Honda opens another design studio in Cali
Not that Honda styling is horrendous or anything, but several recent models have received lukewarm, if not downright tepid, responses to their exteriors (We're looking at you CR-V). Maybe Honda's new California design center will help the company find its way back to the aesthetically pleasing. The newly opened Advanced Design Studio in Old Town Pasadena will focus on advanced design concepts and the creation of concept vehicles for future Honda and Acura products. It's a great spot for this kind of work, located just down the road from Pasadena's Art Center College of Design where Buick (and golfer Tiger Woods) recently unveiled its Enclave to the press the night before the L.A. Auto Show opened. Hopefully new concepts coming out of Old Town will be better received than the Acura
[Source: Auto Deadline]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
richard stepp 2:34PM (11/07/2008)
Hi
I have a great idea for a new car , I copywrote it also
I have an origional song , that is a hit in europe , which would go great with this idea .
who do I contact
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Petey 7:51PM (12/07/2006)
Why do you need to bash the CRV? Its designed perfectly for its target audience.. its unoffensive. Would you rather have it look like a Mazda? Last time I checked Mazda sales where going nowhere, fast.. zoom zoom, indeed.
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risingsun 8:04PM (12/07/2006)
Time will tell the success or failure of the CR-V. Based on the commercials I have seen they are almost totally targeted towards women, so you know that countless focus groups comprised mostly of women must have given their seal of approval to the design. I don't think a company as serious as Honda would mess around with something as important as the design of one of their best selling products. Honestly, I think the CR-V looks a LOT better in person. You people are just afraid of change.
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Regal driver 8:39PM (12/07/2006)
Meanwhile Ghosen moves all of Nissan's north american headquarters and design studio to Tennessee and all the deisgners quit because no artsy fartsy CA designer wants to move to hickville TN! This is another reason why I've said forever Ghosen is nothing but a 1 hit wonder. The nissan designers can go work for Honda and make the would-be next maxima the new accord.
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Scott 9:37PM (12/07/2006)
"Not that Honda styling is horrendous or anything, but several recent models have received lukewarm, if not downright tepid, responses to their exteriors (We're looking at you CR-V). Maybe Honda's new California design center will help the company find its way back to the aesthetically pleasing".
What a thoughtless load of tripe. The new CR-V looks downright upscale and more substantial than the previous generations. Step away from the blog for a few minutes and take a look at one in person.
Honda has been known in the past for conservative styling that stands the test of time. Most people appreciated this, but others complained that Honda needed more daring styling. So, whether on their own or from listening to the criticism, Honda gets more daring with designs that grow on people (new Civic, CR-V, stunning Accord Coupe Concept sketch), and now you moan that they're getting "lukewarm" responses.
Record sales three months straight after introduction != lukewarm response
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Andy 11:52PM (12/07/2006)
We're looking at you...Ridgeline. Let's face it: the Civic four-door looks like crap. And Honda made an Si edition?
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John Sands 12:26AM (12/08/2006)
The CRV's sale figures are amazing
Sales are UP nearly 100%
The 2007 CRV is a HUGE success
one month they sold almost 20,000 CRV's
thats amazing
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mojojojo 7:07PM (12/08/2006)
Honda sales maybe great but I would have to agree with the article in that their designs aren't the best. Honda used to style their vehicles very conservatively and now styles them in a more bold but polarizing way. I personally find their current line up disapointing. There are some cars I like (eg. Civic coupe) others I don't mind (Accord, Pilot, Odyssey) and others I find really ugly (CRV, Ridgeline, Fit, Civic interior). I wish when Honda decided to go with bold design, they would have chose to go with more universally accepted bold design (more like some of Mazda and Nissans designs). Sure sales are good now, but I'm sure they could be a lot better given better design. If Honda wants to gain on Toyota, design will be critical and I hope this new studio will do good things for their design.
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jc 1:19AM (12/08/2006)
I'm currently a student at the Art Center. I've been told by my instructor that the design studio in old town pasadena is open to the public for viewing (required by law in pasadena). So go check it out.
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mitsu 7:28AM (12/08/2006)
Honda Cr-V and civic design is crap.
I think hyundai santafe design is much better honda cr-v.
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JarryHames 9:26AM (12/08/2006)
Honda has been doing quite well with their current designs. The Ridgeline and Accord Sedan are a little boring. The Pilot is an old design and I'm sure that they will come out with something nice. Like the Ridgeline it was their first attemps in those areas. The Civic both sedan and coupe are kicking ass in sales. The CR-V may get terrible scores from Autoblog users. But the car is doing quite well at dealerships. I went to a large dealership in Atlanta and they were all sold. It was after going there a month before and there were several on the lot. I've also seen several on them on the road. The Mazda dealership had sever CX-7s on the lot. The CR-V has never been a winner in the design department. Honda did its research and it appeals to the buyers of that vehicle. I've gotten into the new CR-V and the interior is top-notch. Who would have ever thought that a CR-V would have leather, sunroof, and great aminities for a vehicle in its class? Hyundais are looking better. They're still crap! I would take a ULEV vehicle over something stylish anyway. I just hope that they push the envelope with their Acura brand. The lux crowd are more interested in stylish and fast vehicles. Most Honda owners (like my mother) could care less about impressing people that you'll never know.
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Smedley 9:19AM (12/08/2006)
Nice one #3. Proves what a dimwit you are, but that is par for the course on some days around here. Nissan is moving HQ from Califraudnia to Tennessee because it makes more financial sense and because the state and Nashville were so welcoming to the idea of a major operation being located in their general area. Also, and not that you'd care, you might want to do a little research on Nashville before you write the city and the people who live there off as "hicks". Nashville is pretty much a city made up of people who moved there for a variety of reasons, but with it's growth the city is on track to be a major population center over the next ten years. I'll take one of Nashville's easy going, and nice citizens over the many circus acts that comprise the general citizenry of Los Angeles.
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Steven T. 10:25AM (12/08/2006)
I'd agree with those who question Honda's recent designs. In the old days one could rely upon Honda for clean, almost European forms that withstood the test of time. Now they seem to be falling all over themselves to be trendy in rather unfortunate ways.
The Ridgeline is only slightly cleaner than an Aztek. The Odyssey misses the Ugliest Minivan Award only because Nissan's Quest got there first. The Fit has much weaker styling than its Toyota or Nissan counterparts. The Accord and Civic are less polarizing but far from class leaders.
I hope Honda has a major change of direction in its styling.
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Mr. N. Disguise 1:13PM (12/08/2006)
Here are a few suggestions:
1. New CRX (with Type R)
2. New Predule (with Type R)
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Andy 1:40AM (12/09/2006)
I like that Honda is taking chances in its designs instead of making lifeless shapes. The Ridgeline is a strange-looking truck, but I won't call it the ugliest thing on the road. The Civic coupe is very nice, but the sedan looks plain terrible--like a Prius used an enlarger.
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mimidrivesfast 6:57PM (12/21/2006)
Nissan's CEO's name is Carlos Ghosn!....idiot. Check your facts before you rant and rave about stuff you know nothing about.
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