Design and Engineering Award

[johnnymk]

I just got the December 2001 issue of Popular Mechanics. It lists what they feel are great designs and/or engineering marvels of the year.
Guess what three vehicles they list?.........The new T-Bird, the Chevrolet Avalanche and the Cadillac Escalade EXT.
These guys must be smoking something, as I think that these are the homeliest vehicles to come on the scene in a long time.
I was at a show in Atlantic City and there was a new T-Bird there. I thought that maybe pictures don't do the car justice. Well, things don't change when you see it first hand. It's still ugly. What they could have done with this car!! They totally ruined the front end. It's a shame.

[TommyBoomfiger]

thats all a matter of opinion. plus its a design and engineering award. maybe they feel that those three vehicles are make great headway in both aspects. the design aspects not only include exterior design, but overall design (function and asthetics).

i dont think the escalade is anything special looking, the avalanche is just trying-to-follow-in-the-assteks-footsteps ugly, but the t-bird is a pretty nice design with a great scheme and very american tones.

[spigidygak]

Also, popular mechanics seems to always be biased towards Detroit stuff. But also, if you look at how much the t-bird has changed, from the last model. I believe it does deserve the award.

[spigidygak]

Rhyming-typo bastige :D.

[spigidygak]

Originally posted by DarkFury
hee hee... yes... IT IS. (from the Hyundai Elantra commercials)

Hehe, speaking of hyundai. They should be getting some type of award soon once they start pulling some profits. Maybe its just me, but the new hyundai's are looking very nice. I saw a pic of the new tiburon coming out in '03. Man o man, looks like the po' mans version of a ferarri. Helps that designers from pinaferari designed the car (oy speeling :rolleyes:). I'll look for some pics on the net to post. Only saw it in a mag last month.

[helius]

Hyundai seems to have gotten a lot better, as far as looks/styling go. Laying off the chrome was a very very good start! :)

[Jihforce]

Originally posted by spigidygak

Helps that designers from pinaferari designed the car (oy speeling :rolleyes:). I'll look for some pics on the net to post. Only saw it in a mag last month.

Pinninfarina ;)

[attgig]

Originally posted by helius
Hyundai seems to have gotten a lot better, as far as looks/styling go.

YEAH HOMEBOYZZZ!!!! :D

go hyundai :P

[attgig]

eh?!
nevermind

[pennypinch]

I personally think the Escalade is the baddest looking vehicle on the American road today. The Avalance, eh, leaves me cold, but remember Pickups are the best selling cars in America. Since most of the trucks on the market today are rather crude, the Avalanche was probably the most technologically forward pickup out there. Finally, I kind of like the T-bird. Sure, it's no Prowler or even PT Cruiser in terms of retro fun, but it does enough to harken to when American muscle ruled the road, and it's a convertible to boot. Throw in the fact that it's a genuinely extensively new car (even the engine is a modded out LS engine, isn't it?), and I'd say you're probably doing alright with that pick.

I mean, what else was there out there? If you take out ungettables like the Q45 or the new 911 Turbo, you're looking at a pretty narrow band of new cars this year. ES300? Nothing special. LS400 borders on the ludicrous. The Acura RSX is compromised from the inside out(the Toyota Supra "but what if [insert demographic] doesn't like it! Make it more appealing to the masses!" approach to designing "sports" cars). Any others? C'mon, who wants some of the Pinchinator? :)

[shoeish]

The T-Bird shares the same platform as the Lincoln LS. The chassis, suspension, engine, and tranny are identical. Even the interior of the two very closely resemble each other. The motor is not a modded out LS motor, but the same thing.

The LS8 with 253 hp and 300ish ft/lbs of torque with the close ratio 5 speed is a mean car. Amazing sound, acceleration, and handling.

[ArkiStan]

Yeah I agree that the LS looks great. I think it's one of the best looking america cars out now. And very good car design (especially radical ones) takes time to get used to. The T-bird may seem ugly to some, but many great car designs are acquired tastes. Give it some time and you might end up liking it a lot.

And hey spigs, did you find any pics of the new Tiburon (I believe it's called the Tuscani)?? And I agree with the improving design of Hyundai. The new XG series is absolutely gorgeous. The new Sonata (though is clearly a ripoff of a c-class front and Jag s-type tail) looks nice, too.

[pennypinch]

Oh! Pardon me. Absolutely right.

I am not that huge an LS fan, I think the back end is decidedly Diamante-ish. Great technically, though.

[ArkiStan]

Apparently, the Ford T-Bird is also Motor Trend's 2002 Car of the Year.

"In identifying the winner, factors including design, engineering, quality, interior, special features, fun, everyday livability, safety, performance, and value were evaluated."

here's the whole story:
http://www.motortrend.com/news/stories/011121mt.html

[ArkiStan]

Here's the new Hyundai Tiburon in case anybody's interested. It'll be released in the US in a couple months. Mixed feelings myself, but definitely a great step up from anything of theirs from the past.

http://www.canadiandriver.com/previews/images/03tiburon1.jpg

article:
http://autonet.ca/AutonetStories/Spotlight/stories.cfm?storyID=3302

[shoeish]

And your suggestion for car of the year is...?

[Realrammstein]

I do sorta-like that new Tiburon. I HATE Hyundai performance...but looks it ok.

[johnnymk]

That new Hyundai is really sharp looking!
The Motor Trend issue had 26 cars which they compared to the new TBird. Every car but the TBird was foreign. Maybe thats the reason they gave it to them. Nationalism and other feelings of Patriotism may have been the real deciding factor.
They also had full page layouts of the competition. Definitely, the TBird, the VW Eurovan and the Subaru Impreza were the homeliest of the bunch.
The TBird is priced 35,000 to 40,000 dollars. Even though I am not a foreign car fan, there are a lot better cars available in that price range.
Oh well, in five years, the 2002 TBird will probably be available for $15,000