Robbo's picks | Frankfurt Motor Show 2013

He's been connected withWheels magazine for close to four decades, so former editor, Peter Robinson is well placed to call the shots at this year's Frankfurt motor show.

Most Beautiful: Easy, Opel’s Monza, superb proportions, simple curves, it’s the “anti-Korean” design with not a hard crease or overcomplicated surface in sight.

Designed by Boris Jacob – who played a major role in the styling of the first generation Ford Focus – the Monza previews Opel’s new design direction.

Don’t expect it to show up on the next Corsa, the first production variant is three or four years away.

Highlight of the interior is a new 3D LED technology that projects the instruments, from behind, on to the dash. Not today’s small screens but to virtually any surface in front of the driver, including a wide screen view, via cameras of what’s happening behind the car. Early days, but design boss Mark Adams is convinced the technology has huge potential.

Meanwhile Opel and Holden are talking about which of the German manufacturer’s niche models would work in Australia. Not just from the current range – Cascada, Astra OPC Coupe – but from those models in the pipeline.

Ugliest: No doubt, the Lexus LF-NX which “explores design possibilities for a future crossover.”

Overwrought, over-designed with an excess of sharp edged lines clearly intended to out-Korea the worst of the Koreans, who have now moved past the overly aggressive trend.

The Lexus rival for the X3/Q5 redefines hideous.

Let’s hope next year’s production version is toned down and loses the crazed grille, needle headlights and the sharp edged wheel arch extensions.