[orconn]

I have to agree with Chad. While I may differ with him on specific makes and models I agree that the "Bangle" influence on a broad swath of auto design has been a trend that I hope will soon end. While the basic design of the '90's and early "00's BMW was pleasant, the iteration of the the design on Honda's and other makers cars led to tolerable boredom with many of the cars. The "baglization" of many makers design has led to designs that were immediately off putting and in my case has lead to a search for a low mileage older model. I was especially disapointed to see Mercedes mangle their current generation of models with "Bagle Butts," especially after managing to lighten up the previous generations designs to become one of the better looking lines of European autos.

I recently saw a Jaguar XF on the road, I have to say that at first glance I took it for a Lexus and wouldn't have identified it as a Jaguar except for the ungainly "leaper" on the trunk lid lip. I have been an admirer and owner of Jaguars in their various manifestations for the past 45 years and I can say never have I been as dissappointed to realize the car I was looking at was a Jaguar. With all the automotive press's (miserable hacks that they are) build up about an exciting departure from Jaguars "retro" designs of the recent past, I was depressed to see the cliched, unimaginative, pastiche of a design they came up with for this new model.

I am afraid we traversing a new 1970's like desert of automotive design ........ with only a few oasis of beauty amid a sea of sandy mediocrity and downright ugliness.