Ugly Chins Help SUVs Dodge Regulations

The article doesn’t actually do a very good job of explaining why the front end changes are “manipulated”, when the manufacturers can satisfy 4/5 requirements. From the article:

To be classified an off-road vehicle, a car doesn’t actually have to get Trail Rated. (Much to Jeep’s chagrin, I’m certain.) The first hurdle is that it merely needs four-wheel drive or a gross vehicle weight of greater than 6000 pounds. Then, it must have at least four of the five following characteristics: an approach angle of not less than (you guessed it) 28 degrees, a breakover angle of not less than 14 degrees, a departure angle of not less than 20 degrees, ground clearance not less than 20 cm (7.8 inches), or minimum axle clearance of not less than 18 cm (7.1 inches). With only one wild-card parameter out of five, we begin to see why the 28-degree overbite is so common