The Ugliest Cars of 2010
Experts say these autos aren't likely to win any beauty contests.
by Forbes
The Acura ZDX is a $45,000 hatchback that looks like a cross between a small SUV and a station wagon. Fewer than 160 of them sold last month in the United States; just over 3,000 have sold there at all. Yet the ZDX gets acceptable reviews from Edmunds.com and Consumer Reports, who praise its all-wheel-drive and handling. Why isn't this car selling better?
Acura ZDX |
Maybe because it's ugly, says John McElroy, the host of Autoline Daily. "For some reason, [Acura] has settled on this grill that I've described as a goofy jack-o-lantern grin," he says. "I don't know anybody who likes it."
The ZDX isn't the only car held back by ungainly looks. The Honda Accord Crosstour, the Scion xB and the Nissan Cube aren't going to win any automotive beauty contests, either--and that's why they all appear on our list of the worst-looking cars of 2010.
Honda Accord Crosstour |
To determine our list of the year's ugliest cars, we consulted with three long-time auto experts: Jake Fisher, senior automotive engineer for Consumer Reports; Troy Snyder, director of product development at NADAGuides; and Autoline Daily's John McElroy. Each expert discussed what they think are the worst-looking new vehicles on the market.
Granted, beauty is in the eye of the beholder--some consumers love the quirky angles of the xB, or think the ZDX is sleek and sexy. But the extremely polarizing nature of these vehicles qualifies them for scrutiny.
"Quite honestly, the domestics can't afford to make these types of mistakes," Fisher says. "The vehicles that we're talking about are kind of niche vehicles, and I think what the domestics are doing right now is concentrating on bread-and-butter cars."
On the other hand, Mazda walks a fine line between safe and trendy. The Japan-based automaker sells odd-looking cars like the RX8 that drive well, but that are almost too "faddish," according to McElroy.
"I think Mazda went a little bit far in their styling," he says. "They're putting in these very swoopy lines with a lot of character into the sheet metal ... I'm not sure that it has really connected with the public."
While it's good for a car to be popular, going too trendy usually means sales will fade out quickly. (Just look at the Chrysler PT Cruiser, Chrysler Sebring, and Suzuki Aerio.) But a car like the Ford Taurus, which launched to a slow start in the 1980s, gradually improved in look and quality and eventually became a solid seller. And the classically styled Ford Mustang and Chevrolet Corvette have remained design icons with steady sales for decades.
"There's a particular look and style that goes along with American muscle, and there's an aggressive, almost mean horsepower torque look and feel to the skin of the Mustang," Snyder says. "It's that consumer expectation of what American muscle should look and sound like, and Ford has done an excellent job at listening to the consumer."
If there is a particular look and style that goes along with an American hatchback, Acura hasn't found it yet.
Ford Flex |
"Quite honestly, the domestics can't afford to make these types of mistakes," Fisher says. "The vehicles that we're talking about are kind of niche vehicles, and I think what the domestics are doing right now is concentrating on bread-and-butter cars."
Mazda RX-8 |
On the other hand, Mazda walks a fine line between safe and trendy. The Japan-based automaker sells odd-looking cars like the RX8 that drive well, but that are almost too "faddish," according to McElroy.
"I think Mazda went a little bit far in their styling," he says. "They're putting in these very swoopy lines with a lot of character into the sheet metal ... I'm not sure that it has really connected with the public."
Nissan Cube |
"There's a particular look and style that goes along with American muscle, and there's an aggressive, almost mean horsepower torque look and feel to the skin of the Mustang," Snyder says. "It's that consumer expectation of what American muscle should look and sound like, and Ford has done an excellent job at listening to the consumer."
If there is a particular look and style that goes along with an American hatchback, Acura hasn't found it yet.
Credit to : Yahoo
7 comments:
nissan tue huduh
ade org beli xtau kata ape
hehehe tak huduh bagi si pembeli kot?;)
nissan tuh hudush sangat !
tamaw beli hat tu (macam ada duit kalau tade yang tu pon,HAHA)
meaw.hahaha
rasa semua macam tak diminati..tapi nissan tu memang la...huduh lebih sikit.hehehehe
pernah dgr proton persona dpt ugliest car of the year dari frost & sullivan..??
diorang sngaje wat camtu sbb time tu proton x join venture dgn company luar nk hasilkn persona..
tp bile ford guna pakai design yG sama dgn persona..just touch-up sikit je dpt award best car of the year pulak..
@genGkey
yeke?baru dengar kali nie..nice info..tq2...
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