Take the Toyota Avalon for example. While not a giant seller in large metropolitan areas, take a trip to Palm Springs or
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| Surprisingly the Five Hundred was more capable during the light-duty off-road test than rival crossover SUVs. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press) |
just about anywhere in Florida - OK what I'm trying to say is any retirement community - and they're as plentiful as Ford Focuses in the heart of big cities. Is it due to the car's stellar styling? Not in the slightest! From a design perspective, the Av looks like a pudgy octogenarian sporting a bad toupee. The Five Hundred looks like an M-B S-Class in comparison. How about the Hyundai XG 350 or Korean competitor Kia Amanti? In my view neither knows what it wants to be. The XG gets mistaken for that Lincoln no-one's ever seen, and the Amanti just leaves people confused with its deep Lancia-style grille, circular Mercedes-Benz headlamps, and Lincoln Town Car-like formal profile. While these are large cars, neither performs particularly well either. While the Five Hundred might have critics who don't think Ford went far enough with its design, I for one am glad they kept it simple and to the point. After all, not everyone wants something as visually outspoken as the Chrysler 300. Some prefer the understated approach to life, and I don't just mean FBI agents and ghost car-equipped undercover police.
On that thought, I was driving an all-black limited model through the outlying Chicago area, following another all-black Ford with a black
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| With the Five Hundred's subtle styling and tremendous functionality, I find it difficult to believe that Ford will be able to keep sales restricted to retail only. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press) |
Expedition pulling up the rear. Little did I know that the Expedition was filled with North American regional president Joe Padilla's security guards, who seemed a little antsy about having a car between them and their joint chief of staff. I pulled over to the shoulder without losing speed and the Expedition sped past, at which moment I snuck in behind without dropping my place. I couldn't help thinking what it must have looked like to the guy behind me in his Honda Accord, to see a black Ford sedan make way for a black Expedition, so that it could speed up and catch another black Ford sedan. Heh, it's kind of fun playing feds.
