Facelifts are attempts by automakers to keep looks current on aging designs. Sometimes, that doesn’t work.
10.) Lamborghini LP-560 Gallardo
In its extended period of production, the Gallardo had seen many facelifts and minor upgrades so that sales wouldn’t fall completely flat. By adding some triangles here and there, it’s almost like a completely new car!
Suggested By: stillthrottledown, Photo Credit: Falcon Photography via Flickr
9.) 2008 Mercedes-Benz SL
As part of Mercedes-Benz’s corporate front-end makeover, their flagship roadster lost its four pod headlight styling and gained a larger grill. Combined, these changes allowed for a more German overall design, which, of course, means boring.
Suggested By: AMGWTFBBQ, Photo Credit: Sarah Larson via Flickr
8.) 1974 MG MGB
As with multiple other cars from this era, the North American bound MGBs were ruined by newfound US safety regulations requiring new front and rear bumpers, as well as further adaptions to the ride height to meet headlight height regulations. Sure, these new adaptions may have been ‘safer,’ but they largely ruined the looks and handling of this iconic little roadster.
Suggested By: As Du Volant, Photo Credit: Michael Gil via Flickr
7.) 2013 Aston Martin Rapide
For the Rapide’s 2013 facelift, Aston Martin decided to drop in a well needed 17% horsepower increase. Unfortunately, along with that extra horsepower, they changed the front-end up and switched out the stylish two piece Aston Martin grill with a larger one piece whale shark mouth grill.
Suggested By: felixthegrumpycat, Photo Credit: Aston Martin
6.) 1999 Hyundai Tiburon
Just three years into production, Hyundai attempted to spruce up the Tiburon’s design with minor change in the rear and some rather severe changes in the front. In the front, Hyundai split up the front headlights lenses and as a result, the Tiburon became severely less attractive to most consumers.
Suggested By: 365Daytonafan, Photo Credit: Michael Gil via Flickr
5.) Ferrari 512M
Just look at that front end, lacking the pop-ups that the Testarossa had and this facelift deserves. How dare they?
Suggested By: TheStigSpanishCousin, Photo Credit: FavCars.com
4.) 2013 Nissan 370Z
As many auto manufacturers have done in recent years, it appears Nissan decided to hop on over to the eBay parts bin and slap on some less than tasteful LED DRLs to the front bumper on the 370Z. Of course, this was the only way that Nissan could keep the aging design current with the times, so who could blame them. Right?
Suggested By: rennsportv12, Photo Credit: Nissan
3.) 1974 Chevrolet Camaro
Another unfortunate example of a good looking car that got beat with the with the ugly stick in order to conform with new US safety regulations. With this facelift, the Camaro went from a happy fun-going muscle car, to a droopy faced, pile of sadness.
Suggested By: clutchshiftington, Photo Credit: Greg Gjerdingen via Flickr
2.) 2002 Honda NSX
I don’t want to go as far as to say that Honda completely ruined the looks of the NSX when they released the facelift in 2002. That said, they did switch out the famed pop-up headlights with more modern and more effective projector lamps, so I guess there’s no avoiding it. Honda ruined the looks of the NSX when they took our beloved pop-up headlights away.
Suggested By: Buzz Killington, Photo Credit: David Merrett via Flickr
1.) Mclaren 650S
Though McLaren may disagree that this is a facelift (they call it a generation change), the 650S truly wasn’t much more of a spec bump and facelift to the MP4-12C. They gave the chassis more power, but they also ripped the face off the P1 and planted it right on the 12C’s front end. I understand the use of corporate faces, but this was a bit much.
Suggested By: jonnybimmer, Photo Credit: Patrick George/Kurt Bradley via Jalopnik
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