Hooniverse Asks- What's the Most Indistinguishable Major Model Redesign?

Robert Emslie

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New S

Almost all vehicles these days go through a model life comprised of a debut, followed – two to three years on – by what’s called a mid-cycle refresh, and then some years after that another major re-think. The mid-cycle changes are typically minor, usually amounting to nothing more than a taillight design change and maybe some new wheels and color options. The major redesigns however are a different story altogether.

Consider if you will the 2004 and 2005 Ford Mustangs. The model year switch-over from SN95 to the Thai-Tang designed S197 was a night and day difference, and even Stevie Wonder could tell the disparate models apart. That’s not always the case however, and in fact on some of the more venerated cars and trucks, such as Porsche’s 911, major model turnovers can evidence far more changes below the skirt than above.

This past week saw the debut of  a car that seems to evidence this evolutionary rather than revolutionary tact on redesign. A major model event, the 2014 Mercedes S-class is nonetheless indistinguishable form the current model at a cursory glance. This is one example of a major redesign that doesn’t seem all that major. Is that the littlest big change ever? Or, does another car or truck come to mind as being even more similar to its predecessor following a big refresh? What, in your mind, is the most indistinguishable major model redesign? 

Image: Motor Trend

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Robert Emslie

Robert Emslie

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49 responses to “Hooniverse Asks- What's the Most Indistinguishable Major Model Redesign?”

  1. Sjalabais Avatar
    Sjalabais

    Do new engines count?
    <img src="http://www.palitsyn.com/__data/assets/image/0012/3180/bmw-vs-lada.jpg"&gt;

    Reply
  2. JayP2112 Avatar
    JayP2112

    Beetle vs Super Beetle.
    <img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/db/1972_VW_Beetle.jpg&quot; width="400">
    <img src="http://newbeetle.org/forums/attachments/photos-other-rides/1848d1128029880-nybugmans-1972-german-look-super-beetle-super2.jpg&quot; width="400">
    The real aircooled fans could spot the differences in a second.

    Reply
    1. Irishzombieman☆ Avatar
      Irishzombieman☆

      HA HA! Took me a second.

      Reply
      1. ˏ♂ˊ mzs zsm msz esq Avatar
        ˏ♂ˊ mzs zsm msz esq

        It was the pop-up roof, right?

        Reply
        1. Irishzombieman☆ Avatar
          Irishzombieman☆

          Wind wings is my guess.

          Reply
          1. topdeadcentre Avatar
            topdeadcentre

            Flat vs curved windshield?

          2. JayP2112 Avatar
            JayP2112

            The first SBs had flat windshields.
            The hood and front valence were different… and the whole strut thing. Also, the rear window was supposed to be bigger but I'd never notice that.

        2. Irishzombieman☆ Avatar
          Irishzombieman☆

          Whoops. Old one has wind wings too. Thought he was makin' a funny.

          Reply
          1. ˏ♂ˊ mzs zsm msz esq Avatar
            ˏ♂ˊ mzs zsm msz esq

            I was, I was, making a funny (and striking-out). The two type-Is, they looked identical to me.

          2. Irishzombieman☆ Avatar
            Irishzombieman☆

            Same here. I've never liked them enough to learn the differences.

  3. kayoteq Avatar
    kayoteq

    <img src="http://i1052.photobucket.com/albums/s451/zenmonkees/picsay-1369056218.jpg"&gt;
    The type 3. Strut suspension! Curved Windshield! Bigger trunk!
    *there are vw fans that can tell scene by by scene which years Disney used in the film.

    Reply
    1. dropgate Avatar
      dropgate

      That's not a Type 3. This is a Type 3:
      <img src="http://www.leehedges.com/davelove/leftrear.jpg"&gt;

      Reply
      1. kayoteq Avatar
        kayoteq

        Correct. Using google searches is no substitute for .. Er I meant type 1303. Yeah. Thanks. 🙂

        Reply
  4. TurboBrick Avatar
    TurboBrick

    2003 Ford Crown Victoria? What do I win?

    Reply
    1. Maymar Avatar
      Maymar

      Whatever parts from a 2011 Ford Ranger that'll fit on a '93 Ranger!

      Reply
  5. BЯдΖǐL-ЯЄРΘЯΤЄЯ Avatar
    BЯдΖǐL-ЯЄРΘЯΤЄЯ

    I think the Audi A8 kind of morphed through the years
    1995
    <img src="http://www.audicarshow.com/image/1998-audi-a8-6.jpg&quot; width="600">
    2005
    <img src="http://photo.netcarshow.com/Audi-A8_L_W12_2005_photo_01.jpg&quot; width="600">
    2013
    <img src="http://media.caranddriver.com/images/12q2/460090/2013-audi-a8-hybrid-photo-464587-s-1280×782.jpg&quot; width="600">

    Reply
  6. SSurfer321 Avatar
    SSurfer321

    Obligatory
    <img src="http://blog.lenovo.com/images/made/images/uploads/hero/911_evolution_crop_600_247_c1.jpg"&gt;

    Reply
  7. Sky_Render Avatar
    Sky_Render

    I'm still not sure how these are even classified as different "generations."
    Eighth generation Civic:
    <img src="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:06-07_Honda_Civic_LX_Sedan.jpg"&gt;
    Ninth generation Civic:
    <img src="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:CVC2012aaa.jpg"&gt;

    Reply
    1. TurboBrick Avatar
      TurboBrick

      Same way as Windows Vista is NT 6.0 and Windows "7" is NT 6.1

      Reply
    2. Maymar Avatar
      Maymar

      Hasn't that been Honda's thing with the Civic, going back to at least the 80s, that every other generation is a major redesign, followed up by a healthy refresh of that generation? Well, except the 7th generation, that was sort of a dead-end. But 3rd-4th, and 5th-6th are pretty similar.

      Reply
  8. Jay_Ramey Avatar
    Jay_Ramey

    Dear Mercedes-Benz, yes we get it that this is the new, more affordable Maybach 57.
    I just want the W140 tail lights back, instead of what is happening there. (I dont want to talk about what is happening there, it's too upsetting)

    Reply
  9. ˏ♂ˊ mzs zsm msz esq Avatar
    ˏ♂ˊ mzs zsm msz esq

    <img src="http://hyderabad.localnexo.in/nl_imagenes/nl_posting/21/2/815/1543357/1.jpg"&gt; I dunno, some jeep? <img src="http://www.silverjubileemotors.com/images/thar/gallery/thargallery1.jpg"&gt;

    Reply
  10. dropgate Avatar
    dropgate

    If this isn't the answer, I don't know what is.
    First generation Lexus LS400 (XF10):
    <img src="http://home.comcast.net/~minkt/xf10.jpg"&gt;
    Second generation Lexus LS400 (XF20):
    <img src="http://home.comcast.net/~minkt/xf20.jpg"&gt;
    I hope I got those pics right because I still can't tell them apart.

    Reply
    1. facelvega Avatar
      facelvega

      Fourth generation LS:
      <img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d0/Lexus-LS_Sport_Vertex.jpg&quot; width="500">
      FIfth generation LS:
      <img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a9/Hyundai_Genesis.jpg&quot; width="500">

      Reply
      1. Devin Avatar
        Devin

        Waiiiit a minute…

        Reply
      2. Kogashiwa Avatar
        Kogashiwa

        Ohhhh, posting a pic of the new S-class as the "fifth generation LS". Very sneaky.

        Reply
    2. Tomsk Avatar
      Tomsk

      Same can be said of the ES.
      Gen 2 (XV10):
      <img src="http://www.gunsmoke.com/cars/lexus_es300/images/es300.jpg&quot; width="500">
      Gen 3 (XV20):
      <img src="http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b142/PanamaLuv117/Lexus/97_lexus_es_300-4.jpg&quot; width="500">

      Reply
      1. wunno sev Avatar
        wunno sev

        i don't think these (LS 400 / ES 300) are really major redesigns though..they seem to fall under the midcycle refresh to me

        Reply
        1. Devin Avatar
          Devin

          They were pretty major under the bodywork, as I recall. They just didn't change the bodywork.

          Reply
        2. dropgate Avatar
          dropgate

          The 2nd gen LS400 was "over 90% new" and on a longer wheelbase but you'd never know to look at the thing.

          Reply
  11. Devin Avatar
    Devin

    1968 Toyota Century
    <img src="http://cdn.motorshout.com.s3.amazonaws.com/models/system/9422/p16arnpn5qdr11t111tng1r33ch44_r.jpg&quot; width="500">
    2013 Toyota Century
    <img src="http://www.autoweek.com/storyimage/CW/20130226/CARNEWS01/130229854/AR/0/Toyota-Century-Front-3-4.jpg&quot; width="500">
    Yes, they actually are significantly different under the skin.

    Reply
    1. Kogashiwa Avatar
      Kogashiwa

      Either one of those is a Proper Car and had I sufficient ill-gotten gains I'd have one or both.

      Reply
  12. P161911 Avatar
    P161911

    First Gen BMW MINI
    <img src="http://images01.olx.com/ui/1/56/94/1415294_1.jpg"width=500&gt;
    Second gen BMW MINI
    <img src="http://s3.motoringfile.com.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/IMG_8481b-640×440.jpg"width=500&gt;

    Reply
    1. JayP2112 Avatar
      JayP2112

      I think the MINI owners want it that way… so they can tell their pals they can tell the difference between the Mk1 and Mk2.

      Reply
    2. HTWHLS Avatar
      HTWHLS

      The first gen is nicest. Have you seem the latest ones? The Clubman looks like a Chrysler 300 had sex with a milk float.

      Reply
  13. Batshitbox Avatar
    Batshitbox

    Scout 80
    <img src="http://carphotos.cardomain.com/ride_images/1/1962/921/4902960006_large.jpg"&gt;
    Scout 800!
    <img src="http://0.tqn.com/d/4wheeldrive/1/0/8/U/1/Scoutfool_CA_67IntScout800A_1RR.jpg"&gt;
    Can you see the extra 4 cylinders they put in? Look very closely at the badges… see the "V"?

    Reply
    1. Irishzombieman☆ Avatar
      Irishzombieman☆

      I see an extra gas cap, too.

      Reply
  14. lysenko Avatar
    lysenko

    <img src="http://img03.carview.co.jp/trade/img06/cars/1554541/12747656/japan%20car/2001+honda+fit/01w.jpg&quot; width="600">
    2001 Honda Fit
    <img src="http://img3.findthebest.com/sites/default/files/844/media/images/2013_Honda_Fit_524764.png&quot; width="600">
    2013 Honda Fit

    Reply
  15. engineerd Avatar
    engineerd

    Series 1 Jag XJ:
    <img width=500 src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6c/P070_Jaguar_XJ.jpg"&gt;
    Series 2 Jag XJ:
    <img width=500 src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9d/Jaguar_XJ_Series_II.jpg"&gt;
    Series 3 Jag XJ:
    <img width=500 src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/ff/Jaguar_XJ6_–_09-07-2009.jpg"&gt;

    Reply
  16. P161911 Avatar
    P161911

    The first two are pretty similar, I now know to look for the shark nose on the E21.
    Gen 4, 5 and to some extent 6 look really close.
    <img src="http://static.motorstop.asia/blog/images/bmw-3-series-predecessors.jpg"width=500&gt;

    Reply
  17. Maymar Avatar
    Maymar

    I find these two pretty indistinguishable (well, except that one is engineered like no other car in the world, and the other is designed to rust like a Mazda)
    <img src="http://s1.aecdn.com/images/gallery/MERCEDESBENZ190-W201–936_2.jpg&quot; width=500 /img>
    <img src="http://mercedes-c-class.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/1957-859-16001.jpg&quot; width=500 /img>

    Reply
    1. Sjalabais Avatar
      Sjalabais

      Who on earth downvoted this? Couldn't have said it better myself.

      Reply
      1. Maymar Avatar
        Maymar

        I'm assuming they own either a W202 or a Mazda. Both maybe.

        Reply
  18. Tomsk Avatar
    Tomsk

    Honda Prelude Gen 2:
    <img src="http://img.favcars.com/honda/prelude/wallpapers_honda_prelude_1983_1.jpg&quot; width="500" />
    Honda Prelude Gen 3:
    <img src="http://www.japanesesportcars.com/photos/d/132435-2/1990-honda-prelude-special-edition.jpg&quot; width="500" />

    Reply
  19. Manic_King Avatar
    Manic_King

    Ferrari 550 -> Ferrari 575, did they change anything at all in exterior design?

    Reply
    1. dropgate Avatar
      dropgate

      Headlamps, front bumper covers and wheels were all different.
      Well-known among Maranello owners is the chase scene in the movie Bad Boys 2 where Will Smith's car changes from a 550 to a 575 and back several times!

      Reply
  20. facelvega Avatar
    facelvega

    The body was untouched, but this simple modification under the skin more than doubled the horsepower while also switching wholly to sustainable fuel:
    <img src="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2009/12/2/1259773442721/worlds-strongest-man-lift-001.jpg"&gt;

    Reply
  21. opiate withdrawal symptoms Avatar
    opiate withdrawal symptoms

    Howdy! Do you know if they make any plugins to safeguard against hackers?
    I’m kinda paranoid about losing everything I’ve worked
    hard on. Any suggestions?

    Reply
  22. Pantera5321 Avatar
    Pantera5321

    Any ford pickup from 1979 to 1996

    Reply