The query of whether or not vehicles will 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, persistence and a contact of destiny. None of those vehicles have been created to be icons. They merely grew to become them.
Right here’s our rundown of the perfect automotive designs of all time—and why they deserve their place on the listing.
1974 Lamborghini Countach
Suppose “supercar” and also you’ll possible image one thing that appears so much just like the Lamborghini Countach. The format we now take without any consideration—mid-engined format, low stance, angular strains, 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 authentic Countach LP400. However the actual genesis was the Miura: curvy, sultry, technically bold and the results of a dream workforce of designers, engineers and check drivers. The Countach, nevertheless, took these concepts and pushed them into the stratosphere—stylistically, at the 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 rather more difficult. That’s precisely what Citroën did with the 1955 DS. This four-door saloon was designed round aerodynamic rules and ground-breaking expertise, introducing a raft of world firsts in luxurious and security gear.
Take a look at the DS and it’s virtually inconceivable to imagine that its design was launched into mass manufacturing as early as 1955. Its shark-like nostril and complicated metalwork have been like nothing else on the street, 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.
Underneath the pores and skin, Citroën launched a hydro-pneumatic suspension that was peak adjustable and delivered a luxurious experience high quality. The DS may 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 contemporary automotive design may 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 kind—a radical departure from the bolt-on look of earlier vehicles. The silhouette launched what would turn into 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 vehicles to today.
It might not have pushed prefer it seemed—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 inconceivable to not recognise the impression 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 individuals 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 best names in automotive design. The end result was the 1974 Golf Mk1, which swapped the rear-engined quirk for a pointy, trendy front-engined, front-wheel-drive format.
It wanted to be easy, elegant and timeless—and Giugiaro delivered. His clear, angular strains and sensible hatchback kind grew to become the brand new norm. The Golf was no mere Beetle substitute; it was an entire 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 only a few delicate tweaks, the Golf was remodeled right into a cult traditional that proved efficiency may dwell comfortably inside a sensible shell.
1999 Audi TT
How do you create a brand new icon within the trendy 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 kind.
Designed by Freeman Thomas and overseen by Peter Schreyer, the TT wasn’t nearly what it seemed like—though the round motifs, slick curves and pared-back detailing have been actually a part of its allure. 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 street.
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 fashionable govt saloon. Its proportions have been spot on, its detailing restrained, and its street presence unmistakable. It seemed proper in each color and each physique type—saloon, coupe, property—and has aged with a uncommon sort of grace.
The place the BMW 5 Collection leaned sporty, the W124 leaned subtle. And that delicate confidence grew to become Mercedes-Benz’s calling card for many years.
2002 BMW 7 Collection (E65)
A lot has been stated about BMW’s design route over time, however no automotive triggered extra debate than the E65 7 Collection. Designed by Adrian van Hooydonk underneath the attention of Chris Bangle, it changed the elegant E38 with one thing much 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 have been rigorously executed, even when not all the time universally beloved.
It marked a turning level for BMW’s design language and ushered in a brand new period of confidence. You could 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 related with individuals like few vehicles ever have.
Each component 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 funds, sure, but it surely by no means felt compromised.
Its smile was greater than a metaphor. The Twingo introduced character and allure to hundreds of thousands of city streets, proving that small, inexpensive vehicles may 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, robust graphics and an immediately recognisable rear finish. The three-door, specifically, had a novel silhouette that stood out in visitors and in reminiscence.
It proved that mainstream vehicles didn’t should be boring and that design aptitude wasn’t the unique purview of coupes and idea vehicles. Like flared denims and the Spice Ladies, it outlined its period—and that’s no dangerous factor.
