IS BS

I’m not sure what’s going on over at Lexus. They’ve adopted a style best described as “psychedelic origami predator by Nike”. Their goal was to energize the brand and make it more attractive to a younger generation. Apparently sales have increased, but the polarizing designs are definitely ones you love or absolutely abhor. I’m one of the latter, although the more recent sportier offering like the RC coupe wear the look a little better. Maybe this is one of those cases where the designers eventually evolve the design, with each successive generation learning how to make things more cohesive. Almost like automotive natural selection.

For now I’ll focus on the latest IS, as it’s a good example of what I hate with the current Lexus designs. Other than the limited production LFA, it’s their first model to draw heavily from the extreme and similarly polarizing LF concept cars, with it’s sweeping contours and sharp edges. I should say that I’m not hating on the complete IS package – I actually find most of everything aft of the A-pillars quick sleek and refreshing. Speaking of the LFA, if you look closely at the front of the LFA, you’ll see the spindle shape as well, albeit not in grille form.

Spindle Grille or Mandible Mug?

The Lexus “spindle grille” is where it all started (although to be fair, not on the current IS but on the 2011 Lexus GS). Such a large grille opening can be hard to pull off. Audi has managed to produce some nice looking front ends, but it’s definitely hard to pull off successfully. Although the Lexus grille doesn’t look as “fake” as some, it looks like someone tried to suck the front end off with a vacuum. It also kind of looks like this attractive fellow.

Nike-like

Just as I was getting used to the grille, Lexus threw another design signature into the mix with LED driving light separated into their own units, slashing into the front fascia like metallic Nike swooshes. The IS is notable for being the first Lexus model to adopt this design feature. I guess it’s something we have to get accustomed to, as it’s also appearing on their new NX SUV, which is fugly enough to get a post all it’s own.

Lexus IS-C

It seems every car maker out there who wants to introduce a convertible feels the urge to make it a folding hardtop. Which is all well and good, given that it acts like a coupe when you want it to. Unfortunately that's a lot more junk to stuff in the trunk, and sometimes that can result in peculiar proportions (like the Sebring convertible's acres of trunk) or the strange muffintop look the Lexus IS-C has when it's roof is up. The roof ends up looking to small, sitting atop the lumpy trunk.

The car featured here is a bit bittersweet to me - the IS-C F-Sport package. I find the black paint, charcoal rims and blue brake calipers absolutely beautiful, but roof treatment kills it for me. Sadly, this combo is only available on the IS-C. If it were available on the sedan, it'd get two thumbs up.

Not what I would call Progrès

Apparently in Japan, they prefer to make about 15 version of the same basic car. Honda and Toyota especially seem to do this, or at least did in the 90's. Some of these cars are quite fugly, as if they ran out of ways to rehash the same basic car.

The car you see here is the Toyota Progrès, which debuted before the Toyota Altezza / Lexus IS, darling of the ricer set and the origins of many hideous aftermarket taillights. Those taillights, it seems, were inspired by the headlights on the Progrès' gaudy mug.