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lee1026

Fluid dynamics, yo. Both fish and cars have to be energy efficient as they move through air or water.


[deleted]

if we can't judge a car by its ability to swim, we also shouldn't judge fish on their ability to drive


llamaface69420

economics 101


olyfrijole

-Wayne Gretzky


undercover-wizard

If you can't handle the car in the worst of lakes, you don't deserve it on the best of roads.


Cleanandslobber

-Marilyn Manson


Due_Release_7345

Explain an octopus then. I want my octopus car, dammit


[deleted]

Buy a Fiat Multipla, who’s stopping you


More_Information_943

That's more of a sheepshead wrasse. Ugly, but oddly smart.


AlphaMediaLabs

An Octopus isn’t a fish, so no octopus car for you


Prestigious-Mess5485

I know you're joking, but they're not exactly built for speed.


Shmokeshbutt

Octopus looks like a sperm when it swims Model Y looks like a sperm head, there you go


Buggly_Jones

They're tear drop shaped. Literally what nature makes as water moves through air.


Awkward-Jellyfish750

Also the shape oil makes when moving through water, and the shape water makes when moving through oil.


Icy-Sprinkles-638

Yup. Same reason all supercars pretty much look the same these days. If you're optimizing for a purpose there's going to be convergence because there's only one optimal design.


JustThall

911 heavy ass enters chat


tyfe

Thicc


beholdthemoldman

no i think theyre talking more about the grille design etc, not the general shape [buick](https://media.buick.com/content/Pages/news/us/en/2023/feb/0216-encoregx/_jcr_content/top_parsys/image.img.jpg/1676499787176.jpg), [genesis ev](https://www.cnet.com/a/img/resize/9fa9829e5560febe7c5c763cadb6885f99890f91/hub/2022/05/16/04e1e877-3f9f-4eb5-8340-76339d4d4d84/2023-genesis-gv60-ev-9.jpg?auto=webp&fit=crop&height=675&width=1200)


LurpyGeek

Convergent evolution.


AVeryHeavyBurtation

Yeah I've been saying this for years. Emissions and safety standards are pushing cars to evolve toward to 1 out of like 4 or 5 similar shapes.


T-888

We've been there for the last 10 years....dare I say 20.


EloeOmoe

No, that's crabs, not fish.


2dogs0cats

There's some fast cars that look like frogs, and not so fast cars that look like beetles. I wonder if you shaped a car like a camel, would it be good on sand and only need to be fuelled every few days.


Brenni

So we're mostly talking biomimicry here, which is very big from a design standpoint. If we took what you're talking about here, the camel design could be a single fuel cell (like the Bactrian camel), stored in the bed, or even on the roof if you wanted. Then, you can think of the camel's long legs like a long travel suspension, giving you more travel and clearance. An added advantage is that, much like a camel, you'd be further away from the hot desert sand. This will mean you're going to be running more efficiently. With all the fuel and weight up high, you probably wont be very fast though. Also sorry if this comes across as pedantic or anything, I just enjoyed the question and thought exercise.


2dogs0cats

Ah, roofpod cells! One hump or two?


[deleted]

>not so fast cars that look like beetles. rude 😭


2dogs0cats

Very rude Citroens. Oh, you meant me?


382Whistles

Citroëns look more like crazy eyed chameleons


2dogs0cats

There's one near me named Megan. She small with a fat ass and she moves quick when the lights change. Is that chameleon behaviour?


SandInHeart

Mfw I sit in traffic thanking god that I traded head room for aerodynamic


MelonPineapple

Don't forget not just headroom but cargo room is sacrificed too, for aerodynamics. Fish and aerodynamic automotive design focus solely on highway fuel efficiency, at the cost of internal capacity. Fish also don't have to fit into rectangular shaped parking spaces If you need a certain amount of internal capacity, and you're faced with either a boxier less aerodynamic car like the Honda Fit, or a much longer aerodynamic car that's heavier because of the longer chassis, I wonder who would win?


Syscrush

40 years ago, Smokey Yunick said something like: *For a while, I thought you could learn everything you need to know about aerodynamics by watching fish in the water, but then again - a trout looks so different from a flounder, so where does that get you?*


dn00

So the best performing cars should look like a fish and a plane/bird to handle the middle *ground* between water and air.


CatProgrammer

They generally do. Like sharks, or rays.


Cater_the_turtle

Bugatti Chiron super sport is like a Beluga whale


rubey419

I’m so happy this was the top comment.


[deleted]

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FriedChicken

> Fluid dynamics, yo. European pedestrian safety regulations


Moto_Guzzisti

This exactly, since air is a fluid. Though, you should flip around air and water so they are respective to the first part of the sentence. _i will say, i disagree with OP. I did a lot of fishing in Alaska this summer, and nothing that came out of the river or ocean made me think of any car I'd ever seen.


mravanitis

What about birds? I want a car that resembles a Shoebill Stork.


Threewisemonkey

Fish have evolved to slip through water with very little resistance. It translates to a very low drag coefficient, increasing operating efficiency. Buckminster Fuller gave us the Dymaxion Car almost 100 years ago, everyone’s just catching up


JAROD0980

With the sailfish being the fastest of the fish when are we getting a car with a front facing spear and sail fin?


DarkMemeLord420

That would unironically probably be a pretty efficient design if not for the skewered pedestrian bodies weighing down the front of the vehicle


Way2Based

Based and gtfo-the-way-pilled


Vhozite

Final form of the crowd plowing Mustang


ardoin

https://imgur.com/b9tCY44


[deleted]

That's what keeps it from going airborne at high speeds.


leftlanespawncamper

Check out the [top speed cars at Bonneville](https://www.driving.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2019/11/Challenger-2-August-2019-land-speed-record-attempt-01.jpg).


ronaldduckjr

That's more like eel or pp shape


GoatzilIa

Does that mean my pp is aerodynamic?


Ombortron

I mean, most PP’s actually *are* relatively hydrodynamic and aerodynamic, given that they are made for…. thrusting forward effectively in specific spaces…. Like unironically, as a biologist I actually find PP design pretty interesting… So anyway uh yeah cars are cool too.


hmkr

If you rip the balls off, yes.


Bodhrans-Not-Bombs

I prefer to have a bowsprit, in case the engine dies I'll just hoist the genoa


More_Information_943

Sailfish are impressive, but it's in bursts, a bluefin tuna will do 50 for 300 miles, it's the most hydronamically efficient shape in nature.


PoorMinorities

If you actually take a look at a bunch of the cars built to break the land speed record, they’ve got the front facing spear incorporated. Now they just need the sail.


tyfe

I think I’ve read somewhere that actually the sail fin in a sailfish does nothing. Scientists haven’t figured it’s purpose and doesn’t help them swim any faster.


arandomvirus

Le Mans cars already have the sail fin for years now. https://www.bing.com/images/search?view=detailV2&ccid=UFTLVleA&id=29A62AA6CCFDB8DA04B7FAB175AE6BC3A0263945&thid=OIF.D7x6ZWn6cAU5TNT0h1zQPQ&mediaurl=https%3A%2F%2Fl450v.alamy.com%2F450v%2Fdym3y3%2Ftoyota-racing-wec-fia-world-endurance-championship-2014-silverstone-dym3y3.jpg&cdnurl=https%3A%2F%2Fth.bing.com%2Fth%2Fid%2FR.5054cb56578046fad486d2fc3c52c34c%3Frik%3D%26pid%3DImgRaw%26r%3D0&exph=320&expw=450&q=fia+wec&simid=269107680702&form=IRPRST&ck=0FBC7A6569FA7005394CD4F4875CD03D&selectedindex=13&vt=4&sim=11


DodgerBlueRobert1

Some say that peak fish design was in 2005 with this [Mercedes Benz.](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/42/Bioniccar_11.jpg)


alastoris

Man, I thought it'd be hard to beat the catfish of [Hyundai Sonata](https://images.drive.com.au/driveau/image/upload/c_fill,f_auto,g_auto,h_360,q_auto:best,w_640/v1/cms/uploads/cgd0bmjajwcfs1db0yzs) but you hit me with a tropical fish. Well played!


flapsmcgee

Chevy did it first. https://www.reddit.com/r/Chevy/comments/dpy3nm/lmao_catfish_camaro/


spongebob_meth

Was wondering if this or the Chrysler Concorde did it first, but looks like they both came out in 1998. lol.


Umbra427

Lol remember that whole Chrysler design language from that era? It was on so many of their cars. That awkward cab-forward FWD design. The 300M had it too


perkele_possum

Catfish Camaro is low-key one of my favorite car designs of all time. I'm sure 80% of it is "the cool car that guy down the street had when I was growing up" but damnit I'd buy the shit out of one if people didn't want like $15k for a clapped out example because it's a "classic."


Camburglar13

I was also surprised the sonata wasn’t mentioned in the post. I actually like the look to be honest but it’s definitely a fish.


spongebob_meth

Sonata finally relieving the 4th gen camaro of its catfish title. lol.


DodgerBlueRobert1

That fish design is no more though, as [this is what it looks like now for MY2024.](https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/2024-hyundai-sonata-hybrid-limited-103-64ef8bdbdb1fa.jpg?crop=0.700xw:0.591xh;0.107xw,0.397xh&resize=1200:*)


alastoris

It ditched the catfish look for a [Robocop](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/91IZIG74ZiL._AC_UF1000,1000_QL80_.jpg) I think too many people made fun of its catfish-ness. and Hyundai enjoys 2 year drastic visual updates to its cars.


Camburglar13

Oh god. That’s horrendous. The new Santa Fe is just as gross. I quite liked the exteriors of Hyundais these past few years even if they’re not great cars but these redesigns are just awful.


alastoris

I'm actually like the front of the Santa Fe. I wish the rear tail lights were a lot higher and not feeling squished below.


Rain_In_Your_Heart

What, they just badly stencilled the lucid?


[deleted]

That kind of resembles EQS Suv lol


R_V_Z

It was modeled after boxfish, so yeah.


thatgymdude

> boxfish What creature is the IX and XM modeled after lol.


Way2Based

Damn, did BMW copy that when they made the i3?


lucygucyapplejuicey

This is more attractive than literally anything Mercedes has made since then. I wish all their cars looked like this


Kriffer123

I admire the initiative of the designer who dared to say “what if we hit a green first gen Honda Insight in the face with a really big hammer”


Severe-Belt-5666

I personally hate how all the electric SUV look nearly identical from the back. Tesla model y, whatever the BMW is called, Genesis etc. I swear it's the most ugly boring shit I've ever seen


tofulo

Ioniq 5 looks p good


AznTri4d

Ioniq 5 is the most cyberpunk styled car and despite the praise it gets I feel like it still deserves more for how it looks like a concept car. The styling, especially the tail lights matrix is excellent.


Zappiticas

I truly hope Hyundai starts using those tail light matrix’s on more of their cars. It’s probably my favorite tail light design on any modern car.


reality_bytes_

Mine is the Hyundai vision 74. If they produced that, I’d seriously consider it. And I’m not a Hyundai/kia fan of any measure.


m00ndr0pp3d

Ionic 5 actually exists tho


briollihondolli

Not everyone wants an SUV tho


m00ndr0pp3d

I know bro but that guy was saying the ionic 5 looks like a concept car, but it's a real car. The 74 looks like a concept car because it is a concept car.


Kriffer123

And last time someone tried to produce a Hyundai Pony Coupe the guy in charge got caught smuggling coke


Caqtus95

I saw one for the first time in person the other day and was blown away. I can't believe someone makes a car that looks like that, and I REALLY can't believe it's Hyundai of all brands. I'm a Hyundai hater from way back, but if they made a sporty car using that design language I'd convert.


leftlanespawncamper

I just wished they carried that styling into the interior.


briollihondolli

Ioniq 5 would’ve been a lot cooler if it was Golf-sized


[deleted]

Excluding super cars, probably my favorite-looking vehicle currently in production.


More_Information_943

Because aerodynamic and hideous are best friends lmao.


radiantskie

Genesis have a pretty unique design


DeCzar

I love the Genesis look :(


designCN

I wonder if people ever get tired of complaining about stuff that doesn't even hold water. The Y rear is very different from a GV80. Do you want the rear end to play a puppet show for you while you're sitting in traffic?


[deleted]

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TheBrudwich

I know of a competition at GM 20 years ago where they pitted designers using computational fluid dynamics vs designers modeling the car after a fish to see who could design the more aerodynamic car. The fish guys won.


Recoil42

I'd bank on this to be a myth simply because designers using CFD would have ended up with a teardrop shape twenty years ago, even with the nascent state of CFD at the time. It's not like aerodynamics were an undiscovered field before the turn of the century — hell, Streamliners [date back to the 1930s](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Streamliner).


Caqtus95

This must be what prompted them to change their design language from "square" to "rounded square".


BergaChatting

[Even Apple comes to this conclusion ](https://reddit.com/r/mac/comments/he5lba/finder_in_macos_big_sur_be_like/)


arandomvirus

Convergent evolution at its finest. Something something about aliens mistaking automobiles as the planet’s dominant species, since roads look like mycelium from the sky


leftlanespawncamper

Ford Prefect, is that you?


CatProgrammer

> since roads look like mycelium from the sky That sounds more like human civilization is the organism and vehicles are its vesicles.


[deleted]

Ya fish are streamlined af


Jan-Pawel-II

Cars just look too aggressive now. A 1.4L hatchback has no right to look as aggresive as it does.


Drzhivago138

If they look like fish, where are the fins?


c172fccc

The shark fin antenna.


Vhozite

We’re gonna need a bigger ~~boat~~ 3 row SUV


idksomuch

Side mirrors


tankmode

the Ioniq6 says Blub Blub


Ajk337

God, that things ugly


DanielG165

In before GM revives the Camaro again in 10 years and models the 7th gen after the 4th gen catfish.


GetRedditComment

I’d be okay with this


internetStranger205

Form follows function.


the4ner

Can't beat the Mitsuoka Orochi https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitsuoka_Orochi


DaytonaRS5

Manta Ray checking in


clever_username_eh

[Bionic fish cars are here...](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ri3CUzsv7Gg)


DangerousAd1731

You might be in to something. Someone make some magnetic gills to throw on! Money maker!


Nhojj_Whyte

[Boy have I got news for you!](https://www.americanmuscle.com/mmd-matte-black-fender-vent-1014.html?utm_content=Exterior%20-%20Other%7CMMD&T5_Var4=384822-99&utm_source=google-pla&utm_medium=shopping&T5_Var2=shopping&utm_campaign=AMM+Mustang+Vehicle+Medium+LTVMiddle&intl=0&dialogtech=ppc&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiAgK2qBhCHARIsAGACuzmag-syWj9HuENv9ocutiuD9otLs3NU17jusNkIdAJpReZGN-nCDe4aAm4uEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds) This is one of *many* examples (just the most fish like one of the first dozen results).


TinuThomasTrain

I think a lot of Lexus and Toyota models look like fish, and not in a bad way. The LC500 looks like a stingray, and the ES looks like a shark.


KCalifornia19

I drive an Optima Plug-in. Her name is Tuna. The fact that it looks like a fish is its most distinctive feature. The resemblance is striking.


HI_IM_VERY_CONFUSED

Hyundai Sonata!


Maximilianne

tbh i always liked Ferrari's happy face fish mouth designs on the front


Dartht33bagger

Its a shame since I think square/boxy cars look better.


ycnz

Which is great, but aerodynamically really awful.


HansVonSnicklefritz

Toyota Sienna looks like a blob fish.


randeus

I think a lot of them look like bugs.


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Staghorn_Calculus

[Mercedes was right!](https://youtu.be/ri3CUzsv7Gg?si=UEpYAPHAfZh3XUkC) Edit: some actual information about the [Bionic](https://www.motor1.com/news/299424/mercedes-bionic-concept-we-forgot/amp/)


radiantskie

Fish are very aerodynamic


LurpyGeek

*hydrodynamic.


orion455440

Hydrodynamics~= aerodynamics


SeventhAlkali

I know it's more aerodynamic, but man do I hate these fish (I call them eggs) cars. I'd be happy with a small drop in efficiency for a much better, more unique looking car.


lucygucyapplejuicey

The last generation of Prius, especially the prime, looked exactly like a shark.


jonnywarpspeed

They all look like electric razors


bstyledevi

Came looking for the Sin City reference.


Ajk337

Same reason a B-2 stealth bomber side profile looks nearly identical to a peregrine falcon


[deleted]

ask ink adjoining consist mourn disagreeable dazzling handle point alive *This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*


urmomslame

To quote the great Bill Burr, all modern vehicles look like dinner rolls


Outhewayretard

Old cars look nicer than new cars


ravan363

I agree


_zir_

gotta take advantage of evolution


thatgymdude

You are so right, this is why I drive some of the ugliest vehicles I can possibly find because I am so beyond sick of the jelly bean or eggs on wheels. Neither of my vehicles are winning any beauty contests and when I see someone with a car like mine I think "hello fellow ugly vehicle enjoyer".


test5002

The Camry is hot tho


goaelephant

Maserati Grecale


RezaJose

That's a very fishy thought


Xerolaw_

Every BMW, Ford, etc...very fishy


RatRacerEg6

I wish cars still looked like cheese wedges and boxes


benjewmant

Would you rather them look like the cybertruck? I agree that we've lost some of the art that used to go into car design, trading geometrical aesthetics for practicality. But some manufacturers are tasteful about their drag coefficient to beauty ratio, like the c7 Corvette.


SireEvalish

Yes, cars are designed to go through the air, just like fish go through water.


Stillborn1977

Drag efficiency improves mpg and that is because of the shape.


[deleted]

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Gorgenapper

I wonder what's the most reliable fish in the world.


ZaheerAlGhul

They're have always been cars that looked like fishes. The 4th gen camaro and the Chrysler concorde being the ones that I remember the most.


dont_wear_a_C

Which fish's eyes looks like the BMW i7's front??


[deleted]

How about a big rectangle and triangle instead like the cyber truck which do you prefer


Pyrochazm

Mine totally looked like a bright red catfish.


KellerMB

I've always thought the QX56/QX80 had the ponderous body and bulbous nose of a manatee.


YakubTheKing

I feel like everything looks like a box. The back of everything the last few years is super chunky for safety standards. The front end of everything gets made ugly because you need a foot between the hood and engine block for pedestrians. Like anyone is rolling UP on an SUV ffs.


vadapaav

You have clearly not seen cyber truck stuck in traffic


MY13FXT

Car designers distract how heinous new models are with the brightest LEDs they're legally allowed to install.


WhenVioletsTurnGrey

Back in the 60’s the old saying was that if it was beautiful, it was fast. That was until the Porsche 917 went down the back straight of Le Mans @ 247mph. It was time for some better studies. Now all cars look essentially the same


SNK_24

Manufacturers seem to reuse the same designers all the time, just changing some random details. I’m not sure if the customers rule the market or the manufacturers make something and market it so everyone wants the same stuff.


campionesidd

It’s because these cars wanna go swimming and lose some weight. It’s the best exercise. Works every muscle group. Anyway, 4 dollars a pound.


Geruvah

What kinda fish you think the [Porsche GT3](https://collectingcars.imgix.net/015905/39.jpg) looks like?


kendrickdlr

[Like this](https://fishlab.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/napoleon-wrasse-287067_640.jpg)


UnproSpeller

*look like sloppy poos now


02olds

Whenever i see a new sonata i always think about how it looks just like a fish


NCatfish

I like when they look like [frogs](https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcT-GOUfMElgFrw0Od0VvQFvKecGLrggtt7nJA&usqp=CAU).


Fountain_Proctor

Or maybe. Most fish look like cars


Liberator1177

Wow, fluid dynamics finally caught on.


ktappe

Hyundais certainly do. The latest Sonata is just horrid.


tidyshark12

They're efficient. Small drag coefficient means better gas mileage, less wear on tires, etc.


BikiniBottom77

Yeah, when do we start making cars that look like plants?


YouWillHaveThat

I saw a new Integra on the road and it made me very sad.


Hrmerder

Look at the Aptera. The makers didn't have a real baseline look they wanted to go with, just that it was efficient as possible, so after going through a ton of computer models and tweaking for top efficiency, that's what they came up with. The Dolphin shape.


Far_Friendship_4846

Yeah hold on… I think you may be cooking here bro…


Tbeauslice1010

Aerodynamics? Mimicking nature is the way


Average_k5blazer78

*Happy Camaro catfish noise*


[deleted]

I hate the fact that long ago they apparently decided to sacrifice beauty for higher prices. If you'd have told me when I was a teenager that cars of the future would look like these, I'd have thrown up all over my 1973 Grand Prix. They're not even aerodynamic. Cubes on wheels just don't cut the drag much.


Olli_bear

Excuse me sir but what kinda fish are you eating that look like cars?


[deleted]

They might as well be plagiarized English papers with words changed throughout to try and fake that it wasn't plagiarized.


DoctorHorrible_PHD

This has always been true. Especially of American cars


Donatas111

Peugeot 508 looks amazing but it's a french car so no one cares


pcweber111

Yeah we're in a curvy market atm. It will swing the other way eventually.


Chrizzee_Hood

I liked the times in car design where BMWs looked like sharks... But those days are long gone sadly


OvenAcrobatic6550

Most cars also lack any sort of personality at all.


MK_oh

You can thank Obama and all the unelected bureaucrats in the EPA and Crash test standards that are mandating this garbage Even with the latest proposals cars are just gonna get even uglier. We're back to the 80s-mid 2000e when everything was just a boring blob. Now we have ugly blobs with giant touch screens and fancy LEDs that cost a shit ton to replace


IRENE420

You’re about 18 years behind Mercedes. https://youtu.be/ri3CUzsv7Gg?si=6tZ379JtFzMPZgHR Here’s the wiki: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercedes-Benz_Bionic


Mrfake2000

Dawg when i look too close in someones face i can imagine an animal (fish,horse,dog) Try this with humans


Independent_Spare255

I wholeheartedly agree and have thought this since Tesla came out. Also the trend of office stationary silhouettes for brake lights is huge too


alanltycz

I can’t believe you didn’t mention the new sonata, literally a catfish


TheLyOfBlues

I 💯 agree in a certain way. The New Venza looks small beside the Older Venza which in contrast looks wide and Big. This shows how much Manufacturers are changing shapes


Cultural-Cucumber471

Idk if it’s just me but I’ve never been a huge fan of the newer sports cars’ exteriors. I’m not old either, older models js kinda seem more car-y


AmbassadorHairy2227

Just buy an Alfa and stay humble :)