“King of Design” Dethroned?

"Maxima Speed" (maximaspeed) 10/01/2018 at 16:21 • Filed to: None

1

62

As many of you may know, I have held the position that the last generation of Chrysler 200 (specifically 2015 model in “ Ceramic Blue”)   is the best looking 4- door sedan ever built. In my eyes it is the paramount of exterior design excellence and it is a beauty to behold.

That opinion might have changed. The other day I was driving and saw a rare paragon of beauty. I present for your consideration, the 2010-2011 Mercury Milan.

As the long history of Mercury drew to a close the Milan was introduced as the lowest model in the Mercury sedan range. On paper, the car is unremarkable. The car’s roots as a Ford Fusion with a new face is obvious with a glance. Interior photos indicate that it was most definitely in the “I’m a mid-sized Ford ” territory. With all that being said, somehow the designers managed to create a master work of design that really stands on its own inde pendent of the platform it was based on. In my opinion the exterior design perfectly embodies what I’ve always understood Mercury to be as a company. It’s understated, slightly aloof but not unattainable. Smooth, clean, lines accent the uncluttered design ethos of a Mercury.

A Mercury Milan says, “I live comfortably. I want something eminently practical but I want style. I don t want to buy a Lincoln because I’m a working man who doesnt want to show off, maybe when I retire”. Whether or no the Milan lives up to that or not is irrelevant. The designers were handed a bland hunk of Ford, and sculpted it into the rolling essence of Mercury. Along the way the crafted a piece of art, and a tribute to one of the truly great old American auto-brands. The kings is dead, long live the king!

For Sweden > Maxima Speed 10/01/2018 at 16:23

7

Think about

how your words

are lies

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > Maxima Speed 10/01/2018 at 16:25

12

KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time > Maxima Speed 10/01/2018 at 16:26

8

I have held the position that the last generation of Chrysler 200 (specifically 2015 model in “Ceramic Blue”) is the best looking 4-door sedan ever built. In my eyes it is the paramount of exterior design excellence and it is a beauty to behold.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Maxima Speed 10/01/2018 at 16:29

8

You sir are a man of taste. Milan life, I’ve driven mine for 6.5 years now, best car I’ve ever owned.

Here it is (an 07, and yes the newer gen you featured above was a nicer look) next to my 82 Mercury Capri RS.

It Rally’s terribly by the way but it was a blast anyhow and it’s done 2 events.

OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars > Maxima Speed 10/01/2018 at 16:29

3

That Chrysler is not great ... sorry not sorry. Back is too short to be good. Now the E39 M5 is still perfect.

DC3 LS, Fuck Hyundai, now and forever > Maxima Speed 10/01/2018 at 16:30

0

Is that a concept or something? Every Milan I’ve seen has looked exactly like a re- badged Fusion.

Maxima Speed > OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars 10/01/2018 at 16:33

0

I must admit that does look pretty good. It’s up there on the list.

Maxima Speed > DC3 LS, Fuck Hyundai, now and forever 10/01/2018 at 16:34

3

The 2010 and the half year of 2011 before they were cancelled looked like that.

BrtStlnd > Maxima Speed 10/01/2018 at 16:35

8

Yes, yes of course. The Milan is beautiful.

(Hides straight jacket behind back)

KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time > For Sweden 10/01/2018 at 16:36

7

I mean, they’re even better today

I mean, just look at it!

sony1492 > Maxima Speed 10/01/2018 at 16:40

2

What about the ls though?

Wobbles the Mind > Maxima Speed 10/01/2018 at 16:42

0

I agree that the 200 has a phenomenal design . I would say that the earl y MKS to ps the Milan though.

Maxima Speed > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time 10/01/2018 at 16:42

1

Ick! No! 

HondoyotaE38: A Japanese and German Collab...wait a minute > Maxima Speed 10/01/2018 at 16:43

5

ok...you know I love you bro....but....

fuck that. who's your plug? I need some of that good stuff.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > Maxima Speed 10/01/2018 at 16:44

3

Really? I think peak sedan was the 1998 Taurus, especially in gold.

At the same time the Nissan Altima was really hitting it’s stride. It just captures the post Bush recession so well with it’s mediocr ness of everthings .

jasmits > Maxima Speed 10/01/2018 at 16:44

7

This is an interesting opinion. May I assume that your favorite food is oatmeal, slightly overcooked with nothing added for flavor and your favorite engine is the Vulcan V6 as it is mediocre in every single way ?

Amoore100 > For Sweden 10/01/2018 at 16:45

7

yes

xyzabc > Maxima Speed 10/01/2018 at 16:46

1

IMHO, t hose cars you speak of   are what you get when you give free modeling clay to bad S tylists.

Maxima Speed > HondoyotaE38: A Japanese and German Collab...wait a minute 10/01/2018 at 16:47

0

LOL  

KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time > Maxima Speed 10/01/2018 at 16:49

0

Oh yeah? Behold the b est looking 4 door sedan ever built . I win.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > Maxima Speed 10/01/2018 at 16:52

3

It looks nice but I wouldn’t go so far as to call it the best looking seda n ever. Rather than argue over what actually is the best, however, I’ll simply present you with Lincoln’s take on the Fusion:

Maxima Speed > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time 10/01/2018 at 16:59

4

Can we get a mod in here to ban this man? 

That is legitimately nasty though.

Bman76 (hates WS6 hoods, is on his phone and has 4 burners now) > Maxima Speed 10/01/2018 at 16:59

3

So... how old were you when the horse kicked you in the head?

Maxima Speed > Bman76 (hates WS6 hoods, is on his phone and has 4 burners now) 10/01/2018 at 17:02

7

I didn’t, I ran full speed into an above ground oil tank when I was about 8. I can still here the “dong!!” sound  my head made when I hit it. 

#truestory

MiniGTI - now with XJ6 > Maxima Speed 10/01/2018 at 17:27

0

My Jaguar would like a word…

dtg11 - is probably on an adventure with Clifford > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever 10/01/2018 at 17:36

1

my brother used to have a gold 98 Altima (with beige leather too!)

I have never driven a more boring and soul sucking car

Bman76 (hates WS6 hoods, is on his phone and has 4 burners now) > Maxima Speed 10/01/2018 at 17:46

1

Legend says if you get close to you, yo  can still hear it today.

TysMagic > Maxima Speed 10/01/2018 at 17:49

0

I hear you, but counter point

Mr. FiSTer of Team FiST Fetish > Maxima Speed 10/01/2018 at 17:54

1

BMW used to make excellent sedans.

C62030 > Maxima Speed 10/01/2018 at 18:09

2

I maintain the only thing FCA knows how to do is design a car. I’ve always loved the 200's look. If only it weren’t such a heap.

Maxima Speed > Mr. FiSTer of Team FiST Fetish 10/01/2018 at 18:19

1

Mmmm, those round headlights.

Mr. FiSTer of Team FiST Fetish > Maxima Speed 10/01/2018 at 18:21

0

The 535is is a top contender in the best sedan ever race.

Maxima Speed > Mr. FiSTer of Team FiST Fetish 10/01/2018 at 18:23

0

Ive always preferred the 7 series but they are really nice.

Mr. FiSTer of Team FiST Fetish > Maxima Speed 10/01/2018 at 18:27

0

And the E46 was so ahead of it's time. 

Nauraushaun > Mr. FiSTer of Team FiST Fetish 10/01/2018 at 18:29

0

Why did you post the world’s rattiest e46?!

Nauraushaun > Maxima Speed 10/01/2018 at 18:29

0

That backside. It looks cheap.

Mr. FiSTer of Team FiST Fetish > Nauraushaun 10/01/2018 at 18:30

3

THAT'S MY E46! SHE'S JUST A LITTLE DIRTY, NOT RATTY.

ranwhenparked > Maxima Speed 10/01/2018 at 19:11

1

I mean, everyone’s entitled to their opinions, but there’s a lot of competition when it comes to best looking 4-door sedan.

jimz > Maxima Speed 10/01/2018 at 19:20

2

As the long history of Mercury drew to a close the Mil an was introduced as the lowest model in the Mercury sedan range.

fun fact- there was work being done on reviving the “Tracer” nameplate which would have been a badge-engineered (natch) twin to the upcoming 2012 Focus. That was killed about the time the decision was made to discontinue the Mercury brand.

Nauraushaun > Mr. FiSTer of Team FiST Fetish 10/01/2018 at 19:25

0

Yes yes right you are.

I like the headlights. Better than that other style. Not a fan of the orange indicators but murica gon’ murica

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Maxima Speed 10/01/2018 at 19:38

1

MarginOfError is that you?

Also,

The designers were handed a bland hunk of Ford, and sculpted it into the rolling essence of Mercury stuck a grill that looks like a baleen whale’s face on it.

Wait, I guess that is the ess ence of a modern Mercury.

boxrocket > Maxima Speed 10/01/2018 at 19:57

1

Milan -especially the Premier with the body kit - definitely outclasses the 200 on design. I think I have to give Mazda due respect with the current and recent 6 sedans, which are eye-catching, handsome, and look far more expensive than they actually are. The Jaaaaaaaaaaaag XF is also quite a looker, especially in RS guise, and especially in British Racing Green. Hnnnnnng...

boxrocket > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time 10/01/2018 at 19:58

0

Except for the trunks that don’t match the rest of the car exactly (I blame the shape of the lights, and the lack of amber turn signals), this is a truthful observation.

boxrocket > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time 10/01/2018 at 19:59

1

That’s clearly a knock-off gaming computer mouse that’s designed to look like some anime robot car or something. Ick.

boxrocket > OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars 10/01/2018 at 20:00

0

IMHO the contemporary 7-series looked even better. Not as modern, but it had more presence and was handsome like a well-tailored suit.

boxrocket > sony1492 10/01/2018 at 20:01

0

Specifically the LSE models... Mmmmmm...

boxrocket > jasmits 10/01/2018 at 20:02

0

Milan had the Mazda-derived Duratec 24V 3.0L V6. I think it lived long enough to get the evolution of that which was the 3.5L which was a properly gutsy engine for the application. 

boxrocket > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 10/01/2018 at 20:05

0

Lincoln’s take on the Fusion, or the Mazda6 on which all of these (and the Edge/MKX & CX-9) are based?

Fun fact, IIRC: The Fusion was the only one of the 4 to get non-amber rear turn signals. It was probably a cost-cutting measure (fewer bulbs & wires, cheaper housing) , but seem s dumb when the highest-volume car of the quadruplets is the only one to use that wiring loom setup.

FatherMcKenzie > Maxima Speed 10/01/2018 at 20:22

0

Now, I’m not one to discourage people from loving everyday designs, quite the opposite, in fact. But calling either one “best ever” is a stretch, and here’s why:

OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars > boxrocket 10/01/2018 at 20:39

0

E 38/39/46 were peak BMW and possibly peak concurrent automotive manufacturer design.

marshknute > OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars 10/01/2018 at 20:44

0

I’ve been roasted by the entire Oppo community on multiple occasions for saying this, but I’ll say it again:

I think the E39 is the single most bland, uninspiring, weak-sauce, no-risks-taken, lousy, boring, and unimaginative POS design ever to roll out of Germany.  There’s absolutely nothing about that design that appeals to me on any level.  

OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars > marshknute 10/01/2018 at 20:49

0

wuuuuuut

Shift24 > Maxima Speed 10/01/2018 at 21:30

0

“ Wrong”

The coupe that became a sedan

jasmits > boxrocket 10/01/2018 at 21:38

0

I said the Vulcan V6, not its great grandson. I’m glad its  distant offspring became a somewhat-less mediocre V6.

Svart Smart, traded in his Smart > Maxima Speed 10/02/2018 at 00:32

0

.

I still think the 190E is the most beautiful sedan that has ever existed.

pip bip - choose Corrour > Maxima Speed 10/02/2018 at 04:26

0

Youabian Puma?

Maxima Speed > marshknute 10/02/2018 at 08:22

0

I don’t agreed but I can totally see why you will do say that.

Khalbali > Maxima Speed 10/02/2018 at 12:15

0

You lost me on the Milan but I do like those 200s, and that is a great color for sure.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > Maxima Speed 10/02/2018 at 15:53

0

I’ll admit that it’s not a bad looking car, but there are certainly better looking 4 door sedans. 

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > Amoore100 10/02/2018 at 15:54

1

the V90 is peak Volvo. 

ihm96 > marshknute 10/02/2018 at 17:03

0

I think the E34 is a much much better design. Same with the E36 to 46. Those E46's are right when it became a bloated car

boxrocket > marshknute 10/02/2018 at 19:47

0

You’ve seen VW’s lineup (minus the CC) from the last few years, right? See also Audi, BMW Z3 roadster, Ford Sierra, etc.