Calling a car the ugliest car on the road is an insult to the Pontiac Aztec or the Kia Amanti. Or is it? Take the Aztec which on paper was exactly what market research and focus groups wanted. Then it was hated by the press and blogs and well didn't sell well. The Aztec is the reason why car designers and the companies the make cars should not read blogs or do focus groups. Just make the cars you would drive. Simple! You'll have hits and you'll have a few misses but I bet you'll have more hits! The European version of the Aztec or the Amanti is the Lancia Thesis. For some it's a piece of work and for others it is a piece of warmed over design studies. Too afraid to be something daring added with some warmed over design principles. Lancia is Fiat and you can see some classic Italian design elements in it. But for those who buy cars not based on heritage it falls a bit short. Unlike the Fiat 500 with it's cute styling those who buy upmarket cars dont want cuteness and oldness as new. The Thesis is a design the begs to question: What do luxury car buyers want? Me, I'd like the car then again I find the Kia Amanti charming. Yeah it's sorta ugly but it has design cues that date back to a time long ago. Compared to the Camry the Amanti and the Thesis are designs that people will remember.
No comments:
Post a Comment