CAFE standards encouraged manufacturers to increase the footprint of their passenger cars and trucks so that less strict fuel efficiency standards apply.
This is the correct answer. CAFE standards meant manufacturers HAD to build them like this. Other perceptions are just byproducts of marketing these necessarily bigger cars.
Crash / impact / safety, technology, bigger people, the false mentality that people need storage comparable to minivans in all cars but don’t want minivans
911 specific bloat: The RWD 911s used to have a thinner body than the AWD models, but modern 911s all use the same AWD widebody. Also starting with the 991 generation, they moved the engine forward to give it more mid-rear weight balance which made them elongate the wheelbase.
The 996 really shows how bloated the new 911’s are.
Stopped by to say this. I admit I could be biased as a 996 driver, but damn that thing is huge in comparison!
Looks like an SUV next to the 996!
yeah, but I wouldn’t mind one
I would not kick it out of bed for eating crackers.
Oh I’d become a sub to stay in bed with that damn thing
Well on the bright side, I can actually fit comfortably in one of those cars
Try an old air cooled one - they are closer to a Miata than a 991 in size.
Why are so many modern cars so bloated?
CAFE standards encouraged manufacturers to increase the footprint of their passenger cars and trucks so that less strict fuel efficiency standards apply.
This is the correct answer. CAFE standards meant manufacturers HAD to build them like this. Other perceptions are just byproducts of marketing these necessarily bigger cars.
Crash / impact / safety, technology, bigger people, the false mentality that people need storage comparable to minivans in all cars but don’t want minivans
All the safety and creature comforts.
Like, I don’t care if I die in a crash, I’ll just plan on not crashing.
It is pretty cool when my sub 200hp Honda can beat modern cars rated for 300+ hp
https://preview.redd.it/64184ayhdp1c1.jpeg?width=500&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=18f2507a5a0c9d337013914b60f6d76e90e103fc
911 specific bloat: The RWD 911s used to have a thinner body than the AWD models, but modern 911s all use the same AWD widebody. Also starting with the 991 generation, they moved the engine forward to give it more mid-rear weight balance which made them elongate the wheelbase.
In the US a car’s emission requirements are based on the footprint of the car. Bigger cars have much more lax emission and fuel economy requirements.
CAFE standards have bloated all vehicles - cars included.
For eel
So true. When my buddies got their 997 and 996, I parked my 981 next to them and I realized surprising small 911s used to be.