Like fungus? But seriously folks, Honda's Chief Designer felt compelled to both explain (it wazzunt me) and defend (try it, you'll like it) the new Pilot. Wardsauto.com cornered Dave Marek to extract the mea culpa. "The (controversial) grille was a case of taking something that was on something else… and kind of massaging it to fit,” he kind of asserts. “On the mockup, (it) looks good. When you actually manufacture it, oops! That’s actually what happened. It’s hard to foresee. (But) I think when (the ’09) is out on the road, people will appreciate it.” Why is this man prevaricating? The new Honda Pilot is a hit. Perhaps Marek is embarked on some kind of bizarre career seppuku. It sure sounds that way. "That kind of success makes it easier for designers to be heard, Marek says. “I can stand up at a board of directors meeting and say, ‘Are you people stupid?’ And nobody goes, ‘Get him out of here.’ They’ll say, ‘What are we doing wrong?’" Either that or "you're fired."
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Too bad the original designers of the Aztek didn’t have enough bravery to stand up and say similar sentiments. But then I would assume no one would actually want to admit they had a role in that vehicle.
I wonder if the average customer of the new Pilot even cares/notices the grille. I would assume those designers that always wear black would think themselves as too cool to be seen in such a bland car to begin with.
I thought the last gen was one of the ugliest cars on the road, but I would never deny that it was among the most functional, hands down. I don’t think utilitarian Honda buyers need any justification to purchase a big, bulky, two-box schlepper. It stands on its own (ugly) merits.
I can see where he is coming from. The new Honda Pilot grill is hideous.
The best thing that can be said for it is that it does not resemble a rather private female physical attribute.
menno
But the new Honda 3-spoke wheel looks like a uterus and fallopians, does that count? Not so much in the Pilot, but definitely in Accord/Civic.
The new Pilot looks like the result of an illicit affair between an Element and an MDX.
Does Honda have controversial styling instead of boring? Quite a change – unfortunately Honda missed the balanced and good looks bullseye.
A lot of newer car designs today look over done – like the designer had too much time or had to incorporate so many different elements (pun intended) into the car making no longer cohesive.
If Honda does put in their upcoming diesel v6 – I think it may put the Pilot in a whole new light.
…and somewhere in a pot-plant-filled basement, Woody Harrelson is calling a lawyer since his “Natural Born Killers” look has just been stolen. Watch out Marek – Mickey and Mallory are after you!
Oh yeah, something car related. I’m trying REALLY hard to like Honda/Acura right now, but I think they are at the edge of the “Toyota-WTF” cliff and there’s no going back. The sins will be forgiven if/when our little CRX-hybrid is actually built AND looks good.
Would you buy a car from a Metrosexual with a Michael Bolton Skullet?
I think NOT.
Sometimes I think that they’re too far out. But as long as it’s Japanese, it’s all good! Right?
Fact is local Honda dealers can’t move anything but Civics and the occasional Accord.
I agree, Ya gotta test the water, but NOT the bong water!
In the “Credit where Credit is Due,” department.
On the Aztek. Wasn’t this the first actual CUV? Did GM step on a niche without exploring it further? Maybe they had a flop in a burgeoning yet unknown market. The Acadia sets it straight. This artsy guy can have the Enclave.
They did the same thing with the EV1…
The new Pilot is a hit????? News to me. Like all Honda’s, I am sure it will be good for its intended purpose. Honda does function particularly well, styling…..not so much. The new Acura’s are hideous, the new Pilot is hideous. It is large, but it is still not particularly fuel efficient even with cylinder management. I doubt it will be a flop, but a hit….really?
Honda has always had weird styling. And wow, that is just ugly. I sure hope that they won’t do that look to the rest of their vehicles. LOL
The local dealer has a new Pilot, and it looks better in real life than it does in the photos, although it’s not beautiful by any means.
But has it really been out long enough for anyone (except for the Honda PR people) to proclaim it a “hit”?
The SUV market is shrinking faster than your manhood jumping in a frozen lake. The CUV market is mainly is stagnant. So long as the Pilot conquests those dwindling numbers it can still be a “hit” in the market (there are some people who may actually need a big SUV like vehicle).
jaje – But when the Ford Flex has more room, more power, better style (subjective), the same fuel numbers, better features, and a much nicer interior (again, subjective) for prices that aren’t much different, I don’t know what the Pilot’s value add is at this point. You can argue Honda’s reliability record, but even that holds little factual weight at this point (see recent Strategic Vision awards). I suppose if you have a short garage?
I still think the first gen Pilot (prior to the butched up snout they shoved on it) was the best looking of them all.
Ditto for the first gen Acura MDX.
Oh, Honda designers…what happened to you all? Conservative really IS good on mass market car.
SWWEEEEET skullet.
Is this the jackass who’s been slapping Ridgeline grilles on already-ugly new Honda models?? If so, he shouldn’t just be fired — he should be BEATEN. Either that, or he should do it the honorable Japanese way, and jump out of a 40th-floor window.
I’ll agree that Honda has often had relatively poor styling — the previous-generation Accord sedan never really got beyond some awkward styling, and in the end got some of the most generic-styled changes, it was downright pitiful.
But at least it was never OFFENSIVELY UGLY, like the new Accord. If this guy was responsible for that, then we all ought to sue him for damages to our eyesight.
Geez, what a clown.
thoots,
I agree. First we get the Ridgeline, then we get the Ridgeline sedan and coupe (Accord), the Ridgeline minivan and, now, the Ridgeline crossover.
I’m afraid to see the next Civic.
The fact is, styling is falling down on the list of people’s wants. Now utility, fuel efficiency and safety trump looks. My wife loves the way the CR-V looks, I however, think it’s ugly. But I can’t deny it’s fit and finish, reliability, and overall value.
Are we headed into another styling abyss?
Wow… Chris Elliott grew a ponytail.