When I look at cars and trucks I am struck with the notion that there is, in the simplest terms, three parts - a basic soulless substructure (frame or unitized design), a drive train, and a unique shell. I have observed that without the thin stamped sheet metal shell, the vehicle seems to be very dull and relatively indistinctive - that is, from the other vehicles in its genre (suv, cuv, truck, sedan/coupe). In fact, there is a kind of interchangeability within a brand or even between them. I have often wondered how great it would be for a new auto company/division to emerge and pioneer a truly new approach, that of modular designs. These would involve a number of standard substructure platforms (e.g. "Truck Chassis, 1000# Cargo Weight Rating; "Truck Chassis, 2000# Weight Rating"; "Performance Platform - wheel base 1" (for coupes or sedans); "Performance Platform, wheelbase 2" (" "), et cetera. Consumers would choose a base and couple it with their choice of drivetrain-suspension packages, and finally, their choice of shell. How about having a large selection of shells, and even a fully customizable option (if you got the cash, why not)? In this scenario, it seems conceivable to me that satellite industries would emerge for the production of such shells, with unique looks, applications, and materials.
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