How a BMW M3 made me fall in love with BMW again.

I'm a car guy. Ignore the fact that when my then fiancé was shopping for a car I suggested a gold Toyota Camry, Pontiac Vibe, and a Honda Fit. The biggest misstep was the gold Camry, which aged me by about 40 years. I'll never live that one down.

So I wanted to do something special for my wife for her birthday. A month late. Hey at least I was a good husband and bought her a bike for her birthday! 2 years ago. Ok, so anyway, I needed to really do something special so I went after my friend's E92 BMW M3. He's the nicest guy in the city of Chicago so of course he said yes when I asked. I showed up Monday morning and left him the keys to my 1999 Lexus GS 300. He was beside himself with excitement. Nope, actually, he wasn't.

So let me step away from the story for a minute. I really loved the E46 M3. It has been my opinion that those years, 2002-2004, were some of BMW's best. Then Bangle got his hands on the design reigns and some weird stuff started happening. Recent years have been much better but I've felt that design has drifted a little and my enthusiasm for BMW has waned substantially. That is until I got behind the wheel of the M3 on Saturday. Oh. My. Heavens.

I picked up the wife and then we hopped on Lakeshore Drive. I dropped the hammer. That V8. That exhaust note. That tight steering wheel. The way the leather sport seats wrapped around me. Crazy good. Outlandishly fast. Insanely beautiful. The M3 was everything a sports car is supposed to be. Except for the fact that the there is a weird material on the steering wheel that was peeling, the car is practically flawless. When you're in the middle of the power band, you know, where a typical car starts to slow, the M3 just keeps going. You run out of straight road and guts well before you run out of power.

The M3 had such a powerful effect on me that I found myself configuring a 320i the other day. Sure it has 234 less horsepower than the M3 but IT'S A BMW! Driving the M3 finally helped me see why Car and Driver has given so many accolades over the years. No they aren't biased. No they aren't receiving a paycheck from Munich. Driving a BMW is really that good. I still don't like the X1 or the X3 or the X4. I still think the GT versions of the 3 and 5 series look terrible and I just want the wagon. But the M3 really is that good. I was never a BMW hater but one weekend may just have been enough to make me a BMW lover.

The First Ever Justin Lake Automobile Winners List

My two favorite Car and Driver and Motor Trend issues both arrived recently: Motor Trend's Car of the Year issue and Car and Driver's 10 Best issue. Here are my winners.

CAR

Compact Car/Hatchback: Mazda 3

As most know, I'm a big fan of wagons and hatchbacks. I love the utility they provide while still providing a car driving experience. Hattie and I put a deposit down on the then unreleased 2012 Subaru Impreza hatchback. Luckily we changed our mind before we plunked down the big cheddar. I love the Impreza for its looks and AWD but the interior, engine power, and MPG are not up to snuff with the Mazda. I think the Mazda 3 is the best looking small car on the market and the hatch version is just a bonus. I hope to buy a used one of these in a few years. 

Midsize Family Sedan: Kia Optima

I drove an SX version of the Optima right after it came out and I loved it. I think it is a heck of a looker, has some serious get-up, and gets great gas milage. And it's not a Honda Accord, so you may actually stand out on the block. 

Small Luxury Sport Sedan: Mercedes CLA

I love this car. It's relatively affordable and it is almost perfectly executed from a design standpoint, both inside and out. Ok, fine, maybe it slopes a titch too much in the back. If they sold the hatchback version in the U.S., I would consider going into debt in order to own one. 

Midsize Luxury Sport Sedan: Audi S6

We are talking about some serious cashola with the S6 but it is pretty much the perfect car. Car and Driver reported a faster 0-60 time in the S6 than they did in the all new Corvette Stingray. That's wicked fast. A very tempting alternative to the S6 is the brand new Cadillac CTS. I really love this car. Especially in Vsport. Yes please. 

SUV

Small SUV: Mazda CX-5

This winner was a little harder to choose. Wins for its good looks, sporting nature, and strong MPG. However, if you were to pick a Subaru Forester or Ford Escape, you wouldn't be going wrong.

Offroad SUV: 4 Door Jeep Wrangler

Our wedding photographer had one of these with the perfect lift and after market tires. I've been sold ever since. 

Midsize SUV: The Audi Q5 and Jeep Grand Cherokee

I couldn't pick a winner. I love both of these SUVs and want to own both. I think they both are gorgeous and well crafted vehicles. The rational buy for the Jeep would be with the diesel engine but the thrilling choice would be the SRT version. As for the Audi, I'd get 3.0 TDI. Got some serious torque. 

Large SUV: The upcoming GMC Yukon Denali

I'm not usually a big fan of these monstrous cars but these thing is a looker. Will be available in 2014 and would be my choice over any of the competitors.

Truck: Ford Atlas Concept

Ok, it is probably not fair to choose a concept vehicle but I was so enamored by the Ford Atlas at last year's Chicago Auto Show that I can't imagine spending money on anything that wasn't this. If Ford deviates too far from this concept for the next generation F150, many manly tears across America will be shed.

SPORTS CAR

Budget Sports Car: Subaru BRZ
My wife doesn't think this is a cool car. I think she's crazy. I love the BRZ. I do think it is underpowered right now and if they were to put an engine with STI like performance in it, this car would be a mini Porsche. Or at least a wannabe, which in this case, wouldn't be a bad thing.

Under 100k Sports Car: Porsche Cayman S
I currently love this car more than any other car in production. It is pretty much perfect in every way. This car is why I dream of having a spare garage with a sports car inside.

Premium Sports Car: Ferrari 458 Italia
This was a tough choice. I love the looks and awe factor of the Ferrari more than any other car. However, if I wanted to "budget" my purchase, I'd opt for the Audi R8 V10 Plus. Yes please.

Hot dang! Hyundai and it's upscale climb.

Autoblog just released their First Drive piece on the completely redesigned 2015 Hyundai Genesis sedan and it is a looker! The first thing I noticed about the rear end is how much it looks like the Lexus GS 350.

Granted the shapes are slightly different and so are the tailpipes but there is a definite similarity and not in a bad way. I really like the current Lexus GS. Some may think the back is too boring or conservative. It's nothing flashy but I think it looks great. 

I haven't had a chance to read the whole Autoblog post so I may update this post later after I've read it. What I will say is that I like what Hyundai is doing. I have been a big fan of their design and product direction for awhile and it continues to go in the right direction. Competition produces better products and that is Hyundai's goal. 

iOS in the Car - "Very Important"

I wrote a piece called The Awful State of Infotainment Systems here on my site. Yesterday, at Apple's quarterly earnings, Tim Cook was asked about iOS in the Car and its importance in the Apple ecosystem. He responded that it is "Very Important." This is music to my ears! Knowing that Apple is concerned about the in car experience is the first important step in overhauling an absolutely terrible experience that currently exists. Next, we have to pray that the automakers get on board. Honda, Acura, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Infiniti, Ferrari, Chevrolet, Hyundai, Kia, Volvo, Opel and Jaguar are all listed as participating automakers but time will tell whether or not they actually put screens in their cars that can take advantage of iOS in the Car. My fingers are crossed. 

*Note: I really want the new Mazda 3 Hatchback but Mazda is sadly not on this list. Come on Mazda, get your act together. You, of all automakers, needs some serious help with your in car entertainment and navigation offerings. 

With Bangle long gone, where does BMW design go from here?

BMW had a problem on its hands. Chris Bangle had been a designer for the German automaker since 1992. During those years he rose to a more prominent position and ultimately, head of design. Bangle is infamous for the dreaded "bangle butt" of the 7 Series sedan released in 2001. Personally, I didn't mind the 7 series too much. In fact, it was far less polarizing than the even more prominent and hideous trunk of the 6 series coupe. The problem was simply that the 7 series was BMW's flagship sedan. Later the BMW 5 series took on some terrible lines in its skin as well as the Z4. I think during that decade, the Z4 was my least favorite.

Chris Bangle left BMW in February of 2009. So why do I bring this up 4 years later? BMW announced the 2014 X5 SUV on the 30th of May. The new X5 is an evolution of BMW's current design concept. I don't think the new X5 is ugly. In fact, it is the best looking SUV in BMW's lineup. My question is, where does BMW design go next? Have they cornered themselves into a current design language that leaves very little room for interesting progression? Who knows, if BMW stays true to the design of the concept 4 Series, I could be swayed.

Grand Cherokee or 4Runner?

Toyota chose to reveal its updated 2014 4Runner at a Country music festival in California this past weekend. Now that Nissan has relegated he Pathfinder to life as family hauler and Hummer has been defunct for 3 years, the 4Runners competition has narrowed. There's really only one other vehicle that prides itself in being as capable off road as it is on road: The Jeep Grand Cherokee. The design concept behind both is obviously very different. While the Grand Cherokee is round and has ditched hard lines from previous models, the 2014 4Runner exhibits about as hard edge of a design as possible. I think the edginess of the 4Runner looks tough and masculine and is somewhat appealing but in terms of overall beauty, I don't think it's even a competition. The Grand Cherokee really is a gorgeous SUV. Despite being a much bigger fan of the Jeep over the Toyota, I'm glad Toyota is sticking too its roots with the 4Runner and not selling out like Nissan did with the Pathfinder.

2014 Toyota 4Runner

2013 Nissan Pathfinder 

2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee

Note: The base MSRP price of the 4Runner and the Grand Cherokee is very comparable. The big difference between the two is that the Grand Cherokee can be configured in model that rings in over $63,000 whereas the 4Runner tapers off around $43,000.

Cadillac XTS Sedan - Hot? How about bulbous.

When I first saw the new Cadillac XTS, I really liked it. Then, at the Chicago Auto show a few months ago, I circled it a few times, sat in the front and back, and also thought I was quite impressed with Cadillac's biggest sedan. Then the other day I saw one and I'm not as sold on the vehicle as I once was. My biggest problem is that the sedan looks too bulbous. It looks like someone was given an assignment to pump the vehicle up with a bike pump and then overinflated. I understand that this vehicle is not intended to be a sleek sports car but I feel like the new CTS arriving later this year will be a much sleeker vehicle. If current photos of the 2014 CTS are any indication, it will anything but bulbous.

2013 XTS

2014 CTS 

*One additional thought. Current Cadillac interiors are looking great!

CLA Shooting Brake?

PLEASE OH PLEASE LET IT HAPPEN. 

Whatcar is reporting that Mercedes is working on a CLA Shooting Brake, similar to the CLS Shooting Brake. I'm actually not a huge fan of the CLS Shooting Break, probably because of how big it is but with the CLA being a much smaller car, I think they could really nail it on this model. Here's to hoping that they not only build a CLA Shooting Brake but also bring it to the U.S!

CLA250 

CLS500 Shooting Brake

The Awful State of Infotainment Systems

“How do you put a destination into the navigation system?” my father asked over the phone.  He was trying to figure out how to use the navigation system in his Lexus.  I know right away that I will not be able to successfully instruct him over the phone on how to use his car’s navigation system.  I would like to say the problem is due to the fact that his vehicle is 9 years old and that if only he had a new car, this process would be simple.  Unfortunately many of the problems that existed in 2003 still exist today: over-priced infotainment systems, an inconsistent market standard, and an overall confusing and clunky execution.  

•Price: The pricing format that automakers have taken is akin to that of concession stands at a Yankees game or the prices charged in restaurants at the airport.  In other words, they hardly correlate to external pricing rational. Take the 2013 Honda Civic for example.  If you want to add the navigation system with backup camera?  $1,500 option.  The Hyundai Elantra is even worse: it will cost you $2,350 to add the technology package.  You get more for your money with the Hyundai upgrade, but that is part of the problem as well.  Many automakers are bundling navigation systems into even more expensive package options, forcing you to either pay more than you would like to get the features you want or to simply go without.  So how is it that you can buy a windshield mountable Garmin for $100 and yet it costs 15-20x that for one to come standard in your car?  

•Inconsistency: Each automaker is developing and implementing their own infotainment system: Ford has Sync, Kia has Uvo, Cadillac has Cue, Lexus has Enform, and Subaru doesn't even have a standard system yet.  There is absolutely no standard in the industry. The only thing that seems standard right now is a CD player, and that is a terrible standard to have.  In a world of Pandora, Rdio, Spotify, and iTunes, why do we continue to trifle with CDs?  To show just how slow to adapt the auto industry is, look no further than the fact that it took manufactures until 2010 to fully phase out cassette decks!  With how risk averse automakers are, we are unlikely to see true innovation in this area for the foreseeable future.  

•Confusing:  The operating systems in these systems feel designed by automakers, not technology companies.  The problem is, they are designed by automakers.  Some systems use touch screens, others buttons, while some use a combination of touch and controllers. Many systems feel more like an afterthought than a well thought out system.  Performing simple operations such as changing the temperature in the car and then trying to change the song that is playing often requires way too many screen taps and menu layers to be convenient or safe.  The update process is also confusing, with most updates (if there ever are updates) requiring an inconvenient trip to the dealership.  

Ideal and Unrealistic Solution:  In a perfect world the automakers would team up with Apple, Microsoft, and Google.  The hardware installed in the vehicles would be capable of running iOS, Android, or Windows Phone operating systems.  When customers went to the dealership to purchase their car, they would then purchase an "install option" that would allow them to choose which operating system was installed in their vehicle.  Once chosen, the system would work just as it currently does on our mobile phones and tablets.  Updates would be available over the air and could happen from the convenience of your own garage.  There would be no drastic learning curve because each buyer could choose the mobile operating system of their choice. 

Realistic Solution: As much as I love and prefer iOS to Android, it seems like Android is in a better position to become the standard OS in vehicles infotainment systems.  Apple is a control freak and the willingness of Apple to collaborate with automakers seems unlikely.  This leaves Microsoft and Google.  With Google's Android being open source and Microsoft Windows not being open source, it would make more sense to go with Android.*  The wide array of services that Google offers, from Google Music to Google Maps would make it a natural fit.  Google has also been willing to play nice with Apple and Microsoft, still offering these platforms access to Gmail, Google Voice Search, and other Google functionality.**  The more “open” Google stays, the better fit they would be in the auto industry.  As automakers invest more money and development into their own proprietary systems, it will only get harder to convince them to switch.  Now is the time that adoption of a standard in the auto industry must happen.  The power lies with the automakers but it is up to one of these tech companies to make a compelling case.  Which makes me wonder: If Google can’t pull it off, who will? 

*Ford SYNC is actually developed by Microsoft and we’ve all seen how good that system is. Yawn.  Next.  

**Google has not been playing very friendly with Microsoft lately and lack of support for Windows Phone 8 is proof.


UPDATE:  This is interesting.  At least someone is making SOME headway.  Official: Hyundai and Kia adding Google Maps API to nav systems

Hyundai Genesis and the new 2013 Honda Accord

Remember my  post about the Kia Optima and the VW Passat?  Here is one of the Hyundai Genesis, initially released in 2008 and the newly released Honda Accord.

What do you think?  Did Honda pull a VW and head to the Korean automakers for some design cues?

Acura Beak

The high ups at Honda and Acura keep admitting their mistakes.  I like that.
http://www.autoblog.com/2012/06/19/new-acura-design-chief-admits-company-went-a-little-overboard/

Advertising: The real and the fake.

I like advertising.  Good advertising.  I think most people do.  Take a look at the view counts for Super Bowl Commercials and you will see the interest.  We are naturally inclined to want good products and advertising is the medium used to connect us to those products.  There are advertisements that are comical, touching, fascinating, and memorable.  Then you have the "junk ads" and this stuff drives me crazy.  Junk ads are the reason that so many people install Adblock Plus in their browser.  It is also a reason many people on iOS are willing to pay for an app in order to avoid ads that are distracting and annoying.  I pay $10 a month for an Rdio subscription and the annoying ads in Pandora is just one of the reasons I quit using Pandora long ago.  I decided to open up Pandora the other day and after choosing my station, this is the next thing I saw.  

Let's discuss all the problems with this ad:

1.  It looks shady.

2.  It is completely obtrusive, totally covering what I really want to see on the screen.

3.  It looks like an ad for a site that was designed in 2000.

4.  It is not relevant seeing that I am married.  This same ad would also not be relevant to women or     children.

I'm not exactly sure how advertising should be done on mobile.  It is brand new territory that is going to explode into a huge business.  Apple introduced iAd in 2010 with hopes of capitalizing on profits to be had from mobile advertising.  I don't love iAds myself but they are much better than the ad model used on Pandora.

I'm excited to be entering the world of advertising at such a unique time.  A time when radio, television, internet, and mobile advertising as we know it is changing drastically.  I hope to find a way to produce great stuff and never be associated with the garbage that plagues the sidebar in Facebook or the annoying pop up ads for games like Words with Friends or apps like Pandora.  

Here are a few examples of quality ads.  

The City Creek Project by Struck

Note: I personally believe that the kind of advertising used on the Pandora ad and the examples of good advertising that I listed here are not in the same category at all.  The problem is that many people just see it all as "advertising" and so it is worth pointing out that one type of advertising is going after quality and another is simply just a cheap, "in your face" quantity type ad.  I hope to produce the former and reinvent the later. 

  

Acura RLX

I honestly did not intend on becoming an "Anti-Honda" blog but if I don't stop posting on the topic soon, it will sure look like that to my readers. With that said, here is another validation of my comments on the new Acura RLX concept from the New York auto show.  Below is a screenshot from a Auto show opinion wrap-up post by Cars.com.

 

The Honda Accord

Just in case any of you thought I was full of hot air regarding problems at Honda, here you GO.

Honda and Acura Design Woes Continue.

The New York Auto Show is in full swing and there are some awesome new models that have been

introduced. I look forward to discussing a number of those new models here on The Juicebox.  However, I couldn't resist that my first post be about Honda and Acura.  Honda introduced the "Crosstour Concept" which is basically a refresh to the current Crosstour.  It may be a refresh but only a trained eye is going to see the changes.  The problem is, even if you do notice the changes, they aren't any good.  The vehicle is still incredibly ugly.  This is an opinion coming from a guy who really likes wagons.  Now, on to Acura.  Acrua introduced the RLX Concept.  THIS car my friends is supposed to be the company's flagship sedan.  This car is more boring than a white wall.  The best thing about this car would be to drive next to one on a road trip and watch it cause all your passengers to fall asleep.  I honestly don't see how Acura can put this thing on the show floor and feel good about it while Audi and Mercedes are selling legitimate beauty pageant contenders.  Again, I'm not going to argue that this car is going to be a bad car mechanically or not a quiet, comfortable ride.  I am fairly confident it will meet those criteria.  This is about design and the design scheme is seriously flawed, from top to bottom at Honda.    

Note: While I think the Crosstour is downright ugly, I just think the Acura is boring.  The Acura would look fine in a retirement home parking lot.  

Fuel Economy: Is a Toyota Prius C worth it?

Gas prices are going up again and the end is not in sight.  Gas prices are a mystery, differing from state to state and fluctuating week to week.  As one who commutes 50 miles a day, this tends to be something I think about often.  I decided to do a little number crunching to see what the cost difference would be between driving my 1999 Lexus GS 300 vs buying a brand new 2012 Toyota Prius C.  See the comparison of the two below, compliments of www.fueleconomy.gov.

2012 Toyota Prius C

So here are the numbers I calculated.
The MSRP of a new Prius C Two is $20,000 (including a $660 haggling discount).  This is a payment of roughly $400 a month.
Over 5 years that is $24,000.
Fuel for 1 year is $1,150 and 5 years is $5,750.
If the resell value of the vehicle mimics a 5 year old Toyota Prius today, it would sell for somewhere between $12,000-$15,000.  Let's go with $14,000.
So, the cost to drive a Prius C for 5 years is $24,000+$5,750-$14,000 = $15,750.
Per year, that is a cost of $3,150.
Per month, that is a cost of $262.50.

1999 Lexus GS 300

Now here is the cost of driving my 1999 Lexus GS 300.  My car is paid for so the purchase price is $0.
Fuel for 1 year is $3,050 and 5 years is $15,250.
If the resell value of my vehicle mimics current 18 year old Lexus vehicles, it would be somewhere between $1,000-$2,500.  We'll say $1,750.
Now, since the car is coming up on 200,000 miles, we need to factor in repair costs.  Over 5 years, I'm estimating $1,300 in repair costs.
So, the cost to drive the Lexus GS 300 for 5 years is $15,250 +$1,300-$1,750=$14,800.
Per year, that is a cost of $2,960.
Per month, that is a cost of $246.66.

The additional cost per month to drive the Prius would be $15.84.  I'm surprised at how little of a difference there is between the two choices.  $15 is marginal, money spent in a heartbeat at lunch out at Cafe Rio.  Now I understand that these numbers are not cold, hard facts.  Some of them may be wrong.  I didn't do a full, lengthy analysis on this, so I may be missing some other essential elements.  I didn't take into account other maintenance costs.  Also, if my Lexus were to blow a head gasket, have the transmission go out, or die altogether, then this numbers would also need to be adjusted.

So the question is, do I want to drive a Prius or my Lexus?  It should be noted that I have hated the Toyota Prius with so much zeal that it is amazing I actually 1)wrote this post and 2)am even considering the Prius as a car worthy of buying.
If you see errors with my calculations, please let me know in the comments section.  Remember, it was my brother who received the Math Sterling Scholar award in high school, not me.

Mercedes Benz M-Class

I think the new M-Class SUV is one of the most gorgeous luxury SUVs on the market right now*.  If you haven't seen it, you should. M-Class.

*For comparison sake, The BMW X5 is starting to look very dated.  Hope BMW will take the M-Class serious and invigorate the X5 with some sleek new styling.

FOLLOW UP to: Hyundai, Not the "affordable option" anymore?

I ended my post on Hyundai's increasing price with a question.  That question read, "Now that Hyundai is shrinking the price gap between competitors, would you still consider a Hyundai?"  Well, according to a newly released analysis by Edmunds.com for USA Today, Hyundai buyers, on average, are paying more for their Elantra than Toyota and Honda buyers are paying for the Corolla and Civic.  This shows that Hyundai vehicles aren't just now costing more than competitors but that they already DO cost more.  This also answers the question on whether or not consumers are willing to pay the same(or more) than competing brands.  The answer? A resounding yes.   

Hyundai, not the "affordable option" anymore?

It is no secret that Hyundai is a changed brand.  Go drive a Hyundai Sonata from 2004 and you will most likely not want to drive another Hyundai ever again.  Fast forward to 2012 and you have an array of gorgeous, high quality vehicles.  Hyundai has, in the past, been referred to as the "affordable" option when compared to competitors like Honda and Toyota.  Things are changing.  Hyundai just announced the prices of the new Azera as well as the Genesis Coupe.  The Azera's base price increased from $25,495 to $32,000.  That is a substantial increase.  The Genesis Coupe 2.0 base price went from $22,250 to $24,250 and the 3.8 went from $26,750 to $28,750.  Now that Hyundai is shrinking the price gap between competitors, would you still consider a Hyundai?

The New Face of Lexus

Car companies have generally followed a similar design theme throughout the automaker lineup.  This brings a necessary cohesion to the design team and also makes it easier for the brand to be recognized by consumers.  When an automaker introduces a redesign, typically focusing on the front of the vehicle, it often is polarizing and can split brand faithful.  Let's take a look at a few companies and the effect a "corporate face" can have on the brand's success.

Subaru

Sometime during 2003, Subaru decided it was going to introduce a new grille design that would become the face of all Subaru vehicles.  Our first glimpse of this new face was the Subaru B9 Concept shown at the 2003 Tokyo Auto Show.  Despite very opinionated responses from critics, Subaru designers went ahead with the new front end design.  The first vehicle to showcase the design was the 2006 B9 Tribeca. The new SUV from Subaru was mocked and rejected for its ugly grille design and sales were evidence of that sentiment.  This however did not stop the face from making its way onto the 2006 Subaru Impreza .  Although not nearly as prominent or ugly as the Tribeca, the new Impreza was never deemed beautiful by the masses.  Before the face could make its way to the Legacy, Subaru's flagship sedan, Subaru ditched the face with hopes that it would quietly slip into history with no serious fallout.  With how strong Subaru sales have been the past few years, it appears that this is exactly what the public has done with the failed Subaru face: forgotten.

Audi

If you see a new Audi driving down the road, there is no mistaking that it is an Audi.  What may be mistaken however is which model Audi you have just spotted.  Audi vehicles have always had a very close resemblance to one another, but never as the current generations.  What makes each Audi model so similar to the next is the single frame grille.  Audi developed the "single frame grille" design almost 10 years ago and implemented it on the 2004 Audi A3.  Subsequently it was integrated into the A6, A8, and A4.  Now every Audi vehicle proudly displays this grille design.  Audi is producing gorgeous vehicles right now but must be cautious as some in the industry have complained that there is "too much commonality" between models, specifically between an Audi A8 and the Audi A4, which can have a price difference of between 40-70k between the two models.   Audi may need to differentiate more than they currently are but overall their current design theme is striking and is successfully helping customers identify and associate with the brand, regardless of which model in the lineup they see.

Lexus

Since the title of the article is "The New Face of Lexus", it seems appropriate to finally discuss the topic.  Lexus, one of the most successful selling luxury brands in the United States, has been criticized for years for being "too soft and too boring."  Despite the fact that many shoppers buy Lexus for just this reason, Lexus has decided to take Lexus in a direction that they hope will evoke more passion from owners.  The first vehicle to display the new Lexus design is the 2013 Lexus GS.  The first thing anyone familiar with Lexus will notice is the all new grille design.  This new "spindle" design is anything but bland and screams for attention, quite a contrast from the quiet whispering done by the previous generation GS.  Today, and the motivation for this post, a brochure for the 2013 RX leaked onto the internet.  It looks like Lexus is going all in on the grille design and will be implementing it on other models in the lineup.  This is a potentially risky move when you understand what the RX means to Lexus.  The RX has not only been the best selling Lexus model but also the best selling mid-size luxury SUV in the United States.  With Mercedes and Audi sales surging, Lexus can't afford to have a design failure with the RX, or any other future Lexus for that matter.  The public is finicky.  Luxury car buyers are even more so.  Just look at the "Bangle Backlash" for proof of what uproar you can hear from brand faithful when you muck up the design of an entire lineup.  Lexus is anxious to move ahead of the competition and that success depends on the company's brand new design.  So the question is, will the public smile upon the new face?  Only time will tell.

*Note: I avoided discussing Acura and the corporate front end design since I recently discussed my distaste for Acura's current lineup.