One thing I have noticed of late is how you can look at a car/truck/SUV and say, "that is a ____" without ever looking at the badge. Take the new Dodges for instance. It doesn't take long to look at a new one and be able to see that is a Dodge. With almost all their vehcials having that "truck grill" to them, anyone can spot one from a mile away. This is one thing I have noticed for all Ford/Lincoln/Mercury vehcials. They all have the yellow turn lights on the inside/outside or on both sides of the headlights. When a car is coming down the road you can tell it is a Ford (this is how I watch for cops at night). Same goes with Jeep, you can't mistake anything else for it. Hell, even its concepts even scream Jeep at you.

I think this is something that has gotten away from Detoit since the 50/60/70s. You could look at a car and tell your what is was before you even got up next to it. Is it something that is needed? I don't know, but I think it is something for GM to think about. I don't think they do it as pronouncly as Chrysler or Ford does.....(except for Cadillac)

 

I've noticed it too in the past 4-5 years. While I'm not a fan of Chrysler's latest styling phase, you can't argue how recognizable it is. It looks like Ford might be making the Fusion's grill their identifying feature if the renderings of their now crossover are correct.

I think Chevy tried it with varying success with the 'chrome spear'. I actually liked it in all the non-performance applications (even the Malibu, I though it was the big high headlamps that are the problem there).

The trick is to incorporate that 'signiture element' into the design, not the other way around (remember when we were seeing Camaro renderings with the chrome spear?....:no).