Week 1 Assignment - Wheel Arch Study
Jeep Grand Cherokee - current model, '10 to Present
Mainstream 4x4
The wheel arch is an angular shape suggesting a sort of rugged practicality, I think a few other words you could use are muscular or tough. The wheel arch itself is a plastic, (polyurethane?) and not part of the body in metal, so if it is ever scratched it is more easily replaced. Being a middle of the range 4x4 it is designed to survive trail driving between rocks and trees where getting scratched is commonplace.
The wheel arch is an angular shape suggesting a sort of rugged practicality, I think a few other words you could use are muscular or tough. The wheel arch itself is a plastic, (polyurethane?) and not part of the body in metal, so if it is ever scratched it is more easily replaced. Being a middle of the range 4x4 it is designed to survive trail driving between rocks and trees where getting scratched is commonplace.
Honda CR-V - last generation, '02 to '06
Entry level 4x4
Similar to the Jeep above, but has a more rounded shape, which I think gives it a softer more "friendly" look. Once again, the wheel arch is plastic to give it a tougher, more practical look. As it is smaller, it can be considered a more entry-level off road vehicle, sometimes called a soft-roader. The surrounding gap isn't as large as the Jeep as the wheel probably doesn't go through as extreme a range of movement. The wheel arch juts out from the body a little suggesting the body has been widened to accommodate a wider track than the Honda Civic it evolved from.
Similar to the Jeep above, but has a more rounded shape, which I think gives it a softer more "friendly" look. Once again, the wheel arch is plastic to give it a tougher, more practical look. As it is smaller, it can be considered a more entry-level off road vehicle, sometimes called a soft-roader. The surrounding gap isn't as large as the Jeep as the wheel probably doesn't go through as extreme a range of movement. The wheel arch juts out from the body a little suggesting the body has been widened to accommodate a wider track than the Honda Civic it evolved from.
Lexus LX-570 - current model, (pre-facelift) - '08 to '12
Luxury 4x4
Continuing the theme, this is intended as a more luxurious 4x4, hence the plastic wheel arches are gone to give the car a more expensive look. Probably aimed more at the city than the off road market so the wheel arches suffering scratches is not as much of a concern. It's a large vehicle however so there is a generous gap around the wheel, similar to the Jeep.
Continuing the theme, this is intended as a more luxurious 4x4, hence the plastic wheel arches are gone to give the car a more expensive look. Probably aimed more at the city than the off road market so the wheel arches suffering scratches is not as much of a concern. It's a large vehicle however so there is a generous gap around the wheel, similar to the Jeep.
Toyota FJ Cruiser - '07 to present
Lifestyle 4x4
This 4x4 is a retro-revival car, recalling the design of the early model Landcruisers with the FJ model designation. Once again, plastic wheel arches for similar reasons stated above, but now they stick out, and have much less of a added on look, instead being the entire wheel arch itself. They look like they recall the folded steel wheel arches that the early model Landcruisers had.
This 4x4 is a retro-revival car, recalling the design of the early model Landcruisers with the FJ model designation. Once again, plastic wheel arches for similar reasons stated above, but now they stick out, and have much less of a added on look, instead being the entire wheel arch itself. They look like they recall the folded steel wheel arches that the early model Landcruisers had.
Here you can see the comparison. FJ Cruiser left, Landcruiser right.
Chevrolet HHR - '06 to '11
City car/utility vehicle
That's enough 4x4's for now. But similar to the FJ Cruiser above, this HHR is another retro throwback car, made obvious by its name being a contraction of Heritage High Roof. But it's more of a call back to a particular era of styling rather than any particular car. My best guess is that it's inspired by cars from the 40's where engines were still small and didn't have many accessories to power like Air-con, power steering. This made the overall size of the engine bay smaller, and because of that the wheels stuck out prominently from the body, requiring their own specific fenders made from rolled steel.
That's enough 4x4's for now. But similar to the FJ Cruiser above, this HHR is another retro throwback car, made obvious by its name being a contraction of Heritage High Roof. But it's more of a call back to a particular era of styling rather than any particular car. My best guess is that it's inspired by cars from the 40's where engines were still small and didn't have many accessories to power like Air-con, power steering. This made the overall size of the engine bay smaller, and because of that the wheels stuck out prominently from the body, requiring their own specific fenders made from rolled steel.
Here it is compared to a Chevy Coupe from the 1940's
Mini Cooper - current model, '07 to present
Super mini/city car
Another retro looking car, this time the Mini. The wheel arch is nearly a perfect circle, wrapping tightly around the wheel itself, suggesting something tightly wound, tense and energetic, and possibly playful. Once again the plastic fenders help to ease the pain of scratches that are inevitable as it's a city dwelling car. The front end of the fender tapers off to the front face of the car suggesting that the wheels have been pushed out right into the corners, most probably as a result of maximising the space inside the car.
Another retro looking car, this time the Mini. The wheel arch is nearly a perfect circle, wrapping tightly around the wheel itself, suggesting something tightly wound, tense and energetic, and possibly playful. Once again the plastic fenders help to ease the pain of scratches that are inevitable as it's a city dwelling car. The front end of the fender tapers off to the front face of the car suggesting that the wheels have been pushed out right into the corners, most probably as a result of maximising the space inside the car.
Mazda MX-5 - current model (pre-facelift), '08 to '12
Entry level sports car
Just like the Mini, the wheel arch is tightly wrapped around the wheel, giving the car a sense of tenseness and energy. Also like the Mini the wheel arch is very prominently pushed towards the outside corners of the car. Being a sports car this could be a result of its wider stance, the dimensions making it a more nimble car. Much like the Grand Cherokee in the beginning, the prominent feature of the wheel arch evokes a muscular/taut image, this time suggestive of athletic ability rather than ruggedness in the case of the Jeep.
Just like the Mini, the wheel arch is tightly wrapped around the wheel, giving the car a sense of tenseness and energy. Also like the Mini the wheel arch is very prominently pushed towards the outside corners of the car. Being a sports car this could be a result of its wider stance, the dimensions making it a more nimble car. Much like the Grand Cherokee in the beginning, the prominent feature of the wheel arch evokes a muscular/taut image, this time suggestive of athletic ability rather than ruggedness in the case of the Jeep.
Cadillac XLR - '04 to '09
Luxury sports car
Being a sports car there is once again a purposeful muscularity to the design. But the overall design is very futuristic, edgy and angular, so the wheel arch is pinched out from the body at a flat angle to accomodate the wheel which is unavoidably round. Being perceived as a luxury car, there must be a cleanliness of design, not busy and overly detailed like many cheaper cars tend to be.
Being a sports car there is once again a purposeful muscularity to the design. But the overall design is very futuristic, edgy and angular, so the wheel arch is pinched out from the body at a flat angle to accomodate the wheel which is unavoidably round. Being perceived as a luxury car, there must be a cleanliness of design, not busy and overly detailed like many cheaper cars tend to be.
Nissan Murano - current model, '09 to present
Mainstream/Luxury 4x4
Design wise this one is the most interesting, while not being an especially expensive car, it seems to be trying to look like one that isn't cheap. It seems to be creating an air of elegance with long flowing lines. The arch itself isn't just a concentric crease, but extends along the length of the body', it isn't as utilitarian as the shape on other 4x4s. Like the Lexus previously, there's no plastic wheel arch protection.
Design wise this one is the most interesting, while not being an especially expensive car, it seems to be trying to look like one that isn't cheap. It seems to be creating an air of elegance with long flowing lines. The arch itself isn't just a concentric crease, but extends along the length of the body', it isn't as utilitarian as the shape on other 4x4s. Like the Lexus previously, there's no plastic wheel arch protection.
Toyota Prius - current model, '09 to present
Hybrid medium size
Similar to the Murano above, the shape of the wheel arch is tapered along the body, but it disappears into the bodywork much sooner, it also doesn't protrude very far from the body at all. Being a hybrid car, my guess is that this is more functional and for the purpose of aerodynamics, to create as little disruption to airflow as possible.
Similar to the Murano above, the shape of the wheel arch is tapered along the body, but it disappears into the bodywork much sooner, it also doesn't protrude very far from the body at all. Being a hybrid car, my guess is that this is more functional and for the purpose of aerodynamics, to create as little disruption to airflow as possible.