This is another excerpt from the paper, talking about the experiential aspects of cars discussed last week. In particular, it covers the visual aspects of cars.
Since human beings get the majority of their sensory input through sight, the importance of a car’s appearance is self-evident. Enthusiasts value a wide variety of characteristics, which makes it extremely difficult to systematically describe or analyze the aspects of various cars that make them attractive. A few basic properties are generally valued, such as proportion and stance, but beyond that, it is not really possible to determine what makes a car beautiful. Curvaceousness and proportion when combined are generally quite promising, but the curves must be meaningful in that they are inspired by some function, such as the curve of a fender to enclose a wheel, or the taper of a car’s profile to make it more aerodynamic (for example, Figoni Falaschi Talbot Lago T150SS, Bentley R-Type Continental, or Ferrari 275GTB/4). Aesthetic appeal may not necessarily equate to beauty either, however. Certain cars are attractive because of a firm, rational, angular, and proportional character that is perhaps not beautiful, but attractive nevertheless (more like a BMW).