re: European pedestrian safety regulations

I'm probably being oversensitive, but in the course of my cyber travels I've seen an increasing number of self-appointed experts on web forums, generally American, dismissively blaming any slightly ugly nose on a new car as the direct result of compliance with the European pedestrian safety regulations.

Bollocks. The Peugeot 407 does have a big nose, but the Mini doesn't; both are compliant. Look at the Seat Exeo: a reskinned old-gen Audi A4 - see how few changes were necessary to make it compliant. The legislation's been in place long enough, and there are enough euro-compliant designs in production that aren't in dire need of a remedial rhinoplasty that it can be argued if there is a failing, it is now with the engineering depts of the offenders who've yet to get a handle on it.

So the arrival of the facelifted Acura TL truly warmed the cockles of my heart. Not only has it's nose been pulped by the ugly stick, the Acura brand is not sold in Europe – it started as, and remains primarily, a North American brand.

This one's all on you.