A Controversial Grille That Has Gone Mainstream

Large grills are nothing new, and go in and out of fashion. Perhaps Audi was the first to revive them in this decade, but they have been part of automotive design for a century. Chevrolet has every right to use it on the new Malibu, and potentially on the next Impala - why because they had it on the 1972 Chevy Impala.

If anyone can tell me how to load a photo into this discussion stream I'll happily insert a photo of the 1972 Impala to show that Audi did nothing new.

who cares?

I've actually always liked the oversized grille look. That's the only reason I like Audis.

How about their AWD, interiors or driving dynamics?

Other (better) cars have AWD, good interiors, and good driving dynamics. Like I said, the grille is the only thing Audi has going on for them.

Like I said, the grille is the only thing Audi has going on for them.



Mr. LexusIS350,

That's frankly a pretty idiotic post.

Audi has style, AWD, interior quality, sport and luxury going for them.

Thank you, Bill.

I think they were a pretty big trend-setter, and on most of their models, it did well in giving Audi a character all its own.

In fact, I'd say all of Audi's models look better than they did before.

I like the grilles on German cars because they really have style.

Audi - BMW - Mercedes

I agree, the grille of the new C-class just screams 'noveau riche style'.

Weber makes a nice grill and I'm an owner of one.

Charcoal is the only way to go.

^Steven Webber is a fine comedic actor..

Yes the audi grille has been copied, but no one has set the a trend in automotive design the way BMW has...the audi grille was an attempt to match the controversy the new BMW designs received when first introduced

But the new 3 series has the Audi grille.

the 3 series has a same double kindley grill does not look like the audi grille. But I know for years your so jealous of BMW success you help but think about BMW with every post, if fact the whole audi performance image is a copy of BMW. Now for my unbias opinion the CTS looks great, I like Audi also great cars since 2000, great products.

Yes it does, look at the entire outline of the 3 Series grille. The lines running down the bumper make it look like Audi's shield. I like the 3 Series, but I knew this was there since it came out.

As for liking Audi, then why do you always bash them? You're just like AmazingBimmer!

Look at the Ford Explorer too
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I personally do not like the look of any grills. Look at Ferrari and Lamborghini. They do not have grills. As far as the large grills featured now on some popular models, the Audi is hideous (I almost bought an Audi but didn't just because of the grill), the Mitsubishi X Concept grill which is the Audi grill turned 180 degrees. That grill looks better not that it looks good. As far as GM's attempt, they are large grills but do not have one giant grill. They have a piece of plastic someone in the middle (looks better in my opinion). The only large grill that I think looks good is the one found on the Chrysler 300C.

I like the grille's bold look it brings to an otherwise conservative Audi design, but I also feel that it makes the car look too sporty for some models such as the A8. Nevertheless I still like the big grille Audi’s & A8 better, as they add much needed character to Audi's in general.

I do hate how Mitsubishi is totally ripping off the Audi grill though...Now when you see it coming up the road you’ll be second guessing yourself as to whether it’s an Audi or Mitsubishi.

if you can confuse the Mitsu with an Audi, you need to get your eyes checked!

the ONLY resemblence the mitsu has, is a large grill OUTLINE. otherwise, it looks like it has NO GRILL AT ALL. or JUST a fine mesh, near invisible one. when was the last time you could see a car's radiator THRU the "grill?"

the bright "nose" of a bumper and angry headlight eyes are what's first noticeable. set off by the sheer SIZE of the "invisible" grill OUTLINE.

If anything the new 3er has a 745i grille...not an Audi grill by anymeans. Nice stretch of the imagination though 'Chewy'.

No take a look at the 3 series bumper and around the grill. A shield shape is evident.

Uhh, yes, it really does. I've always noticed it.

Only a Lexus salesperson could be responsible for such an indiotic statement. You have no idea what will or can happen with Audi over the next 5 years. That same mentality is what landed GM, Ford, and DCX in the situations they are in now. Go sell your rebadged TOYOTAs and keep living in dreamland.

We actually talk about driving excitement when we describe all German cars. RS4? R8? My car? Ringing some bells?

I don't believe you've owned a single Audi. I don't think you've owned any German cars at all, in fact. It's just so hard for me to see what's so superior about Lexus. I honestly (well, my wife) have owned two Lexi in the last nine years. The RX300 and RX330 have been comfortable, easy cars, but nothing more. And there's really nothing remarkable about their reliability in my experiences, because I've treated the S4, A6, A4 and A3 very well- none have had big problems. The biggest happened to the A4, which was bought used; the steering rack had to be re-aligned. There have been a few glitches on the Lexus models- the RX300's speedometer froze in its fourth year, and the RX330's brake pads were replaced prematurely. But my wife hasn't noticed anything spectacular about owning a Lexus, and doesn't want another one at all.

already mainstream, already exploded. this article is just blowing smoke at this point.

why even bother?

You idiots. The first cars to have such grille were Horch which later became a part of the Auto union.

I have mentioned Will doesn't have any idea what Auto Union is. I am also amazed that the modern press makes little or no mention of Auto Union when referring to Audi's grill. It annoys me.

wow, you guys are arguing and killing yourselfs over a stupid grill, get over it already, lol.

I don't know what to think of "bulldogz". He seems hell-bent on defending certain cars and putting down others. Very bitterly, I might add.

I mean, you (bulldogz) keep mentioning over, and over, and over, that Lexus is #1 in the largest market in the world. But do ya know what? Audi sells twice as many cars as them in the ONLY MARKET OF THE WORLD. The world!

Audi never claimed their grille was a first anyway, the writer of the article did.

All they did was bring big grilles back into fashion! The 1990's was a era where cars had dainty little 'aerodynamic' front ends. Audi's designers helped to create change in this respect.

Yep, absolutely correct. Sure cars had all sorts of grilles in automobile history, but it is obvious that lage grilles (trapezoid shaped as well) are in fashion now because of Audi.

if anything, the dodge Ram started the recent trend to feature BIG grills.

they tended to ALREADY be big on most trucks anyway. dodge sorta made it fashionable to go SUPER big, like on semis, scaled down.

while it works with big trucks, it just LOOKS DUMB on small and medium sized SEDANS! i would NOT say it's been made "fashionable" again. it just looks stupid!

even with the bumpers breaking up the mass, the caddy and mitsu pictured above look dumb. the chevy is NOT quite as bad, due to the grill broken into smaller sections.

The audi grill looks like it can grade cheese.
George Foreman Grill > Audi Grill

I think large grills appeal to men more than women. Sort of like the appeal of large breasts. Women prefer small, dainty, cute little cars.

Did anyone read my post?

It's an ugly fashion statement that will eventually run its course. Like origami cars (Cadillac CTS) and BMW's "Flame Surface". "Different" gets your attention. "Gorgeous" keeps it.

huu76,

Don't be ignorant. We are talking about grilles that carry on well below the headlights, the 'shield' design which is not broken up, or at least minimally, by the front bumper.

The Dodge Ram has a big grille yes, but it clearly confined to above the bumper.

Big grilles aren't new, never were, but the 'shield' grille (definition supplied) has only very recently made its way back onto cars.

(cue huu76's response with the naming of some unloved American car which ever-so-loosely (And I mean really loose) had a 'shield' grille before Audi)

C'mon huu, I know you're dying to find something to knock us Euro boys back to square one. Find some crappy American car that, if you stand upside down and squint really tightly, kinda has a 'shield grille', kinda has a 'Bangle Butt', kinda has convex surfacing....

You're only fooling yourself.

Will,

The grill is based on the Nuvalari concept from March of 2003 designed by de'Silva. The Bugatti Veyron grill that you speak of is not very close in size to the Audi grills, or any of the other brands mentioned in the article above.

I love the Audi grill, New CTS grill, and I love the Ford Fusion Grill.They are all eye catching simply Beautiful

AUTO UNION:

"Did anyone read my post?"

who CARES, about some dumb german brand that's been DEAD for decades?

oh wait, it was absorbed and resurrected by Audi, the "American Motors" of europe. created from a hodge-podge of ugly, UNwanted and dying brands!

ApexAlex:

Dude, In 1930s horch was probably the most prestigeous brand out there. They sold more super luxury cars than Daimler-benz.

the same can be said for Duesenberg. which also died in the Depression.

people at least still remember "It's a Duesie" as a popular expression as well as a great motorcar.

ok. so did Horch have any technical innovations that made it memorable?

"The first Horch had a 4.5 hp engine, with an alloy crankcase, a unique achievement in those days."

"Horch cars were considered much advanced and superior to those being then built by Mercedes or Benz(who were then separate manufacturers)."

That's only some of the info.They also built some really special engines in 1920s and soo on.