The future is hybrid – but not like you think
By Karl Smith2023-04-03T13:19:00
Car Design News looks at the emergence of ‘hybrid’ body styles that meet new consumer demands, powertrains and safety requirements
New hybrids are coming.
No, not hybrid drivetrains, though there will be plenty of those in the coming years. The coming decade will see the emergence of new “hybrid” automotive forms, their shape and volume determined by new drivetrains (hybrid and electric), new cabin demands by consumers, autonomous functions, and new safety requirements.
This new era has the potential to be one of the most creative in automotive packaging in decades.
Some would argue that we are already well into this era, as we find such novelties as four-door coupes, “sportbrakes” (station/estate wagons), SUVs and crossovers of every size, and (in America, at least) pick-ups that…