i like the third one! but i do think toyota's (including lexus and scion) overall line up is as good as anyone's. nice thread topic though, should get some interesting posts. maybe add a poll? 'who has the best looking overall car lineup'? of course, it's all subjective, but does affect sales.
I like a car company that doesn't go with yet ANOTHER iteration of the jellybean shaped Ford Taurus theme, so I'll give Toyota credit for trying some bold styling themes. However (comma!) they call it bold for a reason. Sometimes you wind up with the automotive equivalent of a 15-year old kid at a frat party trying waaaaaay too hard to be noticed by the adults in the room. Bold.....but I'm afraid that this looks like a 55-year-old dude trying to look like a 25 year old who doesn't have enough coin for an old vette. If it were a Kia??? Yeah. Maybe. BUT a LEXUS???. Really? Office Christmas Party with too many Star Wars videos and WAAAAAY too much booze in the Truck Design department. This is the most depressing of all. 90-percent of the car is actually very well executed!!! I can even forgive the "me too!" Amy Winehouse headlamps. It strikes that rare blend of audacity with moderation that most automotive designers pine to get a chance to pencil out!!! Until you get a look at the rear end. Honestly! It looks like a Hollywood one-name super-actress wearing a little black dress with a wallet and a chain!!
Anyone seen Battlestar Galatica? It looks like Toyota got their inspiration from one of those cylons (spelling?). iPhone ?
If you think, styling, speed, or luxury are modifying Toyota's goals of low emissions or high mileage, perhaps the Prius is not aimed at you.
Something must be seriously wrong with my eyes ! Am I the only one who considers the new Prius as very attractive?
No, it looks quite nice to me too, except for those odd triangular lower light areas (fog lights?) on the front and the oddly-shaped tail lights.
To my eye, 2 and 3 are spectacularly bad. 1 and 4 may look OK when I see the real thing but I'm more hopeful than optimistic.
I do not like Toyota's new look but, I think what's driving this is they always get criticized for boring appearance. Now its not boring but then again, neither was the Pontiac Aztek.
The problem with Toyota's recent styling jag is that the concepts of "classy" and "enduring" seem to be mostly absent in favor of dominance by "edgy", colloquially and literally. If one wants to reference aerodynamics, consider that the Tesla Model S features a Cd of 0.25.
I just see repair costs of these weird shaped bumpers and lights. Old habit from the taxi days I guess, but also a bit of realism. Those rear lights on the Prius travel down quite low to a sharp point on the corner. You know just they're going to get damaged by a sloppy parker when they clip the edge of your bumper and drive off. What would have just been a scuff that might be buffed out (or lived with), is now a scuff and a cracked rear light lense - and a failed annual safety certification when the light then fills with water and moisture. And that Lexus front grill!?! Wth. That too looks great on the drawing board, but one rabbit or dozy parker is going to smash that expensively. Additionally, the look will also be totally ruined in countries that mandate a front licence plate (everywhere else on the planet other than a dozen US states). Audi found that out; vs
2002 Camry TMC: We're trying to make the Camry a bit bolder and more aggressive Magazine: SE trim looks visually appealing with blacked out headlight trim and silver gauges with orange illumination. Steering is vague and suspension is soft on LE/XLE You: Boring! 2007 Camry TMC: We admit, the last Camry wasn't quite as sporty as we'd like. We're making this new Camry bolder. (Can't argue with them. Ppl talked about it) Magazine: SE is better set up than before but not quite sporty enough like the Mazda6 You: Boring! The front looks like crap. The back looks like the Bangle Butt 2012 Camry: TMC: This is the best Camry ever (Akio's quote). It's been tuned for a sportier ride in SE trim and quieter in all trims. Magazine: Hybrid is improved. V6 carried over. You: Boring! Too boxy. 2014 Camry refresh: TMC: A new XSE trim to bring the best of XLE and SE together with a suspension setup that's the sportiest in the Camry ever Magazines: Wow, the XSE V6 is great! You: Wth is up with the grille? My point? People will find something to complain about. The Camry is still the best selling car in Toyota's lineup and best selling midsize car in the U.S. if I recall correctly.
well, we all have an opinion, but the vote comes at the point of sale, and looks are only a small part of the equation.
I'm not so sure we can judge the new Prius from one close up rear corner shot. ----------------- In regards to the Camry, they definitely give a lot of conveniences and features at a good cost: i.e.every trim has split folding rear seats .... and hood pneumatic struts and more. And loyal customers and mechanics know they are spot on reliable. On that note, Honda just started selling a heavily refreshed Accord sedan and coupe. The finally after all these years added split folding rear seats in the sedan. BUT, not in the base LX which is what MOST customers purchase because of low cost. IMO, that is a bogus move because, the next step up trim is called a Sport, BUT that car comes with 19" wheels whose tires are like $250 a pop. The more everyday trim EX is pushing 4 to 5k over an LX trim. Anyhow, bogus move on Honda's part. They should have just bumped the LX price and put in a darn split folding rear seat which can really help out a family.
The Tesla is an attractive car, but is really boring, more so then the Mercedes S Class. At Least Toyota is taking risks and there will always be haters, but there will also always be buyers. I like the direction Toyota is going and will always be a loyal supporter! 1979 Celica, 1983 Pickup SR5, 1984 Celica, 1991 Celica, 1992 MR2, 1992 Lexus LS 400 (still own), 2006 Yaris sedan, 2012 Prius C.