well AP, you could say that, but then you'd be speaking of a mass unit 400k a year car. If they made it look like the CTS it would easily lose a third of those sales. The CTS is love it or hate it. In 15 years it'll look like shit, whether you like it or not now. Think a TL is gonna look like shit in 15 years? I think not. Honda doesn't need to do anything drastic, they have success. If GM has to sell on style, so be it. Nothing else about the car is attractive to me.

That has always been the key to Honda's success. They don't take many liberal chances on styling, and while it doesn't create emotional passion initially, the bottom line is their cars rarely look outdated. I think a 1986 Accord still looks pretty good, with the flip up headlights and all. How many 1986 Buick Regals and Pontiac Grand Prix's still look modern?

I am not completely against the idea of "Science and Technology" art themes, as GM states it. But the CTS is ugly, there is no way around it. However, the XLR (Evoq) looks nice in that format.

The XLR will be a hard sell too. Why buy that when you can get a Mercedes-Benz SL500?

:werd:

My biggest gripe with the CTS is that the concept drawing was looked very nice, but the production model came out looking 'pudgy'. The S&T theme in the XLR is very nice and looked very much like CTS concept drawings. Lookie here:

CTS concept drawing


CTS production:


See how the front end of the CTS drawing was much more angular and sleeker looking? The CTS production looks likes a brick. Another disappointment is the relatively heavy weight and low 220hp combination makes it one of the slowest in its class. Add more insult to the package, the fit and finish and material used is subpar (typical first year model GM) to the rest of its class that even Bob Lutz admitted to and won't sell it in Germany because of this.

Allegedly the CTS is having it's interior redone as we speak. And those drawings look much better; taking away some of the slab sided angular lines that the production CTS has would do wonders.

And they'll desperately need that new engine. Their current V6 isn't up to the job. At least their gearbox is good.

I feel like I came off the wrong way with what I said. I know down the line the CTS won't be that great looking, but most luxury car buyers don't hang on to them for that long. The CTS definately has it's flaws though. Door handles from the TrailBlazer/Envoy/Bravada/Ascender/Rainer and I think the belt line looks horrid. I also think the amber fog-lights could be described as "butt". Cadillac is an underdog and they took a chance and it's paying off... that is one thing I find comendable here.

honda has this new vehicle coming out. it's called the element.

I'm taking my AV6 in for yet another tranny

Do you drive it to redline frequently? Probably not made for that.