Honestly I don't see much improvement ... Replaced an ugly grill with another ugly one that looks more bland ...

 

give em some slack.

the shield is their trademark, and they had to incorporate it somehow.

the front is acceptable now.

 

It's not pretty, but it is MUCH better than the previous one by far. If they could fix the rear end, then it would look like an evolution of the 3rd gen TL.

 

facelift and asslift won't change the ugly genes of Acura.

 

I might like the old beak better; this one is both bland and ugly at the same time (the old one was ugly, but at least it was in your face and had some presence).

Honda should have just paid to use the design of one of the better aftermarket grills.

 

safe designs sell.
and sales numbers are all that matter.

 

^ True, but if Honda was going to go w/ "safe", it, at the very least, shouldn't still be ugly (the new Passat is a safe and not ugly design).

 

I was actually a big fan of the 3rd gen TL (especially the type S). The current generation is just blech and although this is a slight improvement, I'm in agreement with the consensus here.

 

Definitely true. Look at Toyota, all of its design are bland, but nothing from that company you could call ugly. Camry, Corolla, Rav4, Sienna all have safe designs and they sell very well. Prius is an exception though.

 

So you have a car that was "really ugly" and make it "not as ugly."

 

I will reserve final judgment until I see it in person. They did address the complaints about the "beak" but from some of the pics it looks a little bland now and not as unique which I don't know is a good thing. Thing is many people complained that Acura vehicles were too conservative and blandly styled so they gave people something much more in your face and not bland and the reactions were more negative then positive. Buyers seem to prefer more safe, conservative, and bland over more in your face unique designs so more bland is most likely what we will be getting in the future from all brands.

The main problem with the current one I don't think was really the beak but the entry level models too small plain looking wheels that did not go very well on such a big sedan. The more SH-AWD models with the bigger wheels I see on the road the more I am liking the styling and the grill is less of an issue. When the grill is painted the body color or switched out for an nicer aftermarket grill the TL is very good looking edgy car. I am just not really a fan of the fast back styling on larger sedans.


The other improvements from the 6 speed transmission, improved gas mileage, improved NVH levels, etc will also help a already great car gain a wider audience it lost due to some controversial styling. Gas mileage is now tops in class even compared to smaller cars with lower hp/smaller engines.

 

thass still fugly

 

The Corolla is borderline ugly; I wouldn't call the Rav-4 bland (not the most cutting edge design, but rather handsome, esp. when it 1st came out).

The current Prius is much, much better than the amorphous blob that was its predecessor.

The general American consumer really doesn't care so much about looks. Even if it is a bit ugly (like the CR-V), people will still buy it in the boatloads if it has reliability, is practical /comfortable and has good fuel economy.

 

Much better. But it is still behind the competitions look-wise.

 

The ugly grill did not kill sales, the price did, the salesmen at Acura are full of themselves, they say nothing except this is technology and this is an Acura, and they repeat it over and over, and over.

The TL needs a price adjustment of at least 5k, for starters.

Now I have seen several TL's on the road and with wheels and a new grill they look nice, but the price kills them, maybe Im just getting use to the look.