Modern day cars come in all sorts of shapes and sizes, often aimed at better suiting the desired purpose of the vehicles and other times simply to be attractive in appearance. A People Carrier tends to have a somewhat blockish exterior so that interior space can be maximised whilst a sports car is often low to the ground and streamlined to enhance performance through better aerodynamics and tyre grip. I’ve often heard some muscle cars been referred to as “aggressive” in styling, in a sense they are made to reflect their owner’s desire to command the road and, for lack of a more subtle phrase, augment his machismo.
These lessons shouldn’t be avoided by the manufacturers wishing to introduce LEVs into the automotive market. Toyota has already leaped forward with the latest version of their Prius being distinctly styled and eye catching. Toyota have realised that the customers that generally buy a hybrid car want to be seen driving a hybrid and enjoy the social symbolism that goes along with it. By ensuring that their Prius would be easily recognisable, they have created an environment where the driver of the Prius can indirectly communicate their values of environmental consideration and fuel efficiency to the rest of society.
