp://dynamic.boingboing.net/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&blog_id=1&id=94http://www.boingboing.net/2009/07/31/americans-like-angry.html#comment-556542http://www.boingboing.net/2009/07/31/americans-like-angry.html#comment-556545
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    Anon #18 5:32 PM Friday, Jul 31, 2009 Reply

    Mazda seems to be bucking the "angry looking car" trend with with the new mazda 3and mx-5!

    https://reader009.{domain}/reader009/html5/0406/5ac6e5bd6ab9f/5ac6e5cb4399e.jpg

    Anon #19 5:34 PM Friday, Jul 31, 2009 Reply

    What's with all the nonsense "how dare you talk about Americans like that, when thecar/study is from Europe"attitude in the comments?

    The writer of the article never said anything about Americans. He said "people" seem tolike angry cars. And that some cultures may be different, like the Japanese. That's theonly nationality even mentioned!

    Are these particular American commenters so absurdly self-centered that when onementions "people" they automatically understand it as "Americans"? Are Americansseriously the only "people" you can conceive of?

    Ernunnos #20 5:36 PM Friday, Jul 31, 2009 Reply

    I think it's amusing that one of the cars with the most stereotypically aggressive andsnobbish drivers, the Porsche 911, mostly just looks like a determined frog. Doesn'tseem to have hurt its reputation too much.

    desiredusername #21 5:43 PM Friday, Jul 31, 2009 Reply

    cyclops

    KurtMac #22 5:46 PM Friday, Jul 31, 2009 Reply

    Huh. I wonder if that can account for a percentage of road rage. You end up getting madat the car that's riding your ass (instead of the driver inside) and you get more livid if the

    car looks pissed back at you.

    Also, I'm not sure I know what my car is doing... it looks like it just dropped a deuce onthe carpet and doesn't want its owner to find out:http://hendricks.autoconx.com/photos/751/500704751_1_B.jpg

    Time for a new car.

    Anon #23 5:50 PM Friday, Jul 31, 2009 Reply

    http://www.boingboing.net/2009/07/31/americans-like-angry.html#comment-556548http://www.drivearabia.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/2010-mazda-3-1.jpghttp://www.boingboing.net/2009/07/31/americans-like-angry.html#comment-556549http://dynamic.boingboing.net/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&blog_id=1&id=31010http://www.boingboing.net/2009/07/31/americans-like-angry.html#comment-556551http://www.boingboing.net/2009/07/31/americans-like-angry.html#comment-556551http://dynamic.boingboing.net/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&blog_id=1&id=19390http://www.boingboing.net/2009/07/31/americans-like-angry.html#comment-556553http://dynamic.boingboing.net/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&blog_id=1&id=3419http://www.boingboing.net/2009/07/31/americans-like-angry.html#comment-556555http://www.boingboing.net/2009/07/31/americans-like-angry.html#comment-556555http://hendricks.autoconx.com/photos/751/500704751_1_B.jpghttp://www.boingboing.net/2009/07/31/americans-like-angry.html#comment-556558http://dynamic.boingboing.net/scripts/form.php?comment_id=556558http://dynamic.boingboing.net/scripts/form.php?comment_id=556555http://dynamic.boingboing.net/scripts/form.php?comment_id=556553http://dynamic.boingboing.net/scripts/form.php?comment_id=556551http://dynamic.boingboing.net/scripts/form.php?comment_id=556549http://dynamic.boingboing.net/scripts/form.php?comment_id=556548http://www.boingboing.net/2009/07/31/americans-like-angry.html#comment-556548http://www.drivearabia.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/2010-mazda-3-1.jpghttp://www.boingboing.net/2009/07/31/americans-like-angry.html#comment-556549http://dynamic.boingboing.net/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&blog_id=1&id=31010http://www.boingboing.net/2009/07/31/americans-like-angry.html#comment-556551http://dynamic.boingboing.net/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&blog_id=1&id=19390http://www.boingboing.net/2009/07/31/americans-like-angry.html#comment-556553http://dynamic.boingboing.net/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&blog_id=1&id=3419http://www.boingboing.net/2009/07/31/americans-like-angry.html#comment-556555http://hendricks.autoconx.com/photos/751/500704751_1_B.jpghttp://www.boingboing.net/2009/07/31/americans-like-angry.html#comment-556558
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    I prefer a friendly looking car - I've associated expressions with cars since I was a kid,and nothing's changed. I've always liked a friendly looking car. And no matter whatPixar thinks; the headlights are the eyes.

    That BMW is kind of nasty and sly looking - I don't care far it at all.

    My Corolla is friendly-looking enough without looking goofy. I'd expect to see avariation if the results were broken down by gender. More guys probably like theaggressive look. A nice, big, aggressive penis-extension, er, Hummer.

    Anon #24 5:50 PM Friday, Jul 31, 2009 Reply

    I like early 90's mercury cars with the cross bar of lights (that rarely seem to work), themust of been inspired by Star Trek TNG

    MollyMaguire #25 5:51 PM Friday, Jul 31, 2009 Reply

    I frikkin hate all of the macho trucks in my town (Anchorage, AK) detailed with steelflames, pissing Calvins, testicles below the tow hitch, raised, lowered, tinted windows,gothic-font zip codes, all that crap, usually driven by young men with white-framedsunglasses and sideways ball caps. I think James Howard Kunstler nails it when he saysthat Americans have to act so threatening in public because we are, for the most part,insecure.

    technogeek #26 5:53 PM Friday, Jul 31, 2009 Reply

    Then there are those of us who consider the car simply a vehicle and care a lot lessabout what it looks like than what kinds of space it has, how it drives, reliability andefficiency and so on. Yeah, there are occasional exceptions -- most often in the "so uglyit's amusing" category, but occasionally in the either retro or futuristic fantasy ranges --

    but generally my attitude is "I'm not the one who has to look at it from outside.

    As long as it isn't the moral equivalent of a pink monkey (a pink Caddy?) that's activelybegging for abuse. Or something blatently stupid like a hummer. But those twoexamples fail all my other tests too.

    nosehat #27 5:54 PM Friday, Jul 31, 2009 Reply

    Thanks for the link. The results seem to be a natural extension ofthis study of SUVdrivers and personality types.

    @15 Kurtmac: I bet the road rage connection is there. How would we drive if all thevehicles around us were painted like goofy clown cars with big dopey smiles?

    Fe Boogie #28 5:54 PM Friday, Jul 31, 2009 Reply

    http://www.boingboing.net/2009/07/31/americans-like-angry.html#comment-556559http://dynamic.boingboing.net/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&blog_id=1&id=34333http://www.boingboing.net/2009/07/31/americans-like-angry.html#comment-556561http://www.boingboing.net/2009/07/31/americans-like-angry.html#comment-556561http://dynamic.boingboing.net/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&blog_id=1&id=40955http://www.boingboing.net/2009/07/31/americans-like-angry.html#comment-556562http://dynamic.boingboing.net/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&blog_id=1&id=79854http://www.boingboing.net/2009/07/31/americans-like-angry.html#comment-556563http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/features/2001/0212.mencimer.htmlhttp://www.washingtonmonthly.com/features/2001/0212.mencimer.htmlhttp://dynamic.boingboing.net/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&blog_id=1&id=97922http://www.boingboing.net/2009/07/31/americans-like-angry.html#comment-556564http://dynamic.boingboing.net/scripts/form.php?comment_id=556564http://dynamic.boingboing.net/scripts/form.php?comment_id=556563http://dynamic.boingboing.net/scripts/form.php?comment_id=556562http://dynamic.boingboing.net/scripts/form.php?comment_id=556561http://dynamic.boingboing.net/scripts/form.php?comment_id=556559http://www.boingboing.net/2009/07/31/americans-like-angry.html#comment-556559http://dynamic.boingboing.net/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&blog_id=1&id=34333http://www.boingboing.net/2009/07/31/americans-like-angry.html#comment-556561http://dynamic.boingboing.net/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&blog_id=1&id=40955http://www.boingboing.net/2009/07/31/americans-like-angry.html#comment-556562http://dynamic.boingboing.net/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&blog_id=1&id=79854http://www.boingboing.net/2009/07/31/americans-like-angry.html#comment-556563http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/features/2001/0212.mencimer.htmlhttp://dynamic.boingboing.net/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&blog_id=1&id=97922http://www.boingboing.net/2009/07/31/americans-like-angry.html#comment-556564
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    I'm surprised no one has mentioned the angry car Americans love shown above isGerman.

    I'm just saying.

    neurolux #29 5:54 PM Friday, Jul 31, 2009 Reply

    I liked my old Dodge Neon. "Hi."

    https://reader009.{domain}/reader009/html5/0406/5ac6e5bd6ab9f/5ac6e5cea5f48.jpg

    dwdyer #30 5:55 PM Friday, Jul 31, 2009 Reply

    As a two-MINI family, we agree. Heck, I even opted for the driving lights, even though

    they're completely useless with the HID lamps, because it makes the car look "jaunty",imo. And there's very little else out there I like these days. The 2007 redesign madethem look a bit more aggressive, but still pleasant. If I had to get something else, it'd besomething quirky and strange.

    (I tried and I tried to like the PT Cruiser. Really, I did.)

    Heck, look at the front of most new minivans -- they look mean and aggressive just likeanything else.

    Of the "angry" cars, though, I do like the BMW Z4, which looks more sly.

    But nothing beats the Bugeye Sprite for a smile.

    Muse #31 6:04 PM Friday, Jul 31, 2009 Reply

    I have actually had an argument with my mom over the headlight vs windshield = eyesdilemma. No matter what the folks at Pixar think, I am on the side of the headlightslooking eye-like. You have to disregard the lights entirely if you choose the windshield.

    It is hard wired into our brains to see faces. Even a US wall socket looks like a face

    even though I am fairly confident the original designer did not intend that. Early cardesigns may have had a similar unintended effect, with people instinctively gravitatingtowards more face-like arrangements.

    I actually have a degree in car design even though I do not currently design cars for aliving. When I was in school, I became increasingly aware of how much of anemotional effect design choices made on people. My theory is that the cars that aresuccessful strike an emotional resonance with the prevailing moods of that era they aremade in. There may be perfectly brilliant designs that are too far out of step with thetimes to catch on. As the pace of modern life increased and traffic got more congested,

    people's driving became more aggressive. Isn't it logical to then want a car with a facethat says "get the hell out of my way" as it looms in someone's rear view mirror?

    http://dynamic.boingboing.net/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&blog_id=1&id=26051http://www.boingboing.net/2009/07/31/americans-like-angry.html#comment-556565http://www.allpar.com/images/neon-1995/hi.jpghttp://dynamic.boingboing.net/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&blog_id=1&id=20808http://www.boingboing.net/2009/07/31/americans-like-angry.html#comment-556566http://www.boingboing.net/2009/07/31/americans-like-angry.html#comment-556566http://dynamic.boingboing.net/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&blog_id=1&id=18951http://www.boingboing.net/2009/07/31/americans-like-angry.html#comment-556572http://dynamic.boingboing.net/scripts/form.php?comment_id=556572http://dynamic.boingboing.net/scripts/form.php?comment_id=556566http://dynamic.boingboing.net/scripts/form.php?comment_id=556565http://dynamic.boingboing.net/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&blog_id=1&id=26051http://www.boingboing.net/2009/07/31/americans-like-angry.html#comment-556565http://www.allpar.com/images/neon-1995/hi.jpghttp://dynamic.boingboing.net/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&blog_id=1&id=20808http://www.boingboing.net/2009/07/31/americans-like-angry.html#comment-556566http://dynamic.boingboing.net/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&blog_id=1&id=18951http://www.boingboing.net/2009/07/31/americans-like-angry.html#comment-556572
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    One of the tools that car companies frequently employ (much to the chagrin of cardesigners)to test how successful a proposed new design will be is focus groups. Theyshow a "random" sampling of people several un-badged car designs and ask them to ratewhat they like and what they hate. I think that this is a huge factor in the "all cars lookthe same" comment that I continually hear from non-designers.

    The angle of the top edges of the headlights play a big role in how aggressive a carlooks. There are several cars out there that originally came out with less aggressive /\headlight shapes that were later redesigned into more aggressive\/shapes. I wonder iffocus groups had a say in the matter?

    The Audi TT

    The new TT

    The BMW Z4

    The new Z4

    liquis #32 6:06 PM Friday, Jul 31, 2009 Reply

    hahaha, a determined frog.

    Here's one of my most favorite cars, if not number one: the 1938 Phantom Corsairhttp://www.shorey.net/Auto/Miscellaneous%20Pictures/Phantom/1938%20Phantom

    %20Corsair-fVr=mx=.jpg

    What's interesting about it is the whole car becomes the head/face... not just the grill.The eyes are the windshields, the hood is the snout, the headlamps the nostrils, the

    bumper is the mouth.

    And when the headlights become eyes, the front has its own face... like a very satisfiedalien salamander.

    Antinous / Moderator #33 6:09 PM Friday, Jul 31, 2009 Reply

    Have you noticed that most white SUV's look like Star Wars stormtroopers? My car

    dealer thought I was nuts when I bought my hybrid Escape because I wanted any color

    but white.

    I, on the other hand, like the thought of being inside a stormtrooper.

    mellowknees #34 6:13 PM Friday, Jul 31, 2009 Reply

    This is actually something I've been thinking about lately - not so much the "angry face"of most cars, but the fact that they seem to purposely look like faces. I have beenwondering lately if a car that did not have anything remotely resembling a face would

    http://www.seriouswheels.com/abc/Audi-TT-Coupe-Front-Angle-1280x960.htmhttp://www.seriouswheels.com/2007/2007-Audi-TT-FA-1280x960.htmhttp://www.seriouswheels.com/2006/2006-BMW-Z4-M-Coupe-F-1024x768.htmhttp://www.seriouswheels.com/2009/bc/2009-BMW-Z4-Roadster-Front-Top-Down-1024x768.htmhttp://dynamic.boingboing.net/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&blog_id=1&id=1212http://www.boingboing.net/2009/07/31/americans-like-angry.html#comment-556573http://www.shorey.net/Auto/Miscellaneous%20Pictures/Phantom/1938%20Phantom%20Corsair-fVr=mx=.jpghttp://www.shorey.net/Auto/Miscellaneous%20Pictures/Phantom/1938%20Phantom%20Corsair-fVr=mx=.jpghttp://dynamic.boingboing.net/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&blog_id=1&id=1604http://www.boingboing.net/2009/07/31/americans-like-angry.html#comment-556574http://www.boingboing.net/2009/07/31/americans-like-angry.html#comment-556574http://dynamic.boingboing.net/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&blog_id=1&id=267http://www.boingboing.net/2009/07/31/americans-like-angry.html#comment-556578http://www.boingboing.net/2009/07/31/americans-like-angry.html#comment-556578http://dynamic.boingboing.net/scripts/form.php?comment_id=556578http://dynamic.boingboing.net/scripts/form.php?comment_id=556574http://dynamic.boingboing.net/scripts/form.php?comment_id=556573http://www.seriouswheels.com/abc/Audi-TT-Coupe-Front-Angle-1280x960.htmhttp://www.seriouswheels.com/2007/2007-Audi-TT-FA-1280x960.htmhttp://www.seriouswheels.com/2006/2006-BMW-Z4-M-Coupe-F-1024x768.htmhttp://www.seriouswheels.com/2009/bc/2009-BMW-Z4-Roadster-Front-Top-Down-1024x768.htmhttp://dynamic.boingboing.net/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&blog_id=1&id=1212http://www.boingboing.net/2009/07/31/americans-like-angry.html#comment-556573http://www.shorey.net/Auto/Miscellaneous%20Pictures/Phantom/1938%20Phantom%20Corsair-fVr=mx=.jpghttp://www.shorey.net/Auto/Miscellaneous%20Pictures/Phantom/1938%20Phantom%20Corsair-fVr=mx=.jpghttp://dynamic.boingboing.net/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&blog_id=1&id=1604http://www.boingboing.net/2009/07/31/americans-like-angry.html#comment-556574http://dynamic.boingboing.net/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&blog_id=1&id=267http://www.boingboing.net/2009/07/31/americans-like-angry.html#comment-556578
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    sell well (or if it would sell at all). It's really interesting to me how most things thathumans have manufactured are very much based on the natural world and what weknow.

    And this prompted me to look at something - I have a 2006 Scion XB, which was not a

    terribly popular model of car (I've been told it's ugly, too boxy, and even that it lookslike a Nazi car, whatever that's supposed to mean). I don't much like the new version ofthe Scion XB. I just checked photos of the two models. Mine looks very much like ithas no facial expression - very flat and emotionless. The new Scion XB definitely hasscowly headlights!

    And @#5 - I think the headlights are the eyes...no matter what Pixar says! :)

    Anon #35 6:13 PM Friday, Jul 31, 2009 Reply

    I'm really surprised that there are so many "reintroduced" cars, and so few "reissued"ones.

    My point of comparison is sneakers, where old favourites are reissued exactly asoriginally designed, simply with new 'colourways'. Or enamelware, where classic LeCreuset and Dansk and Copco pieces are being reissued?

    Take the Volkswagen Rabbit.

    Here's what it looks like in 2009:

    http://www.everyjoe.com/files/2009/06/2009_vw_rabbit.jpg

    Typical angry-car, styled for suburban teenagers.

    Why not take the unusual, eye-catching form of previous Rabbits -- say, the '75:

    http://www.thesamba.com/vw/archives/lit/75rabbit_sheet/scan0007.jpg

    Keep the exact same form, but throw in a more powerful engine, better upholstery,comfier seats, automatic transmissions, more safety features, fresh colours and a few

    minor trim fixups?

    Call it a "reissue" - all the cool vintage cred, but with a warranty, no parts worries, thatnew car smell, no e-test problems, etc.

    In other words, take something previously appealing to many but only accessible to afew (i.e., classic and 'vintage' cars), and make them a mass-market product (especially ahighly customizable one)?

    It used to be that vintage sneakers in strange colourways were the exclusive domain ofserious sneakerheads. Now anyone with $100 and an internet connection can use My

    Adidas or Nike ID and customize their own 'classic' pair of kicks.

    http://www.boingboing.net/2009/07/31/americans-like-angry.html#comment-556580http://www.everyjoe.com/files/2009/06/2009_vw_rabbit.jpghttp://www.thesamba.com/vw/archives/lit/75rabbit_sheet/scan0007.jpghttp://dynamic.boingboing.net/scripts/form.php?comment_id=556580http://www.boingboing.net/2009/07/31/americans-like-angry.html#comment-556580http://www.everyjoe.com/files/2009/06/2009_vw_rabbit.jpghttp://www.thesamba.com/vw/archives/lit/75rabbit_sheet/scan0007.jpg
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    I know we're talking orders of magnitude of difference in complexity, but I could seethis being the natural next step in automotive marketing.

    Muse #36 6:34 PM Friday, Jul 31, 2009 Reply

    Ha! LIQUIS, I thought of the Phantom Corsair as an example of a windshield lookinglike eyes too.

    The BMW Gina has fabric skin and can actuallyblink!

    Fast forward to about 1:04 in the video.

    lava #37 6:34 PM Friday, Jul 31, 2009 Reply

    the recent re-do of the Mazda3 went to a decidedly happy face

    yannish #38 6:39 PM Friday, Jul 31, 2009 Reply

    I second the book, "High and Mighty: SUVs--The World's Most Dangerous Vehiclesand How They Got That Way"

    Everytime I started to lament the downfall of the US auto industry, I recall this book,and say "fuck em". They pandered to all of our worst instincts and got what they

    deserved.

    wrybread #39 6:40 PM Friday, Jul 31, 2009 Reply

    @6/Sanity:

    Having a bad day? Give him a break, its a totally thought provoking argument, superinteresting, at least to those of us not having bad days...

    On another subject, my car, which was born to give people parking tickets, has a

    fantastically blank yet firm expression by the criteria of this discussion. Veryinteresting. More Cushmanpics here if anyone's interested.

    Inkstain #40 7:14 PM Friday, Jul 31, 2009 Reply

    As usual, a lot of people seem to think they are above basic human instinctual behavior.

    Fett101 #41 7:17 PM Friday, Jul 31, 2009 Reply

    @31

    http://dynamic.boingboing.net/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&blog_id=1&id=18951http://www.boingboing.net/2009/07/31/americans-like-angry.html#comment-556588http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S65MTjMwxB8http://dynamic.boingboing.net/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&blog_id=1&id=3679http://www.boingboing.net/2009/07/31/americans-like-angry.html#comment-556589http://www.boingboing.net/2009/07/31/americans-like-angry.html#comment-556589http://dynamic.boingboing.net/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&blog_id=1&id=21362http://www.boingboing.net/2009/07/31/americans-like-angry.html#comment-556591http://www.boingboing.net/2009/07/31/americans-like-angry.html#comment-556591http://dynamic.boingboing.net/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&blog_id=1&id=28825http://www.boingboing.net/2009/07/31/americans-like-angry.html#comment-556593http://www.boingboing.net/2009/07/31/americans-like-angry.html#comment-556593http://wrybread.com/herman/herman3/pics2/01%20-%20P3230025++%201.JPGhttp://wrybread.com/herman/herman3.phphttp://dynamic.boingboing.net/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&blog_id=1&id=85673http://www.boingboing.net/2009/07/31/americans-like-angry.html#comment-556607http://dynamic.boingboing.net/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&blog_id=1&id=6962http://www.boingboing.net/2009/07/31/americans-like-angry.html#comment-556608http://dynamic.boingboing.net/scripts/form.php?comment_id=556608http://dynamic.boingboing.net/scripts/form.php?comment_id=556607http://dynamic.boingboing.net/scripts/form.php?comment_id=556593http://dynamic.boingboing.net/scripts/form.php?comment_id=556591http://dynamic.boingboing.net/scripts/form.php?comment_id=556589http://dynamic.boingboing.net/scripts/form.php?comment_id=556588http://dynamic.boingboing.net/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&blog_id=1&id=18951http://www.boingboing.net/2009/07/31/americans-like-angry.html#comment-556588http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S65MTjMwxB8http://dynamic.boingboing.net/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&blog_id=1&id=3679http://www.boingboing.net/2009/07/31/americans-like-angry.html#comment-556589http://dynamic.boingboing.net/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&blog_id=1&id=21362http://www.boingboing.net/2009/07/31/americans-like-angry.html#comment-556591http://dynamic.boingboing.net/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&blog_id=1&id=28825http://www.boingboing.net/2009/07/31/americans-like-angry.html#comment-556593http://wrybread.com/herman/herman3/pics2/01%20-%20P3230025++%201.JPGhttp://wrybread.com/herman/herman3.phphttp://dynamic.boingboing.net/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&blog_id=1&id=85673http://www.boingboing.net/2009/07/31/americans-like-angry.html#comment-556607http://dynamic.boingboing.net/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&blog_id=1&id=6962http://www.boingboing.net/2009/07/31/americans-like-angry.html#comment-556608
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    Pixar went with windshield eyes because of the old Disney short, 'Susie the Little BlueCoupe', and because it looked better and was easier to animate for. Looking at the frontsof cars as faces for a few seconds is much easier then looking at them for a 2 hourmovie. If they had to animate the headlights as eyes then there would be very little facewith which to convey expressions.

    sanity #42 7:20 PM Friday, Jul 31, 2009 Reply

    What's with all the nonsense "how dare you talk about Americans like that, when thecar/study is from Europe" attitude in the comments?

    The writer of the article never said anything about Americans. He said "people" seem tolike angry cars. And that some cultures may be different, like the Japanese. That's theonly nationality even mentioned!

    Are these particular American commenters so absurdly self-centered that when onementions "people" they automatically understand it as "Americans"? Are Americansseriously the only "people" you can conceive of?

    Well, the original title of the Boing Boing post was "Americans Like Angry CarFaces..." Someone, the author or an administrator, changed it after a few people (myselfincluded) pointed out that Americans were mentioned in the original articles.

    It's not our fault that bloggers here can edit their posts without making note of thechanges.

    Anon #43 7:21 PM Friday, Jul 31, 2009 Reply

    **Have you noticed that most white SUV's look like Star Wars stormtroopers? My cardealer thought I was nuts when I bought my hybrid Escape because I wanted any color

    but white.**

    *I, on the other hand, like the thought of being inside a stormtrooper.*

    I'm a crazed Karen Traviss fan, and I'd really like driving a stormtrooper...but aMandalorian vehicle would send me into happy tizzies!

    sanity #44 7:22 PM Friday, Jul 31, 2009 Reply

    The last two paragraphs of my post (#41) are my own, the first few are a quote. Imessed up the HTML.

    pinehead #45 7:23 PM Friday, Jul 31, 2009 Reply

    http://dynamic.boingboing.net/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&blog_id=1&id=6089http://www.boingboing.net/2009/07/31/americans-like-angry.html#comment-556610http://www.boingboing.net/2009/07/31/americans-like-angry.html#comment-556612http://dynamic.boingboing.net/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&blog_id=1&id=6089http://www.boingboing.net/2009/07/31/americans-like-angry.html#comment-556613http://dynamic.boingboing.net/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&blog_id=1&id=91528http://www.boingboing.net/2009/07/31/americans-like-angry.html#comment-556614http://www.boingboing.net/2009/07/31/americans-like-angry.html#comment-556614http://dynamic.boingboing.net/scripts/form.php?comment_id=556614http://dynamic.boingboing.net/scripts/form.php?comment_id=556613http://dynamic.boingboing.net/scripts/form.php?comment_id=556612http://dynamic.boingboing.net/scripts/form.php?comment_id=556610http://dynamic.boingboing.net/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&blog_id=1&id=6089http://www.boingboing.net/2009/07/31/americans-like-angry.html#comment-556610http://www.boingboing.net/2009/07/31/americans-like-angry.html#comment-556612http://dynamic.boingboing.net/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&blog_id=1&id=6089http://www.boingboing.net/2009/07/31/americans-like-angry.html#comment-556613http://dynamic.boingboing.net/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&blog_id=1&id=91528http://www.boingboing.net/2009/07/31/americans-like-angry.html#comment-556614
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    Ah, so you notice it too? I just thought maybe I was too sensitive or something. Butyeah, most cars nowadays look like they're trying too hard to be aggressive.

    My theory on it is a loose one; people today have fewer friends than ever, many have noone to really confide in. Stress levels are through the roof nowadays, which MAY be

    connected to higher incidences of health problems, obesity, miscarriages and prematurebirths.

    In other words, life is shite, and I think people nowadays generally think a happy car isan almost mocking sort of thing. Their life is crap, so they want their car to reflect howthey feel.

    That's just my theory. But don't tell my Jeep. It already seems rather surprised aboutsomething else, with those big round eyes.

    sanity #46 7:25 PM Friday, Jul 31, 2009 Reply

    I meant "Americans were not mentioned"

    BoingBoingers can edit their posts, the peanut gallery cannot.

    AirPillo #47 7:33 PM Friday, Jul 31, 2009 ReplyI, on the other hand, like the thought of being inside a stormtrooper.

    Rule 34.

    wrybread #48 7:35 PM Friday, Jul 31, 2009 Reply

    @Sanity: I think you need a nap...

    Jeff #49 7:41 PM Friday, Jul 31, 2009 Reply

    Personally--I've always liked cars that look like hungover middle-aged men. It was aninexplicably popular look, especially in 1954:

    1954 Kaiser:

    http://www.buxtonproductions.com/photo/linked/1954%20kaiser%20manhattan.jpg

    1954 Buick:

    http://www.seriouswheels.com/pics-1950-1959/1954-Buick-blue-wt-fa-sy.jpg

    1954 Chrysler:http://www.plan59.com/images/JPGs/chrysler_1954_new_yorker_blue_00.jpg

    1951 Olds:

    http://dynamic.boingboing.net/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&blog_id=1&id=6089http://www.boingboing.net/2009/07/31/americans-like-angry.html#comment-556618http://dynamic.boingboing.net/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&blog_id=1&id=43821http://www.boingboing.net/2009/07/31/americans-like-angry.html#comment-556620http://dynamic.boingboing.net/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&blog_id=1&id=28825http://www.boingboing.net/2009/07/31/americans-like-angry.html#comment-556622http://www.boingboing.net/2009/07/31/americans-like-angry.html#comment-556622http://dynamic.boingboing.net/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&blog_id=1&id=3654http://www.boingboing.net/2009/07/31/americans-like-angry.html#comment-556623http://www.boingboing.net/2009/07/31/americans-like-angry.html#comment-556623http://www.buxtonproductions.com/photo/linked/1954%20kaiser%20manhattan.jpghttp://www.seriouswheels.com/pics-1950-1959/1954-Buick-blue-wt-fa-sy.jpghttp://www.plan59.com/images/JPGs/chrysler_1954_new_yorker_blue_00.jpghttp://dynamic.boingboing.net/scripts/form.php?comment_id=556623http://dynamic.boingboing.net/scripts/form.php?comment_id=556622http://dynamic.boingboing.net/scripts/form.php?comment_id=556620http://dynamic.boingboing.net/scripts/form.php?comment_id=556618http://dynamic.boingboing.net/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&blog_id=1&id=6089http://www.boingboing.net/2009/07/31/americans-like-angry.html#comment-556618http://dynamic.boingboing.net/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&blog_id=1&id=43821http://www.boingboing.net/2009/07/31/americans-like-angry.html#comment-556620http://dynamic.boingboing.net/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&blog_id=1&id=28825http://www.boingboing.net/2009/07/31/americans-like-angry.html#comment-556622http://dynamic.boingboing.net/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&blog_id=1&id=3654http://www.boingboing.net/2009/07/31/americans-like-angry.html#comment-556623http://www.buxtonproductions.com/photo/linked/1954%20kaiser%20manhattan.jpghttp://www.seriouswheels.com/pics-1950-1959/1954-Buick-blue-wt-fa-sy.jpghttp://www.plan59.com/images/JPGs/chrysler_1954_new_yorker_blue_00.jpg
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    http://media.phillyburbs.com/2008/05/06/1951_oldsmobile.jpg

    Cicada #50 7:45 PM Friday, Jul 31, 2009 Reply

    @43- Or just the notion that everyone else out on the road is either a threat or an activeenemy. (And possibly off the road, too, but that'd be another topic)

    Anon #51 7:57 PM Friday, Jul 31, 2009 Reply

    The new Dodge Charger has the "meanest" looking looking front end I've seen in years.Do we choose cars to reflect how we feel?

    I don't like mean cars.

    philipb #52 8:11 PM Friday, Jul 31, 2009 Reply

    I have a similar BMW & have always thought it had an expression like an eager dogready with it's leash. "Come on, come on, lets go" kinda thing.

    Not good for speeding tickets.

    Lauren O #53 8:23 PM Friday, Jul 31, 2009 Reply

    the Porsche 911, mostly just looks like a determined frog.

    I've always thought it looks like a beetle, but yours is funnier.

    Vanwall #54 8:32 PM Friday, Jul 31, 2009 Reply

    I've owned a lot cars, and many of them were classic Minis, and now the new MINI -they are the terriers of the car world, and even tho they have a a fierce face, the have a

    bit of a neotonous look, making them more friendly looking. I have a Reliantconnection, too, BTW, and it's one of the great oddities of car design, but friendly in it's

    big-eyed way - a Bond Bug, the original orange cheese wedge.

    Anon #55 8:33 PM Friday, Jul 31, 2009 Reply

    Maybe something like a tongue hanging out so it looks like a puppy dog.

    subheight640 #56 8:36 PM Friday, Jul 31, 2009 Reply

    I always thought they were trying to make the cars look asian squinty eyed >.

    http://media.phillyburbs.com/2008/05/06/1951_oldsmobile.jpghttp://dynamic.boingboing.net/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&blog_id=1&id=21443http://www.boingboing.net/2009/07/31/americans-like-angry.html#comment-556625http://www.boingboing.net/2009/07/31/americans-like-angry.html#comment-556625http://www.boingboing.net/2009/07/31/americans-like-angry.html#comment-556629http://dynamic.boingboing.net/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&blog_id=1&id=669http://www.boingboing.net/2009/07/31/americans-like-angry.html#comment-556632http://www.boingboing.net/2009/07/31/americans-like-angry.html#comment-556632http://dynamic.boingboing.net/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&blog_id=1&id=5077http://www.boingboing.net/2009/07/31/americans-like-angry.html#comment-556635http://dynamic.boingboing.net/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&blog_id=1&id=219http://www.boingboing.net/2009/07/31/americans-like-angry.html#comment-556639http://www.boingboing.net/2009/07/31/americans-like-angry.html#comment-556642http://dynamic.boingboing.net/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&blog_id=1&id=98666http://www.boingboing.net/2009/07/31/americans-like-angry.html#comment-556649http://dynamic.boingboing.net/scripts/form.php?comment_id=556656http://dynamic.boingboing.net/scripts/form.php?comment_id=556649http://dynamic.boingboing.net/scripts/form.php?comment_id=556642http://dynamic.boingboing.net/scripts/form.php?comment_id=556639http://dynamic.boingboing.net/scripts/form.php?comment_id=556635http://dynamic.boingboing.net/scripts/form.php?comment_id=556632http://dynamic.boingboing.net/scripts/form.php?comment_id=556629http://dynamic.boingboing.net/scripts/form.php?comment_id=556625http://media.phillyburbs.com/2008/05/06/1951_oldsmobile.jpghttp://dynamic.boingboing.net/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&blog_id=1&id=21443http://www.boingboing.net/2009/07/31/americans-like-angry.html#comment-556625http://www.boingboing.net/2009/07/31/americans-like-angry.html#comment-556629http://dynamic.boingboing.net/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&blog_id=1&id=669http://www.boingboing.net/2009/07/31/americans-like-angry.html#comment-556632http://dynamic.boingboing.net/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&blog_id=1&id=5077http://www.boingboing.net/2009/07/31/americans-like-angry.html#comment-556635http://dynamic.boingboing.net/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&blog_id=1&id=219http://www.boingboing.net/2009/07/31/americans-like-angry.html#comment-556639http://www.boingboing.net/2009/07/31/americans-like-angry.html#comment-556642http://dynamic.boingboing.net/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&blog_id=1&id=98666http://www.boingboing.net/2009/07/31/americans-like-angry.html#comment-556649
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    IamInnocent #57 8:48 PM Friday, Jul 31, 2009 Reply

    Nobody's buying car for how their butts look like?

    Takuan #58 8:49 PM Friday, Jul 31, 2009 Reply

    "Asian squinty eyed". I see, royalty are we? Could it not be conversely said that roundhead lights resemble the sickeningly thyroid pop-eyed bulge of the genetically deprivednorthern savages?

    GrumpyBunnies #59 8:59 PM Friday, Jul 31, 2009 Reply

    My car seems to have this goofy grin on her face, like she is super-excited to go for aride:

    https://reader009.{domain}/reader009/html5/0406/5ac6e5bd6ab9f/5ac6e5d93eb25.jpg

    It wasn't a factor in choosing the car though, I fell in love with the inside first :)

    "Nobody's buying car for how their butts look like?"I didn't, but a friend of mine said she liked the way her Grand Am's taillights looked like

    butterfly wings. To me, they look more like angry snake eyes.

    bcsizemo #60 9:03 PM Friday, Jul 31, 2009 Reply

    I rarely get pissed off at the car that's following me to close. It's usually the assholebehind the wheel. And in my case, the car is usually a Honda. (Don't know why, but 9times out of 10 it's a Honda.) I don't really like Honda's, and no that's not what upsetsme. I am just your typical angry road rage filled American. Way to many stupid peoplewith licenses.

    As a side note, they are called turn signals. Engineers and others invented them as a wayto help other drivers and people around you know what you are about to do. The vastmajority of the population has not yet learned to read your mind, so don't give me a

    glaring look when I do something you find rude because you didn't signal yourintentions. All the times I'll be mumbling under my breath, "You know we inventedthem for a reason, a-hole." (I believe my emotional state is similar to Ren fromRen+Stimpy. I'm happiest when I'm upset.)

    Takuan #61 9:15 PM Friday, Jul 31, 2009 Reply

    robot face car that reflects the mood of the driver

    Takuan #62 9:19 PM Friday, Jul 31, 2009 Reply

    http://dynamic.boingboing.net/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&blog_id=1&id=63729http://www.boingboing.net/2009/07/31/americans-like-angry.html#comment-556656http://dynamic.boingboing.net/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&blog_id=1&id=26269http://www.boingboing.net/2009/07/31/americans-like-angry.html#comment-556659http://www.boingboing.net/2009/07/31/americans-like-angry.html#comment-556659http://dynamic.boingboing.net/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&blog_id=1&id=117043http://www.boingboing.net/2009/07/31/americans-like-angry.html#comment-556670http://www.boingboing.net/2009/07/31/americans-like-angry.html#comment-556670http://i31.tinypic.com/2exsxfr.jpghttp://dynamic.boingboing.net/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&blog_id=1&id=24596http://www.boingboing.net/2009/07/31/americans-like-angry.html#comment-556672http://www.boingboing.net/2009/07/31/americans-like-angry.html#comment-556672http://dynamic.boingboing.net/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&blog_id=1&id=26269http://www.boingboing.net/2009/07/31/americans-like-angry.html#comment-556674http://www.boingboing.net/2009/07/31/americans-like-angry.html#comment-556674http://dynamic.boingboing.net/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&blog_id=1&id=26269http://www.boingboing.net/2009/07/31/americans-like-angry.html#comment-556676http://www.boingboing.net/2009/07/31/americans-like-angry.html#comment-556676http://dynamic.boingboing.net/scripts/form.php?comment_id=556676http://dynamic.boingboing.net/scripts/form.php?comment_id=556674http://dynamic.boingboing.net/scripts/form.php?comment_id=556672http://dynamic.boingboing.net/scripts/form.php?comment_id=556670http://dynamic.boingboing.net/scripts/form.php?comment_id=556659http://dynamic.boingboing.net/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&blog_id=1&id=63729http://www.boingboing.net/2009/07/31/americans-like-angry.html#comment-556656http://dynamic.boingboing.net/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&blog_id=1&id=26269http://www.boingboing.net/2009/07/31/americans-like-angry.html#comment-556659http://dynamic.boingboing.net/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&blog_id=1&id=117043http://www.boingboing.net/2009/07/31/americans-like-angry.html#comment-556670http://i31.tinypic.com/2exsxfr.jpghttp://dynamic.boingboing.net/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&blog_id=1&id=24596http://www.boingboing.net/2009/07/31/americans-like-angry.html#comment-556672http://dynamic.boingboing.net/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&blog_id=1&id=26269http://www.boingboing.net/2009/07/31/americans-like-angry.html#comment-556674http://dynamic.boingboing.net/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&blog_id=1&id=26269http://www.boingboing.net/2009/07/31/americans-like-angry.html#comment-556676
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    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BUxQB8YLxbg&feature=related

    Vanwall #63 9:19 PM Friday, Jul 31, 2009 Reply

    Mazda used to have special design study seminars for their stylists, I heard,concentrating on making balanced and appealing rear ends on all their vehicles. I thinkthey're an afterthought for most car manufacturers.

    A freaky thing about car styling: if you took the very first model of Honda car, the tinyS500 sports car, and then lined up next to each other door-to-door every Honda modelmade since then, there would a rather frightening progression of subtle changes in thefront ends as the cars morph into today's Hondas. No other car company has such along-term thought process on styling, and their cars are usually not angry looking,either.

    Brainspore #64 9:35 PM Friday, Jul 31, 2009 Reply

    @ McLaren+Torchinsky:

    If you change a post after it's been up awhile it's considered good form to leave anannotation. That way the people who correct you don't end up looking like they're theones who goofed.

    Anon #65 9:59 PM Friday, Jul 31, 2009 Reply

    my first car was a Neon... needless to say it had a happy kind face... (beep beep!)Second car is a Honda - it was about as kind of one you could find - but there were afew cars when I was looking (one or both of the times) that I just refused to consider

    because they were mean faces... so obviously I'm abnormal...

    And its kind of odd though that I wouldn't want the evil faced car - cause its not like I'ma pollyanna - my favorite harry potter characters are slytherin, and I happen to love thesong "Creepy Doll"... no pollyanna here...

    sf #66 10:08 PM Friday, Jul 31, 2009 Reply

    The smiley car in the article is an Austin Healey Sprite, it's adorable but I couldn't fit inone.

    There a few modern design cars with smiley faces, especially if they are aimed at thegirly, leftie, feel good about the planet but need a car to commute types. The hybridshave smiley faces, give em baby eater faces and maybe even Jeremy Clarkson mightlike them.

    ZippySpincycle #67 10:23 PM Friday, Jul 31, 2009 Reply

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    On the up side, The Onion has identified a possible benefit of this design trend: Rage asan alternative fuel

    ackpht #68 10:32 PM Friday, Jul 31, 2009 Reply

    Panteras have cute butts.

    forgeweld #69 11:52 PM Friday, Jul 31, 2009 Reply

    "...the sickeningly thyroid pop-eyed bulge of the genetically deprived northernsavages?"

    Now I want a car that resembles Marty Feldman as Igor from Young Frankenstein.

    Daemon #70 12:24 AM Saturday, Aug 1, 2009 Reply

    In terms of design, the only real car is the Phantom Corsair.

    Herby #71 4:59 AM Saturday, Aug 1, 2009 Reply

    The new Honda Accord has smiling face.http://automobiles.honda.com/images/2009/accord-sedan/exterior-gallery/gal_lg24.jpg

    http://automobiles.honda.com/images/2009/accord-sedan/exterior-gallery/gal_lg6.jpg

    And it is one of the best selling cars in America.

    acb #72 5:48 AM Saturday, Aug 1, 2009 Reply

    I wonder whether there are geographical variations in the US. Whether in the South(which inherited the "culture of honor" of the Scotch borders, and where men, onaverage, tend to react more aggressively to challenges), aggressive-looking cars sell

    better, whereas in California, more mellow-looking cars predominate.

    Anon #73 6:00 AM Saturday, Aug 1, 2009 Reply

    Everyone has neglected to note how most Saturns of any make/model look like cross-eyed morons, even when they are angry.

    My brother drives a Vue, and I have to resist constantly the overwhelming urge to call itcruel names and run off giggling.

    VagabondAstronomer #74 6:05 AM Saturday, Aug 1, 2009 Reply

    http://www.theonion.com/content/node/30431http://dynamic.boingboing.net/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&blog_id=1&id=65424http://www.boingboing.net/2009/07/31/americans-like-angry.html#comment-556699http://www.boingboing.net/2009/07/31/americans-like-angry.html#comment-556699http://dynamic.boingboing.net/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&blog_id=1&id=17950http://www.boingboing.net/2009/07/31/americans-like-angry.html#comment-556723http://dynamic.boingboing.net/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&blog_id=1&id=4844http://www.boingboing.net/2009/07/31/americans-like-angry.html#comment-556733http://dynamic.boingboing.net/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&blog_id=1&id=54089http://www.boingboing.net/2009/07/31/americans-like-angry.html#comment-556784http://www.boingboing.net/2009/07/31/americans-like-angry.html#comment-556784http://automobiles.honda.com/images/2009/accord-sedan/exterior-gallery/gal_lg24.jpghttp://automobiles.honda.com/images/2009/accord-sedan/exterior-gallery/gal_lg6.jpghttp://dynamic.boingboing.net/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&blog_id=1&id=2373http://www.boingboing.net/2009/07/31/americans-like-angry.html#comment-556801http://www.boingboing.net/2009/07/31/americans-like-angry.html#comment-556806http://dynamic.boingboing.net/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&blog_id=1&id=35909http://www.boingboing.net/2009/07/31/americans-like-angry.html#comment-556807http://dynamic.boingboing.net/scripts/form.php?comment_id=556807http://dynamic.boingboing.net/scripts/form.php?comment_id=556806http://dynamic.boingboing.net/scripts/form.php?comment_id=556801http://dynamic.boingboing.net/scripts/form.php?comment_id=556784http://dynamic.boingboing.net/scripts/form.php?comment_id=556733http://dynamic.boingboing.net/scripts/form.php?comment_id=556723http://dynamic.boingboing.net/scripts/form.php?comment_id=556699http://www.theonion.com/content/node/30431http://dynamic.boingboing.net/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&blog_id=1&id=65424http://www.boingboing.net/2009/07/31/americans-like-angry.html#comment-556699http://dynamic.boingboing.net/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&blog_id=1&id=17950http://www.boingboing.net/2009/07/31/americans-like-angry.html#comment-556723http://dynamic.boingboing.net/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&blog_id=1&id=4844http://www.boingboing.net/2009/07/31/americans-like-angry.html#comment-556733http://dynamic.boingboing.net/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&blog_id=1&id=54089http://www.boingboing.net/2009/07/31/americans-like-angry.html#comment-556784http://automobiles.honda.com/images/2009/accord-sedan/exterior-gallery/gal_lg24.jpghttp://automobiles.honda.com/images/2009/accord-sedan/exterior-gallery/gal_lg6.jpghttp://dynamic.boingboing.net/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&blog_id=1&id=2373http://www.boingboing.net/2009/07/31/americans-like-angry.html#comment-556801http://www.boingboing.net/2009/07/31/americans-like-angry.html#comment-556806http://dynamic.boingboing.net/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&blog_id=1&id=35909http://www.boingboing.net/2009/07/31/americans-like-angry.html#comment-556807
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    My Volvo 240 wagon appears to be wearing squarish glasses and admittedly looks a tadsmug in all its brickish, Swedish superiority...

    rogerg #75 6:34 AM Saturday, Aug 1, 2009 Reply

    I've often looked at cars in terms of smiles and frowns.

    Anon #76 9:09 AM Saturday, Aug 1, 2009 Reply

    Uh oh - don't tell Peter Arnell (designer of the Peapod). He may have another"Tropicana incident" on his hands....

    http://forums.treehugger.com/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=8403

    MM smiley cars rule.

    - JJ

    TroofSeeker #77 9:52 AM Saturday, Aug 1, 2009 Reply

    My little car has a pleasant face. It's too cute, so I put shark teeth in the grill. GRRR!

    Takuan #78 9:56 AM Saturday, Aug 1, 2009 Reply

    when flexible OLED displays are cheap as hell; the front grill panel as monitor for thedash camera on your face. (why bother with electro mechanicals?)

    Anon #79 10:34 AM Saturday, Aug 1, 2009 Reply

    Look at this "slightly embellished" concept car.

    This is pretty angry.

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/22362554@N03/3778614406/

    Anon #80 10:50 AM Saturday, Aug 1, 2009 Reply

    I've always secretly felt cars were vulgar war-machines. I own one anyway, but this isbecause I am not a pacifist. I do in fact feel that to be ignorant of the workings of themachines one operates is in an important way unethical. Cars burn a huge fire and blowout gymnasiums full of fouled air.

    Americans(and other Earthlings) buy big scary cars on purpose because they are war

    machines. Your best chance of dying young is in one of those things; we all have to

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    tolerate a little risk in this area, but we are in our rights to hedge our bets. Projectinghostility may(at least appear to)reduce impacts ultimately.

    As a bicyclist you get a lot of time to really get intimate with these ideas, once younotice them. I feel that bicycling in an unfriendly setting is important for one's proper

    perspective on invention. Edging out bicycles is a major thrust of this angryfacephenomenon.

    I never cross in front of a car unless I Must. I get furious when they force me to cross infront of their angry mugs, their breathy fireboxes. And drivers never seem to see why.smiles!

    Happy Americans. the Ultimate Destroyers.

    Anon #81 11:40 AM Saturday, Aug 1, 2009 Reply

    Jason your car is totally badass. I love it. As for your question (current Mazda lineupexcluded) I think it stems from this: The car is an extension of your body, albeit anunnatural one. In person with the exception of a few rude people, most peopleunderstand and respect "personal space". In a car you have a much larger sense of"personal space" which extends a couple yards in front, back and around. However,many people don't understand or feel the need to respect that space. Couple that with thefact that there is no viable way to communicate with the people in cars around you, savewith the finger, or some poorly conceived bumper stickers, the result is frustration andthe desire to intimidate those around you to get out of your way. Subconscious or not, itsells cars.

    AlexG55 #82 1:39 PM Saturday, Aug 1, 2009 Reply

    Vagabondastronomer @76: I think the Toyota Prius has a remarkably smug smile.

    Also, advances in engineering have reduced the grille to a styling feature, thus meaningthat cars' faces are much more designed.

    Anon #83 3:03 PM Saturday, Aug 1, 2009 Reply

    Don't anthropomorphize the cars. They don't like it.

    Anon #84 3:03 PM Saturday, Aug 1, 2009 Reply

    I've alway's loved the look of theNissan Figaro, a cute Japanese car, but the facialexpression seems to be one of shock.

    maxoid #85 4:55 PM Saturday, Aug 1, 2009 Reply

    double-plus on the Nissan Figaro, that is one classy city car.

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    when i was in france in 2003, i fell in love with the 2003 Renault Clio because of itsunusual front-end treatment. it's slightly aggressive but not overtly angry. alert, i wouldcall it, with big eyes. unfortunately they moved away from this in later years.

    SUVs and minivans (and big show-off pickups) rather resemble modern basketball

    shoes, or maybe it's the other way 'round. not a design ethos i would volunteer to sporteither way.

    Anon #86 6:41 PM Saturday, Aug 1, 2009 Reply

    That explains why the Edsel was so unpopular. Edsels looked frightened out of theirwits.

    buddy66 #87 7:53 PM Saturday, Aug 1, 2009 Reply

    The Edsel grille was inspired by "The Scream".

    Anon #88 8:32 PM Saturday, Aug 1, 2009 Reply

    Actually, the Subaru R2 posted by Anon 5:19 looks a little downtrodden. Like an officeworker in a dead-end job. Thankfully, my second generation Miata has a relentlesslyhappy face. Maybe too happy. "But that car's so cheerful, why is that guy driving likesuch a jackass?" they spit through their clenched teeth. That's right my friends, defyingthe stereotypes.

    circa86 #89 1:39 AM Sunday, Aug 2, 2009 Reply

    This brings back much confusion with me and Cars from Pixar. I never even thought tolook at the windshield for the cars "eyes", what a horrible design really.

    I looked at the trailers so many times before I ever realized there were goofy lookingeyes on the damn windshield.

    I still haven't seen the movi