04. Acura Stands Styling Ground
When Acura's enormous shield-like front grille became the centerpiece of its new corporate styling language just a few short years ago the company was forced to absorb a significant amount of scorn on the part of the media, which quickly derided the jutting, beak-like proboscis and lamented the passing of the automaker's previous design efforts. Although Acura eventually relented and began to dial back the size and prominence of the shield, the Automotive News has published an article that quotes Honda and Acura chief exterior designer Toshinobu Minami as saying the customers are now 'used' to the look and that the manufacturer has no plans to further back away from it on future products. Any visual changes made to Acura designs moving forward will be evolutionary in nature, and Honda may in fact follow the premium brand into edgier styling territory.