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Automotive News & Views Good Styling
392 messages, Last post on Feb 25, 2009 at 8:29 AM
You are in the Automotive News & Views Forum. Your Hosts are steve_ & claires
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the new CRV suffers from what I call the "1961 DeSoto effect". Basically, an incoherent two-grille sort of design where the upper and lower grilles don't really complement each other. Actually, it's a bit alarming how similar the CRV's front end is to a '61 DeSoto. Slanty headlights that integrate with the lower grille, and a swollen section incorporating the upper grille, which houses the nameplate. Sure, it's not a dead ringer for a '61 DeSoto, but the two share a common theme. I always theorized that they made the '61 DeSoto look ugly on purpose, so that people would buy Chrysler Newports instead, and fewer people would whine once the marque went away. I dunno what Honda's excuse is...maybe they made it look like that so more people would buy the Acura version?  I also don't like the way the side windows and the roofline clash. The roof itself is somewhat upright, station wagon-ish. But the roofline really belongs on more of a fastback sort of vehicle. The end result is the poster child for that old cliche about several different teams of stylists working on different parts of the car, each not having a clue as to what the other is doing. One thing I'll say for it though, after staring at a CRV long enough, suddenly, the Pontiac Aztek doesn't look half bad!
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Replying to: andre1969 (May 01, 2008 4:56 am) Yet for some reason the R-Class is selling like air conditioners in the Yukon while the CR-V is a huge success, I see them every where.   The styling dept at Honda /Acura ought to go back to Grillework School. With a few exceptions their current front grilles are ugly but the CR-V is the worst of all.
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...was the slightly curved A-pillar GM used on many of its 1961 cars.
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Replying to: andys120 (May 01, 2008 5:04 am) It never hit me that the Benz R-class had the same type of roofline, but in looking at the pics yep, it's awfully close. But somehow, its styling doesn't bother me. Probably because the grille up front isn't such an incoherent puss. And the R-class is bigger and longer, so perhaps the way the top of the window line curves down isn't as exaggerated. One thing I notice is that it doesn't seem to drop down in the rear door as much, and saves most of the plunge for the rear side window area. The rear pillar ("D" pillar?) also seems a bit slimmer on the Benz. As for the CR-V being a sales success, I guess it goes back to the old saying "Handsome is as handsome does". I'm sure it's a good, reliable, versatile, reasonably priced little vehicle. Actually, not so little anymore...I guess the traditional "cute ute" class is history. Plus, it has the Honda name value behind it. |
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Replying to: lemko (May 01, 2008 5:10 am) I think it was a kind of vestigial wraparound windshield but worked very well on the big GM's. IIRC it was used in 1962 as well. IMO '61-'62 was the high point of the Mitchell Era with some of the best styling The General has ever offered. I'm particularly fond of '62 Buicks and Ponchos> 
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Replying to: andys120 (May 01, 2008 7:09 am) A coworker just bought a new CRV. Even she wanted to go with a used one but the dealership wanted just about as much for that as the new one. (A dealership I avoid by the way.) Her husband wasn't go to sign to pay as much for a used car as new so she got the new one. |
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Replying to: andys120 (May 01, 2008 5:04 am) I think it's a shame that I can't think of a single car except the Mini that really stands out for me and says to me "you have to have me, NOW!" OK, I do like some of the new "F1-inspired" Mercedes, like the SLK. That is a nice-looking car. I finally saw a 128i in person yesterday, and my biggest reaction was a yawn. It is basically a narrower 328i, and the 90s 3-series coupes looked better. My award for biggest improvement this year in styling has to go to the Lancer though. It looks quite good, where the old one definitely looked quite bad. |
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About 6 months ago I started to hear from some of my media friends that the new LaCrosse was the best looking mid size vehicle they had seen in years. I have only seen the photos of it but it looks pretty nice.  I am not sure about the China designed interior though. Need to see it in person. http://www.conceptcarz.com/view/photo/277938,15275,0,0/2008_Buick_Invicta_Concep- t_Photo.aspx
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Replying to: andys120 (May 01, 2008 7:09 am) I suspect with those curves the windshields were more expensive. |
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Replying to: andys120 (May 01, 2008 5:04 am) I am sure it is a functional well made car, but boy is it awkward.
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