Jump to content

The Headlight Notch (Design Trend)


Recommended Posts

It seems every Crossover and SUV has decided to adopt this headlight notch thing, which as far as I can tell started with the 2011 Ford Edge (but certainly could have origins somewhere else). Ford also implements it on the Escape and now MKC. It also appears on the new Jeep Grand Cherokee, Buick Encore, and even GMC Acadia.

 

 

 

2014-jeep-grand-cherokee-summit.jpg

2013-Ford-Edge-1a.jpg

ford-escape-1321449819-40403.jpg

2014+Lincoln+MKC+03.jpg

 

buick-encore-628.jpg

gmc-acadia-21_600x0w.jpg

Edited by BORG
Link to comment
Share on other sites

At least on the Edge it didn't looked filled with a plastic piece.

 

What I hate of the new GC is that it looks like they just tried to fit 300's headlights in the previous headlights holes.

It's pretty horrible, pretty sure Chrysler has completely lots its design mojo.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

And the wheels in the model you've shown could've been taken of a tarted up Dart or Journey. The interior shown on Autoblog.com looks surprisingly good however, way better than the '13 Long Horn a friend's father bought the other day.

Speaking of Dart's, the local dealer is still stuck with the two first (and only) one they received. An orange one and a bleached grabber blue one.


Back on the headlights, here's what comes to my mind when I see that:

m5lp_0504_01_z+mustang+side_view.jpg

 

At least the Ford/Lincoln's offering have turbos which could be fed by such intake haha...

Edited by 92LX302
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Funny you mention this - I was looking at pics of the new Grand Cherokee and thought the same exact thing!

It's particularly gratuitous in this implementation. It's not enough to shrink the headlights and fill the excess space in with plastic, they also had to notch the headlights and add yet more plastic. I just hate the sloppiness of this design, they did it by adding more parts and skewing the scale of everything. I'm just so annoyed by it, bunch of idiots over there. The Jeep GC was one of my favorite modern automotive designs, I was just waiting for an interior update and I'd seriously consider one...but not when they do this to the fascia.

Edited by BORG
Link to comment
Share on other sites

It's particularly gratuitous in this implementation. It's not enough to shrink the headlights and fill the excess space in with plastic, they also had to notch the headlights and add yet more plastic. I just hate the sloppiness of this design, they did it by adding more parts and skewing the scale of everything. I'm just so annoyed by it, bunch of idiots over there. The Jeep GC was one of my favorite modern automotive designs, I was just waiting for an interior update and I'd seriously consider one...but not when they do this to the fascia.

 

Yeah, I'm with you on liking the older design better. The headlights are looking too slim for a vehicle that size. Oh well.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The new Grand Cherokee lights look to be lifted straight from the Chrysler 300... an odd instance of parent company, not brand, synergy.

2012_chrysler_300_sedan_c_fq_oem_1_300.j

 

 

They aren't the same headlights, but are in the same design family to be sure.

 

....and yes, the new Grand Cherokee front end looks like ass. 1/10 would not buy.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Ugh, I guess you're right.

Say what you want about the styling, but a friend of mine has a '10 Focus...it's rock solid, no issues whatsoever. other than a flat tire and oil changes it's never been to the dealership in 17K miles. SYNC works great, it gets great MPGs, it's quiet and comfortable. Easy to get in/out of (it's tall). I drove it all last week, loved it. I want one to go with my Miata.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Ugh, I guess you're right.

 

2008_ford_focus_official_image_3.jpg

 

 

 

Say what you want about the styling, but a friend of mine has a '10 Focus...it's rock solid, no issues whatsoever. other than a flat tire and oil changes it's never been to the dealership in 17K miles. SYNC works great, it gets great MPGs, it's quiet and comfortable. Easy to get in/out of (it's tall). I drove it all last week, loved it. I want one to go with my Miata.

 

 

Hey, that was one of my favorite design elements on that car!

 

I still own one of these...in exactly that color with exactly that trim level...it's kind of interesting to see it sitting next to the Fusion in my driveway...you can tell they are related, but then all you see are the differences. It is indeed a great little car and it has held up well thus far...has around 60K on it I think. (I rarely drive it because it simply doesn't fit me well...)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I have one beef with the Focus of that front was the grille should have joined the bumper. It leaves IMO a dead space from one headlamp to the other. I wasn't a huge fan of the lights in the beginning either. I still feel on the Edge it looks like someone chiseled a piece of the lamp but it blends with the front. The aft portion of the Focus lamp I feel sweeps too far back. On the Escape, that has been resolved and the space underneath the lamp works. On the Lincoln, the unit looks sealed and it flows with the grille. I like the grille here and on MKZ. The twin lights look like they are shared from the upcoming 2014 Golf/Tiguan. That's not a bad thing BTW.

Edited by Hugh
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I honestly don't think they're all that necessary.

They are more useful in Winter climates for salt spray and and snow build-up. Certainly makes sense on a Jeep. Ford probably has reasons for it, not enough customer interest or it's a technical/reliability challenge, perhaps they aren't that effective in most cases, who knows. They do have them or have done them in the past on European Fords, like the Focus. Lincoln is one of the few luxury makes not to have them.

Edited by BORG
Link to comment
Share on other sites

They are more useful in Winter climates for salt spray and and snow build-up. Certainly makes sense on a Jeep. Ford probably has reasons for it, not enough customer interest of it's a technical/reliability challenge for a company that has never done it before.

Because Ford owned brands within PAG that had such premium features common on foreign brands. They didn't want their "lesser" brands to step on their premier brands! LOL

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I honestly don't think they're all that necessary.

 

 

I have to clean my headlights all the time in the winter. They get to be a hot mess from the salt and dirt spray during the winter months.

 

I've never owned a car with this feature, so I can't vouch for their effectiveness, but I can definitely see a use for them.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...