PRETTY BECOMES UGLY

Automakers take risks, some major; some minor. With paint technology accelerating at a furious pace, and with "all new" frequently denoting five new colour choices, the risk involved with offering nasty colour combos, or even boring combinations, isn't overwhelming.

  

We understand the simple concept of wide, horizontal stripes equating with the exaggeration of girth. We know that the delivery of those same stripes in bright colours hurts the cause more substantially.

So why do stylists sometimes fail to follow the light as it falls on the fenders of their automobiles?  I know not, but Porsche's Cayman in Dark Olive Metallic; Mazda's RX-8 in Crystal White Pearl; Ford Mustang convertibles in Vapor; and the Saturn Sky in Forest Green are four very good-looking cars made very bad.