When I first came to America I was lost in the automotive world, recognizing only those few European and Japanese cars that were also sold in Britain. In all the confusion of American cars, there was one that stood out as being a great looker, however: the Dodge Stratus.

To Americans it will probably appear ridiculous to classify the Dodge with other exotic cars in this blog, it being a common sight on all the roads in the States. But to new eyes the Stratus is a model of good design. It looks big to me, being so used to small cars, but it is well proportioned and clean in looks. The secret is in the stripes and lines that so many designers are compelled to draw down the sides of their cars; these are intended to make a car look longer and lower than it really is, to hide the fact that it is ugly, in fact. Note that the Dodge does not need any addition to its sides - it works just as it is.

It looks purposeful too, with its low nose and high tail, a very satisfying shape to modern eyes now that we are so used to the demands of aerodynamics. But where it really works best is in the tail; the elegant join of rear window to short trunk, the curve of the bumper echoing the scalloped tail above it, the large and unfussy tail clusters, everything is just right.

So laugh at me if you will; I think the Stratus is one of the best looking American cars on the road.