Why they call it Godzilla...

[coletrain]

Great article on the size increase of cars.

http://jalopnik.com/5372001/so-this-...alled-godzilla

The NSX, launched in 1990, was remarkable for its low roofline of only 46": a bare six inches taller than the Ford GT40 race car. The GT–R, on the other hand, is a full eight inches taller than the NSX.

Under the aluminum, the difference is even bigger. The GT–R is 850 pounds heavier than the NSX, which weighs in at 2,950 lb: an increase of 22 percent. There is, of course, an even greater increase in power, with the Nissan’s twin-turbo V6 producing almost twice the horsepower of the Honda’s V6 VTEC, with a resulting climb in power to weight from 216 bhp/ton to 277 bhp/ton.

Line up comparison of the R32, R33, R34, R35.

The trend is much the same with sporty roadsters. Witness the 1964 Honda S600 versus the 1999 Honda S2000:

Relentless growth in size is not limited to the Japanese car industry.
If you were to compare Ferrari’s entry-level car from 1968 to its successor 31 years on, this is what you’d see:

And they used to call the Taurus a Mid-Sized sedan

[Shag Wagon]

Damn. Godzilla makes the NSX look like a damn play toy.

[deevergote]

Wow, I never realized how much bigger cars have gotten! Much of that is due to safety regulations, I believe. Most of those old designs wouldn't hold up well in a crash. The newer ones can take much more abuse.


Also, Godzilla was actually given as a nickname to the original R32 GT-R. I don't know if it's really been applied to the R35.

[coletrain]

Wow, I never realized how much bigger cars have gotten! Much of that is due to safety regulations, I believe. Most of those old designs wouldn't hold up well in a crash. The newer ones can take much more abuse.

Crash safety regulations: I think everyone has seen this video

[Losiracer2]

Crash safety regulations: I think everyone has seen this video

Wow I would've imagined the tank of a bel air would just rip right though the malibu. Guess it was the other way around.

[deevergote]

Yeah, I just had a discussion yesterday with a guy that mentioned how "those big old cars are way safer". Compared to today's vehicles, they aren't designed to crumple around the driver, the brakes are often inferior... especially for the mass of some of those large ones, Suspension, tires, and the seats, belts, lack of airbags (even though I don't like bags), etc... Today's cars are designed with accidents in mind much more than the old ones were.

Hell, the high fender requirement of today's cars is largely for pedestrian safety. It's not simply the direction the designers have been going. The NSX's design could never happen in today's market.

[PUMASTi]

People have also gotten bigger. I don't mean fat I don't want to offend anyone but the general population is taller now. Also comfort has become a big thing these days, so the space helps.

I think the only car on the road that is going against all this is the smart car. but we'll see how future generations might come out to be.

[Night Wolf]

hmmm so if I wanna make a super car & got to start small

[mndude07]

I hate large vehicles. They're just not as fun or easy to drive to me. I can't stand driving my dad's van. The CB is just about right for me, but then the new accords are absolutely huge and I feel like I'm driving a land yacht. Hell, the new civic is pushing it for me even....they're bigger than the CB is....but surprisingly not really any heavier.

[deevergote]

People have also gotten bigger. I don't mean fat I don't want to offend anyone but the general population is taller now. Also comfort has become a big thing these days, so the space helps.

I think the only car on the road that is going against all this is the smart car. but we'll see how future generations might come out to be.

That is true (though we've gotten fatter in general as well... Americans especially, and America is a HUGE market for all automakers)
In addition to space, people also want more luxuries. Power everything, heated everything, a million knobs on their console for navigation, HVAC, stereo... Space has to be allotted for all of that too!

The Smart car is actually quite heavy for the size. Even though it's tiny, it's amazingly good in a crash. It's basically a steel cage on wheels. Due to the tiny engine, lack of cargo space, and short wheelbase... it's really just a rolling cockpit.

[ibr_adam09]

Cup holders gotten bigger too. I can't fit my 7-eleven big Gulp drink in the cb.

[coletrain]

Cup holders gotten bigger too. I can't fit my 7-eleven big Gulp drink in the cb.

True, the CB cup holders are perfect for cans.

[deevergote]

Cans are all they're good for.

My old drummer once tried to put a YooHoo box in one... smart kid, usually. Yeah, anyone want a stock tape deck with Yoo Hoo inside?

[coletrain]

So back to the topic

I am more amazed at the shear size of Trucks these days. I was driving next to a new Dodge Ram on the highway and saw eye to eye with his trailer hitch! It's ridiculous how huge cars have gotten.

The most heinously huge car is the new Ford Taurus/500. It seriously looks like a Boat sailing down the Freeway...unnecessary.

[deevergote]

The most heinously huge car is the new Ford Taurus/500. It seriously looks like a Boat sailing down the Freeway...unnecessary.

That's its replacement.

But yeah, it is huge. So many cars are over 3000lbs these days as well.