US Automakers Banking On Character To Overcome Appliance Like Japanese Designs In 2014

Charlee Smith said he sees Toyota Motor Corp.'s Camry and Honda Motor Co.'s Accord all over California and their styling makes him think "appliance." To stand out, he picked a gas-electric hybrid with a grille that evokes British sports cars, buying a Ford Motor Co. Fusion.

"I know it's an ego or a vanity thing, but I'll admit: I like it when people turn their head," said Smith, 63, who works for an adhesive manufacturer between Los Angeles and San Jose. The Fusion "has proven to be everything I wanted in a car."

Americans are snapping up U.S. cars spanning from Chrysler Group LLC's Dodge value brand to General Motors Co.'s Cadillac luxury line, highlighting the newfound breadth of offerings in the automakers' showrooms.

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MattDarringer - 1/2/2014 3:24:52 PM

+1 Boost

With Honda, Acura, Nissan, and Infiniti slathering their cars in STRANGE styling and with Toyota going out of its way to make their cars look boring, perhaps "gotta have it" styling is the answer. The Cherokee is NOT an example of it, but the Fusion is.

ParadoX - 1/2/2014 3:43:12 PM

+1 Boost

Honda did good on the new Accord, Nissan has maintained good designs, Toyota is the one I worry about. The Camry and Corolla were not styled appropriately.

Ford and GM have stepped up their designs and built their cars to compete.

MorePower - 1/2/2014 8:47:09 PM

0 Boost

The Ford Fusion is one of the ugliest, most bloated waste of a knock-off Aston Martin grille on the market. I thought the design was interesting during the initial reveal, but seeing it person, and on the road, has changed my mind.

Charlee Smith has poor taste! The Accord and Camry are going to have conservative styling because they are designed to appeal to a broad range of consumers.

The Altima, Mazda 6 and the Kia Optima are great examples of daring design trying to appeal to a broad audience.