Lex2InfiN

This forum doesn't have enough polls. So here's one. Based ONLY on overall exterior design philosophy, what are your LEAST favorite luxury brands? Just basically as a whole, which manufacturers do you think have the worst overall exterior designs? You can select up to FOUR options in the poll. I only included the major manufacturers and didn't include Hyundai or any ultra luxury brands, cuz I wanted to keep it just between the brands with a more complete and/or mainstream lineup.

Here are the options:

Acura
Audi
BMW
Cadillac
Infiniti
Jaguar
Lexus
Lincoln
Mercedes-Benz
Porsche
Volvo

Hoovey689

iTrader: (16)

I chose Acura, BMW, Infiniti and Lincoln. Acura design does not currently appeal to me. I believe if they went more aggressive and bold they could have something more appealing. Perhaps any design lessons after the upcoming NSX can change this. Till then they make my list. BMW. Don't get me wrong they have a few good looking cars but overall I think their cars offend more than Audi in terms of all models looking the same. These cars are all becoming so bland and bloated and lack the distinctness that made owning a BMW so special, The Ultimate Driving Machine. BMW makes my list. Infiniti. The Q45, M, G35 were onto something and then the 'bionic cheetah' and 'fluid katana' morphed into curvy vehicles that don't give the presence of Luxury as much as 'premium sport'. Concepts give me hope. List they go. Lastly I choose Lincoln. The MKC is the first to fully embrace a new design from Lincoln so it's too early to tell about this make based on current Lincoln's it makes the list.

As to the rest. My favorite are in order top to bottom

1. Jaguar
2. Porsche
3. Lexus
4. Mercedes-Benz
5. Cadillac
6. Audi
7. Volvo
_
8. BMW
9. Infiniti
10. Acura
11. Lincoln

blacksc400

iTrader: (4)

Acura and Infiniti are among the worst.

cino

iTrader: (1)

BMW, Infiniti, and Lincoln.

yowps3

Design is subjective but if I had to choose the worst it would be Mercedes-Benz. Their current design language is very unsettled and as a result the end product looks pretty bad LOL

bagwell

I believe they tried that with this monstrosity....they just can't do aggressive/bold

bitkahuna

iTrader: (20)

i think the results will say more about what people think about the brands than the 'exterior looks'. bmw could put their logo on anything and it will sell.

LexFather

Well lets discuss the why's. The O.P started this thread and maybe he can explain why he thinks Lexus design is so bad (being the only vote thus far) and why he thinks Infiniti design is so great? Hoovey for example did a good job explaining his choices.

MPLexus301

iTrader: (3)

Acura and Lincoln for me. Both are downright unattractive lately, aside from maybe the MKC.

Hoovey689

iTrader: (16)

To be quite honest with you I don't see any aggression. Looks downright soft in my eyes sort of like an MDX on Slimfast. Doesn't have that authority that the X6 does (which is no beauty queen either but has a presence in real life)

bitkahuna

iTrader: (20)

first off i question the question as i don't consider acura or volvo to be luxury brands. i certainly don't care much for their exterior designs overall though. the rest all have winners and losers in exterior design to me so none to choose as 'worst'.

mmarshall

I went with Acura and Lincoln...though I'm not much of a fan of the Lexus Spindle-grille either. So many customers, BTW, dislike the Acura parrot-beak that dealerships have to re-paint some of the beaks body-color just to get their customers to accept delivery.

Bitkahuna.....I agree that Acura and Volvo are not Tier-1 luxury-brands in the sense of how we usually think of the term. But they ARE upmarket brands, and, for purposes of this thread, I don't see any problem in including them. You can see that many other responses, just like mine, consider Acura and Lincoln the two worst.

bagwell

exactly

yep!

saw one of their new aztecs for the first time...sure makes the Prius look sleek...

hlee12

i chose infiniti. but acura, lincoln, volvo, are up there too.

tex2670

Wow--no anonymous voting here...

I'm not sure where this thread is going to end up, because styling is so subjective. There's some good choices here. Acura really blew it with their beak design a few years ago, but they have softened it since then, and I think the look actually really worked on the 2nd gen MDX.

I'm not a big fan of Lincoln, but Lincolns have never done it for me as a whole.

My vote goes to MB--I am really not feeling their current designs at all, other than maybe an SL or SLK. And I would vote for MB over Lincoln because I don't think Lincoln ever had really inspiring designs; but I just feel MB has gone down hill fast in aesthetics. I find the new CLA absolutely awful.

But--I know that others would disagree vehemently....