Separated Twins - Jaguar XJ and Postwar Hudsons
My e-book on automobile styling argues that there hasn't been much evolution in the appearance of sedans since about 1950. Yes, technology has improved in terms of metal stamping, autoglass forming, headlamp structure and other fields related to how cars look. And there has been increased attention since the early 1980s regarding improved aerodynamic efficiency as a means of reducing fuel consumption. But the dominant factor is fashion. Automobile styling fashions come, go, and occasionally return. A case regarding the return of a style is the design of the 2010-vintage Jaguar XJ model. It took me a while to make the connection, but it finally dawned on me that the XJ can be considered a modern version of the "step-down" Hudson of the 1948-1954 model years. Let's take a look: Here are the cars in profile, the XJ above, the Hudson below. Both designs might be called "almost-fastback," where the top gradually curves downward and meets the lower body sligh...