2011 Dodge Revenger

Chrysler and Dodge's mid-size sedan weren't the most attractive sedans out there when the debuted in 2007. Neither did they have outstanding powerplants or snazzy interiors. Of all products in the Chrysler lineup, this dated duo were in the most need of replacing, or at least refreshing. Although the LX sedans were older, they aged better.

We've already seen the Sebring, whose body panels and name have morphed into the 200C. An improvement, bad hardly the reboot the car needed. The Avenger was arguably the worse looking of the two, trying to leach off the looks of it's big brother the Charger and failing, as it's chunky proportions seemed to emphasize that it looked a little too tall and a little too narrow. Kind of like the Charger's younger, tubby, vertically challenged brother. As with the 200C, the Charger's successful reboot gave me high hopes for a new exterior design, hopefully instilling some of the new Charger design cues that were mishandled last time around.


If the 200C was a disappointment, then the 2011 Avenger is disaster. They barely changed anything. Other than the new Dodge grille, it's rather difficult to spot any changes (which for the most part consist of re-surfaced bumpers and some cheap looking taillights to come off looking like aftermarket pieces). And this is the look that's supposed to tide over buyers for a couple years?



As in the 200C, there are more changes under the skin, where many argue they were most needed. The horrid industrial grade Tupperware interior now looks lush and actually attractive, and the Pentastar V6 will most likely find it's way under the hood. We'll have to see how it drives to see how much better of a car it is the the 2010 Avenger. But in the end - will that really increase showroom traffic? The money has been spent where it was needed most, but people driving by dealerships or that see the car in advertising might just dismiss it as the same old Avenger.

2011 Chrysler 200C: Two Steps Forward, One Step Back

It's no surprise that the 2007 and on Chrysler Sebring is not a looker. Sure they're removed the hood ribbing and cleaned up the bizarrely mismatched taillights, but overall it's still a bland and chunky design.

Fugly

The 200C concept was the exact opposite. When Chrysler announced it was bringing the concept to production I had high hopes. Even when it was announced it would basically be a reskinned Sebring. Dodge did a good job with it's extensive Charger facelift - a car that was in much less need of a change - so I expected big things. Front and rear teaser shots seemed to verify big changes were in store.

Sexy

So I was a bit disappointed to see official shots released today confirmed that the facelift is solely focused on new front and rear ends. Hell - even the door skins are the same (although they did have some of the more interesting detailing of the old car). Sadly the doors aren't the only things inherited from the Sebring - it also gets it's rather high body and awkward looking greenhouse.

Disappointing

Up front things are relatively attractive, although the headlights look a bit busy. I really like the new corporate grille, with it's twisted horizontal bars. Unfortunately the Hyundai/BMW-like detailing in the bumper of the 200C is gone.

Sexy

Out back, Chrysler unfortunately decided to forego the Chrysler Firepower-ish rear end treatment for one that looks remarkably like a Jaguar XF. Despite lacking the originality of the 200C, it still manages to be attractive.

Plagiarism-y

In the end, this doesn't quite end up in the fugly realm- at least until we see better pictures of the side of the car. For now it ends up being an example of a fugly car revised to look average. Lets hope Chrysler's powertrain, suspension and interior revisions raise the bar high enough for the Sebring 200C to at least be competitive with it's competition.

Hyundai OLV

Thank God Hyundai decided not to use the design language from this 2003 concept. With style that looks halfway between Edsel and Jeep Wrangler, it also has what appears to be the most useless cargo area ever, only useful for transporting bicycles.

Beijing Hyundai Verna

While it was drunk with power and holding the knife they used to butcher the Sonata, Beijing Hyundai saw it fit to set it sights on the Hyundai Verna (an Accent by any other name). Besides having a rather unappealing name (I can hardly get excited over a car that shares a name common with octogenarians), the Accent’s previously cute albeit plain face now has a grimacing leer. Thankfully we’ll be saved from this facelift when the new Accent arrives next year (which manages to incorporate the styling cues added above in a graceful and sleek manner).

Beijing Hyundai Sonata EF (Extremely Fugly?) Facelift

Beijing Hyundai is a Chinese division of Hyundai, which sells current models along with an expanded lineup that also sells older versions of current models. Not sure what the benefits of offering 3 Sonatas is – I can only guess that the older tech ones are cheaper. One thing they aren’t is attractive.


Take the Beijing Hyundai BT01. Basically a fourth generation (EF) Sonata, the Chinese thought it wise to graft on a face similar to the current fluid Hyundai design language. Unfortunately, the 4th generation’s bulbous flanks did not take the enhancements well. Up front the oval headlights and wide, narrow grille have been replaced with massive headlights and massive grille that look several sizes too large. Those headlights look eerily familiar as well – they’re slightly reminiscent of the current Chevrolet Equinox and Malibu.


Out back things are far worse. The taillights are quite similar to those of the facelifted 4th generation Sonata, except there are some red reflective growths protruding from the trunk. They should get those checked out – they could be malignant.

Fenice Milano Rolls-Royce Ghost Diva

And I thought Mansory was bad. I more proper name might be “Dubai Wet Dream”. Everything chrome is plated in 24 karat gold (and then some), and every other surface is coated in the most brash colours of paint, wood and leather that exist on planet earth.

Nissan Smarty-Pants

The Smart ForTwo is one of the more unique looking cars on the market, and it’s entry into the market started a whole new trend of micro-micro cars. The only problem is that they’re relatively expensive for their size. Not unsurprising, given it’s parents are Mercedes-Benz. The price is one reason why the Smart ForTwo is finding it difficult to gain sales in the US. Another is it’s diminutive size. The sketches you see here are Smart’s attempts to solve both problems in one brand-diluting blow – basically take a Nissan and stick a bunch of hokey crap on it.

There’s several problems with this approach. The main issue is that the concept of this car goes against the original concept of the Smart car brand – the Smart ForTwo is unique because it's so small. Sure – there was the ForFour sedan. But it still maintained their clever packaging details of the ForTwo to keep it’s size at an absolute minimal. And in doing so it had proportions unlike the rest of the automotive landscape, which also was part of it’s appeal. Another safety and subsequent design feature of Smart cars are their Tridion safety shell.

The Nissan Micra based Smart is definitely a conventional passenger car layout, and lacks both the safety cell and proportions of a traditional Smart car. The end result trying to make the Nissan look like a Smart car is that it looks forced and superfluous. The Smart ForTwo had bulbous front fenders because the wheels were pushed to the absolute corners of the car. The Nissan’s bulbous “Smart fenders” look over-inflated (and ridiculous) because it’s wheels are set further back and the fenders are completely unnecessary.

The overall car ends up looking less like a Smart car and more like a cheap Chinese knock off of a Smart car. And perhaps the worst offense it that it looks much, much worse than the stock Nissan Micra on which it’s based. Sure it’s would be a cheaper option for those who want a Smart car. But know what would be even cheaper? Just bringing over the Nissan Micra. And you wouldn’t look like a tool driving an overpriced sales gimmick.

Ctrl+Z = Galatea Revision

The Galatea Revision. Yikes. Looks like someone took a Hyundai Tiburon and smashed on the front end of a Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione by beating it furiously with an ugly stick. This $5000 USD kit is mean to "offer an exotic coachbuilt appearance for the price of a bodykit," according to the press release anyway. The rear view isn't quite as bad, even if the taillights look a bit like a less exotic Italian coupe.

Clones: Dusty Escort

The Plymouth Duster I was a show car from 1969, whose name went on to signify sporty Valiants. Basically a convertible Road Runner with all sorts of aero appendages, it's front end bares a remarkable similarity to the MK1 Euro Ford Focus, birthed the year prior.

2010 Paris Motor Show, Day 2: Nothing??

So day two of the 2010 Paris Motor Show was again surprisingly devoid of anything monstrously hideous. In fact I wasn't going to post anything at all, but since I had a day one post I felt it needed some finalization.

So if to post anything, I guess it would be the unfortunately named Renualt Twizy (can names be fugly?). I suppose the car itself might be fugly in a traditional sense, but I kinda like it in that it looks like futuristic transportation straight out of the movies. And remarkably it's a production car - I respect Renault for being brave enough for offering something so "out there" to the public. The cars where shown in various appearance packages. Some looked cool, like one with a Tron vibe. Others, like the one pictured below, were a little hard on the eyes.