More often than not, a new-model-year facelift makes me say, “Yeah, that’s better.” And even more frequently than that, I think an all-new model drop is better looking than the “old” car of the same name. Like, that’s why they pay car designers the big bucks, right? To keep us looking, and keep us wanting the latest and greatest? “Cadillac is getting rid of tail fins!”
But a refreshed design or facelift doesn’t always achieve the desired result, beauty being in the eye of the beholder and all that, and sometimes new or facelifted models seem to take a step backwards as well-intended designers try to move automobile styling forward.
As the topshot shows, one example that came to mind for me was how Acura took the perfectly handsome (though not exactly exciting) RL sedan and “upgraded” it for the 2009 model year with the “shield” grille design. Shield, right? If I’m not recalling that correctly, it’s because I always thought it looked like a beak. I didn’t love it when the look was grafted onto other Acura models, either.
When I asked the gang if any attractive-to-ugly situations came to mind for them, Thomas said all that needed to be said of the Hyundai Tiburon:
Indeed, its entire shit was fucked up. I didn’t love the first gen’s original look, but man, Hyundai really hold-my-beer’d that thing for the facelift.
Your turn: What Cars Went From Attractive To Uggo With A Bad Facelift Or New Model Year?
Top graphic images: Acura
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