Dat Ass Tho: Jaguar F-type

The other night, I was walking home from class, when a mystery sports car passed me from behind.  Usually I don't care about cars too much.  Living in La Jolla--a moneyed beachtown--you see expensive cars every day.  Often you see corporate types driving Mercedes, BMWs, Audis or Range Rovers.  They tend to drive like assholes.  Sometimes it's wealthy old couples driving Bentleys and Rolls Royces and the occasional Maybach.  And you'll also get your fair share of young men and women driving edgier sports cars: Porsches, Ferraris, Maseratis.  But given how often I see luxury cars, these cars are a kind of a normal feature in my daily life.

This car, however, was different.  I didn't recognize it, and only caught a glimpse of it from behind,  Even so, I was captivated by the car's remarkable tail lights.  Two glowing red, thing stretched lines across the back, that cupped two circular tail-lights that flashed like mean eyes when the car braked, slowing to turn at the distant intersection.

They were probably the sleekest brake lights I'd ever seen.  They looked fierce, almost like the squinted glare of some predatory animal.  The eye makeup Egyptians wore--which elegantly draws out the length of the eyes--also came to mind.

BMW Z8, with tail light

The Jaguar F-type, staring back at you

Anyways, I send a picture of the drawing I made [of the lights] to my friend, who said he recognized them, but couldn't put a name on it.  Restless, I did some research on my own in Google images, scanning the major luxury car brands until I finally landed on Jaguar.  And there they were--on the back of a car I'd never heard of, the Jaguar F-type.

The Jaguar F-type is a sexy car.  Although the rest of the car doesn't hold the design standard set by the rear of the car, it's a well-balanced, nice looking sports car.  The front of the car is rather standard--almost generic.  I am reminded of Maserati's designs, and some of the lower-end Farrari Models.  

Jaguar F-type, two angles

A Maserati for comparison

Ferarri for comparison

Even so, the F-type is a slick car with a decent price tag, and a nice ass.

001: Waste

Mercedes CLS 63 AMG, "The Greyhound"

If I had to drive one car for the rest of my life, I would drive a 2009 Mercedes CLS 63 AMG.

I'll be the first to admit I know very little about cars.  But I know a few things about design and aesthetics, and in my opinion, this car is about as close to design perfection as they come.

Some of the features that that take the CLS to the next level:

• A singular unified shape, defined by a single continuous curve, running the length of the car
• Rather than overly-complex, angular styling, the CLS relies on a few well-chosen curves 
• The arched shape of the body appears to lift and draw out the vehicle, giving the car a naturally aerodynamic and fast appearance
• It isn't ostentatious or aggressive.  Despite its good looks, its design features are still modest by my standards, and it relies more on subtlety than force
• The entire car tapers at both ends.  Small headlights and a tasteful grille dot the long hood of the vehicle.  At the back of the car, a small rounded trunk and shard-like tail lights close the vehicle.

Modest styling from the front that appears to taper to a point

notice the fluting running off the top of the front wheel-well 

With small lights, and a long rounded hood,
the "face" of a CLS instantly conjures the greyhound

the smooth, arched profile of the car is most clear seen from behind

I conclude with a visual metaphor that [I think] explains the styling of the CLS, and in particular, the logic of using an arched profile to define the car.  It is the element that really brings the car to life:

Mercedes CLS 63 AMG [with its trademark arched profile]

Breaching dolphin

Running Greyhound

Sprinting Cheetah

Straight lines do not appear in natures fastest animals.  Only curves.

(all photos belong to their respective owners)