I've heard a lot of criticism over the years on car design. In the sixties I heard older work colleagues moan about the mk11 cortina compared to the mk1. The Sierra came out and earned the jelly mould nickname, but sold in shedloads. The flowing crisscross lines of the first Focus have been replaced by the bland model that also sells like hotcakes. It takes time for a new design to grow on people and be appreciated.
We've got a similar thing now to the badge engineering of the sixties and seventies, it's platform sharing to save on development costs. We're quite happy to share out Forfour platform with the Colt, but few of us would buy a Colt and be enthusiastic about it.
I know we get on with the Softouch gearbox, but would we really like to see it carried on to a new model as it is now. If the new Forfour turbodiesel has a nissan engine who knows it may actually be better than what we have now.
Anyway when or if the new model actually comes into fruition some of us will love it and some will turn away. Time marches on and when I occasionally see some of the cars I've bought new they look such dated crap now. I bought a Hillman Imp, Fiat Uno, Mk 111 Escort, Citroen BX, Corsa A etc.
I prefer the top picture myself too. A freshening up of the design without departing too much from it's original concept. We will have to wait and see what we're offered with the new one in the flesh and not as an artist's impression.
This is what the new Forfour is likely to share the platform with
http://www.carmagazine.co.uk/Drives/Search-Results/First-drives/Nissan-MarchMicra-2010-CAR-review/Looks a lot better than the Colt to me.
