Has anyone else noticed the trend in minimizing the available view to the outside world in modern vehicles? The CyberTruck is the perfect example of this, I don't see any side mirrors and from it's design it looks like it'll have large blind spots.
1. Rollover standards enacted in the 2000s lead to slightly thicker or bigger a and b-pillars. Many were redesigned with better steel and/or geometries, but most just got bigger.
2. Additional airbags fitted behind a and b-pillars required more area, and specific angles, complicating design.
3. Technology and wires. Clearance for tweeters, light and rain sensors, microphones, and then the various harnesses required to make them work. Add to this the wiring for anything mounted up high, and you got a bundle goin baby.
4. Cars with all this cruft are heavier now, and mostly already top-heavy suvs, so lets make them even thicker to hold the increased weight when sally flips her explorer when it hits a curb going too fast in the cosco parking lot.
P.s. Please, watch for motorcycles.
But I also think it's a design choice. People still love SUVs, even though they aren't any more spacious on the inside or practical than a regular station wagon. And huge windows just aren't that impressive, metal (and plastic) is. And even smaller models that aren't SUVs get the SUV look.