What Automobile Received the Worst Facelift?

Within the fantastic world of automobile design, you’ve got generational adjustments — you recognize, “all-new” fashions — after which you’ve got these slight, mid-gen updates, to tide over autos which have gotten a bit lengthy within the tooth, a bit dated wanting. A few of these facelifts work wonders, as we’ve mentioned. Some, regrettably, do fairly the other. As we speak we’re discussing these unsuccessful makes an attempt.

Historical past gives us with so many examples. One of many poster kids of this phenomenon, in my view, is the first-generation Hyundai Tiburon. The unique design wasn’t profoundly particular or something, nevertheless it was acceptable for the time and blended in moderately properly with different entry-level coupes of the day. For the refresh, nonetheless, Hyundai determined to get bizarre.

The massive adjustments got here to the front- and rear-end designs. And whereas neither was good, the face of the “RD2” Tiburon, pictured on the high of this put up, is simply perplexing. On the time, Mercedes was doing the quad-round headlights factor, and the Toyota Celica and Acura Integra had them as properly. For that purpose, the Tiburon’s sudden change strikes like a determined try to supply an upmarket aptitude to a automobile and make that — let’s be sincere — by no means had any hope of fooling anybody. Look, Hyundai has come a really, very great distance. They weren’t there but in 1999.

However the larger concern is the hood reduce line, and the way in which it rises to intensify the bigger of the headlights, which is positioned closest to the grille for some purpose. The ordering is unusual sufficient, however with out that line, I believe the face of the Tiburon may’ve labored. With that line, it simply kind of appears to be like prefer it’s simply overheard some actually troubling social or political views on the Thanksgiving desk. Prepare, of us — that blessed gathering is simply across the nook.

Sufficient from me, although. What mid-cycle refresh acquired all of it mistaken, in your opinion? There are by no means any mistaken solutions within the realm of automobile design.