Acura NSX. A beautiful car with a beautiful soul creates a connection. On approach, it looks like the advance mid-engine supercar it is with engine under the rear glass, jeweled LED headlamps, aggressive ground affects, flush doorhandles and 10 air inlets to cool its soul. But, this is an advanced supercar powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine and electric hybrid system for a combined 573 horsepower — adequate to experience 0-60 mph in 2.7 seconds and a 191 mph top speed.
Base price: $156,000.
9 artful autos with beauty that goes beyond skin-deep
CASEY WILLIAMS | Auto Reviewer
autocasey@aol.com
Automobiles are art for the road. If you doubt that, visit any automaker’s design studio where, despite virtual reality computers, new cars are still mostly finished in clay so designers can feel every crease and curve. Of course, some are more beautiful than others. These cars flaunt sexy bodies, but are also beautiful beneath the skin … and we’ve picked one for every price range.
Buick Regal. This redesigned Buick earns its place among the world’s most beautiful cars with sculpted flanks, fastback roofline and glistening LED headlamps. Interiors center on a wing-spread dashboard cribbed from the latest Enclave crossover. Wireless phone charging, 4G Wi-Fi and front pedestrian braking slather the tech. Under-hood is a 250 horsepower turbocharged 4-cylinder engine connected to a 9-speed transmission and optional AWD. Base price (est.): $28,000.
Honda Accord. Once as predictable as gravity, Honda has stepped up its fashion. Accord’s wide stance and fastback proportions are accented by LED headlamps and foglights. More sculptural body surfacing and rear window line add visual interest while soft-touch materials, available head-up display, wireless phone charging and 4G Wi-Fi trick out the interior. Choose between 192 horsepower 1.5-liter turbo-four, 252 horsepower 2.0-liter turbo-four, and 50-MPG hybrid powertrains.
Base price (est.): $24,000.
Bentley Continental GT. A Bentley never goes out of style. Completely redesigned, the new Continental flaunts off-set round headlamps tightly drawn creases, oval taillamps and accentuated rear fenders. Inside, it’s all quilted leather, chrome and choice of exquisite wood veneers that includes native Hawaiian Koa wood. Diamond-knurled clock bezel and air vents add detail. Crank the optional Naim 2200 watt audiophile system. It’s fast, too — the top 6.0-liter W12 engine delivers 626 horsepower, 0-60 mph in 3.6s and a top speed of (wait for it) 207 mph! Base price (est.): $210,000.
Volkswagen Arteon. VW’s replacement for the CC, available next year, advances themes from the Sport Coupe Concept GTE unveiled in Geneva two years ago, including brawny proportions, chiseled fenders, LED headlamps and classic fastback roofline. VW’s Digital Cockpit integrates a head-up display and navigation to predict corners and bend headlights into curves preemptively. Should drivers become incapacitated, Emergency Assist can slow the car and steer to a nearside lane.
Base price (est.): $40,000.
Lincoln Continental. I once thought this car was hideous, but I was wrong! It pro-
jects classic presence from its wide grille to crystalline LED headlamps, doorhandles hidden in window trim and strong shoulders. Inside, soft Bridge of Weir leather, authentic wood, symphonic Revel audio and 30-way power seats embrace passengers. Top models enjoy a 400 horsepower twin-turbo V6 engine, adaptive drive modes, automated parallel parking system and a full suite of crash-mitigation systems.
Base price: $44,720.
Rolls-Royce Phantom. Styling evolves glacially at Rolls-Royce, but the all-new Phantom takes strides to enamor owners. The aluminum bodywork looms truck-large, but the Parthenon grille sweeps back into the hood and bodylines are considerably cleaner. Amongst acres of bespoke leather, wood, and chrome is “The Gallery,” a customizable art display in the dashboard. The dirty bits include a 563 horsepower twin-turbo V12 engine, satellite-guided transmission and 4-wheel steering. Base price: If you have to ask…
Range Rover Velar. Unveiled at The Design Museum in London, this is the meticulously dressed, perfectly coiffed sibling of the Land Rover family. Streamlined styling with LED headlamps and flush deployable doorhandles resonate. Check the copper detailing on the hood vents, front bumper blades and fender vents. Twin 10-inch touchscreens and specially-developed leather-alternative upholstery spoil passengers. Moving it is a choice of 247 horsepower turbo-four, 380 horsepower supercharged V6 or 180 horsepower diesel engines.
Base price: $49,990.
Mercedes-Benz S-Class Cabrio. Some of history’s most coveted cars are Mercedes convertibles; the restyled 2018 S-Class Cabrio joins those ranks. A long 4-passenger body flows rearward with lines that would humble a vintage yacht. AMG models adopt a toothy grille. Inside, twin screens, wood and leather spoil passengers — as do heated/ventilated seats and airscarf neck vents. Step into a 463 horsepower biturbo V8, 603 horsepower biturbo V8, or 621 horsepower biturbo V12. Yum!
Base price: $131,400.
