Hood Ornaments Part 2

From the earliest days of the automobile, the hoods of many cars, especially luxurious models, were adorned with exquisite figurines. Hood ornaments are now largely a thing of the past, and several months ago I wrote a post celebrating this lost art. Today I bring you four more beautiful hood decorations.

2013 Mercedes-Benz S-Class in Key West, FL

While simple, the Mercedes-Benz hood ornament has turned the logo into a icon. This example is seen on the bonnet of a 2013 S-Class sedan, and while the ornament is just the Merc emblem atop a small column, it screams luxury and authority. This legendary logo is now only found atop the flagship S-Class sedan. 

1931 Bugatti Type 41 Royale at the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, MI

The Bugatti Type 41 Royale debuted just as the Great Depression sent the world into financial ruin. Therefore, its already exclusive run of 25 units was cut to just six, and only three examples made it into the hands of owners. One of the three sold currently resides at the Henry Ford Museum, and it only makes sense that such a special car has such an unusual and intricate hood ornament. The grille of the Royale is topped with a elephant standing on its hind legs, trunk raised triumphantly in the air. This sends off an image of rarity and opulence, as well as power. This is one of the most unique and ornate hood ornaments of all time.

1935 Miller-Ford Indy 500 racer at the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, MI

Surprisingly, back in the 1930's even Indy 500 competitors had hood ornaments. Unfortunately this Miller-Ford never ended up being raced at Indianapolis, despite the team's best efforts. However, it does feature an elegant version of Ford's 1930's V8 hood ornament. I've always liked the way Ford sandwiched the 8 between the arms of the V, and the wing flowing backwards conveys a sense of speed--perfect for a race car.

Jaguar S-Type in Key West, FL

Another one of the most recognizable hood ornaments are perched on the hoods of Jaguars. Seen here on a S-Type, the jaguar is springing forward, its muscular haunches and lean physique bristling with energy. With a ferocious scowl and piercing eyes the predator strikes fear in the hearts of surrounding drivers.

Car Lyric of the Week: When The Sun Goes Down by The Arctic Monkeys

"Look, here comes a Ford Mondeo
Isn't he Mister Inconspicuous?"

This song from the Arctic Monkeys debut album discussed the prostitution that occurred around their studio in Sheffield, England. The song gets into the nitty gritty of the characters: the prostitute and the client, who Alex Turner describes as a "scummy man" who will "rob you if he can" and has a "driving ban amongst some other offenses." Turner starts the third verse by describing the man's car, a Ford Mondeo. The Mondeo is the European equivalent of the Fusion, but unlike the stylish model on sale now, Mondeos in the early 2000s were dreary and commonplace. Therefore, Turner is making a sarcastic remark about the man's car, by referring to him as "Mister Inconspicuous," showing that by trying to blend in, the man is almost sticking out more in this situation.

Nissan Elgrand

My two week Italian vacation had been building up to one day in Modena. Modena, Italy is home to the Museo Enzo Ferrari, two buildings worth of dazzling sheetmetal originally penned by the best designers at Pininfarina. About half an hour away is Ferrari's headquarters and another museum, this time full of triumphant Formula One race cars. Also nearby is the home base of Lamborghini, and a collection of sharp-edged supercars with big V10 engines. However, the first car I saw that day when I stepped foot outside the hotel was not a slinky Ferrari or a wedge-shaped Lambo, but this unusual hunk of metal: the Nissan Elgrand.

Triangular element protruding from
hood of Cadillac Eldorado

Like most Japanese market minivans, the front fascia is high, the hood is short, and there is an overall boxy shape to maximize interior space. The blocky headlights are split into two segments—a thin rectangle and a chunkier trapezoid. The two piece headlight look rarely creates a handsome vehicle (see the controversial Nissan Juke and Jeep Cherokee for examples), and in this case it gives the van an unusual extraterrestrial look. The split grille also looks weird, making the front fascia appear disjointed, and should have been replaced with a bold, solid square grille. However, the worst part of the Elgrand's front are the triangular turning lights protruding from the hood. While this design element was appropriate on the chrome-laden, elegant '50s Cadillacs, it looks out of place on this awkward eyesore.

The Elgrand gets even weirder once you take a look at the side of the boxy body. An unattractive, overly deep crease extends from the front fender back to the rear of the Nissan. Another character line starts just behind the headlights and flows into the side view mirrors. This deep line distinctly separates the top of the car leading into the mirror from the rest of the side, making the side view mirror look like a hand on the end of a metal arm. The rest of the Elgrand's profile view is dominated by large rectangular windows, and a rear sliding door operated by dull body-color handles.

Around back, the Nissan continues its unusual ways. Beneath the massive almost-wrap-around rear window is a thin, full-width taillight with a chrome "Elgrand" tacked on in the center. While the taillight itself is distinctive and attractive, the model branding appears out of place above the Nissan logo. The strong character line from the side continues onto the back creating an odd divide on the rear fascia. Beneath the canyon-like indentation are reverse lights, which are set back in the body work and pushed all the way to the edge of the vehicle. This creates a vast amount of blank space surrounding the license plate, making the rear fascia of the Elgrand look unfinished. With an alien-like face, an over-detailed front fender, and an empty rear end, the Nissan Elgrand is one of the most repulsive vehicles I have ever seen.

Grade
Front: F
Back: C+
Overall: F

Lexus SC 430

     The Lexus SC 430 is an absolutely stunning sports car. The Lexus Sc 430 is also a design catastrophe. See, the SC brings out extremely mixed emotions in me. This contrast makes it a very strange car to review, because sometimes I just love it, while other times I just can't bare to look at it.
     The SC looks its most sexy when viewed from the curvy rear. The elegantly shaped taillights fit in snugly over the powerful, cat-like rear haunches, and flow well into the rear bumper, creating a very fluid and well put together appearance. The lower rear fascia's simplicity further strengthens the slick, stylish image, but a touch of power is visible in the two massive exhaust pipes. The cabin also integrates smoothly into the trunk lid, especially for a hard-top convertible. The cabin's height and angle with the hood and trunk create the perfect sports car silhouette, not as upright as a normal passenger vehicle, but not as squashed as a supercar. Another nice touch appears on the lower front fascia, which features bold oval lights flanked by chrome inserts, all set back in a sporty intake.
     And that's the last of the good stuff. Despite the allure of the rear end, I still had a couple of quibbles with the back. My first issue was the brake light, which felt very out of place. On most cars, the brake light is mounted inside the cabin, but because this is a convertible, that could be difficult logistically. But having it stick up just behind the rear window disrupts the flow of the car's shape. A better place to put it would have been to integrate it into the spoiler. The other problem I had was with the small circular reflector piece on the side of the bumper, which also felt out of place and unnecessary.

     But those are minor complaints when compared to the bloated headlights and gaudy grille that lead catastrophic  front end. The larger oval headlights don't feel appropriate on a car that is otherwise so sleek, and the absurd dip on the inner edge of the headlamp makes the headlight look swollen. A straight, undisturbed line would've fit in better with the crisp and expressive character lines on the hood. The other main culprit of this ruined front fascia is the grille. There is too much chrome on the grille, making it look cheap and overdone. Also, the vertical slats are set back in the chrome surround, lending a snout-like appearance to the nose of the SC.
     The Lexus SC 430 is an interesting case, with its schizophrenic design, the mostly gorgeous back and largely hideous face. While the smooth and elegant taillights and character lines lend the car a sports car look, the cheap grille and fat headlights give a contrasting unattractive, and uninspired appearance.


Grade
Front: F
Back:A-
Overall: C+

Nissan Altima 2.5 S

      The Nissan Altima 2.5 S is a boring car to look at.  Sure, it takes you where you want to go-- last year, on my family's vacation to Alaska this popular midsize sedan proved to be a very capable sedan for our 1,500 mile driving trip-- but there was nothing impressive visually on either the inside or the outside.
      It starts with the disappointing front fascia. The headlights have a very smooth and elegant outline, but the actual headlamps themselves appear as a jumbled mess of contrasting straight and curved lines. The grille's shiny chrome surround and three horizontal bars are fine but it feels a little small, creating a slightly cheaper look.  The Altima also looks quite cheap on the lower front fascia. The fog lamp housings have no fog lamps (the housing is there for more upscale Altima models), and instead have a flimsy looking plastic cover. This is a common problem when car companies get into cost-cutting measures--it always shows and it always looks awkward.

    The lower grille and intakes look fairly lackluster because of the plastic body colored cross-bars. One detail that works is the character line from the headlights which dips down and curves underneath the lower grille, creating a U-shape. Also the power bulge and creases on the hood  add an athletic vibe to the sedan. Still, these few small positives can't outweigh the cheap look that pervades the front.
     Around back, the taillights are actually quite nice--they are very detailed and it almost feels as if you're looking at a cross section of the taillight. The only complaint could be that they look a little robotic, and that look could be considered a little juvenile, but I don't mind it. The rest of the rear has nothing remarkable about it, although the dual exhaust pipes add a slightly sporty appearance. The short rear deck makes this car feel a little smaller than a midsize sedan (Actually, when I was little I thought the Altima competed in the compact segment).
      Inside is more of the same: a boring and slightly lackluster design that isn't particularly appalling or enthralling. Our car had a grey and black interior, and these drab colors might have contributed to how unexciting the interior appeared. I like the three circular air conditioner vents at the top of the center stack, but the rest seems over-cluttered by buttons, and I found the orange color of the radio screen especially gross. While not very pretty, the storage bins, beneath the center console and behind the gearshift), were useful. The steering wheel was ugly and bland, while the gauges and gearshift weren't bad. In the backseat I had a few complaints. While the seats were comfortable, I felt a little cramped for headroom. I also thought the fold-down bit of the middle seat could've also held a storage bin, instead of all the unused space.

 Grade
Front: C
Back: B
Overall: C+

    

Jaguar XKR

     While the new Jaguar F-Type is a stunning coupe, its arrival unfortunately means the end of the Jaguar XK. This grand tourer was a beauty as well, due to the car's great proportions and slick bodywork.
     Starting with the front, the car really seems to fit into the cat-like ethos of Jaguar. The oval grille with its chrome webbing is fancy but also reminds me of a jaguar, its mouth open wide. The grille is flanked by teardrop shaped headlights, which feature a projector lamp that provide a more modern look than reflector lamps. The lower front fascia is comprised of a wide rectangular intake with chrome diagonal bars, and two vertical chrome-outlined slits that hint at the potential for speed. The hood's two indents stemming from the glass down to just above the grille, along with the "Supercharged" branded vents, create a powerful impression; and this car is powerful, producing over 500 horsepower. Extending from the headlight is a curving character line that flows into the window line. Just behind the front wheel is a vent that further adds to the image of a car ready to jump into action. Just behind the rear section of the window, massive haunches appear, creating a pouncing cat look. This powerful stance reminds me of many 2000's Aston Martins, which is no surprise since the designer of the XK, Ian Callum, also designed the DB7 and Vanquish for Aston.
      Around back, the teardrop shape appears again in the taillights, which feature circular and rectangular white sections in the center for the turning and reverse indicators. The rear lamps are connected by a skinny chrome bar featuring the Jaguar name. The fact that the letters are engraved into the chrome and are very spaced out create a luxurious feel. Just above this is a lip spoiler, adding to the image that this car is capable of high speeds. Down below, the car features two sets of dual exhaust pipes, further reinforcing the sporting image started by the front hood design.
     Overall, a mixture of chrome and smooth lines with vents and haunches create an elegant yet muscular grand tourer.

Grade
Front: A
Back: A-
Overall: A-

Chevy Impala LT

Impala on 8th Ave. in Brooklyn

      When my mom rented a Chevy Impala I was both excited and dismayed. I was dismayed because in my opinion, it is a horribly designed vehicle, but I was excited because I had never been in one, and I couldn't wait to get to experience its terribleness. Here's my review on one of the most bland and boring vehicles of the last decade.
       The Impala competes against the division of full-size cars that include the Ford Taurus, Hyundai Azera, Kia Cadenza, Toyota Avalon, and Nissan Maxima. All of these cars, while not opulent, are more luxurious and offer more upscale features than the other cars made by their respective companies. The Impala though, does not look fancy inside or outside, and doesn't seem more advanced then the other Chevys.
        Let's begin with the front fascia. The two piece plastic grill is uninspiring, and the closest thing it has to being luxurious is the small chrome trim outlining it. The fat headlights are composed of three circular compartments, which use the basic reflector optics technology instead of a more advanced and better projector lamps. The lower front fascia features uninteresting air intakes, split down the middle by a thin chrome strip. The hood and side panels have absolutely no creases or other interesting bodywork. The hubcaps are a basic five-spoke design, painted in a dull silver. Moving around back, we find basic triangular taillights and that's about it. The license plate is housed in the bumper, which I believe was an immensely bad decision by GM's designers. A better place to put the plate would have been underneath a chrome bar that would stretch from taillight to taillight and have either Chevrolet or Impala etched into it. The one halfway decent thing about the exterior of the car is the spoiler, but even this element has a problem, as it feels out of place because the rest of the car is not sporty.

Impala on 8th Ave. in Brooklyn

         The interior is no better. Since the Impala we rented was a LT (the second most expensive trim), I was expecting a somewhat nice interior, but alas, my dreams were squandered by the drab dash, doors, and seats that awaited me. The black dashboard was trimmed with cheap looking fake wood. On the center console there were an abnormally small amount of controls, making it look empty, as if the designers forgot something. The gear shifter, while one of the better looking interior parts, had a major design flaw-- there were no labels. This made it a bit more confusing while driving. The gauge cluster was unimaginative, just three simple gauges on an flat black surface. The steering wheel in front of it was equally lackluster. The entire wheel was clad in a cheap black plastic-like surface, and sculpted in a fat, inelegant shape. The inside door panels of the Impala LT, were also almost entirely black, with small, shallow compartments sticking out about halfway down. There was one major design element that confused me about the door. Since the faux wood trim was continued around the corner up to the door handle indent, why wasn't more included either along the top of the door or around the rectangular compartments. While the majority of the Chevy's interior looked as if the designers had thought it up while asleep, there was one hint that they were aware it was supposed to be a premium sedan. In the wood trim on the right side of the dash was a small silver Impala logo, with skinny chrome lines extending from it on either side. While this attempt at luxury actually works, it is not enough to set off the rest of the dreary car.

Grade
Front: F
Back: F
Overall: F 

Maserati Quattroporte Sport GT S

Quattroporte in Naples, Florida

    As soon as I saw the Maserati logo on the grille, I brought my camera to my eye and snapped a photo. I was eager to take the photo because I associate Maserati with luxury but when I looked back over my photos, I realized that this Maser isn't a particularly interesting or good-looking car. In fact,  it's downright dull.
     The car's overall shape is very simple, just a normal 4-door sedan. That shouldn't be an issue but the QP lacks any strong character lines, making it's bodywork appear plain. The only creases are a minor hood bulge, and a weak line that stretches from the uninspiring headlights to taillights so boring they make those headlights look exciting.
      Those headlights, which feature two xenon headlamps and a strip of LEDs, are set about a half a foot farther back than the grille. This makes the Maserati signature grille stick out, but because the grille is vertically flat the nose of the car looks like a pig's snout. Another Maserati design cue, the three ports just behind the front fenders, doesn't seem to fit on the QP. The ports give off a sense of sportiness, leading me to think the designers just stuck them on because the ports are on every Maserati car.

Quattroporte in Naples, Florida

     The only things I actually like about this car are the lower fascias, which are aggressive and clean while also making it so there is no blank space on the bumpers. Another small detail that I liked was the Maserati trident on the C-pillar, just behind the rear window. While this may seem insignificant, it adds a touch of luxury and elegance to the car, and is pretty unique.
     Brand image can be fooling. While the name "Maserati" makes me think of luxury, when I examined this Quattroporte I found that it is not a particularly elegant car.



Grade
Front: C
Back: D
Overall: D 

Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster

SLR McLaren in Naples, Florida

     Mercedes-Benz and McLaren  had grand ambitions when they collaborated on this grand tourer,  but while it sports a sleek look, those aspirations did not show through, as the SLR's design is too simple. While there is nothing terrible about the Merc, much of the design failed to make a lasting impression.
        The grille is often literally what sticks out most in a car. If this car wanted to grab our attention, it should not have had a boring, rectangular grille running on a slight downward angle into the hood bulge--a splash of chrome on the grille's bar could have livened up the front fascia. Below the grille, there's just nothing there and, again, some chrome would provided panache.
       The headlights, two joined vertical ovals featuring xenon headlamps, fit in with Mercedes' brand look from that era--this car was produced from 2003-2009--but while they fit in with the W203 C-Class, which was a more conservative car, it is a bit too basic for this luxury sports car.
        Walk around the back and it's more of the same. The lower rear fascia wears nothing more than a frowning look, with an arch curving over the reverse lights and down to the underside of the SLR. The brake light is mounted on the underside of the lip spoiler, and the designated license plate spot is simply an indent in the rear bodywork. Again, I was disappointed by the simplicity of the design of the rear fascia, expecting something more flashy, maybe a chrome bar connecting the taillights or more glamorous license plate spot.
    Don't get me wrong, there's plenty to like about the SLR McLaren. The car's long hood features a bulge that is a reminder of the might of the 617 horsepower V8 engine underneath. This bulge stretches from the windscreen down to the grille, where it comes to a point, a protrusion that holds a large Mercedes-Benz emblem and is flanked by sporty silver horizontal vents close to the windscreen. The vents are split into three pieces by silver dividers--the car's vents are my favorite touch and exactly what  this car could use more of. 

     Just behind the luxurious 10-spoke silver wheels is another sleek air vent, with a similar design to the ones on the hood, except the dividers are horizontal and the vents themselves are vertical. These vents have a retro feel, reminding me of the vents on the 300SL Gullwing. The bottom of the vent runs into a clean character line which forms the outline of the doors. Another strong character line, actually more like a small inversion, runs from in between the oval headlamps, along the body, and around the seats, making almost a full circumnavigation of the vehicle.

                               SLR McLaren in Naples, Florida

     The highlights of the rear are the complex and futuristic taillights, similarly shaped to those on the current C-Class, with the silver C-shaped housings within the taillights that contain the LEDs being my favorite detail. 

     When the SLR McLaren cruises by you may think it's a real looker, but when examined closely, we realize that the Mercedes-Benz didn't live up to its potential in design.

Grade
Front: B-
Back: B-
Overall: B-