For a long time, nature has inspired people to come up with new ideas by giving them designs that have been refined by evolution over millions of years. In the world of cars, this inspiration shows up in cars that look, work, and feel like different animals. Let's look at how the animal kingdom has affected car design, from the speed of predators to the toughness of insects!
Ford Mustang: The Untamed Pony
Ford's pony car didn't just have a catchy name; it was designed to show speed, freedom, and raw power. The galloping horse badge was chosen to show that wild spirit and make the car an "American icon" from the start. Over six generations, the Mustang’s long hood and muscular haunches have mirrored the anatomy of its equine muse, keeping that sense of forward motion alive on every model.
Dodge Viper: The Venomous Predator
When Chrysler set out to build a modern-day Shelby Cobra, the team knew they needed a snake-inspired name—enter the Viper. That name meant aggression and power: an 8.0-liter V10 engine was shown off under sculpted vents that looked like the hood of a cobra. In high-performance ACR models, engineers improved the handling in a way that is similar to a predator practicing its attack. This solidified the Viper's reputation for being very fast on the track.
Volkswagen Beetle: The Charming Insect
Originally dubbed the “people’s car,” VW’s round-fendered classic quickly earned the nickname “Beetle” thanks to its curvy, almost smiling front end. That endearingly simple shape, married to an air-cooled engine that thrived in every climate, gave the Beetle insect-like resilience—little in stature but mighty in adaptability. Over 21 million built, it became one of history’s best-selling cars.
Infiniti QX70: The Bionic Cheetah
Long before performance SUVs were a thing, Infiniti unveiled the FX45 concept under the “Bionic Cheetah” banner. Designers mimicked the cheetah’s lithe form with powerful fender arches and a sweeping roofline, promising agility on pavement. Though it never tackled wild savannas, the resulting QX70 outpaced rivals in style and handling, embodying that high-speed feline grace.
Chevrolet Corvette Stingray: The Sleek Sea Creature
Bill Mitchell’s 1963 Sting Ray concept drew inspiration directly from the shortfin mako shark: a pointed nose, gill-like side vents, and a streamlined profile that suggested cutting through water. Decades later, the mid-engine Corvette Stingray revived those “road shark” cues—smooth curves and functional vents—proof that aquatic form can translate perfectly to asphalt.
Lamborghini Murciélago: The Bat in Flight
Though “Murciélago” literally means “bat” in Spanish, Lamborghini’s supercar actually borrowed its name from a famed fighting bull. Still, its design—scissor doors that open like wings, stealthy black intakes, and sculpted lines—captures the stealth of a bat in flight, especially when cloaked in deep metallic paint.
Hyundai Tiburon: The Street Shark
In Spain, “tiburón” means “shark,” and Hyundai slapped that name on its budget coupe to promise a bite in the affordable segment. Early models even sported tiny shark badges, while sportier TS editions added vibrant “Tiger Shark” paint and tuned suspensions, reminding buyers that predators come in all price ranges.
McLaren P1: The Sailfish Influence
Frank Stephenson once smuggled a stuffed sailfish into the McLaren studio to study its hydrodynamics—those curved dorsal lines inspired the P1’s mirror stalks and bumper ridges, reducing cabin buffeting at speed. By translating underwater efficiency to supercar performance, McLaren proved that sometimes the fastest path is borrowed straight from the ocean.
