RE: Subaru Gets Serious About Design
Discussion
Guvernator said:
I used to own an Impreza 2 door Type R (Jap spec P1) and styling wise this was their peak as far as I am concerned. Everything else has been downhill since then. I understand the need to expand their appeal as every company wants the same thing, more sales but car companies shouldn't forget the core values that made them successful in the first place.
The engineering was never in question, all they needed to do to widen the appeal was sharpen the interiors a little and make them a litte bit more efficient. Countless redesigns and "softening the brand to appeal to a wider audience" is all marketing bs. They should have stuck to a winning formula which was to producing decent cars based on rally bred technology which could keep pace with supercars for a quarter of the price.
Agreed. Perhaps a car with an exterior entirely shaped by rallying requirements with no flourishes or 'styling' would be a decent niche for them to follow?The engineering was never in question, all they needed to do to widen the appeal was sharpen the interiors a little and make them a litte bit more efficient. Countless redesigns and "softening the brand to appeal to a wider audience" is all marketing bs. They should have stuck to a winning formula which was to producing decent cars based on rally bred technology which could keep pace with supercars for a quarter of the price.
Please please please stop using the word "design" when you mean "styling". The design is the whole car (of which the styling is a part), including the chassis engineering, suspension, engine, etc etc. The styling is what everyone is commenting on, not the design.
Subaru have always been serious about design - the fact their cars won the WRC shows that. They might be getting "serious" about styling now rather than form following function but that isn't the totality of the design.
Subaru have always been serious about design - the fact their cars won the WRC shows that. They might be getting "serious" about styling now rather than form following function but that isn't the totality of the design.
Can someone from Subaru pls call Pininfarina at the no below.
Ph: +39 011 9438111
I've even attached a Google map:
http://maps.google.it/maps?f=l&hl=it&q=pin...
How difficult was that?
Ph: +39 011 9438111
I've even attached a Google map:
http://maps.google.it/maps?f=l&hl=it&q=pin...
How difficult was that?
Litchield have spent years tidiying up and improving both the looks and performance of Subaru models. They've even managed to make the new hatchback look halfway decent by removing the chavy design elements like those awful Lexus rear lights and improved the handling and performance too. If a relatively small importer like Litchfield can provide what Subaru customers want, why can't Subaru?
It really puzzles me how so many big car manufacturers who have had years of practice at such things can get so many basic things so wrong. Over the last 7-8 years especially we have seen some horrible examples of car styling from nearly all manufacturers, not just Subaru. Whenver a new car is released and a story is published on PH, it's immediately obvious to us as amateur enthusiasts whether a cars styling has worked or not.
Are all these manufacturer's styling departments full of yes men? At no point in the decision process, has someone not stood back and said "Actually guys I think we've designed a pig here, it's back to the drawing board I'm afraid". I don't work in any sort of design capacity but I am really curious as to how a car gets sign off. Who actually said "Yes that bug-eye is stunning, let's go with it"?
It really puzzles me how so many big car manufacturers who have had years of practice at such things can get so many basic things so wrong. Over the last 7-8 years especially we have seen some horrible examples of car styling from nearly all manufacturers, not just Subaru. Whenver a new car is released and a story is published on PH, it's immediately obvious to us as amateur enthusiasts whether a cars styling has worked or not.
Are all these manufacturer's styling departments full of yes men? At no point in the decision process, has someone not stood back and said "Actually guys I think we've designed a pig here, it's back to the drawing board I'm afraid". I don't work in any sort of design capacity but I am really curious as to how a car gets sign off. Who actually said "Yes that bug-eye is stunning, let's go with it"?
thejudderman said:
FWDRacer said:
Jaguar XF Front End - Alfa Brera back end. Imitation is the most sincere form of flattery.
Thought exactly the same about the rear end, can't see the XF in the front though.It's not my cup of tea, as a whole it just doesn't gel for me
dlockhart said:
thejudderman said:
FWDRacer said:
Jaguar XF Front End - Alfa Brera back end. Imitation is the most sincere form of flattery.
Thought exactly the same about the rear end, can't see the XF in the front though.It's not my cup of tea, as a whole it just doesn't gel for me
Not a good combination - but thankfully the illustration will just have been shown to wind us up. The real one won't be as pretty as that. lol
Legacy Estate, tuned by STI.
My cousin would have bought this had it been on sale via his dealer. After visiting 3 dealers in the hope of test driving a Legacy Estate petrol turbo, none had any cars in stock. I'm still trying to convince him that Litchfield will take care of things. Although the latest shape Legacy is a little butch for our liking.
There are a few people I know who would return to Subaru if they just sorted their styling.
Does anyone know if there'll be a 'wagon' version of the new Impreza 5dr saloon?
Edited by Hellbound on Wednesday 14th July 17:38
Ikemi said:
The 22B is the ONLY good looking Subaru ever created, FACT!
EFA, if you don't mind! They are only half a company imo. They can clearly do the mechanics side, but they have less than zero clue about styling. It's about time they hired someone with talent. Or eyes. Or taste.
ok there have been some design issues; tribeca front, bug,blob,hawk eye impreza fiasco
at least they haven't redesigned the new impreza yet ( even though it mings in non-STI format)so they must be confident in it.... or skint
But there are some good looking cars too; classic impreza turbo, previous legacy ( quite fancy one) etc
I tend to think the UK distributor is the problem; completely different image and more stimulating range in, for example the US.
Package of impreza range is dire; alienate existing clients by having no saloon/ or wagon ( I'd place my order today if there were as my 55 plate wrx wagon needs replacing ) and not manage to appeal to hatch buyers because what you have produced is an abomination. Doh
My range if I were IM
Impreza Saloon, Wagon ( or viable hatch)- keep diesel but drop all other non-cooking versions
Legacy Outback; as now but inc STI variant and saloon
Forester
Re-ignite Prodrive relationship
at least they haven't redesigned the new impreza yet ( even though it mings in non-STI format)so they must be confident in it.... or skint
But there are some good looking cars too; classic impreza turbo, previous legacy ( quite fancy one) etc
I tend to think the UK distributor is the problem; completely different image and more stimulating range in, for example the US.
Package of impreza range is dire; alienate existing clients by having no saloon/ or wagon ( I'd place my order today if there were as my 55 plate wrx wagon needs replacing ) and not manage to appeal to hatch buyers because what you have produced is an abomination. Doh
My range if I were IM
Impreza Saloon, Wagon ( or viable hatch)- keep diesel but drop all other non-cooking versions
Legacy Outback; as now but inc STI variant and saloon
Forester
Re-ignite Prodrive relationship
Subaru used to have some great designs - a woman I work with has a 05 WRX STi and it's great. Stunning whichever angle you look at it, muscular and purposeful looking. The big air scoop on the bonnet, the big rear wing, the gold alloys and gold brembos, the foglight covers with the STi logo on them, it's a stunning car imo.
Even the Impreza hatch is a decent looker imo, at least in it's STi form. You can tell it was designed with the big air intake the rear spoiler, and the lower-spec models without those features do look curiously bare, but it's not the horrific mess everyone made it out to be. Yes the performance was not as strong, particularly in the handling they say, but it was still not a bad looking car. The new Subaru Cosworth is one of the nicest, most desirable cars I've seen this year despite the slightly daft pricetag. Even the new Impreza saloon posted in this thread (the white one similar to the one that set the new record at the ring a few weeks ago) looks fantastic.
However, this new design is crap. I know these concept pictures are not quite how the car turns out in the end, but that is just awful. If Subaru really think that closing the doors on the "performance" department and putting their effort into "bland family cars" is going to turn them into an overnight megabucks company they are dead wrong. They will lose everything that makes their company stand out as it is.
Even the Impreza hatch is a decent looker imo, at least in it's STi form. You can tell it was designed with the big air intake the rear spoiler, and the lower-spec models without those features do look curiously bare, but it's not the horrific mess everyone made it out to be. Yes the performance was not as strong, particularly in the handling they say, but it was still not a bad looking car. The new Subaru Cosworth is one of the nicest, most desirable cars I've seen this year despite the slightly daft pricetag. Even the new Impreza saloon posted in this thread (the white one similar to the one that set the new record at the ring a few weeks ago) looks fantastic.
However, this new design is crap. I know these concept pictures are not quite how the car turns out in the end, but that is just awful. If Subaru really think that closing the doors on the "performance" department and putting their effort into "bland family cars" is going to turn them into an overnight megabucks company they are dead wrong. They will lose everything that makes their company stand out as it is.
and why haven't they built it? 
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