It looks like "The Bar" plastered in front of every new chevy is going to be one of the lower points in chevy styling history.

What are other low points in corporate styling?

The worst thing I can think of is the early 90's Mercurys with the "lets make the whole front end light up" look. Ugh. Does it get any worse than that?

Other notable examples:

-The newer Bugatti Sports cars that have the old 30's grille shape. Yeah, that works.

-BMW's new "Flame Surfacing" theme.

 

Let's give GM some credit, I think Oldsmobile's 'Let's make every car invisible after 2004' theme is cutting edge.


What is this?

Jeff

 

I'd have to say that the styling from Chrysler and Mercury in the late 70s totally repulses me.

I do have to say that modern Chevy styling is pretty bad. Cars like the A-/G-body Malibu and Monte Carlo look pretty good 20 years later, and I just don't see that being true of the current batch of passenger cars from Chevy. I gotta say that I probably won't be drooling over an '03 Silverado in 30 years like I do over a '68-'72 Chevy pickup right now, also.

Ford's styling is a disappointment, considering their work in the 80s.

 

To me, any styling cue that relies too heavily on the past is a recipe for disaster, such as the aforementioned Chevy chrome bar or Bugatti rabbit house. I've also not seen an Alfa Romeo that I've liked since they've awkwardedly foisted that triangle on the nose of every car in recent memory.

I don't understand why designers can't realize that cars now are not shaped anything like they were 30 years ago, so why would they think the same design cues would still work? You have to evolve, not stay stuck in the past.

 

I have been a Chevy fan for many years and I thought I should chime in on the Grille bar thing. I remember the big blue bowtie on the grille of my uncles 69 Camaros, and various other Chevy's over the years, I always was quite fond if it. I am ok with it ( the bowtie ), however I don't think it needs to be surrounded by a big chrome bar on every vehicle. I like it on most of the trucks (including my "90" Silverado, its why I like the chevy better than the GMC). Sometimes though I think it looks better in body color than chrome, thats how my truck is, also as someone else pointed out the Malibu SS is like that and it looks nice. I think that all Chevy's should wear the Bowtie. O.K so let it rip I can take the heat , I'm sure you all think I'm nuts anyway!

 

Wouldn't it be funny if the Corvette had a chrome bar....

Pontiac's have always had the split grille.

 

Don't joke like that!!!

GM people read this thread. Don't encourage them!

 

At least by Chev using the chrome bar, people can tell a Chev from, say a Toyota. In person, it actually looks kind of classy and european. In any case, it is an improvement from what is currently being built.

 

you know what? i don't mind the bar.. it looks pretty good on the trucks, but not so good on the malibu and such

the mercury light bar was a retro cue from the old mercs that had a third headlight in the centre... it wasn't a bad idea but poorly excecuted

i think pontaic's ribbed plastic cladding is the worst styling mistake in the past 20 years... it looked disgusting when they came out with it and it looks even worse now

 

I'd have to say the worst is anything done by AMC! Pacer, Gremlin, Matador. What the hell was that? and where did the guys that designed those things come from? Can you imagine the brass at AMC looking at the designs for those cars and giving the thumbs up? Then AMC goes under. Nobody saw that coming!

 

^hey now lets be fair... none of the other economy car offerings from GM or ford weren't much better
and the javelin and AMX were OK..sortof

 

No, that would not be funny at all. I like the Vette just the way it is, however I like the Avalanche alot and the grille is part of it.