When people are asked what they notice first when they meet someone new, the answer is almost always the face or the eyes.
In the cutthroat world of the car industry, car manufacturers are falling over themselves to give their cars a look that commands attention, turns heads, and hopefully, generate sales.
And what better way to achieve eye-catching design than to create a compelling face? Now to achieve a compelling face, you’d need an expression that both attracts and stimulates. And nothing does that better than an angry or mean look. Happy? That might work if you’re selling a minivan. But that would still be better than a generic look that seems to have been come from a child’s drawings.
Here now is a rundown of some of the meanest, angriest-looking cars on the market today. Most of them are sedans or hatchbacks; I purposely took out the obvious supercars and trucks (with one exception for the latter because it is absolutely raging with anger). Most are likewise available locally (or will be soon)—again with a couple of exceptions.
1. BMW M2
BMW invented the mean look with its beady quad headlamps and prominent twin-kidney grille. The latest BMW M2, with its gaping turbo air intakes and “frowning eyebrows” LED’s bring that look straight into the 21st century.
2. Mercedes-Benz CLA 45
Another example of Teutonic arrogance—frowning headlamps, huge grille and bumper intakes, plus those bulging fins on the hood. If looks could eat…
3. Audi RS6
You don’t have to be staring dead straight at the Audi RS6’s angry face to feel its intimidation factor. The Germans have the angry lamps and grille down to a science.
4. Lexus RC F
If the German luxury car brands can do it, why can’t their counterparts from Japan? Lexus could put its rivals to perpetual sleep if they prick their fingers on the RC F’s deadly spindle grille
5. Nissan GT-R
This is a supercar exception because while Nissan is not a supercar brand, its GT-R is every bit as super on the track and on the road, especially when it fills up your rearview mirror.
6. Hyundai Veloster
Everyone seems to be into the huge-grille look nowadays, and Hyundai’s trademark hexagonal grille lends itself beautifully to the gaping great white shark look. The Veloster’s execution is Korea’s most aggressive to date.
7. Chevrolet Sonic
Even everyday small cars can join in the “mean” look. The Chevrolet Sonic harks back to the 70’s and 80’s BMW’s with their exposed quad headlamps. It’s a nice retro touch to this subcompact which gains a much more compelling visage from its big, blacked out dual-port Chevy grille.
8. Mitsubishi Lancer
One of the first cars from any car-making country to cash in on the angry look, the Lancer looks absolutely furious even with its basic 1.6-liter model. More so with the mighty turbocharged flared-fendered, bespoilered, bewinged, and hood scoop-equipped Evo.
9. Ford F-150 Raptor
Nothing short of an army tank can come close to a rampaging Ford F-150 Raptor looming in your mirrors. Definitely not for the faint of heart.
10. Alfa Romeo Giulia
The Italians make sensuous shapes, right? They’re also known for being hot-blooded. And the look on the Alfa Romeo Giulia’s face is nothing short of blood boiling. It looks like it’s already cursing you in Italian to get the heck out of its way.