I spotted a NEW (insert make/model) today!

andys120

All of my ambivalence about the styling of this car disappeared with the sight of this jet black GT-R. It's amazing what coat of shiny black paint will do for the looks of a car about which you are ambivalent. I've noticed the BMW 1-series coupe which looks a little tallish and/or cutesy in other colors looks sensational in black.

andys120

I saw a silver four-door backing out of a space and at first thought it was an E60 BMW 5 Series and I'm thinking "If you don't see the nose, that's a good-looking car".

Then he came around towards me and I could see that it was no Fiver but the new Hyundai Genesis and it was indeed a good-looking car for lacking the visual trauma of the E60's nose but retaing the clean sides and roofline.

Thus it is pretty generic but quite handsome in it's way.

texases

Driving to work last week, wondered why the traffic's so slow, finally make my way around a bright red Maserati Gran Turismo. Like he was worried about doing 40 mph. :confuse:

fintail

I saw another new Acura TL today...sorry, that styling can't grow on me. A mess of random angles and edges, the weird grille, the somehow unhappy greenhouse...it's like a Japanese version of Art + Science, but a lot less unified. A shame, as the 04-08 generation was a decent looking car.

boomchek

The 04-08 is indeed very nice looking. Even the generation ebfore that I enjoyed.

I agree with you on the new TL. I think there's a lot more "handomse" luxury vehicles out there in this class.

Lexus ES, Infiniti G or even M.

I'd actually even get a Hyundai Azera or Genesis over the new TL.

lemko

...black VW Tiguan. Why does VW name its SUVs/Crossovers these WEIRD names? Did the Tiguan replace the Toureg? What the heck is a "Tiguan?" What the heck is a "Toureg?"

kyfdx

The Tiguan is smaller than the Touareg (notice all the vowels!).. It is based on the Rabbit/Jetta, and has the 2.0T engine that the upscale VW models all share..

I think all their names come from the African desert (remember Scirocco?).

andys120

I think all their names come from the African desert (remember Scirocco?).

Golf, Scirroco and, Jeta, Bora and Passat were all names of winds that originate in North Africa and blow across the Mediterranean into Europe. Maserati also used the same naming convention in the 70s- Ghibli, Khamsin and Bora were all winds from Northern Africa.

The Toureg was named after a tribe of nomads from Morroco and Mauretania. I think they just made Tiguan up.-they could've used Bedouin or Berber.

fintail

All of those look better than the new TL, for sure. It's just such a disjointed design, harsh for the sake of being harsh.

fintail

Lots of new E-class pics have been releases

I don't like it. It's funny how the Asian makers for so long have copied German styling, and now the Germans copy Asian copies of German styling. What a horrible cycle! Look at those Hyundai taillights...inexcusable. Maybe proof that Europe is going downhill...

boomchek

I can't believe the E class is already due for a redesign. Has it been that long? Time flies.....

As for the styling I was going to say the same thing. The tail lights look like they came off a Genesis.

I don't mind the looks, but I agree with you. Mercedes looks like it ran out of styling ideas about 10 years ago. The C Class looks nice, the S Class is new but nothing that blows other luxury sedan away in the styling dept, and this E Class is ok I guess.

I do like it in the chocolate brown color, I think it look very elegant.

fintail

W211 was introduced for the 2003 model year, was in Europe by spring of 02. It's getting pretty old.

I don't mind the C, and parts of the S, but this E with its wannabe Asian styling doesn't warm my heart. Jeez I miss the days of cars like the W124, such competent solid designs, not needing gimmicks and derivative cliches.

Not many cars can pull off brown.

boomchek

I agree with you on the W124. I think my fav is the W140. I know most people though it was bloated and heavy looking, but it had presence, even the big coupe.

The W126 would be my second place choice as one of the modern Benzes that had presence.

fintail

I used to like the W140, then I didn't, now I am appreciating it a little...maybe as it is heading for 20 years old now. The coupes always had a strange interest for me, such a big bulky thing, very odd, but it pulled it off, maybe not as well as the 126 coupe. Bruno Sacco owns a beautiful blue C140.

I see the W126 as pretty much a perfect design, I can't imagine MB or anyone else repeating something so balanced and timeless. Modern cars don't seem to bother with simple elegance.

lemko

Sheesh! Until I saw the three-pointed star, I thought I was looking at a concept car for the Lexus GS! What's with those goofy taillights? They DO look more Korean than German.

Someboduy visiting a next door neighbor pulled up in a black W126 S-Class. That is still a sharp-looking car to this day!

fintail

The W126 was good enough to be copied by Toyolex when it was 10 years old...

boomchek

I like the first and mildly redesigned second gen Lexus LS too. Very hansome lines imo.

fintail

Yeah, I don't mind those either, they were derivative of something good. Lots of them still out there too, so they have proven themselves.

The 01-06 (I think) design has to be a derivative of the W140, too. It wasn't quite as decent looking, a big isolation tank.

The current pretentious model does nothing for me, although I should give credit that it is finally its own design.

guss

What the heck is a "Tiquan?"

I read that it was a combination of tiger and iguana. It is supposed to represent the traits of both animals. Go figure.

boomchek

Bentley Azure (convertible) driving in the evening. Huge car, and has ton of presence. Very nice.

kyfdx

.. first time I've seen one, "in the wild"..

Take away the star, and it looks like a Mercedes from the front... Still not seeing $30K-$40K+ for one, though...

fintail

Not completely new, but I got behind this commuter car on my drive home from work today, and just had to snap a few pics

A good around-town runabout

Snappy acceleration for highway merging

Great for cruising suburban roads

texases

Coincidence - saw a new TL (black) parked next to a new Genesis ('sapphire blue pearl' they call it, dark). There was not a line on the TL that looked good. Odd front (especially in black, I imagine silver would conceal the grille surround), odd front fender bump, odd rear side window, heavy looking rear trunk, narrow/slanted rear window. The Genesis looked fine, nothing that offended, clean lines. If I had to choose between those two it'd be the Genesis. I'll be going to the Dallas car show in two weeks, I'll compare the Genesis to the CTS.

fintail

The Genesis looks fine as it is 100% derivative of existing German designs :shades:

The TL really is a train wreck.

Local MB dealer has half a dozen GLKs sitting on the lot now. Not worthy of me snapping a pic...the world doesn't need more dopey little SUVs.

guss

4 door hatchback. Did these just come out for '09 or have they been around awhile and I did not notice them ?

Anyway, they look much more useful than the sedan. Kind of a cross between a Fit and a Aveo.

bumpy

Yep, the 5-door is new. The Fit, Rio, and Aveo all come in that configuration, and the xD is really too big to be a suitable substitute.

kyfdx

Canada has had the 5-door for a couple of years... You can see a blue one that the main characters drive on the USA Network show, "Psych".

I agree.. the best configuration..

lemko

...cream-colored Ford Escape on my way back from lunch.

ateixeira

I swear every single Chrysler Sebring sedan on the road was in Florida. That seemed to be every rental I saw.

That and the Grand Caravan.

I've never seen so many.

fintail

Saw my first Venza today...meh...another tall station wagon for those who can't handle driving a station wagon.

lemko

...dark blue Maserati Quattroporte at Rhawn and Bustleton in NE Philly.

texases

At least the Venza's styling is an improvement over Toyota's previous station wagons. They seemed to have a knack for some odd styling on the Camrys. Corollas were OK.

kyfdx

At the car wash... Man, is that thing big!

Little old lady driving it... I noticed as she pulled the door closed, that it has power door closers to snug it up tight.. no slamming needed.. :surprise:

ateixeira

I've seen one in person. They look pretty good, and I agree that the old Camry wagon was hideous.

The grille is a bit overdone.

It might make sense to someone shopping for a Lexus RX that wants to spend a bit less.

fintail

I was thinking the same, it has a strong resemblance to a RX but probably costs 40% less. It'll probably sell quite a few on that alone.

I'll take a weirdo Toyota over a boring one. Bizarro dual rear wiper Camry wagons and strange boxy 4WD Corollas are almost exotics in a world of pigsnout Camrys and Matrix (or Matrices?)

ateixeira

Yup. Dealers near me have well equipped models from $31k or so and up.

To me, though, the Sienna is a much better value, and about $8 grand less for a Sienna LE.

fintail

I you're actually hauling people and not in it for image, I agree.

anythngbutgm

is Toyotas answer to the Nissan Murano and Ford Edge. I think it looks better than both of them. It could in some ways be a competitor to the Outback or Volvo XC70 as well, but I'm not sure how many of those buyers will be takers to the Venza

ateixeira

The overseas model is the Mark X Zio, and offers a 3rd row.

I guess they figured they have that segment served here by the Sienna and Highlander.

The Zio looks far more conservative IMHO:

fintail

Nicer grille anyway

ateixeira

Those headlights could have come from any of a dozen other cars, though. Very generic.

fintail

Very Toyota :shades:

The busy US Venza grille isn't cool in a weird way, it's just busy.

Toyota tried to be cool once, RWD cars and all.

anythngbutgm

Yeah, I'm not really a fan of that one. Too Generic.

There are a few neat styling touches on the Venza that I think sets it apart from the Nissan or the Ford. Most notably the rear with the Volvo-esque tailight treatment and the contouring on the hatch. And the Grill, while a bit overdone I think it works with the overall design and is inlike anything else out there. I might even go so far as to call the Venza styling "Bold" or even "Daring" (Ducks behind computer screen) I also like the cockpit dash layout and the interior has a really rich look to it in higher trim levels. I think it's classier than the new Highlander even.

I mean, the Venza isn't rolling excitment, but it has a bit more style than more recent models. I'd like to think that this is at least a sign that Toyota is going to add a bit more styling to the budget on future models.

ateixeira

I know what you mean. Even though I don't like the grille, I do prefer the Venza over the Zio, and that's probably because of the risks they took.

lemko

...black VW CC sedan going north on Oxford Avenue near Magee in NE Philly.

fintail

I visited a few dealers today with a friend. He wanted to see the CC. He was impressed with it, but mentioned he'd never pay 36K for a 4cyl car. That one was loaded save for the engine, and the dealer still had the nerve to put a $999 ADM on it in this economy. Idiots. They also had a barebones version. It's a pretty elegant car all in all, and an interior that's exceptional looking even for VW.

Stopped by the BMW dealer, they had a smattering of lowline 1 series coupes, kind of odd to see them not loaded up. Audi dealer had a loaded RS4 with some kind of titanium trim package that looked pretty mean. They also had a CPO 07 S6 and S8 side by side...those can't be common.

Another dealer carries some odd makes, had a trio of Spykers in the showroom, including a convertible - never seen one of those before.

boomchek

The Passat CC is a nice looking car, but for the money I think there are other nice alternatives.

Yesterday I saw a new Jag XF black on black, looked really stunning. Driven by a upper class looking older lady leav9ing the liquor store parking lot. As we were leaving the store, the bums in front of the store were admiring it too out loud.

It's one of the nicest sedans out there right now imo.

fintail

Saw my first new style Z car today

guss

I saw my first Jaguar XF yesterday , it was coming from the other direction in traffic. I had no idea it was a Jag until I got right next to it.

andys120

I had no idea it was a Jag until I got right next to it.

Therein lies the problem IMO, they tried too hard to make the S and X-Types look like MkIIs and ended up with dated looking cars out of the box. Methinks they tried too hard to come up with a contemporary look for the XF and ended up squeezing the "jaguaricity" out of the XF.

OTOH, if they'd reshape those headlights they might have something.