New Production Orlando is shown.
Senior Member
Joined: 08-08-2010
Posts: 112
From: Western NY
I mentioned it in another post previously, keep a retro themed wagon.... Bring in a bit of Nomad styling and ramp up production! I do like the Suburban idea too.
I also agree, I'm getting tired of seeing the Malibu face on everything. Manufacturers are over-doing the brand "face" way too much. It's going to get back to the point.... like Ford in the late 90's.... where you can get an identical model available in your choice of size; small, medium, and large.
I also agree, I'm getting tired of seeing the Malibu face on everything. Manufacturers are over-doing the brand "face" way too much. It's going to get back to the point.... like Ford in the late 90's.... where you can get an identical model available in your choice of size; small, medium, and large.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: 07-05-2008
Posts: 5,464
From: Akron Ohio
I still scratch my head why they don't bring it here with the HHR going away.
The sucide doors on the Granite is what I really like about it. It's smaller than the HHR, about Soul size. But odds are, that won't make it due to safety concerns. It will be a couple more years before the wife is due a replacement for her MPV and I was reallying thinking of the Orlando. The HHR is good for long weekend trips, but need something bigger for those week long family trips.
The sucide doors on the Granite is what I really like about it. It's smaller than the HHR, about Soul size. But odds are, that won't make it due to safety concerns. It will be a couple more years before the wife is due a replacement for her MPV and I was reallying thinking of the Orlando. The HHR is good for long weekend trips, but need something bigger for those week long family trips.
If you have not see the Granite I think you will be suprised. It is not as long but it is wider and I believe it will have more interior room than the HHR. I expected tall Mini Cooper when I saw photo's and found it to be much larger in person. It is much bigger than the Soul. Think of it more in terms of a Honda Element size.
They are still at work on the doors and I think they will make them work. The key is to make sure they do not make it too heavy. At worse they could do the normal doors.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: 07-05-2008
Posts: 5,464
From: Akron Ohio
I mentioned it in another post previously, keep a retro themed wagon.... Bring in a bit of Nomad styling and ramp up production! I do like the Suburban idea too.
I also agree, I'm getting tired of seeing the Malibu face on everything. Manufacturers are over-doing the brand "face" way too much. It's going to get back to the point.... like Ford in the late 90's.... where you can get an identical model available in your choice of size; small, medium, and large.
I also agree, I'm getting tired of seeing the Malibu face on everything. Manufacturers are over-doing the brand "face" way too much. It's going to get back to the point.... like Ford in the late 90's.... where you can get an identical model available in your choice of size; small, medium, and large.
Senior Member
Joined: 08-08-2010
Posts: 112
From: Western NY
True, there has been a certain brand "identity" for decades, but you could usually tell the difference between models from a distance away. It's getting more difficult to do so these days with some brands.
Understandably, brands want people to recognize their cars, but they could always be easily identified as "their" cars if the styling was unique; it would just have to be something that stands out from the crowd, not one that blends in. Consider how the 1970 Olds Toronado, Cadillac Eldorado, or Buick Riviera could all be identified as GM's, but often stood apart from the rest of the individual brands designs.
Understandably, brands want people to recognize their cars, but they could always be easily identified as "their" cars if the styling was unique; it would just have to be something that stands out from the crowd, not one that blends in. Consider how the 1970 Olds Toronado, Cadillac Eldorado, or Buick Riviera could all be identified as GM's, but often stood apart from the rest of the individual brands designs.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: 07-05-2008
Posts: 5,464
From: Akron Ohio
True, there has been a certain brand "identity" for decades, but you could usually tell the difference between models from a distance away. It's getting more difficult to do so these days with some brands.
Understandably, brands want people to recognize their cars, but they could always be easily identified as "their" cars if the styling was unique; it would just have to be something that stands out from the crowd, not one that blends in. Consider how the 1970 Olds Toronado, Cadillac Eldorado, or Buick Riviera could all be identified as GM's, but often stood apart from the rest of the individual brands designs.
Understandably, brands want people to recognize their cars, but they could always be easily identified as "their" cars if the styling was unique; it would just have to be something that stands out from the crowd, not one that blends in. Consider how the 1970 Olds Toronado, Cadillac Eldorado, or Buick Riviera could all be identified as GM's, but often stood apart from the rest of the individual brands designs.
Just be glad GM does not have th silly grin of a Mazda.
Senior Member
Joined: 11-15-2008
Posts: 1,599
From: Newburgh, NY
Ha! Good point... Everytime I see one of those new Mazdas, I think of the movie Maximum Overdrive with Emilo Estevez. Remember the semi? I wonder if they'll come out with an aftermarket "teeth" kit for the Mazda grille? 
For a generic people mover, I would take the sincere styling of the Orlando over the others.
For a generic people mover, I would take the sincere styling of the Orlando over the others.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: 07-05-2008
Posts: 5,464
From: Akron Ohio
Ha! Good point... Everytime I see one of those new Mazdas, I think of the movie Maximum Overdrive with Emilo Estevez. Remember the semi? I wonder if they'll come out with an aftermarket "teeth" kit for the Mazda grille?
For a generic people mover, I would take the sincere styling of the Orlando over the others.
For a generic people mover, I would take the sincere styling of the Orlando over the others.
I did get the same image with AC DC playing in my head. Not that the music was a problem.
Senior Member
Joined: 08-08-2010
Posts: 112
From: Western NY
So true, some of the manufacturers have come out with some hideous brand styling cues. The Mazda "mouth" is just one of them. Perhaps their designer just thought that the looks of the cars from "Cars" was too cool.
Senior Member
Joined: 02-16-2009
Posts: 6,038
From: Frankenmuth/Flint, MI
I just now noticed this thread.... I saw those at the GM proving grounds in Milford when we went there a few weeks ago! Most of the few I saw had the zebra covering on them though..but there was a white one I saw that looked like this!