Whew! I say:
In all things, especially automotive design - just because you can doesn’t mean you should…
Sorry, I can’t agree with you on this. The new Optima is a handsome and cohesive design, the latest Accord is not at all. As an admirer of Honda design, I was shocked when they put this thing out. I would put the Civic and Forte on a par, both are very good designs in their own way. The Civic pushes the acceptable parameters of car shape, and wins with clean and appropriate detailing. The Forte uses a more conventional shape, but shines with unconventional solutions to the details. Look closely at the meeting of hood, door and front fender on the Forte. Sweet clean, and imaginative.
I have to go against the grain a bit, and say that I don’t think the Cube is the worst. It is what it is, and it is very good at doing what it is intended to do. The Smart ForTwo http://www.carpages.co.uk/smart/smart_images/smart_fortwo_13_12_05.jpg gets my vote for the ugliest. It has an ugly body, an ugly name, and it is by all accounts a terrible car. It has plenty of room for two people, and maybe a briefcase. It doesn’t get especially good mileage, which undercuts any reason it may claim to have for existing. It’s not fun to drive. It is shockingly good in an accident (If you doubt me go look up the crash tests on YouTube) but that cannot make up for the fact that it is just screamingly twee http://www.never2funky.com/urbanalex/2009/09/smart-car-full-body-kits/ and useless.http://blog.niot.net/blog-images/15_apr/it-had-to-happen-the-smart-fortwo-for-eight.jpg
the world’s ugliest car is the Honda Element!
It may be utilitarian, but I would be caught dead in a Ford Flex!
Yes, the Smart convertible is an abomination. But it still looks like a Ferrari next to the Sunmotor Coupe DX. Here’s another view of that one . . .
While The Fiat Mutlipla was certainly hideous in its original form, the most recent examples have morphed into something a bit more palatable, if not still gawky, what with that too-tall roof line . . .
So, I suppose that the original Multipla most are commenting on here is, technically speaking, no longer in production.
But fear not, folks: Ford comes to the rescue with extreme “Popemobile” styling on its latest Transit Connect van that makes the new Multipla look sleek and sexy by comparison . . .
Yup. If you want an electric powered van, you are forced to (for now, at least) go the ugly route.
But I digress . . . The Sunmotor Coupe DX has no equal when it comes to the pinnacle of ill-conceived styling. From what I’m able to find, Sunmotor is based in Massachusetts and (until I can find information to the contrary) a current production vehicle. Tom and Ray need to head over there and simply ask their styling department heads “What WERE they thinking?”
Sunmotor is on a roll, though. Their LADA concept dispenses with the Coupe DX’s vertical aquarium windshield for one that is almost completely horizontal! . . .
Well, I'd never seen a photo of a Mayback Landaulet but now that I have, I think that thing takes the cake!
I also think the Nissan Cube is the ugliest of "normal" vehicles -- those cube vehicles (xB etc.) are all pretty ugly, and that offset rear window is hideous. Even worse, since Japan is right hand drive and US left hand drive, the ugly window's on the wrong side to actually improve visibility any useful amount!
Runners up? Lincoln Navigator (all recent Lincolns have ugly grills, and big boxy SUVs are ugly in general), Hummer (if they are still making it?, I think Hummer was sold off). I agree the Mini is pretty pointless (with that low of gas mileage for the size of vehicle) but it's a lot less ugly than these other vehicles IMHO.
Camaro? Really? I think it looks OK. I could see not liking it but you really think it's uglier than the other cars people have mentioned? They're pretty bad.the girl having her picture taken with those cars actually makes the car look better
I personally forgive the makers of the Tata Nano because they were intentionally making something uber-cheap with no thought into asthetics or style. It’s when automakers try and fail that is more worth mentioning. What astounds me is that, these cars don’t just pop out of the factory doors like spawning video game characters. Someone had to pitch it, a committee had to green-light it, focus groups had to give it a thumbs up and it had to go through an exhaustive approval process. You’re telling me the Aztec passed over all those hurdles during its development?
Worse, when a vehicle is designed to look like a tactical assault vehicle, but completely fails in that realm, vis the Hummer. It look fine in an Army motor pool, but stupid in the mall parking lot bedecked in - PUKE - chrome. I go four wheeling a lot in my 1998 Wrangler. There are fewer more common sights than a stuck Hummer. Come to think of it, there are fewer rarer sights than a Hummer out four-wheeling. But whenever I see one, it’s usually at the hook end of a winch cable. The real HMMWV has lift hooks on the hood. The fake Hummer has fake lift hooks and a fake vent and fake air cleaners. Even the HMMWV has problems because the lower arms are only 8" off the ground so they often snowplow. It’s a champ at towing and as a platform for a .50 cal machine gun turret, but good for little else. It’s also just too heavy and wide to get up remote trails. My Jeep goes places Hummers can only dream of. And, excepting the knobby tires, it’s straight stock.
While I’m on a rant, what’s up with all the friggin’ chrome on pickups? Chrome looks great on a 1957 Chevy. Why do new pickups have acres of it on the front? My old 68/72/69 GMC/Chevy/Chevy Frankentruck had chrome bumpers which looked cool, until I had to polish them. Once it got pitted by gravel, rust undermined the chrome coating which would then flake off. The Jeep has matte black bumpers and steps with a coat of Rhino lining. It’s by far the most practical coating for an off-roader. If I grind off a layer on rocks, then just pop open the can, apply a patch and it looks good as new. Leave chrome for the Bel-Airs and Barritzs.
The entire Cadillac line, recently, has had any positives destroyed by that ugly center-line crease in the front end (the more recent ones look better, since it’s not as pronounced on the bumper). The Charger looks like a good looking car that’s been chopped; so does the Camaro with the added flaw of the crease in the front bumper.
I can certainly agree on the 810, Auburn, and 63 Corvette.
I like it! Aesthetics are unfathomable, aren’t they?
Wow! It looks like the illegitimate offspring of a Soul and a Neon!
I once had a Ford van with that (orange and cream) color scheme. (was inherited) It drove nice, but I used to look at it sadly before I got in.
The H2 and H3 are kind of a joke, I’d agree.
I don’t think the Charger is that bad, though the Challenger is definitely better looking. I used to think the Nitro was pretty hideous, but it’s grown on me and I kind of like it now.
I’m going to add that I think the Subaru Tribeca should get honorable mention. What were they thinking with that front grille?
Umm… hate to disagree… I saw a Soul in Redding the other day: in “real life” (not virtual reality) it looks kinda cute… a car you would buy for your daughter after graduation. Of course, the Maserati (another car I saw parked, whilst visiting my son in Coronado) is gorgeous-- much BETTER looking than the photos. I mean, what is “ugly”? Poor design? Bad lines? Weird shapes? Sometimes, “weird” can be BETTER (i.e. the original VW Beetle, considered “ugly” when it first appeared) or Citroen 2CV (not pretty, but darned cute). And besides, I can AFFORD a Soul! I shall never be able to buy a Maserati or a Ferrari!
the ugliest car ever has go to be the Aztec, but I think everyone is forgetting the current champ the Toyota Yaris. It looks like an ugly Fiat was partially melted in an oven.
I think the Soul and the Cube are supposed to look quirky. They have a serious case of the cutes, and I agree it wears thin. But their looks don’t offend me. To me, cars look so generic and unadventurous–they really all do look alike. Car designers are playing it really safe, not venturing into territory that might flop with the public. However, I’ve got to say that the Acura TL is about the ugliest thing I’ve seen on the road lately. Thing is, I’ve always liked ugly cars–Edsels, the 1958 Buick, the AMC Matador. Where are cars like that today–cars that push the envelope? There really aren’t any…
Love or hate Chrysler, they’ve always pushed the envelope with styling. I just bought a 300C and I absolutely love the styling, features, and performance.