Hyundia Elantra 2011

Hyundai has definitely been on a role lately.  The Sonata came onto the seen and moved Hyundai forward to compete with the big guys.  The 2011 Elantra is another lethal weapon in their arsenal.  It is very similar in style to the Sonata but on a smaller scale. 

The head lights are very cool and very organic.  Inside the casing you have very "Audi" looking bar that squirms its way around the main head light and then around the secondary lights, this adds some pretty good design interest.  The grill area of the Elantra could be better.  It has an opening right as the hood ends, which is small, followed by a larger opening lower and is divided by thin cross bars.  This is all wrapped up with an unusual indentation surrounding the two openings.  This design feature makes the Elantra distinguishable from the Sonata, but not in a good way.

The rear of the Elantra is the highlight of the vehicle.  The tail lights are organic looking like the head lights, but for a small car it gives off a very upscale look. The character line is picked up by the tail lights and makes the car feel like it is moving while standing still.  The trunk lid follows the design of the tail lights and carries nicely from one side to the next.  The Elantra takes advantage of some nicely places lines to dress up the back end.

The profile of the Elantra has some interesting lines, the character line is strong as it comes off the tail lights and fades as it heads towards the front wheel well.  The vehicle has distinctive rounded wheel wells, this effect usually does not play well with such a distinctive character line, but the Elantra pulls it off just fine.  As the real wheel well moves front to back, it grows and becomes one of the lines that rounds the back of the car, helping the profile work nicely with the rear.  For its size, the Elantra has very nice lines.

One nice thing about the rear of the Elantra is that the trunk seam matches up with the rear quarter panel seem (outlined in yellow), keeps things nice and neat, However there is a seam under the front door that breaks the design (outlined in red).

All in all, this is a very nice design for a small car. Well done Hyundai!

2011 Hyundai Elantra

Grade: 8

Nissan Quest 2011

Mamma always said "If you have nothing nice to say, don't say anything at all".  I would love to take that advice, but it would put me out of a job.  Where to begin... lets start with the front, it sucks.  NOTE TO CAR COMPANIES:  DO NOT PUT CHROME BARS CONNECTING HEAD LIGHTS AND TAIL LIGHTS.  Anytime a car company has a hole to fill, they fill it with a chrome bar, everyone can tell its there, you can't hide it, so don't bother.  The headlights are just plain ugly, the shape is unattractive and comes to some jagged edges near the grill, and the grill, yikes, that's another beast.  It has an irregular design and is framed by the head lights, chrome bar, and bumper, it's just ugly, no other way to put it.  I really don't understand why you would build an ugly car, what a waist of time and money, and we are only on the front.  Call us, we will tell you on paper if its ugly, we could save you billions, and we would be glad to do it!!

The rear isn't much better, the tail lights seem out of place and are not the right shape for the van, you would think that a boxy frame design would lend itself to a boxy tail light design, makes sense to us.  The van looks to tall for its wheel base, it seems very top heavy.  We understand that vans have to be somewhat boxy by nature but this is to much box.  The rear window is to large for the design.  The chrome bar connecting the tail lights is STUPID!!!!  I can appreciate what Nissan tried to do with giving the Quest a wrap around window feel, but it just doesn't work.  This Quest is just odd looking.  

The profile of the Quest is a wreck. The character line of the Quest runs from the tail light to the front wheel well, fading as it moves forward.  The line under the windows is very straight until it reaches the side mirrors where it starts to head north, seems odd to have that curve on such a boxy design.  Their are so many seams on the real quarter panel it looks like a street map.  The tires and wheel wells seem very small and make the van seem very unbalanced vertically.  The Quest also suffers from the age old scar where the rear door slides, should have hidden it under the window! 

 I can see what Nissan wanted to do, it would have worked better if the designers went with the concept of this vehicle.  The concept does not have all the seams and limits the amount of odd pieces that were added to dumb down the design.  NOTE TO CAR COMPANIES:  IF YOU HAVE A GOOD CONCEPT GO WITH IT, DUMBING IT DOWN DOESN'T WORK.

Quest Concept

2011 Nissan Quest

Grade: 2 

BMW X3 2011

When the first X3 hit the market we were all glad to see the luxury brands entering the small SUV segment.  The problem was that all the luxury brands were entering the segment with thin skinned, dumbed down designs.  The original X3 was a little to small and lacked in design appeal.  The 2011 X3 has made up for all that was lacking with the previous model.  The 2011 X3 grew to a more appealing size and incorporated a lot of the beef that the X5's design featured (The X5 received a 10 from Car Grade when it came out).  The head lights of the vehicle are kind of a let down because they do not look like the rest of the fleet.  They are simple and rectangular instead of the classy curves of other BMW models.  The front of the X3 has all the other bold features that we love about BMW.  The grill is classic BMW yet fits into the design nicely.  The raised fog lights give off a very gruff look without sending the design to far to the off road side.   

The rear of the X3 is where most of the improvement took place.  The previous X3 had very quirky tail lights that where far to small for the design, making an already weak design look weaker.  The new X3 has BMW's double lit tail light system which is really cool but classy at the same time.  The new tail lights slant somewhat downward as they wrap around the back of the vehicle.  The white stripe carries from the inside edge to the outside edge without breaking which helps keep the tail light system combined as it crosses over the from the frame to the rear gate.  The stripe is thinner on one side than the other adding to the appeal.  The rest of the rear is clean and neat.  We like when car companies don't throw a lot of words and crap on the rear of the their cars.  The X3 just has BMW's trade mark logo and "X3".  The rear reflectors are built right into the design giving off a well thought out look.

  .The profile of the X3 is enhanced by a deep character line starting from the rear of the front wheel well, trailing back until it hits the tail light and then is carried by the tail light design, attention to detail, we like that!!  This gives the X3 an aggressive feel for such a small SUV.  The part we don't like is the angular rear window.  The window takes a bunch of small angles as it rounds the back of the truck.  This is similar to the previous model but is something that should have been left behind. 

It is very difficult to give small vehicles good lines because of the fact that there is not much room to pull it off, but the X3 adds small touches to give it the advantage in its segment.  This is definitely a step forward in the compact SUV segment.

2011 BMW X3

Grade: 9

Saab 95 2011

Saab has always been a car brand for a "particular brand" of people.  We were never sure what those "particular people" saw in Saab, but we've inched closer to seeing it.  The rear quarter panel of Saab vehicles has always made us squirm.  It just seems wrong.  The 2011 Saab 95 makes us squirm a little less than previous models.  The 95 has grown to its largest size which helps absorb some of the awkwardness of the rear quarter panel.  The front of the 95 has a lot going on.  The head lights, grill, and fog light casings are all wrapped in chrome and all have very distinctive shapes, none of which match.  The headlights give off a raccoon look that we don't find very attractive.  I will give Saab credit for evolving the 95's design without losing the character that the "particular people" like.

                              

The rear of the car is very progressive for Saab.  There is a light bar that travels all the way across the back of the vehicle which adds a very nice high tech feel.  Under that light is a chrome bar that also travels the length of the vehicle giving it some nice horizontal styling, and... that's where they should have stopped.  The tail lights go on to have a curved, dot like lower portion which wraps around a rectangular brake light.  It's just to much and like the front nothing matches up.

                          

                          

The 95 is very unbalanced when looking at the profile view.  The front pillar is "blacked out" so it looks like the vehicle has a wrap around windshield, which is not balanced by the very thick rear pillar.  The rear pillar is classic Saab and nothing we say can change that.  One thing that the 95 has going for it is its stance.  It sits perfectly on its frame which helps when the rest of the design is lacking.

This is a step into the future for Saab, the "particular people" will love it, we just can't get over the squirm. 

2011 Saab 95

Grade: 6

Audi A7 2011

This car is smok'en hot.  I attended the Cleveland Auto show recently and this was definitely the stand out.  This is concept car that is on the road.  The Audi A7 is the definition of sleek, stylish, and classy cool all wrapped up in one package.  The front of A7 combines all the trademark Audi stylings.  When Audi moved to their new grill it gave all their cars a great high end but sporty look.  The A7 is no exception.  I have begun to notice that Audi is going a little to far with "blinging" their head lights and tail lights, I am glad that the A7 has avoided them for now.  The large side air intake vents give this car a very aggressive look.  Man, I am sweating as I write!

I think A7 is the first vehicle to really push forward the "no trunk deck" look successfully.  This look has plagued cars in the past.  The tail lights have the appearance of being "tucked in and under" giving off muscle car attitude.  The tail lights are blood red, no orange, and the white is just a sliver at the bottom.  The design of the lower rear pumper area adds interest without taking away from the overall look.  The profile of the A7 adds the class that balances out the aggression of the front and rear.  HOT!  To be fair the A7 does have have a seam in front of the rear wheel well, however as you pass the wheel, the seam is picked up at the same height as it moves to the rear lower quarter panel.  Attention to detail, we like that.

One other feature that makes the A7 stand out is the rear spoiler that comes up at higher speeds.  Nice!  It's just flat out cool.  It is virtually invisible when lowered.  The stance of the A7 is perfect in every way.  It's wide and has perfect height from the ground. None of these pictures do it justice, you have to see it to appreciate fully what this car is bringing to the table.



My only advice to Audi is don't over do the head and tail lights of this car in the future.  It's perfect.  Did I mention I want one!

2011 Audi A7

Grade 10

Volvo S60 2011

It seems that most car companies are coming into their own when design is concerned.  They want to preserve their heritage but move into the future all at the same time.  this is what makes this industry so exciting.  The Volvo S60 is a move forward, but lacks any real thrill.  The front of the S60 is cleaner and more aerodynamic than its predecessor, but doesn't evoke any excitement.  The head lights are boring and the smaller light next to them really doesn't match.  The area right below the head lights has angular indentations that make us cringe.  This design feature adds a futuristic element that does not fit the rest of the car.  Volvo's logo and line across the grill also throws the S60 off balance. 

The rear of the S60 is decent.  The S60 gets next generation looking tail lights and the unusual "built in hip" tail light has given way to a more run of the mill design.  The tail lights are raised from the frame giving them a "bubble look" which makes them stand out instead of fitting in with the frame.   



The character line of the S60 flows nicely from front to back, raising just a bit over the wheel wells.  The vehicle has a seam in front of the rear wheel well that looks sloppy.  The "hip" on the rear quarter panel has been greatly reduced and makes the car seem less quirky but dull at the same time.  Hum, hum seems appropriate.

   

2011 Volvo S60

Grade: 4

Nissan Juke 2011



The Nissan Joke, I mean Juke, is a design disaster.  I get that sometimes car companies want to the push the design envelope to move the industry forward, but the Juke goes a lot to far in the wrong direction. 

The front of the Juke is a train wreck, or better yet, an alien wreck.  I wanted to get some additional views of the Juke so I browsed over to Nissan's website only to find even weirder marketing bits.  They call their new look "The Predator Approach" LOL, they weren't kidding, but I don't think we are thinking of the same predator! "Uniquely designed turn indicators stare you down from the fiercely sculpted hood" the hood is as flat as they come.  The website goes on to say "The tight exterior frame shows off its muscular curvature and aggressive stance while maintaining a sleek sports car appearance", are you kidding me, sleek, what part of sleek and predator go together and were the heck did sports car appearance come from! Both the designers and the marketers at Nissan need to lay of the sauce.

                                        

The "turn indicators" do look like fangs so I agree with the predator comparison there.  Next, however, you have very round head lights that give the Juke a VW happy go lucky feel, just like a predator???  Lower, you have three round holes in the bumper, I guess if you gone this far to look stupid you may as well go all the way.  The grill is everywhere, but still has Nissan's weird shaped whatever in the middle. 

The rear of the Juke is almost respectable.  I like that Nissan gave the Juke tail lights that fit the format of the rest of their vehicles.  The rear of the Juke is remarkably organized, tail lights, logo, reflectors, all seem to be in their traditional locations.  It's almost a let down at this point.  From the side the Juke is a mess.  I wish I could get to the same place as the writer who thinks that this is a sleek design, to me it looks silly and disjointed.  The Juke has no real lines except the rounded wheel wells.  Per Nissan "Rear door handles are subtly worked into the design keeping them out of sight giving the Juke a sports-coupe sleekness". (WARNING: If you think that this is a sports coupe get help fast!).  Nissan's attempt to hide the rear door handle has the reverse effect on the design.  It looks like someone air brushed it out, leaving a void were it should be.  If you going to hide the door handle maybe you should hide the rear door seam as well.  Good luck with this one Nissan. 

2011 Nissan Juke

Grade: 1