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I'm talking about Striker being more concerned with the balance between the front and rear overhang.
It just looks strange to me if the car "ends" so quickly after a wheel. Like it's cut off similar to really small cars like the mini or versa. Even the C7 that I quite like has this issue for me, the rear tires look like they are way to close to the edge even though I understand that wheels pushed to the corners is better for packaging and performance etc.....
If a car has a long fastback look but the front is just a cut off blunt nothing after the front wheel it sticks out to me as if the tire forms the end of the car. I just don't like it, I want to see the body form flow all the way past/around the tire then end not cut off all at once.
The LC500 from the side is basically what I think looks perfect, the nose after the tire has a distinct shape and "step" that pulls your eyes to the end naturally and the end of the car is matched in size and draws you along it's form to the roofline and forward. The taillights and headlights also play a roll to emphasize the borders and play a role on the sides not just the ends. I really really liked the LC as soon as I first saw it and was so sad when I heard the TTV8 was canceled.
I don't know, I'm weird. I've never bought a car for looks anyway so I don't know why I even have a preference
Last edited by Striker223; Apr 13, 2022 at 10:43 AM.
It just looks strange to me if the car "ends" so quickly after a wheel. Like it's cut off similar to really small cars like the mini or versa. Even the C7 that I quite like has this issue for me, the rear tires look like they are way to close to the edge even though I understand that wheels pushed to the corners is better for packaging and performance etc.....
If a car has a long fastback look but the front is just a cut off blunt nothing after the front wheel it sticks out to me as if the tire forms the end of the car. I just don't like it, I want to see the body form flow all the way past/around the tire then end not cut off all at once.
The LC500 from the side is basically what I think looks perfect, the nose after the tire has a distinct shape and "step" that pulls your eyes to the end naturally and the end of the car is matched in size and draws you along it's form to the roofline and forward. The tail and headlights also play a roll to emphasize the borders and play a roll on the sides not just the ends. I really really liked the LC as soon as I first saw it and was so sad when I heard the TTV8 was canceled.
I don't know, I'm weird. I've never bought a car for looks anyway so I don't know why I even have a preference
It's all good, you like what you like! I'm sure you're not the only one with that design preference anyways- I just hadn't encountered it before.
Styling wasn't a criticism until modern Lexus cars, being bland was. Theres a difference between "being bland" and "being ugly".
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I never said Lexus LS models in the past were ugly, I said they were bland. To me they were boring. LS460 was the first model that actually had some style to it, but it was still too boring. LS500 finally was a LS that some sort of emotional appeal to the exterior.
Originally Posted by SW17LS
The 460 has the front wheels pretty balanced in the fender:
Contrast to the A8 where there is more space from the wheel to the front than there is from the wheel to the door, which is a FWD proportion that I hate
If the front wheels were 3-4 inches closer to the front it would look great
The Audi has better styling IMO
Last edited by Toys4RJill; Apr 13, 2022 at 12:52 PM.
I never said Lexus LS models in the past were ugly, I said they were bland. To me they were boring. LS460 was the first model that actually had some style to it, but it was still too boring. LS500 finally was a LS that some sort of emotional appeal to the exterior.
The Audi has better styling IMO
They are different. I own both of these in these exact types sans the shown A8 being a non-L to my L, and the 460 being a 1st pattern. The Audi has an aggression/edge to its look while the 460 has a smooth regal look. They incite totally different emotions when you look at them, I would not say one has better styling than the other but rather they illicit a totally different reaction.
The Audi looks low, sleek, angry and "stares you down" from the front with a bunch of semi-geometric facets seemingly disrupting the skin. The new D5s have these forms "break though" and take full, harsher form vs the D4 with both generations conveying presence and power overtly.
The LS has a withdrawn, leering gaze that looks down on you as if with an upturned nose from the front. The overall shape consists of a few, relatively simple flowing forms that have little sectional contrast but rather semi-organic integration, blending into each other highlighted by the brightwork and hard lines. The pre-13 cars, in particular the pre-10s have an extremely understated, "whispered" authority to them that doesn't shout at you but instills the understanding that you are in the presence of superiority.
I may be assigning too many human traits/emotions to cars but those are some of the feelings and thoughts that run through my head when I look at these cars......similar processes happen for the S-class, LC etc....
Last edited by Striker223; Apr 13, 2022 at 01:15 PM.
They are different. I own both of these in these exact types sans the shown A8 being a non-L to my L, and the 460 being a 1st pattern. The Audi has an aggression/edge to its look while the 460 has a smooth regal look. They incite totally different emotions when you look at them, I would not say one has better styling than the other but rather they illicit a totally different reaction.
The Audi looks low, sleek, angry and "stares you down" from the front with a bunch of semi-geometric facets seemingly disrupting the skin. The new D5s have these forms "break though" and take full, harsher form vs the D4 with both generations conveying presence and power overtly.
The LS has a withdrawn, leering gaze that looks down on you as if with an upturned nose from the front. The overall shape consists of a few, relatively simple flowing forms that have little sectional contrast but rather semi-organic integration, blending into each other highlighted by the brightwork and hard lines. The pre-13 cars, in particular the pre-10s have an extremely understated, "whispered" authority to them that doesn't shout at you but instills the understanding that you are in the presence of superiority.
I may be assigning too many human traits/emotions to cars but those are some of the feelings and thoughts that run through my head when I look at these cars......similar processes happen for the S-class, LC etc....
I don't think the LS looks bad. I just think the Audi looks better. The Audi looks more modern. I am not quite sure they model year of that Audi but it still looks modern and fresh, whereas the Lexus looks old. The Audi looks planted.
Originally Posted by Striker223
I may be assigning too many human traits/emotions to cars but those are some of the feelings and thoughts that run through my head when I look at these cars......similar processes happen for the S-class, LC etc....
Nothing wrong with that
Above are some of the pics were I think Lexus missed and where Audi does design really well
I don't think the LS looks bad. I just think the Audi looks better. The Audi looks more modern. I am not quite sure they model year of that Audi but it still looks modern and fresh, whereas the Lexus looks old. The Audi looks planted.
Nothing wrong with that
Above are some of the pics were I think Lexus missed and where Audi does design really well
That's ironic you indicated those areas lol! I think the opposite, the door to rear quarter flow in particular to me is nicer on the Lexus since the visual line is not broken up by the door. The Audi just "cuts" the flow of the car apart with the window and door angle and the small rear window looks tacked on vs fully integrated and surrounded in the Lexus. The fenders do the same, the Lexus directs your eye up and along the roofline....the Audi cuts in and starts a new form intersecting the first.
Gives an entirely different look and feel. Prism vs a blown glass figure. But hey! Tastes are personal so pick what you like best, I went with both lol!
Last edited by bitkahuna; Apr 13, 2022 at 07:52 PM.
That's ironic you indicated those areas lol! I think t
Gives an entirely different look and feel. Prism vs a blown glass figure. But hey! Tastes are personal so pick what you like best, I went with both lol!
Depends. I like the Audi when I'm driving harder, the edginess gets people out of the way more easily but it sometimes draws people in too much. The Lexus is the definition of under the radar and up close I love the smooth lines, across a parking lot the Audi looks way meaner and imposing whereas the 460 is a blob. The A8 stays looking distinct at all times but the Lexus sometimes can blend in with the Camrys around it.
Up close touching the car the Lexus has much higher paint quality and panel gap consistency and just overall a more solid presence, the Audi has more impressive lighting effects and wow factor for normal people/non-car types.
I really like both styles, the C7, ZL1 1LE, GT500, CTS-V, S3, S8, 812 super fast, LS500 etc all have very edgy, aggressive styling that wakes me up and gets me want to get out there at 120+ taking down as many challengers as possible.
The LS430/460, Viper, F430, 458, S Class, the bengal era BMWs, ISF, F type, AMG SLS, Panamera/911s, Tesla S all have the flowing integrated look I really enjoy to just run my eyes over repeatedly. I find myself staring at cars like that far more than edgy ones
If you forced me to pick one style I would probably pick the LS since it's a more coherent design language. If you told me I could only own one of the two cars I would pick the A8, I prefer "soft" designs that have unified forms.
However this current S8 is pulling of the edgy look VERY much to my tastes while still remaining coherent and understated. It's my favorite right now if we aren't factoring in the image/vide the car projects to others. If we are factoring that then W223 S class takes it for me, or a Bentley but those are a little brash.
The S8 I test drove was the same spec/really close to the one in the video and the color got me some looks but not too much attention unless I was trying out the engine. If you drive any Bentley you are stared at.
Last edited by Striker223; Apr 13, 2022 at 03:50 PM.
I liked the previous gen S8 too- this just seems to build on that trend. I could not even bring myself to test drive one of these though as the facelift made it look even more like pedestrian and not in a good way. Automatic deal breaker when the A3 wears the face better.
Styling is always very subjective; we would need to do a poll to make it quantitative.
Yes Tango, I notice the A3 looks similar to its bigger brothers and conservative, but the A3 has just a bit more style an panache to its looks to liven it up.
Originally Posted by bitkahuna
it's a very nice (and powerful) luxury car, but the giant front overhang kills it for me.
I totally agree with you bit.
I have avoided the 4th gen ES and onwards eversince, to avoid that long front overhang.
Even a Camry has a shorter looking front overhang?
Originally Posted by Motorola
Audi nailed the overhangs on the A6 and A7, but the A8's stretched body minimizes the front dash-to-axle ratio and thus I think they had to compensate by making the front overhang even longer.
I agree with you Motorola, and the extra horizontal lines and creases look untidy too.
A8 has a lovely looking six window styling.
The length is so stately for a diplomat.
Originally Posted by LexsCTJill
I don't think the LS looks bad. I just think the Audi looks better. The Audi looks more modern. I am not quite sure they model year of that Audi but it still looks modern and fresh, whereas the Lexus looks old. The Audi looks planted.
Above are some of the pics were I think Lexus missed and where Audi does design really well
I agree with Jill.
I think some of Lexus' A pillar joins onto the front quarter panels are a bit untidy compared to the smoother Audi A pillar join above.
Lexus should put their joins further down, right at the triangular apex of the front windows for a neater look.
On the other hand, I think Lexus LS "notched" C pillar styles from Gen 1 to 4 are fine.
I thought the original 2007-12 LS460 was conservative but slickest looking of the LS's.
Last edited by peteharvey; Apr 13, 2022 at 04:03 PM.
My 07 is conservative for sure.....near total stealth mode.
Apart from 1st gen LS which achieved record sales thanks to its lower pricing, the 2007-12 really had the greatest sales.
Neatly conservative in the Japanese way, but with a touch of style for 35k in its first full year before the GFC hit.
