Nope, I didn’t misspell that title.  They don’t look like “dogs,” they look like Dodge hatchbacks.  Both the Lexus CT 200h and the Aria hatchback look the same and they look a lot like the somewhat popular Dodge station wagon/hatchbacks that have been driving around the U.S. for a while.

Dodge (part of Chrysler) has a specific hatchback that I’m comparing these Toyotas to.  It’s the Caliber.  Here, I’ll show you.

This is the Lexus CT 200h hybrid that just debuted at the Geneva Motor Show (image courtesy of CNet):

Now compare that to the Dodge here (image courtesy of Dodge):

See any resemblance?

The funny thing is, this isn’t so much a ripoff (anyone could argue that point), but it’s merely a case of “hey, we’re making a C-segment car, so we’d better make it look like everybody else’s.”  That’s how car developers (not the designers, they always have all kinds of wacked out ideas, usually involving gull wing doors) think.  Their marketing has drilled it into them that they are required to look like everyone else, or they won’t sell any cars.

Funny, since the ones that occasionally go outside of this box seem to do very well.  People like cars that don’t look like everyone else’s car.  Take, for instance, another Chrysler product that I see all the time here in Wyoming – even some friends of mine drive one: the PT Cruiser.

(Well, to be honest, Rebecka drives it. Nick doesn’t have a license because he’s from California where cars are against the law.)

When they first appeared, these little cars didn’t look like any of the others that were on the market.  Now, of course, there are plenty of copy-cats out there.  I’m not saying the PT Cruiser is cool, I’m just saying it’s different.

I think it looks lame.  Of course, I drive a Toyota pickup truck that is almost half my age and have a desktop background on my computer of a tractor.  What do I know about style?

I do generally know what looks stupid, though.  Lookalike Toyotas that wish they were a Dodge?  Stupid.  My haircut?  Yep, stupid.  Vespa scooter knockoffs?  You guessed it.. stupid.  Chumley on Pawn Stars?  Funny as hell, but he still looks stupid.  (Except when he beat the hell out of the guy with the smoker’s laugh and his chunky son in a bow and arrow match.  That was awesome.)

So this is a note to all you automaker types out there: try to have some originality.  I realize that the Toyota Prius is selling like hotcakes and has become the synonym for “hybrid,” but guys… don’t copy it’s looks (this means you, Honda with your Insight).  It looks stupid!

Look at the Benz boys.  You can’t use the drag minimalization as an excuse.  The Toyota Prius has a drag coefficient of 0.25.  Guess what?  The Mercedes E-Class has a 0.24 and looks way better than your little POS.  Sorry, that’s no excuse.  Try to make your car look cooler.  I realize it’s hard.  You’ll figure it out, though.  I believe in you.

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