Thunderbird Reboot?

The photo editing didn't turn out exactly as I'd hope - it looks a bit funky shrunk down (relatively quick chop). But anyway - here's my idea...

I think Ford could use a FWD coupe, the reasoning behind the Taurus coupe chop from which this was based. The Thunderbird name is an iconic one, and I was thinking a mildly retro styled Thunderbird based on the Taurus could serve as a reboot of the T-Bird for modern times. Those who want RWD and sporty can choose the Mustang - this would be more relaxed and FWD or AWD. More of a grand tourer, as the T-Bird was conceived as.

Then the name got me thinking - Thunderbird is a rather "electric" sounding name (what with thunder accompanying lightning), and I was thinking this car could be offered in some kind of relatively ho-po hybrid type of format. Also - the Aston-like grille of the electric Focus has a tinge of 1965 T-Bird to it, so I grafted it onto the front of the Taurus... And then I shortened the greenhouse a tad to look like those earlier birds a bit more (and ironically looking a little like those from the late eigthies as well), and stretched out the trunk. The rear isn't rendered, but it would look a little like those on the pre-facelift MKZ to recall the square birds a bit.

'65 T-Bird for reference:

http://americandreamcars.com/1965thunderbird.jpg

De Tomaso Pantera

A modern version of the DeTomaso Pantera. Car used as the base was the new McLaren MP4-12C. The body is mostly true to the old one's proportions, but updated with more modern curves. It's quite a bit swoopier in the wheel arches compared to the slab sides of the original. But I thought a directly updated original might be a bit dull by today's standards.

Buick GNX

My attempt to make a Buick GNX out of the new Regal GS.

It was hard to turn the white of the original to black and I didn't like how the black turned out as much. I guess it's kind of more of a metallic looking black, or matte....

I was kind of going for a matte black chrome effect on the front end detailing, which might be lost in black.

No huge changes - made it a coupe, widened and shortened the "teeth" inlets up front. Made the front grille larger. Removed turn signals from the headlights (I think) and replaced it with another projector for a quad headlight look to match the original. Added LED turn signals in the former teeth, mounted lower to try and match the original a bit more too. Also - wheel detailing is black (lace wheels just wouldn't fit the look any more).

Overall, I was trying to keep a bit in line with Buick's current direction but have cues to recall the GNX from the 80s.

Kia Koup RWD

Someone mentioned wondering what a Kia version of the Genesis Coupe would look like, so I did up this quick version with pieces of the Optima. Added the Optima headlights and grille skewed a bit to fit, and rehashed the Genesis Coupe lines up front to match. The lower front fascia is all Genesis Coupe too, modified to fit. Shortened the foglights to look more like the Optimas, and added a chrome surround and grille pattern to the lower fascia (again like the Optima).

For the roofline, I stuck in that of the Optima again and edited it for a coupe, following the cutlines of the Genesis Coupe. The doors are straight and sides are straight from the Genny, except I removed the dip in the rear windows. Also removed the spoiler as Kias look best without one. Oh - and added Optima rims.

Bentley Montrose

Another contest - this one is based off a pic of a Chevrolet Cruze. Also another mock ad, this one poking fun at the Aston Martin Cygnet (I was trying to imply that this Bentley actually had the underpinnings of the Cruze).