It's funny but when I see an AU now I feel like it aged really well in comparison to the EL/BA vehicles. The BA always looked like there was an AU inside trying to escape. Having said that, besides the boot spoiler that hid the slope-shouldered rear of the AU, the greatest visual lift was the "high line" bonnet from the Fairmont that they made standard with the AU II. The most disappointing thing about the AU was making the control-blade independent rear an option. The live axle was just sad - something they fixed on the BA but it was all too late by then. edit: I'm sure the marketing department didn't give two figs about the driveability (or otherwise) of the live axled AU and were more concerned with the drive-away price.