Chip, I was a sculptor in the Saturn Studio at GM when Pontiac needed a place to model the Aztek. We had an extra plate so in came the clay. From the very outset the car had become an engineering controlled model. The original show car was morphed into an existing platform and we had no real choice but to model the car under duress. The sculptors mostly disliked what it was becoming and had no real say in the matter. Needless to say it became what it did. Bad press and poor decisions aside, I think GM caved in too easily and the Aztek came to an unnecessary end. In all actuality the vehicle was a great suv though. And it started a kind of trend in SUV design. I actually owned three of them and never had an issue with them. In fact my grandson still has my last one, an ‘05, with over 200k miles. No rust and still strong. Say what you will about the design, it’s not near as bad as some of the examples that followed from other companies. Think Toyota BJ Cruiser, Nissan Cube, Kia Soul IMHO. Thanks for doing this design rehash. I think you may have captured the essence of what the Aztek was all about!
Interesting background. The only one that caught my attention was the one off created by the GM's performance division. It's charcoal gray, has a shorter front clip that's similar looking to Chip's front design, has a LS1 engine w/a heavily modified firewall pushed back, the tailgate was sealed up & shorter hatchback, & slammed to the ground w/custom ground effects. It was a helluva one off, saw it in a car audio mag 1st. Happened to look it up several years ago & saw images of it on Woodward, possibly during a Woodward cruise. Amazing what they brought out of that. Overall, well executed...
Always glad to read posts like this. You are being kind with you comparison vehicles. There have been truly hideous vehicles from Toyota/Lexus recently, especially during their "crumpled paper meets cleft palate" styling years, that make the Aztek look average.
Great insight!! Thanks. I thought the reasons ( prototype design to actual production model differences) would have been like the accounting dept. took over the design dept.
I like what Chip did with this redesign of what is widely known as a hideous machine! This is an Aztec i wouldn't mind owning. Its aggrrssive yet sporty and sleek. Kind of reminds me of something you'd see in a Jurassic Park film!
I can watch Mr. Foose draw all day or at least have a top perspective camera shoot down on to him drawing. You can learn so much in his drawing style. During my college years we had a car design division, their rapid sketching of cars to clay designs are fantastic. I give salutations to Mr. Foose in graduating from the Harvard of art schools, The Art Center in Pasadena California one of the toughest and expensive art schools worldwide. Mr. Foose is a gift to this world in showing the world his beautiful designs and creations.
I loved my Aztek, 7 years and 386000 km before a yo yo lighting a cigarette ran a red light and took my front end off. I only had one issue in all the time I had mine. It was a bit of a brick on the highway with a head wind against me, but in general it had good pick up and handling. If you look at many newer vehicles many take some of their styling cues from the Aztek. The front end and back end inspired many more expensive and luxurious cars. It stood out as being different, like the Slave One in Star Wars. My father-in-law called it the big yellow abortion. I'm on my third vehicle since it was written off and when ever I see one on the road I always have fond memories of it.
Chip you are the man. Old school marker. I can smell them through the screen. Takes me back to design school in the early 90's. Current designers rely too much on their tech and software to sketch. I've been a fan of yours for years.
I bought my 2003 Aztek in October 2022 with only 8 miles on it. Despite the poor dashoard design (the two parts separating, probably thanks in part to the Florida sun & heat), the lift gate cyinders drying out and a few minors repair issues, I still have mine. 88,000+ miles and still going. I love my Aztek and will be heartbroken when I have to get a new car.
Chip has shined a light on the age old struggle between designers and engineers. Both are equally important in bringing cars from concept to showroom, but quite often the excitement of the vision and concept has been lost by the time the engineers have figured out what has to be changed to make the vehicle structurally safe and able to contain the thousands of components beneath the skin. Throw in the cost cutting accountants and you end up with a rolling mail box for a car.
Always wanted to see you draw one of these! We bought one new in the fall of 2001 since we needed a roomy family vehicle that got decent mileage and they were heavily discounted by then. It was with us until spring of 2019 with almost 250k of memories on it. Having a separate tailgate/hatch made it super handy for everything - even lumber, car camping, almost all of Route 66, multiple trips to Colorado including Pikes Peak, and some light off-roading.
I am awed by your translation of the Aztec. I still see them on the road in Tucson occasionally. And, hey I agree, they are not a pretty car from the factory. Pontiac is gone now, but they had some great engineering and bodies.
It’s never boring when Chip’s brain hamster jumps in the wheel and this design certainly didn’t disappoint. It really is amazing how so many production cars that were less than pretty, could be changed into something gorgeous with just a few modifications sometimes. For those who would love a cool old classic but have a less than pretty budget, get inspired by car people with imaginations like Chip. Affordable and you won’t have 30 other people at cruise night with the same car as you.
Chip goes what were they thinking about with the front over hang. It's a V6 front wheel drive car. The engine is up there in that over hang. The BMW is rear wheel drive with the engine set more rearward.
In August 2017 I was approached by an editor of a very well known magazine called Smoke Signals (Pontiac Oakland Club International). They were breaking ground on a story all about the Aztek and needed a nice example for the magazine pictures. I have a very low mile, one owner, 2004 Aztek Rally complete with all options including the tent package. So my Aztek was featured along with The Daytona Pace Car Aztek owned by a past Pontiac Designer who worked directly with the legendary Pontiac GM John DeLorean. The eight page article would include interviews by director of Pontiac Design Studio II (John Schinella). Also interviews with Rutledge Wood top gear who had one on the show a few years ago. The title ended up being called “Odd Angles” that included never seen before concept photos from Saturn and other concept pictures that showed use of a 4th gen Camaro windshield that gave a better angle, look than resulted in production. These pictures were released exclusively from GM archives to be used in the magazine. I had the opportunity to meet John Schinella, Tom Peters,and others. I own a nice collection of classic Pontiac muscle cars, and an Aztek. Yes I actually still carry the torch for one of these weird vehicles. Who would think owning an Aztek would give such an opportunity to meet these great designers? Since the magazine released in August 2017, I have been known as “The Aztek Guy” and mentioned in many TH-cam videos such as Doug Damaro and most recently on VINwiki just to mention a few. It’s been fun to say the least!!
So many times GM will shown a concept car that’s beautiful! However when the actual production model comes out it looks so far removed from the concept car! Why?
L Kendrix Cost efficiency and safety are the two main contributing factors as to why concept and production vehicles look so different. Concept cars don’t have regulations as to how high a bumper has to be or how low a window line can be for a side curtain airbag to properly be implemented. Always have to have safety first.
Kasper The Ghost Thank you for your response! I alway thought it was the bean counters yelling out to make it cheaper not safer! Hmmm, what a great 👍🏾 concept! To make a concept car cheaper and safer that looks almost identical to the concept car! I must be a genius to come up with this idea 💡! Wonder why no one else as come up with this idea 💡 ?!
@@lkendrix7782 bc it's impossible. One has restrictions and the other doesnt. Concepts are to assess customer and press interest in ideas, design exercises, showing a line of cars design language and branding in another light (halo effect). Unless you get remove safety and cost standards concept cars wont become road legal and production vehicles. Think if a car can use 1000 parts off bin vs if it has to have those 1000 parts custom made or ordered.. the closest you'll see to your dream achieved is limited run super cars like new aston maston valkyrie or gordon Murray's t50. They meet standards through clever and expensive engineering solutions. For example both have naturally aspired cosworth v12 that have 4 separate catalytic converters to meet emissions standards (1 for every 3 cylinders).
It's because car companies have a fear of the public not accepting the "new" Americans like the safe and boring. Why else would the Ford Taurus sell so well lol.
My favorite part of Overhaulin was when Chip would sit down and draw the concept for the car they were working on so I'm really glad this youtube series exists and I hope it keeps going for along time.
Great redesign Chip. It's too bad you weren't on the design board over at GM when the Aztek was being drawn up. Maybe it wouldn't have killed Pontiac. Your redesign still looks modern today! GM - make this a Hummer EV! BTW - the designer of the Aztek went on to design the C7 Corvette. Doesn't make sense how he failed spectacular on the Aztek, but was wildly successful with the Corvette. That just goes to show how the accountants were in charge over at GM.
It was built on an ordinary and plain mini van platform. That said, I eventually bought one new. It was a fabulous family vehicle, could tow well and as I found out from many owners, they loved them. That was not the case until I sat in one and got over the exterior faux pas's. Never regretted that purchase.
My first car in high school. Everyone loved it. I never understood how so many people could hate this car while driving modern Nissans and Hondas. They literally have the same lines. This car was ahead of it's time and looks a hell of a lot better than a Juke or a Civic.
One thing about how the original Aztek that succeeded, when I saw how what it was supposed to be (and thanks to Chip what it could have been), a fun little off-road bandit, and what we go instead, it tore my heart out.
All I did to make my Aztek look 10 times better... Larger all terrain tires! It fixed the proportions and made it look a bit more rugged. A roof basket and LED light bar helped the look.
Looks great, like a mix of the concept and a BMW X5. I like where he went with the rear glass. The wheel proportion is nice as well, kind of a staggered hot rod look. It will be interesting going forward with modern production technics with how much 3d shape they add to a front end, they could add more of a arrowhead pointed shape. Also with the addition to electric propulsion, they you might able to do a staggered wheel diameter combo since there so no mechanical coupling of the front and rear axles.
Yo, Chip that is killer. GM was trying to save money by utilizing multiple van platforms, and your version would have allowed the third row as the Rendezvous. Thanks for the drawing tips. I didn't know the options for a TransDesign degree never achieved , but I had opportunities to spend days with automotive designers who told never to stop drawing, and I haven't. Have you seen Mark Reuss's Aztek?
I know you’re a designer but as someone that cares just as much about features and practicality as they do looks, I loved the Aztek. It was cutting edge and had features no one else was offering. Especially great for camping. It had a heads up display. Power outlets in the cargo area. Large hidden storage bins everywhere. Built in compressor for airing up tires after off roading or blowing up a river raft or air mattress. Built in fold out camping tent. Etc etc. the Aztek was awesome... besides it’s strange looks.
I love to sketch/draw with those 'imprint' logo pens too, Chip! sometimes the cheapest pens are the best for doodlin :) love the re-design. it has an x5 vibe for sure!
The concept was a V8, rearwheel drive/4wd suv. The production aztec was a minivan with a new body, but not enough to hide its lame origins. It just looked lame, especually from the rear. Concept looked powerful from the rear.
I had a red 2001 Aztek GT. The styling was "hate it or really hate it", but it was one of the most versatile vehicles I've owned. It was tough till its death by F250 rear ending it and totaling it. The 2001 was the only year for the gray side cladding and orange front signal lens, from 2002 to 2005 they went with body colored cladding and clear front signal lens.
Not bad. The internet is saturated with "let's rewrite the Aztek" artworks. I have two azteks and, besides being very nice drivers, their weirdness is the reason I like them. When people "fix" or modernize the look they always come out like everything else -- Edge, Rav4, Sorento, every crossover from Subaru. Indistinguishable and BORINNNNNG!
Chip could you create your vision of the Honda Ridgeline first generation. The new truck is undecernable from the Toyota Nissan trucks. Owned now 2 Honda Ridgelines first 2006 287k miles, t boned and totalled. Second a 2010 147k so far running strong.
Add crumple zones, 3mph bumpers, roll over beam space under the roof, on-hand production parts and part attachment points... Also, IMO, The back is HUGE. I wonder how it would do in rollover tests. What IS possible is quite remarkable. Take a look at profiles of the original Honda Fit/Jazz. It's unfortunate that design was in the US only 2 years. Absolutely NO space was wasted. It's amazing how they crammed the gizzards in that profile. It was huge inside. With respect. Regards.
A buddy of mine rented one when he came back to town on leave one year and i got to drive it, it drove like a dream, only issue I had was the trunk hatch had a strip on metal that ran right through your line of sight in the rear view mirror and there was no way to get it out of the frame (at least for me) severely limiting my rear field of vision.
I have two comments on the Aztek: 1. What happened to the design? GM Accountants. 2. The Aztek was resilient. I was in a 1997 Ford Taurus and got broadsided by an Aztek at a high rate of speed (I was parked on a city street; the Aztek was FLYING). It totaled my car, bounced off my car, totaled the parked car behind me, bounced off that car, took out a wooden wheelchair ramp across the street and two houses down, and TOOK OFF! Beautiful rendering, though! Thanks for sharing!!
Pontiac was the first to dip it's toes in the crossover craze. Aztek I think is ahead of it's time. Car needed more curves, less plastic, but I think it kept the fun. Wouldn't call it bland I mean they came with a tint lol
Always had a soft spot for the Aztek, I respected it trying to be an SUV before SUVs were fully defined and became really popular. It always needed bigger wheels and 4WD. Love the redesign!
The crazy thing about the final production version is that, as I have heard, GM showed it to focus groups and it got rave reviews. That told me focus groups are useless and a waste of time.
It would be cool to see one lowered with a body custom body kit. Front and read lips, ground effects smooths out bumper and side cladding all paint matched gloss black on some brush aluminum wheels. Modernised Headlights, taillights. 20% percent tint all around
That Aztek only came in 1 colour, Breaking Bad Green!!! I'm Heisenburg would take he's Aztek to FOOSE to get sorted!! Great redesign, makes you want to look for one just to have done like that!
Back in 1987 i came up with the cab forward design by taking a 85 iroc z 1/8th scale model i took the back window moved it up front and used a Corvette back window reshaping the nose and tell light area making it look like a modern day Camaro
It’s a shame how much flak the Aztek gets. It was my first brand new car. I got it in 2003. It was fun to drive. I did a lot of road trips with it out snowboarding and visiting friends. It had its flaws yes but it was a good car. I would have kept it longer had I a better clue as to how to fix things at the time and had a little more money to put into it. By the time I let it go the recession was in full swing and I was on the skids for a while. Biggest problems I had with mine were New England related. Our salty roads ate away at the sheet metal in the wheel wells as well as a very exposed wiring harness that pretty much controlled the entire back have of the vehicle: AWD, gas pump, etc. also the sunroof was prone to leak. All that aside I sometimes really miss that car.
That might have sold. I remember them offering a bunch of add ons to go with it to buy besides. Like a tent attachment for camping. Only thing is you could get a long term real world tested and reliable Land Rover and Toyota gear. Ultra utilitarian but 🤷♂️ Jeep did the middle ground SUV better and had proven resale value. We still have a Liberty....looks rough but good camping vehical.
The Aztec concept car started out as a clean sheet styling exercise but when GM approved it for mass production, they decided to use their existing minivan platform as the engineering starting point. This decision required myriad compromises to make everything fit on to an already established architecture, such as the enormous front overhang and terrible ground clearance. Just like the Fiero, this was a beautiful design that was ruined by overzealous cost cutting.
I think two of the biggest problems were the grill and the colors. They toned the colors down to late. I think many people hate the Aztec because they are supposed to hate it. Look at the CR-V and the Rav 4. They are still well received. I think part of the problem to was it was a Pontiac. Back then people thought only old people bought Buick, Pontiac and Oldsmobile cars.
i have an 04 aztek that not only is 20 years old but i have had it personally for 13 years!! it had 107k on it when i first got it now it has almost 291k..it was the best 5k i ever spent and have traveled all across this country on many many many occasions with no issues other than one time when i was in utah and the heads needed to be replaced/fixed....i bought a new highlander but i stil use the aztek for my car camping backpacking trips and i would have to say its so sentimental to me that someone would have to offer me 10k before i would sell it..hopefully it holds up one last epic trip that i am about to embark in less than a week on a 2 month and about 7-8,000 miles from wv to canada alaska oregon cali etc....they really need to remaster and bring them back out even if its just a few thousand
I understand "different strokes for different folks", but you don't need to be so negative. When they came out in 2001 I could not wait to get one! And I don't recall ever being "laughed at". I still have it, and it looks and runs just as good as it did then (which is good).
I owned an Aztek and it was an outstanding vehicle. Extremely reliable and had all kinds of interior room while getting decent gas mileage, even by today’s standards. That said, it wasn’t exciting to drive and had no offroad prowess. That said, it did kick off the crossover SUV explosion. Even now many modern crossovers still have the same basic shape of the Aztek, all be it with much better styling.
Dear Chip Foose - I began a career once as an illustrator in newspaper advertising. Black ink on white paper. Exciting. I found your work a few months back (don't hold the delay against me). What marker brand do you use? I have a '94 single cab T-100 pickup, that I'd like to gently modify, and a light box, which I always loved working with. I just never worked in your kind of design in color. What velum is best for backlight illustration? You are the One. End of conversation.
This vehicle suffered the same problem than the Nissan Quest from the 2000s, people wasn't ready for them, now you can see this lines on many vehicles (eg. Toyota Prius).
Looks like the engineers did what engineers do. Solve problems, "the engine won't fit here, the rear hatch won't seal there" kind of stuff. Sometimes this works in favor of a design sometimes against. I think more successful companies have been the ones who design around the engineers rather than ask them to fit parts into concept art.
OG working his craft 👊 has a hot rod feel to it with that rake, and I’m so glad he reduced the size of the trim and colored it anthracite (black plastic was never cool) 👍
Absolutely Amazing Chip... Met you once at SEMA 2009! If you ever want to do a drawing for me ...1969 Ford Torino GT Formal Roof, Black w/Red Guts and GT Stripe along the Rocker ';-)
![เปิดบ้าน นาราเครปกระเทย 1 ไร่ ขายขาดทุนหลัก10ล้าน เอามาใช้หนี้!!! l [Nickynachat]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/0jz84VFWVP4/mqdefault.jpg)
Chip, I was a sculptor in the Saturn Studio at GM when Pontiac needed a place to model the Aztek. We had an extra plate so in came the clay. From the very outset the car had become an engineering controlled model. The original show car was morphed into an existing platform and we had no real choice but to model the car under duress. The sculptors mostly disliked what it was becoming and had no real say in the matter. Needless to say it became what it did. Bad press and poor decisions aside, I think GM caved in too easily and the Aztek came to an unnecessary end. In all actuality the vehicle was a great suv though. And it started a kind of trend in SUV design. I actually owned three of them and never had an issue with them. In fact my grandson still has my last one, an ‘05, with over 200k miles. No rust and still strong. Say what you will about the design, it’s not near as bad as some of the examples that followed from other companies. Think Toyota BJ Cruiser, Nissan Cube, Kia Soul IMHO. Thanks for doing this design rehash. I think you may have captured the essence of what the Aztek was all about!
Interesting background. The only one that caught my attention was the one off created by the GM's performance division. It's charcoal gray, has a shorter front clip that's similar looking to Chip's front design, has a LS1 engine w/a heavily modified firewall pushed back, the tailgate was sealed up & shorter hatchback, & slammed to the ground w/custom ground effects. It was a helluva one off, saw it in a car audio mag 1st. Happened to look it up several years ago & saw images of it on Woodward, possibly during a Woodward cruise. Amazing what they brought out of that. Overall, well executed...
why did they kill the uplander? it was the greatest mid sized van.
Always glad to read posts like this.
You are being kind with you comparison vehicles. There have been truly hideous vehicles from Toyota/Lexus recently, especially during their "crumpled paper meets cleft palate" styling years, that make the Aztek look average.
Great insight!! Thanks. I thought the reasons ( prototype design to actual production model differences) would have been like the accounting dept. took over the design dept.
David Dickmeyer I always suspected that it was a design that was overly dictated by management.
I like what Chip did with this redesign of what is widely known as a hideous machine! This is an Aztec i wouldn't mind owning. Its aggrrssive yet sporty and sleek. Kind of reminds me of something you'd see in a Jurassic Park film!
loving the lack of music. those drawing sounds and the narration rock
I never cease to be amazed at the talent of Chip Foose. His freehand drawing skill is a joy to watch.
I can watch Mr. Foose draw all day or at least have a top perspective camera shoot down on to him drawing. You can learn so much in his drawing style. During my college years we had a car design division, their rapid sketching of cars to clay designs are fantastic. I give salutations to Mr. Foose in graduating from the Harvard of art schools, The Art Center in Pasadena California one of the toughest and expensive art schools worldwide. Mr. Foose is a gift to this world in showing the world his beautiful designs and creations.
I loved my Aztek, 7 years and 386000 km before a yo yo lighting a cigarette ran a red light and took my front end off. I only had one issue in all the time I had mine. It was a bit of a brick on the highway with a head wind against me, but in general it had good pick up and handling. If you look at many newer vehicles many take some of their styling cues from the Aztek. The front end and back end inspired many more expensive and luxurious cars. It stood out as being different, like the Slave One in Star Wars. My father-in-law called it the big yellow abortion. I'm on my third vehicle since it was written off and when ever I see one on the road I always have fond memories of it.
This guy is a legend didn’t missed any of his episodes of Overhaulin
Ugliness can be attractive too. Especially when it is approved by Walter White...
Best part is when he sold it for a real American made beauty
Alexis Gator chrysler? 😂😂💀
@@Alang_492 laugh emoji laugh emoji skull emoji.
Chip you are the man. Old school marker. I can smell them through the screen. Takes me back to design school in the early 90's. Current designers rely too much on their tech and software to sketch. I've been a fan of yours for years.
I bought my 2003 Aztek in October 2022 with only 8 miles on it. Despite the poor dashoard design (the two parts separating, probably thanks in part to the Florida sun & heat), the lift gate cyinders drying out and a few minors repair issues, I still have mine. 88,000+ miles and still going. I love my Aztek and will be heartbroken when I have to get a new car.
There is still something to the saying "Picking a turd up by the clean end"... He's working with damaged goods from the start.
Never heard that before. Love it! 😂
Chip has shined a light on the age old struggle between designers and engineers. Both are equally important in bringing cars from concept to showroom, but quite often the excitement of the vision and concept has been lost by the time the engineers have figured out what has to be changed to make the vehicle structurally safe and able to contain the thousands of components beneath the skin. Throw in the cost cutting accountants and you end up with a rolling mail box for a car.
Always wanted to see you draw one of these!
We bought one new in the fall of 2001 since we needed a roomy family vehicle that got decent mileage and they were heavily discounted by then.
It was with us until spring of 2019 with almost 250k of memories on it. Having a separate tailgate/hatch made it super handy for everything - even lumber, car camping, almost all of Route 66, multiple trips to Colorado including Pikes Peak, and some light off-roading.
I am awed by your translation of the Aztec. I still see them on the road in Tucson occasionally. And, hey I agree, they are not a pretty car from the factory. Pontiac is gone now, but they had some great engineering and bodies.
Great sketching talent. Thanks! Let's call the new design...the Pontiac Heisenberg
It’s never boring when Chip’s brain hamster jumps in the wheel and this design certainly didn’t disappoint. It really is amazing how so many production cars that were less than pretty, could be changed into something gorgeous with just a few modifications sometimes. For those who would love a cool old classic but have a less than pretty budget, get inspired by car people with imaginations like Chip. Affordable and you won’t have 30 other people at cruise night with the same car as you.
"BMW Got it right"
Now I just see an X5
I saw BMW RIGHT before he said that.
GarageCivic same here !
Chip goes what were they thinking about with the front over hang. It's a V6 front wheel drive car. The engine is up there in that over hang.
The BMW is rear wheel drive with the engine set more rearward.
yep i cant see anything but BMW in the final sketch cool tho
It's that kidney grills
Leave it to Foose to get the Aztek right! This is what the car should have looked like.
In August 2017 I was approached by an editor of a very well known magazine called Smoke Signals (Pontiac Oakland Club International). They were breaking ground on a story all about the Aztek and needed a nice example for the magazine pictures. I have a very low mile, one owner, 2004 Aztek Rally complete with all options including the tent package. So my Aztek was featured along with The Daytona Pace Car Aztek owned by a past Pontiac Designer who worked directly with the legendary Pontiac GM John DeLorean. The eight page article would include interviews by director of Pontiac Design Studio II (John Schinella). Also interviews with Rutledge Wood top gear who had one on the show a few years ago. The title ended up being called “Odd Angles” that included never seen before concept photos from Saturn and other concept pictures that showed use of a 4th gen Camaro windshield that gave a better angle, look than resulted in production. These pictures were released exclusively from GM archives to be used in the magazine. I had the opportunity to meet John Schinella, Tom Peters,and others. I own a nice collection of classic Pontiac muscle cars, and an Aztek. Yes I actually still carry the torch for one of these weird vehicles. Who would think owning an Aztek would give such an opportunity to meet these great designers? Since the magazine released in August 2017, I have been known as “The Aztek Guy” and mentioned in many TH-cam videos such as Doug Damaro and most recently on VINwiki just to mention a few. It’s been fun to say the least!!
So many times GM will shown a concept car that’s beautiful! However when the actual production model comes out it looks so far removed from the concept car! Why?
L Kendrix
Cost efficiency and safety are the two main contributing factors as to why concept and production vehicles look so different.
Concept cars don’t have regulations as to how high a bumper has to be or how low a window line can be for a side curtain airbag to properly be implemented.
Always have to have safety first.
Kasper The Ghost Thank you for your response! I alway thought it was the bean counters yelling out to make it cheaper not safer! Hmmm, what a great 👍🏾 concept! To make a concept car cheaper and safer that looks almost identical to the concept car! I must be a genius to come up with this idea 💡! Wonder why no one else as come up with this idea 💡 ?!
@@lkendrix7782 bc it's impossible. One has restrictions and the other doesnt. Concepts are to assess customer and press interest in ideas, design exercises, showing a line of cars design language and branding in another light (halo effect). Unless you get remove safety and cost standards concept cars wont become road legal and production vehicles. Think if a car can use 1000 parts off bin vs if it has to have those 1000 parts custom made or ordered.. the closest you'll see to your dream achieved is limited run super cars like new aston maston valkyrie or gordon Murray's t50. They meet standards through clever and expensive engineering solutions. For example both have naturally aspired cosworth v12 that have 4 separate catalytic converters to meet emissions standards (1 for every 3 cylinders).
It's because car companies have a fear of the public not accepting the "new" Americans like the safe and boring. Why else would the Ford Taurus sell so well lol.
My favorite part of Overhaulin was when Chip would sit down and draw the concept for the car they were working on so I'm really glad this youtube series exists and I hope it keeps going for along time.
Great redesign Chip. It's too bad you weren't on the design board over at GM when the Aztek was being drawn up. Maybe it wouldn't have killed Pontiac. Your redesign still looks modern today! GM - make this a Hummer EV!
BTW - the designer of the Aztek went on to design the C7 Corvette. Doesn't make sense how he failed spectacular on the Aztek, but was wildly successful with the Corvette. That just goes to show how the accountants were in charge over at GM.
It was built on an ordinary and plain mini van platform. That said, I eventually bought one new. It was a fabulous family vehicle, could tow well and as I found out from many owners, they loved them. That was not the case until I sat in one and got over the exterior faux pas's. Never regretted that purchase.
My first car in high school. Everyone loved it. I never understood how so many people could hate this car while driving modern Nissans and Hondas. They literally have the same lines. This car was ahead of it's time and looks a hell of a lot better than a Juke or a Civic.
True! When I see Prius I remember this vehicle
please never finish making these videos .... they are too great
My wife and I both own Azteks... a 2001 and a 2003. Love your concept!
One thing about how the original Aztek that succeeded, when I saw how what it was supposed to be (and thanks to Chip what it could have been), a fun little off-road bandit, and what we go instead, it tore my heart out.
Great rendition!! We had a Aztec and we loved it and we miss it.
I love the new design. Kinda remembers the X6. Love result. Cheers from Brazil.
Damn chip you did an excellent job fixing that Aztec.. I love how you simplified the cladding.
i have an Aztec and love her drove in january from Vancouver ( 28000) to Toronto 5days and my baby still rocking 🦅
All I did to make my Aztek look 10 times better... Larger all terrain tires! It fixed the proportions and made it look a bit more rugged. A roof basket and LED light bar helped the look.
"Sad part is, they ended up with a vehicle that wasn't for anybody"
Lmao
never could be more inaccurate my aztek is amazing and i wouldnt really change a thing
Nice BMW Chip! the large rear overhang is to allow Camping w/ a Tent attachment fyi.
I LOVE IT!!!! I LOVE THE AZTEK BECAUSE IT IS SO DIFFERENT & BEAUTIFUL. GREAT VIDEO & EDUCATION. THANKS FOR SHARING.
Looks great, like a mix of the concept and a BMW X5. I like where he went with the rear glass. The wheel proportion is nice as well, kind of a staggered hot rod look. It will be interesting going forward with modern production technics with how much 3d shape they add to a front end, they could add more of a arrowhead pointed shape. Also with the addition to electric propulsion, they you might able to do a staggered wheel diameter combo since there so no mechanical coupling of the front and rear axles.
Yo, Chip that is killer. GM was trying to save money by utilizing multiple van platforms, and your version would have allowed the third row as the Rendezvous. Thanks for the drawing tips. I didn't know the options for a TransDesign degree never achieved , but I had opportunities to spend days with automotive designers who told never to stop drawing, and I haven't. Have you seen Mark Reuss's Aztek?
I know you’re a designer but as someone that cares just as much about features and practicality as they do looks, I loved the Aztek. It was cutting edge and had features no one else was offering. Especially great for camping. It had a heads up display. Power outlets in the cargo area. Large hidden storage bins everywhere. Built in compressor for airing up tires after off roading or blowing up a river raft or air mattress. Built in fold out camping tent. Etc etc. the Aztek was awesome... besides it’s strange looks.
I love to sketch/draw with those 'imprint' logo pens too, Chip! sometimes the cheapest pens are the best for doodlin :) love the re-design. it has an x5 vibe for sure!
Walter White approved!
if this car got into production it could be name Pontiac Aztek : Redemption, great work Chip!
The concept was a V8, rearwheel drive/4wd suv. The production aztec was a minivan with a new body, but not enough to hide its lame origins. It just looked lame, especually from the rear. Concept looked powerful from the rear.
The aztek was ahead of it's time. If you look, all the crossovers on the road today look exactly like it.
The big fat Buicks especially.
Wtf?
I owned two of these vehicles. It was quirky but I loved them! Especially the one with sportier body cladding.
I had a red 2001 Aztek GT. The styling was "hate it or really hate it", but it was one of the most versatile vehicles I've owned. It was tough till its death by F250 rear ending it and totaling it. The 2001 was the only year for the gray side cladding and orange front signal lens, from 2002 to 2005 they went with body colored cladding and clear front signal lens.
Not bad. The internet is saturated with "let's rewrite the Aztek" artworks. I have two azteks and, besides being very nice drivers, their weirdness is the reason I like them. When people "fix" or modernize the look they always come out like everything else -- Edge, Rav4, Sorento, every crossover from Subaru. Indistinguishable and BORINNNNNG!
Thank you Chip for putting some love into an under appreciated vehicle. I would love to see what you would do with a Porsche 914.
Chip should have been in a design department. He would take everyone's job😅💯💚
Chip could you create your vision of the Honda Ridgeline first generation. The new truck is undecernable from the Toyota Nissan trucks.
Owned now 2 Honda Ridgelines first 2006 287k miles, t boned and totalled. Second a 2010 147k so far running strong.
Add crumple zones, 3mph bumpers, roll over beam space under the roof, on-hand production parts and part attachment points... Also, IMO, The back is HUGE. I wonder how it would do in rollover tests. What IS possible is quite remarkable. Take a look at profiles of the original Honda Fit/Jazz. It's unfortunate that design was in the US only 2 years. Absolutely NO space was wasted. It's amazing how they crammed the gizzards in that profile. It was huge inside. With respect. Regards.
Only Chip Foose could make an Aztek look moderately attractive... Amazing...
Nice redesign of the Aztek. The vehicle was a great vehicle once inside it did a lot and drove great. Sold them when they were new.
so great watching this, reminds me of simpler times when i was a kid watching overhaulin
A buddy of mine rented one when he came back to town on leave one year and i got to drive it, it drove like a dream, only issue I had was the trunk hatch had a strip on metal that ran right through your line of sight in the rear view mirror and there was no way to get it out of the frame (at least for me) severely limiting my rear field of vision.
I have two comments on the Aztek:
1. What happened to the design? GM Accountants.
2. The Aztek was resilient. I was in a 1997 Ford Taurus and got broadsided by an Aztek at a high rate of speed (I was parked on a city street; the Aztek was FLYING). It totaled my car, bounced off my car, totaled the parked car behind me, bounced off that car, took out a wooden wheelchair ramp across the street and two houses down, and TOOK OFF!
Beautiful rendering, though! Thanks for sharing!!
That looks so sweet! Imagine if Pontiac came out with a look like the concept they might even still be around.
Wow... así debió ser desde el primer concepto: pregúntale a Chip! Es un genio.
Pontiac was the first to dip it's toes in the crossover craze. Aztek I think is ahead of it's time. Car needed more curves, less plastic, but I think it kept the fun. Wouldn't call it bland I mean they came with a tint lol
Always had a soft spot for the Aztek, I respected it trying to be an SUV before SUVs were fully defined and became really popular. It always needed bigger wheels and 4WD.
Love the redesign!
Amazing Job ! Foose is incredible. Love all of his work 👍👍
The crazy thing about the final production version is that, as I have heard, GM showed it to focus groups and it got rave reviews. That told me focus groups are useless and a waste of time.
It would be cool to see one lowered with a body custom body kit. Front and read lips, ground effects smooths out bumper and side cladding all paint matched gloss black on some brush aluminum wheels. Modernised Headlights, taillights. 20% percent tint all around
You made it FUNKY. - Total success!
I declare you REDEEMED after that Duesenberg disaster.
I paused to type my comment and there Chip says it!! 🤣🤣🤣🤣 Stranger than fiction!!
Solid concept in a beautifully presented rendering -- I appreciate Chip's "old-school" technique using markers!
That Aztek only came in 1 colour, Breaking Bad Green!!! I'm Heisenburg would take he's Aztek to FOOSE to get sorted!! Great redesign, makes you want to look for one just to have done like that!
One of the best artists in the world in my opinion and hes made one of my favorite cars the DEORA II
Love the rework!
The concept was kinda cool,
Looked like a shooting Brake for Mars!
Production was more like, shooting for broke, man
Nice work on a vehicle that was not good. Pretty funky beats in this vid. Yes.
Back in 1987 i came up with the cab forward design by taking a 85 iroc z 1/8th scale model i took the back window moved it up front and used a Corvette back window reshaping the nose and tell light area making it look like a modern day Camaro
I would so watch a episode of this car being made!! Who else agrees?
Made - for me! I think it looks funky as hell. 8 P
Reminds me of a BMW X5, good work
I love watching this man work....very well done Chip
I'd buy the one Chip drew, that looks awesome!
Great 👍🏾 redesign! Can you submit it to GM and ask them to build it and go Electric ⚡️?! They need all the help they can get!
It’s a shame how much flak the Aztek gets. It was my first brand new car. I got it in 2003. It was fun to drive. I did a lot of road trips with it out snowboarding and visiting friends. It had its flaws yes but it was a good car. I would have kept it longer had I a better clue as to how to fix things at the time and had a little more money to put into it. By the time I let it go the recession was in full swing and I was on the skids for a while. Biggest problems I had with mine were New England related. Our salty roads ate away at the sheet metal in the wheel wells as well as a very exposed wiring harness that pretty much controlled the entire back have of the vehicle: AWD, gas pump, etc. also the sunroof was prone to leak. All that aside I sometimes really miss that car.
Looks awesome and the original concept look really good, a shame they miss it so bad
That rendering of the Aztek looks completely different it actually make it look good it would be cool to see your take on a ford bronco ii
OMG, the definition of, "Lost in Translation", amazing.
That might have sold. I remember them offering a bunch of add ons to go with it to buy besides. Like a tent attachment for camping.
Only thing is you could get a long term real world tested and reliable Land Rover and Toyota gear. Ultra utilitarian but 🤷♂️
Jeep did the middle ground SUV better and had proven resale value.
We still have a Liberty....looks rough but good camping vehical.
The Aztec concept car started out as a clean sheet styling exercise but when GM approved it for mass production, they decided to use their existing minivan platform as the engineering starting point. This decision required myriad compromises to make everything fit on to an already established architecture, such as the enormous front overhang and terrible ground clearance. Just like the Fiero, this was a beautiful design that was ruined by overzealous cost cutting.
I think two of the biggest problems were the grill and the colors. They toned the colors down to late. I think many people hate the Aztec because they are supposed to hate it. Look at the CR-V and the Rav 4. They are still well received. I think part of the problem to was it was a Pontiac. Back then people thought only old people bought Buick, Pontiac and Oldsmobile cars.
“Love between the ugly, is the most beautiful love of all”
― Todd Rundgren
Chip you are the man the legend the icon in the auto world. It looks like an x5 with an aztec grill but better looking than the x5.
i have an 04 aztek that not only is 20 years old but i have had it personally for 13 years!! it had 107k on it when i first got it now it has almost 291k..it was the best 5k i ever spent and have traveled all across this country on many many many occasions with no issues other than one time when i was in utah and the heads needed to be replaced/fixed....i bought a new highlander but i stil use the aztek for my car camping backpacking trips and i would have to say its so sentimental to me that someone would have to offer me 10k before i would sell it..hopefully it holds up one last epic trip that i am about to embark in less than a week on a 2 month and about 7-8,000 miles from wv to canada alaska oregon cali etc....they really need to remaster and bring them back out even if its just a few thousand
You know you're good when you can make a POS look good Chip Foose you are awesome I thoroughly enjoy watching you work
I understand "different strokes for different folks", but you don't need to be so negative. When they came out in 2001 I could not wait to get one! And I don't recall ever being "laughed at". I still have it, and it looks and runs just as good as it did then (which is good).
I owned an Aztek and it was an outstanding vehicle. Extremely reliable and had all kinds of interior room while getting decent gas mileage, even by today’s standards. That said, it wasn’t exciting to drive and had no offroad prowess. That said, it did kick off the crossover SUV explosion. Even now many modern crossovers still have the same basic shape of the Aztek, all be it with much better styling.
Dear Chip Foose -
I began a career once as an illustrator in newspaper advertising.
Black ink on white paper. Exciting.
I found your work a few months back (don't hold the delay against me).
What marker brand do you use?
I have a '94 single cab T-100 pickup, that I'd like to gently modify, and a light box, which I always loved working with.
I just never worked in your kind of design in color.
What velum is best for backlight illustration?
You are the One.
End of conversation.
This vehicle suffered the same problem than the Nissan Quest from the 2000s, people wasn't ready for them, now you can see this lines on many vehicles (eg. Toyota Prius).
The rendering looks like it has the essence of a Dune Buggy. Looks great! 👍🏽
I didn't think there was a way that even Foose could save that car but he's amazing.
My only..... concern regarding the design is the agressivness of the rear wheels. Short of that EXCELLENT.
CHIP... you need to do a Delorean!!!!
oooooh yes !!!
(i own one)
Looks like the engineers did what engineers do. Solve problems, "the engine won't fit here, the rear hatch won't seal there" kind of stuff.
Sometimes this works in favor of a design sometimes against. I think more successful companies have been the ones who design around the engineers rather than ask them to fit parts into concept art.
It looked like the engineers did what the bean counters do.
OG working his craft 👊 has a hot rod feel to it with that rake, and I’m so glad he reduced the size of the trim and colored it anthracite (black plastic was never cool) 👍
Absolutely Amazing Chip... Met you once at SEMA 2009! If you ever want to do a drawing for me ...1969 Ford Torino GT Formal Roof, Black w/Red Guts and GT Stripe along the Rocker ';-)
Man foose if I had money I'd defenetly let you work on my 66 dodge sweptline,always loved your work
Desk full of expensive art supplies; draws with a Bic stick.
Agreed, it reminds me of a cross between BMW X5 & ISUZU VehiCROSS.