Automotive Design......

[APXD 30]

Chris, buddy, you're sounding like my grandmother who can't tell the difference between a Buick, Chevy, or Ford "these days."

Hyundai made a carbon copy of the 5 series and slapped on a generic grill.   I will agree that their proposed new coupe is attractive and mostly original with some Lexus IS inspiration.

In my opinion, BMW has/had lost its way with the Bangle designs.   However, there are glimmers of hope.   I was never a Z4 fan but the M Coupe makes the design and the '09 version looks even better.    The 1/3/5/X3/X5 won't offend anyone and the horrid 7 is already fixed.

Who could argue the classic looks of a E class or stately S class?  The SLR is somewhat Batmanesque but really, who's really in the market for one?  Watch some movies from the last four decades.   The S is always timeless as the current version  will be in the future.

The styling Cinderella story, in my opinion, is what's going on at Audi.   I drive a grocery getter A4 which has boring styling.   I bought it b/c it was the least expensive, most economical, AWD sedan from Germany (still miss my E class).   

Their new cars actually are exciting in an aggressive Teutonic way (like BMW used to be).    Other makers are already imitating Audi's grill which debuted on the A6 a few years ago.   How long until an Asian manufacturer copies the LED lights from the A8, A5, etc?

These comments are obviously subjective.   The good news is that the used car market is the perfect place to pick up your favorite past design at a great value.