十款急需全面整容的汽车

    汽车设计并不像时装一样变得那么快，但它的更新同样也有一定的频率。消费者喜欢热门和新潮的东西，而功能上的变化则更多取决于工艺上的进步、政策法规和客户需求等因素。

    有时，汽车的新设计只是简单地改动一下外观。比如2005年福特（Ford）推出了一款主打复古风的福特野马（Mustang），如今福特正在酝酿对其进行重新设计。从流出的概念图来看，2014款野马采用了更加时尚超前的造型。这一改变注定会惹一些传统主义者不高兴。比如有网友就在博客上报怨道：“把野马的造型变成福特Probe（福特的一款失败跑车，已停产——译注）的样子，作为福特最畅销的车型之一，野马这是要毁了。”

    其他时候，车型设计的变动会更加彻底。比如在2013车型年度之后，通用汽车（General Motors）旗下的雪佛兰（Chevy）Avalanche皮卡将宣告停产。这款四门皮卡采取了可调节式的货厢设计，看起来并不像传统的双排座皮卡。不过冷淡的市场反馈证明了消费者还是对正统皮卡情有独钟。

    以下是近期其他一些车型设计的升级信息。其中有些车型的升级来得正是时候，有些则不那么及时了。各厂家的设计升级力度也有大有小，有的只是改动了钣金和电镀装饰，有的则把设计思路完全推倒重来。说不定过不了多久，我们就能在街头看见它们。

路虎揽胜

    Auto design changes don't come along as quickly as mannequins on a runway, but they arrive and depart with some frequency. Buyers like what's hot and new, and more functional change is driven by engineering advances, government regulations, and customer requirements.

    Sometimes, what's new in a car design is simply a new look at something that used to be old. Ford introduced a retro-themed Mustang in 2005 and is now going to a more fashion-forward look in 2014 when the pony car gets an overhaul. The change isn't going down well with some traditionalists. "It's about time to ruin one of Ford's best sellers by turning it into the Ford Probe," complains one blogger.

    Other times, change is more drastic. General Motors is saying goodbye to the Chevy Avalanche after the 2013 model year. With its four doors and adjustable pickup bed, the Avalanche resembles nothing so much as a crew-cab pickup -- and customers have decided they would rather just have the pickup.

    Here are some other fashion changes that are coming due. Some are timely and some less so. Some range from a little sheet metal and chrome to a total rethink. And they're all coming to a driveway near you.

Land Rover Range Rover

    在新东家印度塔塔汽车（Tata Motors）的指挥下，这台像坦克一样的庞然大物即将开始瘦身之旅。现款揽胜的重量达到了两吨半以上，不过现在有非官方报道表示，新款揽胜使用了大量铝合金和高强度钢材，因此成功地将车重削去了1,100磅左右。显然设计师认为现款揽胜棱角分明的线条和印度的泰姬陵一样经典，所以他们决定维持原状，不过据说为了获得更大的内部空间，新款揽胜的轮距将比老款有所加大。

吉普自由客  

    The tank-like SUV is going on a diet, courtesy of its new owners, India's Tata Motors. Unofficial reports have it that a liberal use of aluminum and high-tensile steel has trimmed some 1,100 pounds from the vehicle's more than two-and-a-half ton weight. Designers have apparently decided that the RR body's sharp angles are as iconic as the Taj Mahal, but they are said to have pushed the wheels closer to the corners for more interior space.

Jeep Liberty

    自由客（Liberty）在吉普产品线中处于一个比较尴尬的角色，肌肉感比不上牧马人（Wrangler），奢华赶不上大切诺基（Grand Cherokee）。随着今年一月克莱斯勒在底特律车展（the Detroit auto show）上推出一款基于五门运动版阿尔法罗密欧朱丽叶（Alfa Romeo Giulietta）的加长、加宽版新自由客，它的品牌形象变得更加模糊。不知道这究竟意味着自由客将放弃强悍的越野能力，乖乖地变身成另一台跨界车？还是克莱斯勒的老板塞尔吉奥•马尔乔内已经想到了法子，保存自由客的越野口碑？

    Lost in the middle of the Jeep lineup, the Liberty is neither as brawny as the Wrangler, nor as luxe as the Grand Cherokee. Its image may be even further blurred in January when a longer and wider version based on the sporty five-door Alfa Romeo Giulietta is unveiled at the Detroit auto show. Does this mean the Liberty will forego its Rubicon rating and become just another crossover? Or has Sergio Marchionne figured out a way to preserve its wilderness cred?