New Mazdas

[Chuck Most]

Who approved this design?

Who... WHO, I ask you!????

[highway]

Who approved this design?

Who... WHO, I ask you!????

Hey, at least it looks like it's happy!!!

[Nick Winter]

Chuck atleast you get a smile in your rear-view in rush hour traffic.

[Chuck Most]

So I guess what you guys are saying is- I just need to start thinking positive?

[Zoom Zoom]

I'm a lifelong Mazda fan, and even I can't stomach what they've done w/the front of the Mazda3, no matter what particular model it is. Usually styling like this eventually becomes okay with me with familiarity, but the more I see these cars, the less I like them. I applaud them for trying, but I'd be embarrassed to drive a Mazda3 (or the Mazda5 that gets the goofball "Nagare" styling down the side this time, not just the idiotic "smile"). Often I like cars that polarize people on the subject of styling, but the Mazda3 just kills any enthusiasm I have for the car simply because the front end styling makes me gag.

[Harry P.]

Looks like it should have starred in the movie "Cars"...

Hey! We have a Mazda emoticon!

[Lownslow]

Looks like it should have starred in the movie "Cars"...

Hey! We have a Mazda emoticon!

[Chuck Most]

It appears Mr. Ross has spilled the beans on Japan's latest "Japanimation" hit-"Smiley, the Malevolent Mazda".

Edited May 17, 2010 by Chuck Most

[Modelmartin]

It needs a polka-dot clown suit paintjob and an orange wig on the roof.

[peter31a]

I don't know which is worse - the smiley Mazdas or the Acuras with chrome beaks.

[Zoom Zoom]

I'm surprised you dislike it so much, when in an earlier thread it sounded like you were in favor of a kit, Bob!

I wouldn't have to be seen in public driving a kit of it

A kit would be far easier to customize that goofball grin right off of it.

I love pug dogs, but I don't think the front end of a car should look like a pug that just found an unattended plateful of cookies

[Zoom Zoom]

I don't know which is worse - the smiley Mazdas or the Acuras with chrome beaks.

I quickly grew accustomed to those previously-horrid Acuras, to the point they now look pretty normal...mostly (the ZDX is just...awful). I prefer the beak to the goofball grin. This is a good example of something that at first was off-putting to me, but became normalized through more exposure. I doubt the Mazda3 will ever be able to get to that point with me...it's just too over-the-top goofy.

[Draggon]

My neighbor has one. The first thing that poped into my mind (immediately!!) was "what a stupid lookin' grin"

[The Modeling Hermit]

The design team was evedently allowed to have fun with this one, and it even has dimples. We've lived with "throw it in a wind tunnel, and remove anything that gets in the way, and you've got a styled car, for way too long. It may not be the prettiest girl at the party, but at least the designers have been given a chance. Maybe I'm still stuck in the fifties way of thinking, but I like a car with styling, even if I don't like the styling on the car. It's just my personal opinion, but I think it's about time that we get away from the "copycat" blah cars, with what I consider to be boring colors that all seem to blend into the road, and dull interior colors that make me feel like I'm climbing into a cave. I would like to see some more cars where the design studio was allowed some freedom, with exterior colors that would be enjoyable to view, and where pleasant interior colors would invite one to enter. As I said, this is only my opinion; I don't like it when others call a car that I like ugly, and try to never call somebody else's ugly. I will admit that I'm not sure that I'd put fender skirts and a continental kit on it. LOL

[oversteer]

We've all seen uglier faces.That shot looks distorted due the the proximity of the subject to the lens.

[The Modeling Hermit]

We've all seen uglier faces.That shot looks distorted due the the proximity of the subject to the lens.

Richard, I resemble that remark. LOL

[Joe Handley]

Other than that front bumper/grill area, I kinda like the looks of that car.

[RodneyBad]

When I see those cars or cars like them, I think of pikachu.

[Joe Handley]

HAHAHAHAHA!

[Jim Gibbons]

If the Joker from Batman were to have been a designer, this would have been it!

[Chuck Most]

I think I may have a little too much time on my hands...

[Scale-Master]

I gotta say, when I first saw it, I thought much along the lines of everyone else who does not care for the styling. Then I drove it. Holy Schmoly! It rips!

After a fun romp, I got out and it looked 100% better.

And as embarrassing as it is, I got beaten by a bone stock one in a drag race. What was I driving that makes it embarrassing? A Ferrari 355, and no, I was not sandbagging.

The cool part is if you don’t like the nose, well, you can’t see the outside when you’re driving it, and you have the ability to hide the front from almost anyone by pushing the throttle harder.

Those who know what my daily driver is might be surprised to know I’d definitely consider getting one of these little “eco-rocketsâ€. I’ve driven Miatas, and these are so much more fun and flat out faster. The only issue I have with it is the torque steer, but the rest of the package, Zoom-Zoom-Yes!

[oversteer]

You know after taking a second look at the original posters picture I sort of think the problem isn't the smile look of the grill as it is the emblem,it pokes out and looks like a nose!LOL

Is it me or is the emblem functional?Is that an air intake behind the emblem???Anyway the Mazda miata is my top 5 cars that I would buy.

[sjordan2]

Having been a good dad who actually sat through the Pokemon movie with my daughter, I hate to even think of Pikachu.

[Aaronw]

Blame International, the 2003-2008 7300/7400 is nicknamed the Cheshire cat for good reason, the silly truck is smiling. I've forgiven it because it does perform, but I prefer a more serious look on my trucks.