LuvMyTSX

Me too, much worse in fact.

Trackruner228

iTrader: (1)

I cant believe the only made the Prius number 2. You could put all of Acuras ugly together and it still doesnt equal the Prius.

LuvMyTSX

Some of these are just so butt-ugly, I can't stop laughing.

And I would totally put the Caliber on that list before the Pilot. I saw the Pilot in person last week and it didn't offend me at all. The grille really isn't so bad.

I feel bad for the TL. It went from one of the best looking cars to one of the worst. It's sad.

Moog-Type-S

They are on some really good drugs

Edward'TLS

Well, Acura has gone so far to standardize this stupid grill bar to first the new TSX, then the MMC RL, and now the new TL. It is common sense that Acura has finally formulated it's Acura signature grill to be used in all upcoming Acura vehicles.

So whether designed by Honda or not, it is highly doubtful that the Acura California design studio can deviate much from this SIGNATURE grill in future designed-by-Acura products. This is very much to do with brand identity.

If the Acura studio were to wipe everything away and create a new signature grill design on it's own, might as well just kill the Acura brand and create a new brand name - this time a true luxury brand to rival BMW, MB, and Lexus.

jiggaman

i dont understand the need for a signature grill anyways. isn't the Acura logo enough? why not signature turn signals instead?

TommySalami

I voted Prius, and at least people think it's uglier than either of the Hondas according to the poll.

Mizouse

the MMC RL should be on that before the TL

Phil05

Maybe its just me but im starting to get annoyed reading over and over people complaining about the design when they haven't seen it in person, I didn't like the new TSX when i first saw it online but then I saw it in person the other day and wow, it actually looks nice.

Mizouse

Ive seen the TSX in person, while it does look better in person its still not so great looking IMO.

ThermonMermon

thought the TSX was ugly even when i saw them parked. But for some reason, they always catch my eye when they drive past me...in a good way

i never make judgement until ive either
A. test driven
B. see one in motion

Mokos23

do you guys remember the Infiniti J30? that had an ugly rearend too like the new TL. didn't that sell good or poorly?

mg7726

^^

i'm a day late and a dollar short but that 'chop is fucking hilarious!!

Edward'TLS

No, the little Acura logo is not enough unless Honda make it the size of a 20" wheel bulging out at the front of every Acura vehicles.

A signature grill is widely used by established auto makers because it can be seen miles away. This is brand identity. It unifies all cars and trucks made by that auto brand. It is very powerful in promoting a unified brand image. It allows people to identify the brand (not the model) of a car or a truck without having to search for the brand logo.

Audi, BMW, and MB have been very successful in using their signature grill to build up their brand images.

Loseit

iTrader: (1)

See l the TSX can squeek by because all the did was add a fugly grill to the Euro Accord. The problem with the TL is that the growth has spread to the whole front end.

dom

They still look very, very similar overall.

And the TSX has those brutal wheel arches and god awful, tiny looking wheels. I don't consider either car ugly (nor good looking) but at this point I'd rather have a TL.

I guess I'm alone in my liking of the back end of the TL.

invisiblewar

it looks like the ugly gen of the maxima

PG2G

Nah, I like it too :P

agranado

The thing is that the grille idea isnt that bad - the execution is so god damn in your face annoying hideous.

Elegantly done this grille could be a nice touch. Lets see if Acura design can execute for the MMC of the TSX and TL and not blow the supercar and RL.

JS + XES

iTrader: (1)

I'm just sad that Acura isn't doing well with the new vehicles in terms of looks.........

I mean I love Acura.

dom

I recall a few years ago people were complaining about how boring Acura grilles were and how similar they were to Honda's. I guess they heard those complaints but took things too far in their efforts.

fsttyms1

Wonder how long they will keep this look going? Honestly. Who do they have doing the studies for this stuff?

Edward'TLS

You know, Mazda has been using a similar shape of Acura's existing 5-point pentagon grill. So perhaps Acura now makes the grill looks so "striking" that no other auto makers have the guts to copy it.

Pan0k

Why Acura just don't use the old NSX as the template. I love how the front of an NSX looks. The Acura Emblem is securedly fasten onto the hood, just like all those luxury brand. Underneath, is the grill. Look how sexy the NSX is.

Moog-Type-S

For me it wasn't the look of the old 5-point pentagon grille that bothered me, but rather they had to put it on every car in the line-up. Why?

Acura is no BMW or Audi....there is no need for them to design the front-end of every car around some grille.

....and now they took the grille to a new level of horrible.

jiggaman

what was wrong with the MDX grill? i like the looks of that one, much better thatn the Power Plenum

Edward'TLS

Acura has an identity (or brand image) problem. When one thinks of Audi, it's the "dropping jaw" grill. When one thinks of BMW, it's the double-kidney grill. When one thinks of MB, it's the big 3-point star and rectangle grill. But there is nothing to associate Acura with, when every Acura vehicle lines have a piecemeal grill or front-end design.

Honda really wants and tries real hard to position Acura to compete with the true-luxury auto brands. But first it has to build up a unified identity to strengthen the brand image. Settling on a long-lasting signature grill design is the way to go. The only problem is that the new signature grill design is nothing to be cheered at.

Moog-Type-S

I beg to differ. Acura has no identity for a number of reasons:

For a long while all their vehicles looked like Accord versions of cars.
There was nothing original looking...very vanilla.

...and other than the NSX, and the Legend, Acura had zero to claim on any other competitor. They brought entry level vanilla to the game.

It had nothing to do with brand identity.

Now if you put together a beautiful, stunning design...combined with an excellent, world class, innovative, powertrain......when said vehicle passes you buy or when you see it in an ad, you will do a double-take and really want to know who makes that vehicle.

This is the key, not some grille identity.

swift22

Couldn't say it better^

vishnus11

I personally like it grill and all. I especially like the definition in the back - looks very unique and aggressive.

I'd wait to see one hit the streets before I make up my mind.

It was the exact same with the new TSX. Pics came out and everyone said it was ugly. I remember my buddy sending me a pic and saying 'wtf'. Yet sure enough, as soon as they started hitting the streets, they not only sold at record levels but people starting liking the design. The very same buddy (who fits in the TSX demographic) proclaimed that he liked the styling after seeing a few on the road.

Audi's grille was hated when it came out. BMWs bangle inspired designs were absolutely LOATHED. But on the street, they work for most people.

Am I an Acura fan - damn straight. But I'll also say that the redesigned RL is NOT a good looking car by any stretch. But I think the TSX and TL and striking, good looking sedans that WILL sell very well for Acura. Just my

MeehowsBRZ

I've been waiting to use this for the longest time.........

agranado

Unique and agressive like the civic coupe?

The taillights do at least.

SRK85

Eh I never though Acura ever made a car that looked amazing. 3g Tl looks ok the 1st gen TSX is decent, second gen TSX cool but grille is stupid. I love the 2nd gen RL however I think the 3rd gen RL looks dumb. But this TL looks promising I just wished it had better gas mileage. All I ask for is a cool looking car with 30mpg+ and 200hp+

Moog-Type-S

Legend Coupe was beautiful...and so was the NSX

JS + XES

iTrader: (1)

I think my 3G TL looks amazing.

and 30mpg + 200hp+ .. Honda has a lot of them.

Mizouse

There is no 3rd gen RL yet, its just the mid model change.

Mizouse

and i get around 30mpg on my TL, but thats just cruising on the freeway, in the city i get around 20.

Edward'TLS

Unfortunately, ever since the demises of the NSX, the Legend, and the Integra Type-R, Acura has NOT put together any "beautiful, stunning design...combined with an excellent, world class, innovative, powertrain......when said vehicle passes you by or when you see it in an ad, you will do a double-take and really want to know who makes that vehicle."

So for the time being, Acura has picked the easy way out in using a signature grill to build up it's brand identity.

Costco

I've always liked how the 1G TSX looked, and I've grown to like the overall styling of the 2G TSX, aside from that grill! It doesn't look as bad in person, but make no mistake - that grill is ugly as crap.

I don't see how the TL can fare any better when the grill it has is even WORSE than the TSX grill. Are they horrifyingly ugly cars, no.... but are there about a dozen or so minor things they could change about the styling to make them look WAY better? Definite yes.

I usually know when I'll like something better over time or if it'll grow on me. That's how I felt about the styling of the Audi grill to begin with. I've grown to love it.... but from the start I knew the TSX grill would look like even in person, and surprise, I was right!

Am I saying that it may never grow on anyone? I almost feel that way, but no. At this moment, if you told me that you loved the styling of the 4G and felt that everyone else would in due time also, I'd think you were snorting coke from your own anus.

My brother was telling me today how in his opinion the last great looking Acura besides from the NSX was the Legend coupe. What a coincidence

Sclass88

I also think the 3G TL is a beautiful car and will age gracefully over time as well as the 1G TSX. Both are very striking, classy cars that still make me wrench my neck when I see them pass by.