01-13-07: Every year at Detroit there are one or two trends or fads that make themselves glaringly apparent.
Gills, side vents, portholes, engine ducts, ornaments. Whatever. This year at Detroit, this new styling element is more prevalent than ever. While not entirely new this year as Range Rovers, Corvettes, Jaguar’s and a few other cars have had them for some time now, in 2007 it has become officially a styling fad.
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Concept cars and a bevy of new production models from several automakers are sporting the latest coolness trick on their side flanks, just behind the front wheels and ahead of the doors. It is not a bad looking way to add interest and drama to a vehicle as well as give a more upscale appearance. As new cars debut from the Ford Focus all the way to high end brands like Jaguar it certainly has become popular.
Here are just a few examples……
Lincoln MKR Concept has a well done emblem that integrates the look of a functional vent.
Ford Interceptor Concept has a vent with a backlit V8 emblem
Ford F-Series Super Duty Trucks sport a variety of vent ornaments that depict models and engines.
Highline 2008 Focus models have a large chrome emblem that has a scoop appearance.
Even the 2008 Ford Five Hundred sprouted some fender bling.
Jaguar takes a more sophisticated approach with the new C-XF Concept car.
Chevy Volt Concept, though electric shows the vented look in an integrated way
Saturn went big time with a major piece of bling on their Saturn Vue mini ute.
Jeep Trailhawk Concept shows what a Trail Rated gill emblem can look like.
