People Prefer Angry-Faced Cars

fatalfury writes "Researchers from the University of Vienna asked 20 males and 20 females to rank vehicles based on their appearance. The list of traits included arrogant, afraid, agreeable, disgusted, extroverted, sad, and others. Cars with 'meaner' traits (such as BMW) ranked higher, whereas cars with 'nicer' traits (such as Toyota's Prius) ranked lower. With billions spent on developing new products in the automobile industry, this could spur a trend in meaner-looking cars and perhaps explain why sales of the Prius and other green cars are slow to take off with average consumers."

Comments

Gosh what a huge and meaningful sample

[yakumo.unr]

I mean, FORTY WHOLE PEOPLE, wow! and from where? There are whole countries, and probably regions/states within whatever country they took their 40 people from that I don't believe would follow their conclusions.

Certainly immediately millions of Mini, Beetle (new and old style) and Smart Car owners would disagree.

Hardly a scientific test

[simonech]

40 people is hardly a significant number test cases for such a universal statement.. furthermore all are Austrian.