Car exteriors are undergoing a subtle makeover. Pre-pandemic, many models were styled to look aggressive, with sharp angles, wide grilles and muscular curves that gave them personality. Now there’s a clear shift toward smoother, flatter and more restrained shapes. The new aesthetic feels futuristic, but not necessarily in a good way.
Audi’s design chief has said that future cars will appear “softer, more friendly” rather than aggressive. This gentler aesthetic isn’t just about looks; it’s driven by the practical needs of electric vehicles (EVs). Sleeker surfaces and fewer protrusions improve aerodynamics and extend range. Since EVs don’t require large radiators, designers can close off grilles entirely, creating a minimalist face with slim LED lights.
New electric models like the Polestar 2 and Hyundai Ioniq 6 embody this “less is more” ethos, but the sense of character that defined pre-pandemic cars has faded.
This aesthetic has also rubbed off on gasoline models, such as the BMW’s 2025 X3 redesign. Its once-rounded shape is now flatter and warped, an attempt at futurism that feels forced. Inside, BMW has stripped away physical buttons in favour of large digital screens, sacrificing the tactile luxury that once defined its cabins.
The market response has been reported that Global first-quarter sales for the new X3 dropped 32 per cent from the prior year.
Similarly, Ford’s 2024 Mustang redesign sold 44,003 units in the U.S., down 9.per cent from 2023, with Q4 sales plunging nearly 43per cent. The flatter body lines and screen-heavy interior aimed to modernize the Mustang but left many longtime fans cold.
I miss the hybrid of tactile buttons and screen real estate that cars once offered. Pre-pandemic models struck the perfect balance between tech and tactility, a mix that conveyed craftsmanship and sportiness. Today’s all-digital interiors may look sleek, but they lack engagement. The new Mustang feels less visceral, less alive, much like many of today’s “futuristic” designs.
This design evolution reflects a broader shift in consumer priorities. According to a Deloitte survey, 44% of respondents said their next vehicle preference is an EV, signaling how electrification is reshaping demand. According to Navien Baskaran, an Accessory Development Engineer at Toyota Canada, this transition is redefining design itself. “The pandemic accelerated EV development and digital integration,” he says. “Automakers started rethinking design not just in terms of performance, but also efficiency and sustainability.”
Baskaran adds that EV platforms “allow more flexibility, cleaner layouts, simpler packaging, and better use of space.” Consumers, he notes, now value “safety, simplicity, and connectivity” over styling and performance. Even his own preferences have evolved: “When I was younger, I was pulled more toward aesthetics. Now, as I’m older, I’m looking more at reliability and cost efficiency.”
Ultimately, today’s design language is sleek, smart, and sensible, but arguably less soulful. The pandemic and the EV era have pushed cars into a new phase where efficiency triumphs over emotion, and that might be the biggest design shift of all.
Contributed Graphic/Jessi Wood TCE Creative Director
