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Modernizing for the sake of modernizing has its risks. As we saw in the first part of this series of cars that got worse after a redesign, trying to extend the life of a vehicle generation can backfire. It is possible to make a blunder and ruin the design coherence. Or even end up with a new model that looks older than the original.
In this second part, we are aiming a bit higher. Sports cars, even those that are fully luxury, have also been affected on occasion by this phenomenon. Here are 5 sports models where exactly that happened: their designers did a lift to forget.
Mercedes-Benz C-Class Sport Coupé / CLC (CL203)
In the year 2000, that fantastic era when sports cars were still sold, Mercedes-Benz launched the Sport Coupé, a small vehicle for enjoyment based on the C-Class. The model underwent a minor first redesign in 2004 that suited it like good makeup.
However, the real disaster would arrive in 2008. The Germans renamed the car as CLC-Class, but it remained the same vehicle. It kept the chassis and engines, but received a facelift that was not only exaggerated, but quite unattractive. The rear end of this sports car should serve as a study case on how not to do a redesign.
Mazda RX-8
Let’s move on to a subtle and lesser-known one. The RX-8 will always be known for being the last rotary-engined car, and also for being the car with the least reliable rotary engine of all time. In any case, in this article we are talking solely about design, and Mazda’s iconic sports car had a subtle and considerably worse change mid-generation.
The RX-8 underwent a change in its tail lights, going from an eye-shaped design with an iris to a double eye. This formula usually works fine in vehicles like those from Ferrari, but in this case, it looks strange being encapsulated in clear optics.
Chevrolet Camaro Z28
Surely you know someone who got plastic surgery, and after going through the pricks and operations, they looked older than when they started the process. Well, that is what happened to the fourth-generation Camaro.
Upon its release in 1993, this Camaro looked very modern. In fact, we can state that it has aged phenomenally well. We cannot say the same for its 1998 restyling, which is an absolute disaster. From completely smooth and gapless surfaces, it moved to meaningless light clusters and grilles that added a decade to its back. From being a cutting-edge sports car, the Z28 ended up looking like the typical Chrysler of the era.
Ferrari Testarossa
With just under 10,000 units produced, the Ferrari Testarossa is a true icon of the cavallino rampante. An entire book could be written about this car. However, all the aura of mysticism surrounding this berlinetta falls to the ground when we talk about the exclusive versions that Ferrari made of the Testarossa.
We have nothing to reproach the 512 TR for. However, the Ferrari F512 M is a version the Italians could have saved themselves from. From having an exquisite front end with pop-up headlights, the 512 TR ended up with normal optics, but of the same size. This ridiculous disproportion makes the sports car look more like an emoji than a luxury car.
Maserati 3200GT
It was launched in 1998, but its aesthetics still pass today as if it were a current car. Its thin and elongated tail lights are something we see daily in modern vehicles.
Well, we don’t know if someone locked up Giorgetto Giugiaro when his colleagues wanted to take the Maserati 3200GT to North America, but the truth is that, once again, they made a major mess. From the original fine design, they moved to one with rear grilles and horrible lights that any cheap car of the era could have worn. Horrifying.