I guess I don't much like the way modern automotive design is going.

[I~LUV~Caddys8792]

Aside from a few brands, I don't much care for the way that automotive design, as a whole is going nowadays. I think it all started with the Bangle BMW's, but now that look has transcended into most brands. Take for example the current generation Toyota Camry.....a cheap, unoriginal knockoff of the BMW look, especially in the trunk/tail light treatment. In one smooth move, the Camry went from annoyingly bland to shockingly ugly. And it's not just those either that went after the "Bangle Butt" look. Some of the new Benzes have it, most of the new Lexus's have it, some of the new Hondas have it, etc etc.

When comparing cars built 10 years ago to cars built now, I have compiled a list of cars that as a whole have IMO improved in design since then, and cars that have as a whole IMO declined in design since then..

Improved:

• Ford (especially the Mustang and F-150)
• Dodge
• Chevrolet (especially the Camaro, Silverado and Corvette)
• Pontiac (the newest Pontiacs are some of the best looking American cars out there)
• Saturn
• Acura (it may be ugly, but atleast it's not bland)
• Aston Martin
• Audi
• Nissan (they used to be bland, but now they look exciting, fresh and European)
• Lamborghini
• Honda (See below)
• Hyundai (!!!!!!!!)
• Infiniti (for the same reasons as Nissan, but I lament the Q45)
• Mazda
• GMC
• Kia
• Porsche
• Saab
• Volvo
• Toyota (hey, to me, ugly IS better than bland)
• Volkswagen

Declined:

• BMW
• Mercedes Benz (new ones are nice, but I adore late '80s, '90s Benzes)
• Cadillac (say what you will, but I love late '90s Cadillacs.)
• Honda (some, like the Civic are an improvement, but others, Accord and CR-V are a disappointment)
• Ferrari (both styles are gorgeous, but that '90s style just does it for me)
• Jaguar
• Rolls Royce

So, in all actuality, many brand's designs have improved over the last ten years IMO, but the vast majority of my favorite brands have produced designs that I don't find as pleasing as the ones they made ten years ago, but IMO, many of these brands best designs were made in the '90s. Take for example the W140 S Class, or the 1998+ Seville, E38 7 Series, F355 Ferrari, Jaguar XJ, Lexus LS400 or even the Audi A8....actually that's equally gorgeous, if not more so, nowadays. But as an interesting note, many of the brands that never interested me as much are making better looking cars now, such as Pontiac, Nissan or VW.

So I guess to sum it up, I don't like the way many of the luxury car manufacturers are going, but I am liking the way many of the more mainstream car manufacturers are going.

[Blackout]

Are you that bored?

[Destroyer]

I'm with ya Chad. Dont like the styling direction new cars have headed in either. Its all about who can put the largest friegin headlights and tailights on an egg nowadays. There are of course exceptions (not bored enough to actually list them) but by and large thats the gist of it.

[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.

[JimmyH]

There is a reason car design is moving in the direction it is. Same reason car design from different manufacturers gets less and less unique. Because that's what sells.

[orconn]

I don't think so, the second generation Taurus sold very well for awhile ........ inspite of looking like it was design by a dispeptic Japanese toy designer who was recovering a fourth night out with his coworkers hangover! Some people need cars and won't by "used" and lets face fleet managers are not known to use good design as a purchasing criteria!

[Night Wolf]

heh..... I actually like the new Carmy style.....

I like most of the new car designs too..... finally getting away from the 90's jelly beans and starting to get lines and nice curves again.

Tho the amount of REAL SUV's is decreasing every year

[dirt_cheap_fleetwood]

Chad, I definitely agree with you on Ford. There is not a car I dislike (aesthetically) in their current lineup. I adore the look of the Fusion, Taurus and the Taurus X.

I think that one of the best looking new cars coming out this year is the Ford Flex (http://www.fordvehicles.com/flex/). I love the bold lines but at the same time it is not ungodly ugly and massive (the opposite of a Land Cruiser). It looks like an old woody station wagon, and the white roof accentuates that look even more.

I am, however, up in air on Cadillac. I like the look of the DTS, STS and XLR, but am not a big fan of the new CTS or Escalade (although I was never a fan of the latter to begin with). Every time I see a new DTS I marvel at how simple the design is but how much it stands out. Nice bold lines and a clean exterior make it a great looking car.

[DopeStar 156]

Originally Posted by dirt_cheap_fleetwood

I am, however, up in air on Cadillac. I like the look of the DTS, STS and XLR, but am not a big fan of the new CTS or Escalade (although I was never a fan of the latter to begin with). Every time I see a new DTS I marvel at how simple the design is but how much it stands out. Nice bold lines and a clean exterior make it a great looking car.

I feel the opposite with Cadillac. The DTS looks ok minus the back. I wish the plate had stayed on the trunk and the back up lights stayed next to the plate. The XLR needs a refresh.

The STS is a great looking car, no issues there. The new CTS and Escalades I think are an exponential improvement over the last gen ones......

I would like to drop that 3.5L Duratec V6 into my Taurus and watch it fly.....

[I~LUV~Caddys8792]

Yeah, I was really bored when I typed this up yesterday morning. I had some time to kill before my friend met me for lunch, and I had thought of this a few days earlier while I was driving around, but had forgotten about it until yesterday.

[MauiV]

IMO the companies whose design is on the decline are:

Ford -everything except the Tonka Superduty and the Interceptor concepts are horrible
Lincoln -whoever designed the current series of vehicles should be in the unemployment line
VW -blah
BMW - blah
Lambo -nothing will ever be as great as the Countache. Even the Diablo is better than the current crop
Jaguar -the XF interior is AWESOME. The exterior is boring
Pontiac - other than the G8 (Not even a Pontiac) still ugly with horrible interiors.
Mazda - the ugly plain stepsister of the Jap imports RX8 is the only saving grace and it is old now
Honda - almost as plain as Mazda
Toyota - following Lexus down the path of ordinary, boring lines
Porsche- other than the Cayenne Turbos they all look the same and have for 40 years.

[dirt_cheap_fleetwood]

Originally Posted by MauiV

Pontiac - other than the G8 (Not even a Pontiac) still ugly with horrible

I forgot about those. I love the styling, but they aren't even made here. IMO, Holden does not have a single bad-looking car. I wish more automakers would realize that nobody likes all this "roundy", "futury" looking sh*t. Give me some solid lines and a badass front end that looks like I am about to run you down and blow you away.

[I~LUV~Caddys8792]

I like cars that offer timeless styling, which explains why I don't like so many of these new cars that will look dated in ten years. Oddly enough, I LOVE '70s Lincolns, Cadillacs and Imperials because they were such a perfect example of the '70s at their best, or in other terms, extremely dated nowadays.

[urbanski]

i love threads with content and dont tolerate thread shitters (especially against Team members)

[JimmyH]

are you drinking again urb?