What If: The Pontiac Aztek was Redesigned

Personal File: I always enjoy the crazy and creative ideas that TheSketchMonkey produces on his YouTube channel and last week was no exception. For a second time in just over a year he took a stab at fixing the design-challenged Pontiac Aztek. I went back to his first attempt and was inspired to take my own spin on the redesign. The twist with my intepretation was to not only clean up the design but approach a "what if" redesign that focused on more successful design cues from other models in line up.

Execution Highlights

• Chevrolet Avalance wheel wells, rockers, and lower side trim replaces plastic cladding
• Pontiac G8 sedan fender vent, door handles, side rear-view mirrors and rims
• Pontiac Vibe headlights and kidney grilles
• Custom brushed D-pillar, rear side glass, gas door, rear bumper, upper door lines, new fascia cut lines, lower front bumper and top air intakes
• Moved Aztek badge to a more traditional location on the driver side front door
• Recolored the car into something more appealing than ripe banana yellow

Final Thoughts: I think I nailed the look I was going for in the redesign. It wasn't a complete redesign of the vehicle, but simply an update to a cleaner and more polished look Pontiac was finally attempting to create before it was shuttered. If the brand ever comes back, I hope they'll take a second look at the Aztek. While earning the reputation as an ugly duckling, for those who own them they are an extremely capable vehicle.

AR Rewind #6 - Audi R8 Targa

Rewind: This is the sixth in a series of posts where I dive into detail of the work completed for Edmunds InsideLine engagements.

Creative Brief: Hot on the heels of the Audi S5 convertible Scott Oldham and I reviewed ideas for either an R8 convertible or targa coupe. We settled on a targa top due to the mechanics of a mid-engine super car. Photos of the real car were taken with the windows down in the Edmunds backlot which I then blended with bits and pieces from a Lotus Elise and a Saab 9-3 convertible.

Execution Highlights - Front

• Donor convertible pieces came Lotus Elise and Saab 9-3 convertible
• Blended in photo of the car interior with the windows down
• Removed the roof interior from view in the front windshield

Execution Highlights - Rear

• Donor convertible pieces came Lotus Elise and Saab 9-3 convertible
• Blended in photo of the car interior with the windows down
• Custom brushing to fill in the background

Final Thoughts: This was my favorite work for Edmunds to date. It really came together once I filled in the background elements where the coupe roof was prior. Even though Audi eventually went with a full convertible, I bet this would have nailed the look if they had gone offered a targa version.

Original Blog Link: Raise the Roof: Audi R8 Targa

AR Rewind #5 - Audi S5 Convertible

Rewind: This is the fifth in a series of posts where I dive into detail of the work completed for Edmunds InsideLine engagements.

Creative Brief: Keeping on a convertible theme, the next brief was to put together a quick rendering of what an Audi S5 convertible. We agreed to chrome out the a-frame and use a behind the scenes photo of the S5 sitting in their studio or another article.

Execution Highlights - Front

• Donor convertible pieces came Audi A4 Cabriolet
• Converted a-pillars to chrome-look
• Custom brushed trunk/deck lid

Final Thoughts: This was another one that came together quickly within just two evenings. Changing the a-frame was good choice as that definitely made it to production as did the brightwork along the body line.

Original Blog Link: Early Look: 2009 Audi S5 Cabriolet

Happy Holidays from AR

Blog Update: Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Here's to a better 2021!

I'll be continuing my AR Rewind series into the new year and then starting on some new projects. Make sure to check out my linktr.ee profile for more links to AR material.

AR Rewind #4 - Cadillac CTS Convertible

Rewind: This is the fourth in a series of posts where I dive into detail of the work completed for Edmunds InsideLine engagements.

Creative Brief: The Cadillac CTS-V coupe turned out great so the next logical step was a convertible. Even though GM 86'd the idea of a convertible with the new coupe, Scott wanted to run an article about how they should reconsider the move - especially after wasting so much time on the poor selling and mechnically maligned Pontiac G6 hard-top convertible. The brief was simple, bang out a profile shot of what a convertible might look like and get it out to press in just over 48 hours. We agreed to use the beautiful Buick Velite concept car as a starting point.

Execution Highlights - Front

• Donor convertible pieces came from the Buick Velite
• Swapped background color
• Custom brushed trunk/deck lid

Final Thoughts: This was a quick one and came together in just about a day. As with InsideLine's stance on the situation, I fully agreed that Cadillac made a mistake not considering a covertible. I think it would have sold very well and was necessary to compete with the German brands. They should have presented a full suite of models (coupe, convertible, sedan, wagon).

Original Blog Link: Supercharge Me: Cadillac CTS-V Coupe