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CASE STUDY: '09 Acura TSX - Will the "BEAK" Become the Next "Bangle Butt?"
The spy photos weren't all that kind, the actual prototypes shown at auto shows drew very strong reaction, but in the flesh is the new design direction taken by Acura a move meant to excite, or annoy current and future owners of Acura products.
The "Beak", and I've tried to think of any other way to describe the new "nose" of Acura, looks as if Acura has had Sesame Street's Big Bird moonlighting in the design department helping with final design. First seen on the RDX, followed up shortly with the MDX, and now the TSX and impending RL, the "Beak" is making a broad line design statement that still has settled into design acceptance.
BMW, in particular Chris Bangle was widely criticized for the "Bangle Butt" of the 7-series, and in interviews he stated that until the full line or cars was introduced with their new design language, one could have a hard time interpreting the design direction, and let's face it, he was right. With the 5-series and now 3-series we have seen the design take shape, and honestly produce some pretty nice looking cars. After the mid-cycle refreshing of the 7, it was as if the bandages from plastic surgery had finally been removed revealing a pretty good looking car in the 7. And that trunk detail so widely criticized is the style currently sported by cars ranging from the Mercedes S-class all the way down to current generation Toyota Camry's.
Will Acura's beak have designers rushing back to their drafting tables bringing in their interpretation of the Beak?
Photographed side by side with the previous generation, the new TSX certainly has more presence and substance than the old, but the prominence of the beak is something my mind still has trouble connecting with.
But again, if the design direction is flawed, will it really matter how much presence the new car has? Going back to BMW for a moment, everyone thought that the path taken by Bangle was wrong, and people swore to swear off BMW, and yet looking at the full line, there is an undeniable energy created by that initial styling direction taken by Bangle that transcends the brand, and is currently being sported by other manufacturers.
Has Acura hit on the next big styling direction, or do you, like me get that sense of unresolved design direction that could be heading for greatness, but just as quickly be headed for disaster. If the rumors are true about Acura rushing to update the next RL based on the public reaction, I would make the case that the Beak is not a design element others are wishing to emulate.
What do you think???