Vision Thing: The best-designed vehicles on the market today
I’ve had the privilege of writing Vision Thing for you for a little while now, and although we’ve covered a lot of ground in car design, there’s much still uncovered. It occurred to me the other day when I was showering: I haven’t really given you an insight into which cars I think have a really standout design—and why.
(You never know when these thoughts are going to hit you; this why you should always carry a notebook. Probably not into the shower, though.)
This time of the year, there are a lot of list articles about, and I’m not one to leave a bandwagon un-jumped on for my readers’ sakes. I know I’ve mentioned a few tangentially both above and below the line, but I will now wheel my own opinions out into the harsh glare of the studio strip lights for a design critique session.
What follows then, is a brief list of standouts currently (or soon to be) available to buy, each of which should make a sizable dent in your kid’s college fund. If you’re thinking about any of these and need an excuse to take to the finance committee, tell them a professional said each is a future design classic.
Lexus LC 500
Sometimes a manufacturer struggles with a design language for years, trying to make it work over several different models, before finally the right canvas comes along and it all suddenly makes sense.
Cadillac tried for years with its Art & Science philosophy before finally nailing it on the 2013 ATS. The concept version of the Lexus LC, the LF-LC, showed us in 2012 what its L-finesse language was going to look like—swooping surfaces that twisted in all directions, a massive spindle grille.
It was fabulous.
Unfortunately, the first production Lexus sporting L-finesse clothes was not a big grand tourer but an urban crossover, the NX, which looked like it had been rolled down the stairs. The same story repeated itself with subsequent product releases, but when we got the LC 500 in 2017, it all came together (again) magnificently.
The height of the cowl above the bottom of the side daylight opening (DLO) is much higher than normal, but this allows the metal in front of the door mirror to roll smoothly to the horizontal to meet the hood. It lends the whole car an F1-style forward rake. The dimensions temper the aggressiveness.
Even the trademark spindle grille works in this application. Searingly modern and unmistakably Japanese, it looks like nothing else on the road.
The LC 500 feels like the kind of car Jaguar should be making if it had the daring. But to call the LC a Japanese Jaguar is to sell it short: Gaydon would never be this bold.
The LC 500 is probably my favorite new car on sale, if you’re stuck for something to get your favorite auto-design writer for Christmas.
Ford Maverick
At first, I didn’t totally get the Maverick, a small truck that wasn’t really all that rugged. There were plenty of options for pickup buyers already, although not at this price point.
Then it dawned on me. The Maverick is a direct replacement for the Focus. It’s even built off the same platform. A pickup for the non-traditional pickup buyer.
Suddenly, it all made perfect sense. Eschewing the overt brashness that characterizes basically every other open-backed vehicle on the market, the Maverick is a handsome vehicle with crisp detailing and surfacing that will take you to work without turning your spine to cookie crumbs, and be ready to get mucky on the weekend.
Arguably the Maverick’s best feature is that eye-catching MSRP: $23,690, as of this writing, for a 2023 model. You need a component catalog the size of Ford’s coupled with its economies of scale to get down that low. The strategy is clever as opposed to ruthless and cost-cut. There’s nothing you don’t really need—the base model even comes with old-fashioned steelies. When these become more widely available the aftermarket is going to wild with them, 3-D printers a-whirring.
A sensible, economical, good-looking, and practical commuter vehicle that happens to be a pickup? America, your 1980 Fiat Panda has arrived.
Toyota Prius
Okay. Hands up on who saw this coming? I certainly didn’t.
Toyota stunned everyone when it showed us the 2024 Prius in November. For four generations the Prius has been a worthy but polarizing car, bought by people who took conservation very seriously and wanted everyone to know it. A slightly unnecessary, aerodynamic hunch leant it the appearance of an oversized computer mouse. It was hardly the last word in style. Until now.
The whole part-electric powertrain deal no longer being a novelty (nearly every car on this list is available as a hybrid in one form or another), Toyota has wisely shed the yurts and yoghurt vibe and given us a Prius that no longer trades on economy but on looks. It’s like seeing the server you smiled at in Whole Foods dressed to kill in a swanky downtown cocktail bar.
Squints hard. Prius, is that you?
It’s a much lower, wedgier car for 2024. The high point of the roof has been pulled right back to the rear passenger compartment, which in this or any segment is unheard of. This allows the cant rail to dive seamlessly into the A-pillar.
Volume has been added into the hood at the center line, and the abrupt cut-off tail of previous versions toned down considerably. This no longer feels like a car that places economy above all other considerations, and in sign of growing design confidence, Toyota have cheekily referenced the Ferrari SF90 front headlight graphic.
Surprised? I dropped my wheatgrass smoothie.
Lincoln Navigator
About a year ago my Range Rover Sport slipped into my life. About a day later, off it went into my heart. I bonded with it in a way I never did with my previous daily, an Audi TT.
“Designers are all style over function,” my ass!
Even though mine is a 2011, the Range Rover still has a regal on-road presence and is full of thoughtful touches (and one or two infuriating ones, such as no rear-passenger compartment lighting!). It simply goes about its business quietly and competently. No, I don’t take it off-road, but have you seen the state of the nation’s tarmac recently? I’ll take that day-to-day isolation, thanks.
Ford has not been averse to lifting Range Rover design cues for its bigger SUVs in the past, but with the Navigator, released in 2018 and refreshed last year, Lincoln has a model that can go head-to-head with Gaydon’s best. Look hard enough, and you can see a little modern Range Rover in the Navigator’s body-side surfacing—that’s a compliment, not a demerit. This is domestic luxury that need apologize to no one.
To get a measure of how good the Navigator is, consider that Jeep had a free field goal with the new Grand Wagoneer—and missed it by miles. The Navigator’s wrap-around glazing DLO looks classy, all of a piece and fittingly expensive. The Wagoneer’s body-colored pillars, the exact opposite.
Decorated with just the right amount of chrome, the Navigator exudes American class and authority without going over the top, something that hasn’t always been true of high-end domestic cars in the past. I actually saw a photo of a Navigator in central London recently (probably a diplomat’s car) and you know what? It didn’t look out of place one bit.
As designers we have to accept that customers like SUVs and these days they are willing to trade the last couple of mpg to drive them. To that end, the Navigator doesn’t have a V-8. These cars will continue to exist, so we must make them as safe and fuel-efficient as possible. That they generate good profit margins and support American jobs is something to be celebrated as well.
Ferrari 296 GTB
So we finally got the V-6 baby Ferrari that’s been rumored for who knows how many years. Except it’s not really a baby at all, slotting somewhere into the middle of Maranello’s ever more-confusing range. No matter. The 296 is simply the best-looking Ferrari in an absolute age. It is gorgeous.
That’s not something that can be said of many recent efforts from chief designer Flavio Manzoni. Although generally good in profile and proportion, his vehicles have been extremely complex in the detailing. Surfaces desecrated with nicks and cuts, awkward lamp graphics, and, in the case of the rather plain Roma, the best car Aston Martin never made. Ferrari’s been twisting the marque in knots to create ever more-special editions and even now an SUV.
This is important. Ferrari’s rivals at McLaren have been hampered by spinning a range of indeterminate models off of the essentially the same kit of parts; the carbon-fiber cell and the 3.8-liter twin turbo V-8. Maranello shouldn’t have this problem, given the range of engines and layouts at its disposal: You should know straight away if you’re looking at the mid-engined, entry-level V-8 one, the front-engined, V-12 GT one, whatever the range topper is, and so on. Recently, that hasn’t been the case for Ferrari. At a car show in the fall, a designer friend and I were standing behind an SF90 wondering if we’d got the model designation right.
The 296GTB is a refreshing return to a classically beautiful aesthetic that belies the technical complexity beneath. The nose has one wide, mesh-filled opening, flanked by two smaller air curtains on each side and a smaller, lower central one. It’s simple without being simplistic, an attitude which is very hard to get right. The hips’ air vents are models of restraint, impressive given what the airflow requirements of this thing must be. Rather than punch more holes in the rear body work or increase the size of the rear lights, the rear fog and reflectors are brilliantly and subtly incorporated into the upward surface of the diffuser.
Minimalist without being minimal, this is one of those cars that can only be ruined by the inevitable go-faster version with tacked-on aero kit. What was I saying about that Lexus?
Honorable mentions: Land Rover Defender
It’s been with us for three years. Was it what we expecting? The evergreen original combined Blake’s Satanic mills with British sheer bloody-mindedness. We were never going to get a newer version of that. The workhorse role it was designed for has long since been taken over by base model pickups and ATVs, so how to keep this most beloved nameplate relevant?
By creating a frighteningly modern-looking, tough, capable SUV that, in lower trims at least (get the steel wheels!), maintains some of the class transcendence that characterized the original. The Defender looks like nothing else on the road and shows up the Ineos Grenadier up for the fool’s errand it is.
Honorable mentions: Alfa Romeo Giulia
I would have put the Mazda6 here, because it remains for me the blueprint for a mid-market sporting saloon, but that body is now ten years old. (It’s also no longer available domestically.)
When I first saw the Giulia, my reaction was Alfa Romeo should have had the Mazda in Alfa Centro Stile as inspiration instead of whatever they did use. But if ever a car looked better in the flesh than photos, the Giulia is it.
Just refreshed for 2022, it was famously crash-designed and developed by a dedicated tiger team after Sergio ordered a do-over. Little wonder that initial cars had teething problems. But it’s one of those cars that makes pause and smile every time I see one out on the road. Tautly organic, faintly muscular, and delicately detailed, the Giulia makes its German rivals look decidedly ordinary.
I purposely didn’t mention the Dodge Challenger in this list, because if you’ve kept up with my columns, you’ll know my feelings for that particular slice of Mopar design brilliance. Truth is, there are a lot of decent-looking vehicles available for sale right now. Not everything needs to be a design revolution or market disruptor—sometimes getting the basics right, and being solidly handsome, well-marketed, and ably developed is enough.
Hopefully these will give you some inspiration for the January sales (if such a thing will happen in today’s weird new-car market). If not, next time, I’ll tease you with some of my design choices that you can’t buy.
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If I was going to buy any current vehicle based on looks, the Bentley Continental GT coupe would be at the top of the list. It’s the 3rd generation of the original, and it still looks good. That’s a real accomplishment in the car design world.
A close secon would be the current BMW 8 series coupe.
The car we did buy this year, an Audi A6, is very conservative, but its tailored looks appealed to me. It doesn’t jump out at you the way many current cars do, but it looks like competent, capable designers did a good job. There is a lot of other reasons to love the Audi, like a dead silent ride, competent handling, and luxury features designed to coddle the occupants and driver.
I was stopped next to a KIA the other day. I though it had been in an accident, but closer inspection revealed that it was purposely designed like this, with 6 character lines, dents, creases that went everywhere, and so on. All too typical of many current cars.
I agree about the Continental GT, but it’s a bit familiar and I’m not totally sold on the front graphic. But they are evolving the design carefully, which high end brands should do as the majority of those customers tend to be quite conservative (or at least know what they want, which is usually like the last model but better). Then crank out the specials for the influencers and the like.
Nice choice on the A6 – it’s probably one of the better efforts in the current range, which can be a bit overdone. They are generally quietly confident cars with immaculate build, and those are good design attributes to have. I totally get the appeal.
Calling a Ford Pick Up truck a future classic is laughable!
Gee, a 4-door Ford Ranchero. I can tell you right now just how well this turd will sell. And some “expert” says it will become a future classic? Even more laughable than this vehicle is ugly.
Bran is an option. You might feel better.
Currently, it is apparently selling like crazy. Which will reduce the likelihood of it becoming a classic, of course.
A FORD PICKUP ? WHAT A TOTAL JOKE !!! LOL
I will look for you in your A6 in the neighborhood, Bob. To my eye, the most egregious example of random wrinkles was the last-generation Honda Odyssey – I called it the “pre-collided” look.
The Maverick is a nice, affordable vehicle with a lot of capability that also makes a lot of sense…I hope it’s a giant home run for Ford and that they sell lots and lots of them.
Yes. I really didn’t understand what Ford were up to at first, but when I realized I thought it was genius. They’re going to need to sell a lot because of the slim margins but it doesn’t look that’s going to be problem for them.
Adrian, imo this is Ford’s way to get women into Ford trucks. It has everything a small SUV offers, but it’s a real pick-up. Ford mints money with the F-150, but that’s a kinda hillbilly guy thing. The Maverick? My sweetie already put money down, her friends love it; I will keep my lifted 6.2 Escalade powered ’04 Tahoe, hitch & snow blade & masculinity intact. Maverick’s a great idea, GM & whatever Chrysler is now caught flatfooted.
I agree. The thing I wish Ford did was allow the customer to pick engine without hybrid option and get awd with any engine pick.
Also a manual transmission option would be cherry on top.
I also am a fan of the Continental GT. I need a bit of the organic in my fav designs. I also agree with the A6 but mine would be the Avant. All the function of an on road SUV but with the form and ride of the sedan. Plus you don’t see them in the US as much as the much copied A6 sedan design.
Yes Frank, I agree that AWD and manual transmission should be available all models
Manual seems a strange omission on what is essentially an economy vehicle, but even more so when stripped back working vehicle is part of the brief. At the moment they are selling everyone they can build, but maybe if there’s enough customer feedback the powertrain options will be updated further down the line.
Manual take rates are less than 2% in the USA so it makes zero sense to design a new vehicle with a manual transmission. Manual volumes are so low now that they cost the manufacturer more than the automatic so they make even less sense on a low margin economy car.
Manual take rate is a myth.
Dealers buy automatics because very few people demand a manual transmission.
GM got rid of manual transmission “demand” by just not shipping any.
I picked up my Maverick Hybrid in June of 21 and 10K miles later it is still exceeding all expectations. I’ve been in the Automobile business 30 plus years, and it takes a lot to excite me. This is a grand slam and Ford is dropping the ball by not increasing production.
Totally agree, where is the production. They are going to loose out as they are giving Toyota and others the chance to get their products to market to compete against the Maverick. Why aren’t they ramping up like the 1964 1/2 Mustang
I ordered a 2023 Maverick on September 4th and Ford still has not set a product date.
It is possible (and I’m guessing and it’s highly unlikely) that Ford underpriced it and if not losing money are not making money, which might lead them to restrict supply until they can work a bit more margin into it.
I agree, but what’s even more amazing to me is how different, yet equally well-done, Ford’s three variants on that platform are: Maverick, Bronco Sport, and Escape. I would own any of them.
I totally dig and understand all of your choices except for one, the Lincoln Navigator. I totally agree that it is way better than the Grand Wagoneer, but that is such a low, low bar. I personally prefer either the Mercedes GLS or BMW X7 (preferably Alpina) in that class.
Is that because it’s a Lincoln and suffers from a perceived lack of prestige compared to the Germans? Because the Navigator is fundamentally a much better design than either, but I understand badge appeal.
I just see a warmed-over Ford Expedition, so it doesn’t look as special or unique enough to me as the Germans. I understand it may be an objectively better design though if I could get past that.
Germans are unique? Not hardly. Both look like their 10 yr old brethren yet still have all the high maintenance of the earlier models. One truth is certain. Don’t own either unless you buy extended warranties.
Hear, hear! Mr. Morris is on target. Owned a BMW sedan bought used. Maintenance nightmare, parts either made of gold or unobtainable, $85 for an air filter. Brilliant car when right, but mostly the dash looked like Christmas with the lights, just got tired, ditched it for a very basic Cadillac DeVille sedan that went 230,xxx miles without ever throwing a code or cutting power for “critical maintenance”. The roundel badge never equaled the hype. Never again.
Or, from a design standpoint, the Lincoln Aviator!
Mazda3 hatch is notable to my eye as well. One of the best looking modern cars, no easy feat with all the restrictions designers have to contend with.
Funnily enough there’s a Mazda 3 hatch that lives near where I store the Ferrari, so I see it pretty regularly.. for me it’s one of those ‘almost’ cars. It’s very nearly brilliant, but it’s a touch hunchbacked from some angles and I’m not sold on the body side treatment. I see what they are trying but I think it can look dented. It needs to be much more subtle.
Sir- you don’t like the “Soul Red” colour, and how it highlights the sculptural aspects of Mazda’s efforts?
That’s funny. When I first saw the 296, the first thing I wanted to do is grab the magic eraser and remove the upward lip on the opening of the hip air vents. While I agree they show restraint compared to say a C8 Corvette, they were still a blemish on an otherwise gorgeous curvy design.
Though overly blatant, to me the Detomaso p72 does it much cleaner.
Ugh, it’s a horrible sugar rush of a thing like they took a load of classic cues and turned them up to 11. Absolutely no subtlety at all, but if you want a sixties Le Mans feel with modern running gear and performance, I don’t supposes there’s a lot of choice.
“like they took a load of classic cues and turned them up to 11” cpatures my thoughts perfectly!
But- if you’re driving it, you don’t have time to nitpick the exterior styling, the road in your face is occupying all your time, yes?
I like the Ferrari. But, one of my favorite cars is the F40, a sledgehammer among swans. McLaren, Konigsegg, Lamborghini, Stryker, Pagani… well, they all build some eye popping cars, to meet the tastes of the über wealthy who are their target market. I’m not a “fortunate son”. Was I, there’s an Argentinian company that bolt for bolt reproduces the Bugatti Type 35. But I do like the Ferrari.
Insightful as usual. First look of that Prius for me… and I am impressed.
Maverick may well be in my future as I was leaning towards a Focus, but trucklet utility fits my life better. I think they need modified to taste as the starter canvas doesn’t quite do it for me.
That’s part of it’s brilliance I think – at that price you can do what you want with it. Mark my words there is going to be a whole tuning/modifying market popping up for these in a year or two.
WOW, that Prius windshield will be an arm breaker to keep clean, I’m having enough arm ache keeping my Mustang rear window clean.
This is more about opinion than reality. Here is the counter opinion to nearly all these models.
Lexus a company that could never get the grill right. Often they have either tried to copy others too much or over done it.
The Maverick is just a cheap economy car with a bed. It is under powered and if you get the normal options you can easily buy a Colorado LT 4×4 for the same price. While many rave sales this year have just barley reached 51,802 which through three quarters is not great. Even if you add the Ridgeline and Santa Cruze to the volume all three fail to reach 100K units. We have seen similar trucks from Subaru fail in the past and I expect once the initial purchases are made the volume will drop more.
The Prius is the best it has ever been. But then a tree falling on the old one was an improvement. It is a bit sterile and soul less.
Lincoln is failing. All their models combined were just over 70,000 units this year. Not good. They like this model suffer too much Ford not enough Lincoln. This is just a Ford with a new grill and better leather.
The Ferrari is the best here as it looks like a cleaner McLaren. It looks nice but it need a bit more Ferrari in it. Nothing looked like a 328 or 288 GTO.
Range Rover is just an update on an old design. Like BMW they need to reach out more in styling.
The Alfa. Original and quirky. But then I see my neighbors go away on a flat bed reminding me why we do not drive Alfa’s.
The Challenger is a crippled design due to todays regulations. They took a classic style and made it tall and fat. It just never grasped the best of the old design. Now it has been around so long it is dull. Yes the engines are great but they could have done a bit more outside to advance the design into its won era.
Much of todays cars are a disappointment. Much is due to regulation and aero needs so I get it. but many could do better.
A good design is one where when you see it you feel it right in the middle of your chest. A good design will move you in more than one way.
I don’t mean to be negative but I tire of non originality. The retro thing was cool but it has become a lazy way to design a car today. We need to design new classics not just rehash the 69 Camaro 3 times over.
Great comments!
You probably haven’t spent any time with the Ridgeline – have you? I started my career in GM Truck and I love my Ridgeline – as do any owner that I have ever met. It has a lot of features that the Michigan folks, if they offer at all, charge extra for. I got a kick out of one comparison where they cited a “CON” as it was the “mini-van” of the lot. No “S–t” – very practical and a very nice drive. That was the best they could do. The Maverick is not quite a head-to-head with the R/L as it is really aimed at a lower price point. But designed low cost, but very good, vehicles is not easy. They did a nice job with the trade-offs and most of these “urban cowboys” would be a lot better off with it and a bit more in their bank accounts. BTW – these two vehicles are hardly “retro” or “lazy”.
@jack
Started at GM truck. Then you no doubt know about the G80 failure rate off road. Maybe Thad was before your time?
I’ve spent time in a Ridgeline. A lot of it.
Then you throw out Urban cowboy. Hard to get past the GM Engineer mentality. We know what you need, silly customer. How very East German. The Trabant, all one needs. Long wait list is testimony to superiority.
The thing is … most folks have to use their vehicle for multiple purposes. If never venturing off pavement or a graded forest service road is the limit of their adventure, a Ridgeline is great. If there is no moderate towing or heavy hauling required, Ridgeline is great.
Ridgeline transmissions don’t like max GCWR in SW summer heat, have no low range, and aren’t good on technical trails a stock full-size can glide through.
But back to Urban Cowboy: Wife said no trucks, eh?
I’m tired of seeing the Alfa poor reliability trope being mentioned yet again, as the Giulia/Stelvio vehicles seem to be as good as anything else with similar sporting intent – my neighbors’ Mercedes and BMWs seem to be on flatbeds all too often while my Giulia soldiers on. I also disagree on the Mazda6 being the best design in sporting sedans – though the Mazda is good, the Alfa is much prettier from every angle.
HEY YOU KIDS! GET OFF MY LAWN!
And , by the way, the Challenger is still drop dead gorgeous.
Agree with points and parts here. The Ferrari is the neatest. But would like the see it as the 246 dino. Why not make the same car? Make the body correct retro with modern underpinning and put the Ferrari badges on it. While US companies got the retro mostly correct. The Europeans only did the beetle. I think there is a market for a sensible sports car. Hey Porsche, how about a modern 914 with boxer underpinnings? Carrol Shelby in an interview regretted making the 427 Cobra. It just was too much of a car. I think too many of the sports cars today are just a number racket of too much horsepower. I pine for the sensible sports car.
A car in what I call the 240Z category. Bigger than a Gt6 smaller than a type E. More power than a Sprite but not overpowered than a Vette. Closest thing today is the Brz/ Gr86.
I have driven a Cobra 427SC at Laguna Seca….once. I agree with Shelby.
@ED
How in the world did you avoid getting black flagged for noise?
The fact that you mention reliability in an article that is only about great design is just stupid. Save your comments for a different article.
Yea, but if I just wanted great design I could buy a picture and hang on the wall. A lot cheaper and no maintenance problems. Reliable is still number one!
People place different priorities on what they want out of a car, and that’s fine. If you hang great design on your wall, that’s known as art darling!
Respectfully,I have a maverick on order.a comparably equipped Colorado is almost 5 thousand more.as far as underpowered,I chose the Ecoboost and sub 15 sec quarter mile times are impressing the journalists.
Just as an aside, the 2023 Maverick is sold out. It’s too bad Ford hasn’t increased production, but perhaps they don’t expect the rush to last. I think comparing it to virtually any other pickup for sale today is a reach. There’s nothing near the $25K out the door for which you can get a Maverick. Car and Driver was on the money when they compared it to a Honda Civic instead of another pickup. They saw the “Focus” connection right away. Ford probably should have named it something else though . . .
Your list of future collectables should include Jaguars XKR— ohcams, 4 valves per cylinder, roots supercharger, great transmission and all the reliability and performance that Ford offers. (2005). Add to that the styling of the famous “E” type
This is good design you can buy today, rather than being future collectibles. I think the XKR (in both generations) are pretty well recognised as being classics now.
Hi, I guess I’m old enough to remember the original Maverick, and it wasn’t much of a hit either.
It should have been the next gen Mustang instead of the overweight barges and then the Mustang II. It had nice lines and a great price point. When you see one on the road nowadays (rarely) – the lines stand out.
Ford expected the Americans to side with power and give up on a few miles of fuel efficiency. This bet played out, and Ford sold over 2.1-million Mavericks in North America over its nine years run.
Mustang II sold 1.1 million in 4 years.
Gave street rods their front suspension.
Allowed the Fox Body to come along.
Many disrespect it. Look what Roush did with the 1975 “Sudden Death” Mustang II.
If the Mustang II had the engines of 1969 and not been covered in brougham era (malaise if you insist) styling cues and colors I think they would have been appreciated much more.
Maverick cars are cool too, more style than you came to expect from that market price bracket in the decades that followed. Naming the new truck Maverick is goofy for people with deeper car knowledge, the average modern consumer has no clue there was a Maverick car.
Except for the 2 ugly Toyota’s, I agree with your list.
Original Mav could fit a 351W. Stupid fun in a powder blue 4 -door with stubby header mufflers, built C4, and a Lincoln locked 8” with 3.25. Those farm fleet bias snow tires would spin into 3rd.
Sorry, I just can’t agree on the Lexus. The entire Toyota line has spent years looking like the stylists spent too much time sketching the 80s ‘Battlestar Galactica’ Cylons as kids, and that gaping black screen Cylon-mouth grille makes the whole car a joke. So do all the little creases, folds, flips, and crevasses stuck in random locations.
The Maverick already looks like it took the styling cues from a 1964 Dodge pick up.
Navigator is just two box school bus inspired design, like every other large SUV.
The Land Rover Defender looks like every other Defender to come before it.
Prius and Alfa have the usual ‘Drop of Wax’ design and the Lexus is just ugly as a Lexus should be.
This just leaves the Ferrari, which looks liek a Ferrari and if you are not a Ferrari afficiando, you can’t really tell one Ferrari from the next.
Most modern vehicles look alike. Most people don’t care.
The vehciles that make the best emotional connection seem to be the ones renewing classic designs.
My $.02
I hate to admit it but most of my automobile purchases are motivated by aesthetics and even a color. 1984 Ferrari 308 GTS QV, red/tan of course, new 1984 Corvette, Lincoln MK VIIIs, 2013 Inferno Orange Camaro, even redesigned 1988 and 2008 Chevy pickups. Many of my purchases have been made without even test driving the car. This might be considered foolish but I have managed to live with my decisions. I have to agree with the choice of the Lexus LC 500 but make mine a coupe as I am considering replacing my pristine 1995 Ferrari 355 spider 6 speed with one as my body “ages out” of the F Car. As far as Ferraris go, the 458 Italia remains my favorite for its simple lines but the F90 was a close second until they dropped the 296 GTB into the mix. If I could afford it and my body would let me, there would be a 296 GTB in my garage. Wait a second, my titanium laden back says no. Never mind.
I didn’t choose the images, but if I had I would have used a coupe rather than a drop top LC.
Your perspective on the Maverick pickup struck a chord with me. The day I picked up my Mustang GT it reached out to me – – a non traditional pickup driver. One will be added to my stable soon.
Any auto writer should know by now that today’s pickups are ALL consumer products. None of them are rugged anymore. Put a load of rock in the bed and you will soon see that they are built for commuting, even the big diesel 4 doors. The rugged image is just that, image only. Same with SUVs. Sport? Seriously? They are yesterday’s station wagons, nothing more.
Sorry 77GL, but my ‘17 F150 super crew Max Tow is capable. I’ve hauled a yard of rock )only 5 miles, but it did it, 80’ of cedar fencing and my travel trailer w/ 2 motorcycles in the bed of the truck. And with its wide leather seats, it is way more comfy over a 5,000 mile trip than my E93 BMW. What it ain’t, is better on gas and fun on a curvy road.
Hagerty needs to re-think their definition of classic cars now and in the future. The definition of classic cars at most car shows do not include 1980 and to present vehicles. Listing a Ford truck as a future classic is laughable.
Hagerty likely won’t share the info but I suspect they have had a significant increase in policies for pre-2000 Ford trucks in the last decade.
Amerciana that strikes across many lifestyle and political brackets –though some don’t appreciate I suppose.