2011 Refresh Speculation...

[Sal Collaziano]

BMW did not copy the rear of the Lexus LS460. Lexus copied the rear of the 2002 BMW 745i for their 2007 LS460. It's a shame that BMW can put so much time, research, money and effort into developing a design and have another company come along, take it and actually get the credit for it - and worse even, have rumors spreading that THEY copied the company who actually copied..

Nothing against you, JJSC6.. Many people are under the same impression...

As for the Genesis redesign - I really like the new exhaust in the rear. I've always liked that square look - even back when the Cadillac STS used it in the 90s.. Otherwise, I can't see a whole lot of change. But as mentioned - it's just a refresh - not a redesign...

I REALLY dislike those exhaust "tips", and they are becoming all the rage. Heck, even BMW copied the rear of the LS460, as did the Mazda 6.

 

[jjsC6]

BMW did not copy the rear of the Lexus LS460. Lexus copied the rear of the 2002 BMW 745i for their 2007 LS460. It's a shame that BMW can put so much time, research, money and effort into developing a design and have another company come along, take it and actually get the credit for it - and worse even, have rumors spreading that THEY copied the company who actually copied..

Nothing against you, JJSC6.. Many people are under the same impression...

As for the Genesis redesign - I really like the new exhaust in the rear. I've always liked that square look - even back when the Cadillac STS used it in the 90s.. Otherwise, I can't see a whole lot of change. But as mentioned - it's just a refresh - not a redesign...

Agreed - I actually was referring to the exhaust tips more than anything, although I guess you are right. I did think of the new model copying the LS - but in retrospect, they seem to be copying each other in some ways.

Of course the Genisis is a copy of many vehicles. Every time I see one my mind has to do a search of vehicles before I realize what it is, and I'm pretty damn good at spotting vehicles.

For what it's worth, other than the front grill, I think the Genisis is one of the best looking sedans on the market today. Obviously I like the understated elegant look.

I finally figured out the other day what the Genisis grill looks like. You know how sometimes TV shows or commercials for automotive products use a car, but they try to disguise the car slightly so it doesn't show a name or trademark look? The grill looks like one of those (anyone remember the family wagon Chevy Chase drove in National Lampoons "Vacation"? That took what I'm saying to an extreme.

 

[JamesD]

You are referring, of course, to the Wagon Queen Family Truckster, which was, I believe, a Ford LTD wagon with a modified, second entire front cap added under the existing one.

I think your point about the grille being "anonymous" is a little off-base...the grille is actually very distinctive, and, if you study it a little, has a lot more character than most of its peers. The reason you think the car is so non-descript is because it is the only thing on the road with absolutely no brand markings on the front of the vehicle. Since the design language is new to the market (no "heritage", a la Mercedes-Benz), it doesn't really tell you what it is without a badge.

I can tell you that I now can pick one of these out from considerable distance as I've gotten involved with this model. If you notice, the cars with the "wing" emblem added to the front appear a lot more "complete", because we're used to seeing a name badge on a car's nose. As I've gotten used to the styling, I realize what a nice job the designers did overall. Despite being labeled "derivative", I think that, too, is simply a case where the typical critic doesn't have any frame of reference to tie the car to, and so tries to pick the styling apart to demonstrate his point. I find the design fresh, and no more derivative than any other typical car in the segment. There's nothing new about everyone in a particular market segment adapting design features that prove popular. The good ones improve on the idea, and often end up prettier than the car that had it first...

 

[jjsC6]

yeah, I looked it up after I posted (Truckster).

As far as design of the grill, you can never tell someone they are off-base on design - it's subjective. I didn't like it from the first time I saw it (there was an article a year or so in a magazine that showed two finalist designs that they considered - I liked the other one better.

Mind you, I don't think it's real bad - just not my taste. The Acura TL is REAL bad - but it's still on my short list.

You are referring, of course, to the Wagon Queen Family Truckster, which was, I believe, a Ford LTD wagon with a modified, second entire front cap added under the existing one.

I think your point about the grille being "anonymous" is a little off-base...the grille is actually very distinctive, and, if you study it a little, has a lot more character than most of its peers. The reason you think the car is so non-descript is because it is the only thing on the road with absolutely no brand markings on the front of the vehicle. Since the design language is new to the market (no "heritage", a la Mercedes-Benz), it doesn't really tell you what it is without a badge.

I can tell you that I now can pick one of these out from considerable distance as I've gotten involved with this model. If you notice, the cars with the "wing" emblem added to the front appear a lot more "complete", because we're used to seeing a name badge on a car's nose. As I've gotten used to the styling, I realize what a nice job the designers did overall. Despite being labeled "derivative", I think that, too, is simply a case where the typical critic doesn't have any frame of reference to tie the car to, and so tries to pick the styling apart to demonstrate his point. I find the design fresh, and no more derivative than any other typical car in the segment. There's nothing new about everyone in a particular market segment adapting design features that prove popular. The good ones improve on the idea, and often end up prettier than the car that had it first...