Suppose you’re the chief designer of a midsize sedan, something like the Chevrolet Malibu or Honda Accord. It’s a professional honor but not exactly a license to let the creativity flow. A sedan’s design parameters are strict.
Luxury sport-utility vehicle designers better start with a double shot of inspiration before setting pen to paper. Almost anything goes, as long as it’s mobile. Visual expression is essential to the package.
As an extreme, look at Infiniti’s FX35/45, a magnificent piece of design for the relatively few who desire a mobile sculpture. It’s also hard to picture a rolling box more elegant than a Mercedes-Benz ML Class, or one as overtly sporty as the BMW X5.
Once-timid Acura joined the design sweepstakes last year with the new MDX crossover, to my sensibilities a pleasing balance of style, utility and sportiness. The 2008 MDX looks properly expensive and assertive, and it drives with unexpected athleticism. Unlike the original MDX, a designer version of the Honda Pilot, this latest MDX was pretty much baked from scratch.
