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This thread has got me thinking about what luxury looks like and I think brand prestige plays a lot in our perceptions. When we think Bentley, Audi, BMW or Mer
by cptskippy 9y ago
This thread has got me thinking about what luxury looks like and I think brand prestige plays a lot in our perceptions. When we think Bentley, Audi, BMW or Mercedes we think high end luxury because of their history and lineage. Those brands also use very unique design language. BMW has it's characteristic 4 globe headlamps, Audi with it's minimalist aesthetic, etc. We've associated those designs with luxury.
When you first see the Hyundai Genesis line of cars you think it's some sort of high end fine European luxury vehicle because they copied the design language of luxury brands. However when you realize they're Hyundais you immediately think "oh garbage".
When Toyota first starting making the Lexus line they look like glossy versions of their Toyota counterparts and it took many years for them to develop a distinctive design aesthetic. Honda had similar issues with the Acura line in the US and I would argue they still do because the Acura line doesn't exist in other markets so those vehicles are branded as Honda. The Honda Odyssey has always looked more like an Acura to me.
Tesla to their credit didn't try to cash in the prestige of another brand by copying their design language. Tesla's design language is a blank slate in our mind so when we see it we don't know what to expect. We try to associate it with what we know, in this case you thought Chinese crap.
- jotm 9y agoI dont' think true luxury is meant to "look". There's the iconic Rolls Royce, Aston Martin, Porsche designs that most people recognize, but plenty of luxury cars look quite average. It's only when you're inside that you realize why they're luxury. I loved the VW Phaeton for this - yes, I know, not the highest end luxury, but it looks like a Passat on the outside and feels like an S class on the inside imo.
- amyjess 9y agoThe Toyota Century is another example of this kind of luxury car. It's tailor-made for conservative Japanese businessmen who have a lot of money and enjoy riding in comfort but have no desire to show off. Here's a good article on the Century and the kind of luxury it represents: http://autoweek.com/article/tokyo-motor-show/no-modern-luxury-sedan-can-touch-toyota-century http://autoweek.com/article/tokyo-motor-show/no-modern-luxur...
- jjeaff 9y agoOff topic, but just a side note. If you test drive the high end Genesis, you will no longer think "oh garbage". They are amazing cars for the price. On paper, they are better in almost every way than a BMW and their highest end Genesis (previously Equus) is actually nipping at the heels of a Bentley when it comes to features. As for driving, I definitely prefer the feel of a BMW 7, but I thought it was comparable to a BMW 3 or 5.