10929 messages,
Last post on May 21, 2013 at 7:36 PM
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Sedan
#10078 of 10929 Re: . [ateixeira]
by fintail
Jan 17, 2013 (10:18 am)
TONS of the new model? What expectations is it exceeding?
Nice debate tactic. Are you insinuating the Avalon's face is even passably decent design? Hell, I can't find ANY source calling that maw a piece of good design, even noted devils advocate/underdog embracers/instigators won't say it directly
#10079 of 10929 Re: . [fintail]
by steve_ HOST
Jan 17, 2013 (10:49 am)
Not on point so much, but there's a shift starting to happen. Gen Y styling?
"The power that U.S. baby boomers have exercised for nearly 50 years over the auto industry is starting to wane—finally.
Luxury car makers aren't the only ones chasing the Gen X/Gen Y bulge. Toyota Motor Corp. which rode the loyalty of baby boomer buyers to astounding success in the U.S. from the 1970s on, is turning its full attention to the rising generations. In Detroit, Toyota showed a sneak preview of the new design for its journeyman Corolla compact sedan, a mainstay for thrifty-minded boomers. The new look displayed by the Furia concept car is a flashy, overt appeal to kids who grew up on the "Fast and Furious" movie franchise.
Global brands such as Mercedes, BMW and Audi are finding that the young, newly rich in markets such as China or Latin America want vehicles that are more compact, efficient and sporty than the big limos the older cadres drive. The opportunity they hope to seize is to sell technology-laden, compact luxury vehicles to both young Chinese strivers and successful young consumers in the U.S."
Auto Makers Look Past Baby Boomers (Wall St. Journal)
Jan 17, 2013 (10:48 am)
Avalon was up 66.3% in December.
I prefer the Fusion's inverted version of that grille, but it's not that bad.
It's certainly not X6/Panamera/Juke/Odyssey ugly, not even close.
#10081 of 10929 Re: . [ateixeira]
by fintail
Jan 17, 2013 (11:02 am)
It was up because nobody (but Enterprise Holdings) was buying the aging soon to be replaced model last year. See Lexus GS.
I can actually deal with the Odyssey most out of that list, for some reason. It's a van, so it can get away with some ugly/weird more than something with sporty pretenses.
#10082 of 10929 Re: . [steve_]
by fintail
Jan 17, 2013 (11:05 am)
I don't know if that explains the ugly dual grille, but it might explain some of the dopey anime styling out there. A tough generation to catch in the west, seeing as for the most part, they are worse off than their boomer predecessors.
No doubt wooing well-connected Chinese embezzlers and similar coddled crowds will be profitable.
#10083 of 10929 Re: . [fintail]
by berri
Jan 17, 2013 (1:28 pm)
Looks are definitely a personal thing. But I saw a new Avalon up close a few weeks ago while getting an oil change. To me at least, it looked better than the pictures appeared. I didn't find it gorgeous, but it wasn't outright ugly either. It also gives a buyer a lot for the money, so I can understand it's initial success.
#10084 of 10929 Re: . [berri]
by fintail
Jan 17, 2013 (3:16 pm)
It's perfectly inoffensive and pleasant enough, so long as you don't look at the front below the windshield
#10085 of 10929 Re: . [fintail]
by berri
Jan 17, 2013 (3:20 pm)
In all fairness, the big mouth bass look seems to becoming the standard front end on many new vehicles. As I said before, cars are being influenced by designer craziness like in 1958!
Jan 18, 2013 (8:32 am)
Generally I haven't liked that large mouth bass look - Audi, then the EVO, then VW (strange), then seemingly everyone.
The market seems to like it, though.
Never poll enthusiasts to find out what car would sell. If they asked us, you'd build a diesel-only station wagon that only came with a manual transmission. Then they would proceed to sell 2 of them, to you and me.
Jan 18, 2013 (8:33 am)
First saw an Altima, and at first I thought it was a Maxima. Good job with the family resemblance, IMHO.
Then a saw a new Sentra, first out on the roads, and it fits in too. It does look like a car from a higher price class.
Nissan has done well with its new sedans, I think.