Car and Driver grades industry’s car designers [w/poll]

How does one grade automakers on their design skills? Our friends at Car and Driver gave it a shot using the not-so-scientific “eyeball test,” with grades getting bumped up or down based on the use of proven design talent.

C/D graded 20 automakers in all, giving out four As, 11 Bs, two Cs, a D and two grades of incomplete. Ferrari got a top score thanks to the intensely hot-looking 458 Italia. Jaguar/Land Rover also came up big for hits like the new XJ, while more mainstream General Motors and Kia each managed an A thanks to their leaps in design quality.

Volvo and Mazda were each given an incomplete thanks to some very recent changes at the top of their respective design management teams. Toyota/Lexus came up short, receiving the only D of the group, prompting author Phil Patton to ask if there were recalls for dullness. Ouch. Head over to Car and Driver for all the design grades, and follow the jump for a poll on the best designs for a mainline manufacturer.

[Source: Car and Driver]