Electric vehicles are reshaping car culture as automakers embrace the “fashionization” of design. For younger, eco-conscious drivers, cars like the VF 7 are becoming expressions of personal style.
Cars have always said something about their drivers. Today, that message is more deliberate and design-driven. More than just transportation, cars have become lifestyle accessories, especially among younger, urban, and environmentally conscious consumers who see their vehicles as extensions of personal identity.
Electric vehicles (EVs) have become the perfect canvas for this shift. Without the limitations of combustion engines, designers are free to explore new forms and aesthetics. The result is a new breed of vehicle that feels as natural in a design museum as it does on the road. EVs are prompting us to rethink what makes a car beautiful.
Why Do EVs Look Like That?
For over a century, automotive design was shaped by the mechanical needs of combustion engines and transmissions. Gas, diesel, and hybrid powertrains need room to spin and breathe, sometimes at the expense of space and aesthetics. EVs remove those constraints, opening the door to cleaner, more innovative design.
The newest electric models lean into sleek, aerodynamic profiles that echo the clean lines of modern architecture and fashion. Designers are favoring smooth surfaces, sculpted silhouettes, and flush panels that reduce drag while elevating visual appeal.
Aerodynamics has shifted from a purely engineering concern to a pillar of aesthetic identity. Rounded fronts, long windshields, and sloping rooflines not only improve airflow but also define the new visual language of EVs.
Lighting design has also taken on new significance. LED arrays and distinctive light signatures now serve as brand identifiers, much like logos. Interiors have followed suit, favoring simplified layouts, open cabins, and modern materials. Manufacturers are experimenting with sustainable options like vegan leather to appeal to environmentally conscious buyers.
VinFast’s VF 7, designed by Italy’s Torino Design, illustrates this new design philosophy without losing its concept-car spirit. VinFast’s VF 7, designed by Italy’s Torino Design, illustrates a new design philosophy that maintains the futuristic spirit of concept cars while preserving that essence in a commercial vehicle.
The all-electric C-SUV draws inspiration from aerospace engineering, especially supersonic aircraft. Its sharp lines and bold forms suggest speed and precision, even at rest. Hidden door handles, widened proportions, and a tapered roofline contribute to both visual drama and improved aerodynamics. All of these are the results of over 80,000 hours of work by Torino.
