Automotive Facelifts - For Better or Worse

[MedigoFlame]

I would like to apologize if this feels like another thread flooding the Cars in General forum. However, I feel like it would be nice to have a thread to specifically discuss the facelifts that cars get. Either improving the car's styling and/or quality (interior or exterior) during it's platform's lifespan. Sometimes these facelifts on cars help improve their exterior styling or an update in the interior (if you can consider it an interior facelift) can completely change a car for better or worse. I'll post up some of my own examples.

A reminder that these are facelifts (or refresh) of cars, not an all new generation. (Like 997 to 991 isn't a facelift) Also, facelift counts for the rear, if you'd prefer it to be called a rearlift or something along those lines.

For worse: I quite liked the current Corolla when it came out in 2014.

But then for the 2017 year model...they did this:

Interiors: The earlier JK Wranglers had some ugly cheap plastic and a PT Cruiser esque steering wheel.

When Fiat took over, they managed to improve it quite a bit.

For the better: The E90 3-Series improved with it's facelift. Especially the rear. The original E90 hasn't aged all that well.

Edit: For anyone unsure if what they're going to post is a facelift or not, it certainly helps to look at the greenhouse of the vehicle. Normally the easiest way to tell is by the A to C pillars not changing between model years. Hope this helps! The members here are always willing to help out if you aren't sure.

 

[bremics]

Can't post pics right now, but the Neon looked like a cheap piece of crap when it first came out, the later versions like the SX2.0 and the SRT4 looked pretty smart IMHO.

 

[Aerocoupe]

I like the '91 facelift for the Firebird quite a bit.

For whatever reason, Pontiac chose to give the Firebird a comprehensive facelift in the eleventh hour (as the fourth gen Firebird was right around the corner). The new nose was the biggest change, reflecting the Banshee concept and foreshadowing the next Firebird. They also added extra cladding for Trans Ams, gave the spoilers a divit, and created a new grid-style taillight cluster for the GTA. A driver airbag also carried over after its introduction in 1990.

I'm more keen on the nose and GTA lights, the cladding still hasn't grown on me quite yet.

 

[ToyGTone]

Toyota Camry XV50:

Pre facelift, looked a lot like the previous generaton:

Post facelift, is this considered even a facelift anymore?

I don't mind that change at all so good job Toyota.

Toyota 86 on the other hand...

Pre facelift:

2017 facelift:

 

[05XR8]

Acura Integra LS

1986

1988

May appear like minor revisions to the bumper inlet and the inclusion of driving and corner lights, but it makes the car look more upscale. Even chopping spokes from the wheels, makes the '88 easier on the eyes.

 

[MedigoFlame]

Toyota Camry XV50:

Pre facelift, looked a lot like the previous generaton:

Post facelift, is this considered even a facelift anymore?

I don't mind that change at all so good job Toyota.

Toyota 86 on the other hand...

Pre facelift:

2017 facelift:

I would consider that a Camry facelift. As the new generation just came out and it's supposed to be a new platform. Best way to tell a facelift is the side windows. The greenhouse usually will look the same on most facelifted cars.

I do agree with the GT86 facelift. Though one benefit in North America at least, is the better LED headlights on the Toyota 86 over the previous Scion FR-S.

 

[SlipZtrEm]

Great thread idea. 👍

I feel like the Tiburon ended up looking worse after its facelift both generations. But really, the first one is worse:

versus

It went from a sporty if slightly anonymous coupe to some sort of melty Celica mutant. The rear bumper was a mish-mash of busy detailing, too.

The Clio III surely deserves a mention too, going from this:

To this:

The facelift just made it look cheap. It doesn't look aggressive, it looks like someone punched it — and the only people that are going to think of F1 because of the wavy bumper are, well, F1 fans. Most anyone else is just going to think you've run into something, which I suppose isn't too much of a reach for a Clio...

 

[MedigoFlame]

Great thread idea. 👍

I feel like the Tiburon ended up looking worse after its facelift both generations. But really, the first one is worse:

View attachment 672592

versus

View attachment 672594

It went from a sporty if slightly anonymous coupe to some sort of melty Celica mutant. The rear bumper was a mish-mash of busy detailing, too.

I didn't realize the first generation Tiburon had a different front end before that. I always thought the four headlight one was the one and only look of the first generation.

I always forget about the mid-2000s Ford 500/Taurus. It was never a good looking car to begin with, but the (what I call) Gillette shaver facelift made it worse than it already was.

The Acura RL was not a good facelift either.

Pre-facelift looked nice:

To this:

The transition to Acura's beak nose went badly for the RL out of the rest of the lineup.

 

[bremics]

I didn't realize the first generation Tiburon had a different front end before that. I always thought the four headlight one was the one and only look of the first generation.

I always forget about the mid-2000s Ford 500/Taurus. It was never a good looking car to begin with, but the (what I call) Gillette shaver facelift made it worse than it already was.

The Acura RL was not a good facelift either.

Pre-facelift looked nice:

To this:

The transition to Acura's beak nose went badly for the RL out of the rest of the lineup.

Personally I think the 500 facelift is pretty good, went from "eww" to "meh".

On the Acura... eh. Not gonna lie, I'm not a fan of... any of their cars really, other than the NSX.

The new ones look like someone tried to turn the weird bubbly Taurus into a Cadillac by just shaving all the curves into sharp edges.

 

[Downhill Dino]

The Clio III surely deserves a mention too, going from this:

View attachment 672595

To this:

View attachment 672596

The facelift just made it look cheap. It doesn't look aggressive, it looks like someone punched it — and the only people that are going to think of F1 because of the wavy bumper are, well, F1 fans. Most anyone else is just going to think you've run into something, which I suppose isn't too much of a reach for a Clio...

This is one I felt was better. The prior always struck me as a little bland. Facelifted it's probably one of my favorite 'whale mouth' designs. Love it enough I'd very much like to import one when the time comes. A guilty pleasure of mine you could say. And I didn't know it was F1 inspired! Weird.

 

[Danoff]

On the Acura... eh. Not gonna lie, I'm not a fan of... any of their cars really, other than the NSX.

RSX (I didn't like that facelift)
Integra
TSX

Those are all excellent cars.

 

[TheNuvolari]

I don't want to post a picture of the 2018 Mustang. It looks like a punched little dawg.

The pre-facelift one was much, MUCH better.

 

[FT-1]

For Better: Ford Focus Mk3.

Spoiler: Ford Focus MK3

Ditched this generic appearance...

...For a much classier look.

For Better: Toyota Yaris Mk3.

Spoiler: Toyota Yaris Mk3

Again, quite annonymous looking

Facelift 1 - Bigger grill and reworked headlights create a more upmarket look

Facelift 2 - Now it looks trendier with the bi-tone roof option

For Worse: Renault Twingo RS.

Spoiler: Renault Twingo RS

Before - Really admirable little hot hatch, loved the clean look with the extended wheel arches.

Facelift - Sorry, who approved those headlights??

 

[AerodyManiac]

The first car that came to my mind when I was reading this thread is the Mercedes Benz SL Class (R230). While the original doesn't look offensive at all, I just don't quite like it:

The facelift version, to me, adds a bit of elegance, freshness and a LOT of charm to the car:

The DB9 also deserves a mention in this thread. The original, while beautiful, was starting to age and lose a bit of its attractiveness, at least to me:

The facelift version kept up with the times and managed to retain its elegance at the same time:

Now time for the ones that I think looked worse since they received the treatment:

The original V8 Vantage looked better to me. The facelift version looked sportier, but somehow, I just don't think it suits the car very well. Same goes for the V12 engine.

It's not an ugly car by any means, but it just doesn't look that good anymore.

Another worthy mention is the Tesla Model S.

While some of you may argue that it's simply redundant, it simply looks better with the faux-grille.

That's all I can think of right now.

 

[Danoff]

While some of you may argue that it's simply redundant, it simply looks better with the faux-grille.

That's all I can think of right now.

Don't agree on the model S. And I never thought about it before, but it kinda looks like this:

 

[TheCracker]

I always think the older Tesla looks like a Hyundai with that grill.

 

[SlipZtrEm]

I think my main problem with the Model S facelift is that all the original promo images (like the red one above) looked Photoshopped. Somebody just clone-tooled the original faux-grille right off, without changing anything else!

 

[MedigoFlame]

The first car that came to my mind when I was reading this thread is the Mercedes Benz SL Class (R230). While the original doesn't look offensive at all, I just don't quite like it:

The facelift version, to me, adds a bit of elegance, freshness and a LOT of charm to the car:

I found that facelift to be much better than the third one.

The third facelift did not suit the body style at all. Same goes for the SLK.

Edit: I mean the 2nd facelift.

Also, Tesla's grill wasn't that bad. But now they're all these faceless cars that almost remind me of Harry Potter's Voldemort with no nose. (If you were to compare it to a person)

 

[Carbon_6]

The DB9 also deserves a mention in this thread. The original, while beautiful, was starting to age and lose a bit of its attractiveness, at least to me:

The facelift version kept up with the times and managed to retain its elegance at the same time:

I'm the complete opposite on this. The Gen.1 DB9 was, and still is in my opinion, a beautiful looking car. Everything they did to it since (especially giving it that Virage front end) just did the car no favours.

 

[Danoff]

I think my main problem with the Model S facelift is that all the original promo images (like the red one above) looked Photoshopped. Somebody just clone-tooled the original faux-grille right off, without changing anything else!

It struck me that way too. I'm getting used to it though, and now I just think it looks clean.

 

[ToyGTone]

How i forgot about the Acura/Honda NSX?

Hidden/Pop out:

Fixed:

Back when i was young and GT4 was still new, i remember preferring the newer look over the older one but as i grew up, i started to like the older one for having that sleeker look. The newer 2000's version still looks fantastic but it's not as good as the original IMO.

 

[GTvsForza]

How about the Ford F-series?

 

[MedigoFlame]

How about the Ford F-series?

Not sure if they could be considered a facelift as it's a new generation of the Ford F-Series.

 

[05XR8]

Facelift 2 - Now it looks trendier with the bi-tone roof option

[/SPOILER]

For Worse: Renault Twingo RS.

Spoiler: Renault Twingo RS

Before - Really admirable little hot hatch, loved the clean look with the extended wheel arches.

Facelift - Sorry, who approved those headlights??

The same guy that approved the Juke's.

Say, thaty Yaris looks really good(too bad the Swift Sport has revealed itself). I wouldn't mind it.

 

[JR98]

Spoiler: Mazda RX-7 FD (For Better)

Before:

After:

Spoiler: Chevrolet Corvette C3 (For Worse)

Before:

After:

Spoiler: Lamborghini Gallardo (For Better)

Before:

After:

Spoiler: Nissan Primera P11 (For Worse)

Before:

After:

 

[Danoff]

How i forgot about the Acura/Honda NSX?

Hidden/Pop out:

Fixed:

Back when i was young and GT4 was still new, i remember preferring the newer look over the older one but as i grew up, i started to like the older one for having that sleeker look. The newer 2000's version still looks fantastic but it's not as good as the original IMO.

Good call. I think when the facelift came out I hated it, and now I'm getting used to it. When the headlights are popped up on the old one I like the facelift better, but with the lights down on the old one it's far better (still) in my opinion.

 

[boiltheocean]

 

[MedigoFlame]

Actually grown to like the Bugeye more than the Blobeye.

I weirdly liked the plain look of the Toyota Probox.

Then they did this:

 

[1241Penguin]

*Impreza*

No no no, it goes like: Bugeye < Hawkeye < Blobeye.

 

[GTvsForza]

Camaros