Why are French cars so ugly

[Caio_Reinhardt]

French car you like or not...

 

[Carlos]

The new Megane RS is pretty awesome to me..

 

[Danny]

I think the problem here is that 'ugly' doesn't necessarily mean something looks 'bad'. Take the DS3 - it's not beautiful, but at least it's interesting to look at. Same case with the old C4 3dr - it's not beautiful in the way that the Laguna Coupe is, but it's a head turning bit of design. And even Peugeot's 508 comes under the same category, I'd say. The rest of their lineup can go to hell, of course.

I can't get my head around the phrase 'old C4'. To me it still looks like a magic spaceship from the future.

I genuinely cannot stand the Peugeot corporate look. I don't dig on feline faces that aren't Sophie Ellis-Bexter, and to be completely honest, and I hate myself for this, but the last Peugeot I've liked the look of was the 607, and I'm well aware it's an abomination.

Citroen and Renault though, I think some of the styling is ahead of it's time, but I wouldn't say any of it was ugly per se. Citroen for me isn't building as many classically pretty cars as Renault, but I'm still liking both lineups.

The Renault Laguna Coupe and Wind Roadster are both my cup of tea, and are more than pretty enough to make me feel funny down there.

 

[sanmusa]

Telling me this looks ugly?

Yes, that ugly gaping mouth up front, the vertical lights on the side of the bumpers, that idiotic fin on the B pillar, and all the goofy stickers you can get for the car...

Opinions are like a-holes, we all have them and they all stink!

Now, I've been known to like some ugly things, hell I own a pug for heavens sake!

Here is an ugly French car that I love:

Classic Citroen DS are very nice looking

But the Gran Prix for the ugliest French car goes to...

the Citroen Ami!!!

 

[Hollidog]

This?

Peugot 907 Concept

 

[Skython]

The Laguna Coupe would like a word with you:

I agree with Toronado. Peugeots are currently awful, Citroens have improved in the last five years or so and Renaults can be hit and miss. The Laguna Coupe above is probably the best looking car to come out of France since Daan's old 406 Coupe, and I also rather like the Citroen C6 which has a sense of elegance that few other marques will never quite understand - it's a true successor to the old Citroens DS, GS and SM.

I quite liked the "big bum" Megane, and it's still a design that looks modern today. Likewise the Avantime which has some great details.

I like that the OP used the Group B 205 as an example of a French car that looked good. I'd put forward that like most other Group B cars it's stylistically pretty hideous - it's "beauty" is very much a) in the eye of the beholder and b) more an aggression than anything actually aesthetic.

As for modern cars generally looking worse, it just depends what you consider "worse". There are some fantastic designs around right now and that companies are still managing it despite safety legislation and other requirements is something to be commended.

I'd certainly tend to say that modern cars are a lot better looking than their 80s or 90s counterparts. The "retro" boom has a lot to answer for: there's a hell of a lot of vehicles that were considered incredibly bland back in the 80s that people seem to think are cool now. Just about everything made in Japan between 1980 and 1990 for a start. If anything, cars today look less similar to each other than they have for decades.

Unless you live in the States, or work at an Audi dealership.

I have a problem and I like the Group B aggressive looks okay, jokes I was just trying hard to think of another french car I like the look of (GT by Citroen doesn't count, as PD worked with Citroen on it) but i must admit, the Renault Spider looks good

 

[homeforsummer]

I have a problem and I like the Group B aggressive looks okay, jokes I was just trying hard to think of another french car I like the look of (GT by Citroen doesn't count, as PD worked with Citroen on it) but i must admit, the Renault Spider looks good

I'd forgotten about the Spider actually, you're right, it was quite a looker.

Obligatory picture:

 

[caliwator]

I think the 406 coupe is a beauty

Design by pininfarina

 

[Sniffs]

hm...the Ami is "ugly cute", kinda like Gollum. take the rake out of the C pillar and stick some wider wheels in here, and your good to go. reminds me of the designs of the tail end of the Chrome and Fins design era in the US, right before they switched to the "electric shaver" designs that would evolve into the muscle car shapes.

 

[Jondot]

I genuinely cannot stand the Peugeot corporate look. I don't dig on feline faces that aren't Sophie Ellis-Bexter, and to be completely honest, and I hate myself for this, but the last Peugeot I've liked the look of was the 607, and I'm well aware it's an abomination.

I think the 607's the only car that carries that stupid Peugeot grin reasonably well. Perhaps the fact that it's as long as a cruise liner puts the pulled-back face in proportion.

This?
Peugot 907 Concept

I remember seeing that at the British Motor Show a couple of years ago.

It was terrifying.

 

[Skython]

I'd forgotten about the Spider actually, you're right, it was quite a looker.

Obligatory picture:

That's proof of Renault's hit or miss system

 

[Dave x1]

Latest Hot RenaultSports are very good looking IMHO:

 

[bradford]

Not all French cars are ugly, I quite like the look of new Renaults (Megane RS's wheels are probably the best I've seen for a long time) and Citroens (Metropolis concept looks fantastic), but I can't stand the Peugeot's stupid face. Good thing that it begins to leave (508 looks quite nice).

 

[homeforsummer]

Latest Hot RenaultSports are very good looking IMHO:

The Laguna Coupe is one of those cars that made it from concept car to production car with virtually no changes. When the concept car looked so good, that's a very good thing.

I'm not actually so keen on the Megane, there are some odd details and I can't abide Renault's current trend of mounting their badge really high on the nose so all the cars look like they're sniffling. Most Renaults would be improved immediately by mounting the badge six inches lower on the bonnet.

 

[Dave x1]

@homeforsummer I agree with you about that badge thing,but i think you have never seen a Megane R.S in flesh,they look amazing,in the pics the Meg R.S looks just odd i agree,but in real life you will be blown away if you see one,it kinda looks like a mini supercar.

2 years ago i saw the prototype Meg R.S being tested at Monaco,it was Yellow with black wheels,didn't notice what the car was but just noticed the back and the side of the car while moving,i thought Lambo was going to make hatchbacks.

 

[Grayfox]

The Peugeot RCZ is not that ugly, but that does not mean the rest of the Peugeots are nice.

 

[Hollidog]

I think the 607's the only car that carries that stupid Peugeot grin reasonably well. Perhaps the fact that it's as long as a cruise liner puts the pulled-back face in proportion.




I remember seeing that at the British Motor Show a couple of years ago.

It was terrifying.

Really? I suppose I linked the picture in which I thought the car looked the best. Though that doesnt say much.

 

[homeforsummer]

@homeforsummer I agree with you about that badge thing,but i think you have never seen a Megane R.S in flesh,they look amazing,in the pics the Meg R.S looks just odd i agree,but in real life you will be blown away if you see one,it kinda looks like a mini supercar.

I've actually seen plenty, both on the road, in dealerships and at motor shows. The RS is nice enough but the basic design is still a little unresolved and the badge still looks dodgy.

 

[Leonidae@MFT]

If I'd have to choose, C2 1.6 or DS3 would be my choice from the current French cars. Twingo RS would be on that list too.

 

[GTShadowKing]

The Peugeot RCZ is not that ugly, but that does not mean the rest of the Peugeots are nice.

I find this car pretty sweet, and I like the 307 CC as well.
The GT by Citroen and the Citroen Survolt are the most beatiful french cars to me...also the new Megane and Laguna looks cool.
DS3 on the other hand...

 

[Leonidae@MFT]

You're just irked because it's faster than the 1.8t Ibizas.

 

[C-ZETA]

I could do without the entire Peugeot range looking like a bunch of humpback whales.

Surely the RCZ doesn't look that bad?

Renault's Megane Coupe looks amazing, particularly in Renaultsport form with those crazy wheels. Citroen's C3 Picasso doesn't look bad, although the DS3 still looks bad.

 

[AMCNUT]

The old 405 Rally cars were nice - they were distinct in a positive way, especially with the big wing on the back!

EDIT: Call me crazy, but the old 2CV has a chic attractiveness to it....

 

[NLxAROSA]

@homeforsummer I agree with you about that badge thing,but i think you have never seen a Megane R.S in flesh,they look amazing,in the pics the Meg R.S looks just odd i agree,but in real life you will be blown away if you see one,it kinda looks like a mini supercar.

I've actually seen plenty, both on the road, in dealerships and at motor shows. The RS is nice enough but the basic design is still a little unresolved and the badge still looks dodgy.

I don't like the Megane RS in white or yellow either, which is why I ordered mine in black. Turning heads everywhere is guaranteed.

As for other Frenchies, the newer Peugeots don't feature that enormous front-mouth anymore, the new 508 looks amazing IMO. 👍

Love the DS3 as well, very, very nice car.

 

[Cale]

Yum.

 

[NLxAROSA]

The R26R is sweet! 👍 To be honest, I really liked the big-butt Megane.

 

[Cale]

The R26R is sweet! 👍 To be honest, I really liked the big-butt Megane.

One of my favorite cars ever. I need a R26.

 

[eight6er]

My first time owning a French car was a peugeot 205 gti, even though it was great fun to drive, I still would never buy a French car again. Nothing really bad ever happened it but there was always something wrong with it, as it was so badly built.
But yeah French cars never appeal to me, real ugly cars and not one French car that would appeal to me in any way.
I had a pic of a veyron here but it won't work.

 

[Skython]

I didn't know there was a new Megane, the new is a big improvement on the 2003, 2005 ones, with their butt like looks

 

[Dan_]

I honestly like the French design school, for sure there are clear examples of weird looking cars and as the old wise man once said: Beautyness is in the eye of the beholder, I must say that I do fancy the new and the old Megane, the laguna coupé is a case on it's own since only a few things on it's class are equally cool and I do find the RCZ as a very good looking car and a proper Peugeot.

The main point with french design is to deviate from the other design venues, I do like their naughtyness, though.