GR86 front bumper patent images!

[daiheadjai]

Originally Posted by wbradley

It even has the side vents.

I can't unsee Trollface McSubaruface now....

[Red-86]

Originally Posted by JesseG

I agree that the twins exist almost in a class of 1. But I still think we can say they are good looking cars despite no direct competition. The Miata, Audi TT, and maybe 370Z are similar in size/layout. But those are a convertible,

The RF does a passable impression of a coupe with the roof up. And it’s now quicker than the twins (I suspect the FA24 will reverse that).

a much more expensive car, and a slightly larger car.

Actually, the twins and 370Z are the same length. The Z is fractionally wider, but you’d struggle to tell by eye without a measuring tape. Z is definitely heavier though.

I get what you are saying about the 2nd gen BRZ. I think it will be received very well once people get to walk around them and see them driving in person. It’s similar with the new Supra. Pictures don’t do them justice, they look great in person.

Well... I’ve now seen two Supras in the flesh and it hasn’t improved my opinion of the styling. I don’t hate it, it’s just ‘meh’ to me, a bit like the BRZ’s nose. I like the side profile of both cars, but I just feel both Toyota and Subaru messed up some styling elements on the bonnet and nose of each car. The GR86 nose is at least looking much cleaner and better resolved.

Car design is a wacky world. People will always hate certain designs, while others love it. Some designs that look “cool” now, look very dated later on.

Very true. The A90 Supra is an example of styling which, I feel, will look very dated later on. By contrast, I think the 370Z and 400Z will age gracefully, as has the pre-facelift 86 and BRZ. The trick is clean, smooth lines, good proportions, and a lack of ‘trendy’ styling elements like over large grills, fake vents (the Supra and the Civic are two of the worst offenders there), blacked out pillars/roofs, tacky chrome pieces, and cuts and creases in the body panels etc.

Certain brands always seem to figure out what will look good now, and will look good 20 years from now. Aston Martin does that better than anyone (IMO).

Agreed. And I think part of the reason AMs age well, (external) styling wise, is what I mentioned earlier; clean, smooth lines, good proportions, and a lack of trendy styling elements that look weird and tacky years later. The reason some cars still look great decades later is they follow these rules.

Mazda seems to get it right more often than not. FD RX-7, enough said.

Agreed, Mazda typically does design well, because they prioritise clean, smooth, flowing designs. The FD is a great example of styling that is timeless. Clean, simple, flowing lines, classic proportions. You could update the lights, wheels and interior and release it as a new car and it would not look out of place. Same with the Nissan Silvias.

Probably the worst offender, styling wise among the Japanese in the last decade, is Toyota. They (and Honda at times) seem to have gone down a rabbit hole of making their designs as ugly as possible, loading them up with all the kinds of creases, cuts, angles, fake vents and fussy design that already makes them ugly on release, but will make them look very out of date in just 5 years. The 86 was one of the few cars spared this, fortunately. Whoever penned gen1 did a great job.

[wbradley]

Hot styling.

[tvrbob86]

Originally Posted by PulsarBeeerz

So much better than the 22' BRZ's bumper design.

Shorter, too, I hope.

[Stonehorsw]

Originally Posted by wbradley

Hot styling.

Reminds me a lot of the Peugeot 205, a rally classic (and a death trap)

[gymratter]

[gymratter]

Originally Posted by vh_supra26

[StE92ve]

Originally Posted by gymratter

Bingo!