zzdcar
Home
/
Reviews
/
Culture
/
Modern Cars ‘Molest’ People With Their ‘Arrogant’ Styling: Polestar CEO
Modern Cars ‘Molest’ People With Their ‘Arrogant’ Styling: Polestar CEO-May 2024
2024-02-19 EST 22:12:05

A photo of Polestar CEOThomas Ingenlath sat next to one of his company's electric cars.

People love to bash on the here and now, while reminiscing about a simpler time. Nowhere is that more relevant than in the world of car design, where we always hear arguments about when the “golden age” of automotive styling really was. Well, when that was, he sure as hell won’t say right now.

, the Polestar boss gave a scathing assessment of the current automotive landscape. He described most modern cars as “loud” objects that “shout” at passers-by and innocent onlookers.

He said: “You walk through a street where lots of cars are parked, and all of them are shouting at you. It’s a very arrogant attitude, to actually molest the people with these expressions. You feel like, ‘Come on, have a certain decency’. Some class would be appropriate.”

A photo of the Polestar Precept concept car.

He’s far too diplomatic to name and shame the companies churning out “arrogant” cars. But as soon as I read that sentence and its ridiculous grille, right now and, of course, all immediately jumped into my mind.

All these marques and their current “overemphasis of expressiveness,” he says, are at odds with the Scandinavian styling his firm has become known for. The are what Ingenlath believes have helped his firm stand out from the crowd.

Additionally, he believes this design philosophy has been and successes in Europe, the U.S. and South Korea.

“Design is a big thing that works worldwide, that’s for sure,” Ingenlath said. “The quality about how the car drives, that, of course, is a more European and US thing. In Asia, it’s not necessarily that much of a topic that makes you a star there.”

A photo of the Polestar 1 coupe parked at a salt mine.

But , popular designs and trends are always changing. Meaning that while Polestar’s simplistic styling might stand out today from the oversized grilles and angular accents that are commonplace in other companies today, this could soon change.

“It’s definitely something that is changing,” he says.

Does this mean we’ll one day see streets filled with sleek Scandi-style cars? We can all dream.

Comments
Welcome to zzdcar comments! Please keep conversations courteous and on-topic. To fosterproductive and respectful conversations, you may see comments from our Community Managers.
Sign up to post
Sort by
Show More Comments
Culture
Interior Door Pulls Are Underrated Elements Of Automotive Design
Interior Door Pulls Are Underrated Elements Of Automotive Design
I find car interiors difficult to photograph. That’s frustrating because, sometimes, a car’s cockpit is more interesting than its sheet metal outerwear. In such cabins, there’s one feature in particular that I often like the best: the handles you use to pull the doors shut. The Porsche Panamera Sport...
May 23, 2026
Parent Sued After Toddler 'Draws' On 10 New Cars With A Rock At Audi Dealership In China
Parent Sued After Toddler 'Draws' On 10 New Cars With A Rock At Audi Dealership In China
Many people like to ask why I treat my feline child as if she is a human child and as if no human child could ever replace her, citing things like how “cats scratch things” and that they’re “pretty much plotting to destroy the world.” To that nonsense, I...
May 23, 2026
Comment Of The Day: Damn Lies Edition
Comment Of The Day: Damn Lies Edition
BMW makes cars with big grilles. BMW sells cars with big grilles. BMW says its big grilles are desirable. Do people believe BMW? The German automaker has made some questionable aesthetic choices in the past, so I’m hardly surprised that this is a new defining characteristic of the BMW...
May 23, 2026
It's Time To Get Excited About Homebuilt EV Hot Rods
It's Time To Get Excited About Homebuilt EV Hot Rods
There was a time when homebuilt EVs were the realm of ridiculous nerds shoving a half-ton of lead acid batteries into a Ford Festiva and running it through a 30 kW fork lift motor for a max speed of 49 mph and a range of about 30 miles. These...
May 23, 2026
The 2020 Porsche Macan GTS Makes 375 HP And Is Very Red
The 2020 Porsche Macan GTS Makes 375 HP And Is Very Red
Following the announcement of the is this, the range-topping, 2020 GTS. And I’m going to be straight with you. All I have in terms of news here are the car’s specs. We all know what a Macan is already. So! Real quick, with everything pulled from : There’s a...
May 23, 2026
Props And Counterpoints To Hagerty's List Of Collector Cars To Buy In 2020
Props And Counterpoints To Hagerty's List Of Collector Cars To Buy In 2020
Classic car insurance company Hagerty has spent the last few years expanding its brand, which now includes editorial content and commentary on the value of old cars. This week it released a list of ” and I have Opinions. I’m sure you do too. Let’s talk. Hagerty seems to...
May 23, 2026
Copyright 2023-2026 - www.zzdcar.com All Rights Reserved