Tuesday, September 10, 2013

Frankenstein's car...

In William Gibson's cyberpunk Sprawl trilogy futureworld of drive-through cosmetic surgery joints, one character's facial features are described as a "blandly handsome blend of pop faces."

Looking at the snout of the new Infiniti Q50, one has to admire the skill of the surgeon who managed to blend the BMW headlights, Audi grill, and Mercedes chin spoiler into a subtle whole that says "I am a solid contender in the mid-upscale sport sedan market" without blatantly aping any of its targets.

13 comments:

Jayson said...

Took more from the new Jags than anything, to me.

og said...

Imitation is the sincerest form of not having to pay an expensive design team . Look at the ford fusion.

Jayson said...

og, Ford owned Aston-Martin when that style was used on AM's supercars. So I would posit that it is, in fact, NOT stealing. It's recycling!

Tam said...

The chief engineer of the new Fusion project swears on a stack of IDSA quarterlies that Chris Hamilton never looked at a picture of an Aston when he was penning the shape...

I guess he just has a photographic memory. :D

og said...

Its true! Just ask M.C.Hammer.

Bram said...

It says "40 grand for another really fast, really boring soulless knockoff" to me. All these new sports sedans are great but have no feel. They are so boring - I would rather be driving an '85 Celica.

NotClauswitz said...

There's a slew of vehicles that also would fit sideways under the same silhouette profile-curve. Sincerest flattery and all that, or shape and space optimization results.

mikee said...

I recall a friend who bought a new model Honda Accord EX a few years back. It was essentially an Acura with different trim, based on the specs.

He defied me to find something wrong with it. After careful consideration, I pointed out that the Honda Logo was about twice the size of that on his previous car, and I mocked the blatant aggressiveness of Honda's need to scream their brand name to other drivers on the road.

My friend considered this and after careful thought declared he could live with it, as he never saw the logos while in the car driving it.

Other peoples' problems. Make as much of your life as possible into them, and your life stays good.

CGHill said...

The G35/G37, on which this Q (as opposed to all the other Qs in the Infiniti store) is based, was rather a snug fit, so I'll be looking for a bit more breathing space.

Truth be told, I liked the little G25, despite its considerable pony deficit: the modest power curve seemed to fit better with the mandatory seven-speed automatic.

MonteG said...

Was hoping it would look like this:
http://www.johnfikeinc.com/shala33.jpg
but, y'know, wrong Frankenstein.

Matt G said...

I'm with Jayson: I see some Jaguar in the mid lines and the rear.

Windy Wilson said...

Bram; the '85 Celica, is that the one that looked like a 1969 Mustang Mach I that shrank in the dryer?

The Infiniti Q50 is in direct contrast to the newest model Toyota Forunner which looks like a combination of every other SUV that was mixed together with the provebial uglys stick.

Will said...

If a model is sold in the EU, the front end style must meet their pedestrian impact specs. Essentially, they are all going to look alike, from now on.
Ever seen anything designed by a bureaucrat turn out good?