Some cars just shuffle off this mortal coil a bit too early. Mergers, buyouts, simple lack of profit — carmakers have any number of reasons for ending a good car’s production run before its time. But, as you start to think about how car design has changed, you start to wonder: What car would be best if it had continued into the modern day? That’s the question we posed to you all earlier this week, and today we’re sorting through your answers. Let’s go.
I have the courage to speak the truth. A Fiero that wasn’t kneecapped by the Corvette would be (and would have been) awesome.
Imagine, a Fiero able to be as good as it deserved. Then imagine another like seven generations of Fiero after that. Honestly, I think we’d be in for a treat.
The Mercury/Ford Capri. Smaller Mustang copy/inspired design. Great handling, looking car that stopped production for US in 76/77 and was replaced with a rebadged Mustang. It went on in Europe into the 80's.
A new updated version that again is a smaller more affordable version of the Mustang could succeed. Oh and not just a badge engineered Polestar CUV.
More small performance coupes, please. Give us little, lithe, lightweight two-doors, and give them the Ecoboost 2.3 motor.
At the risk of having the Jalopnik staff malign me as a ‘boomer’ once again, I’d like to see a revival of the 4-seat Thunderbird:
Or maybe a Riviera:
Or maybe even (be still my beating heart....) a Toronado!
I truly believe there will be a mini-revival of personal luxury coupes at some point.
Marc Cohn deserves a later-model vehicle to die in. That’s what that song was about, right?
The Volt. Not because I loved the cars, but Toyota can’t make their Prime trims fast enough to meet demand. Why is there not a Volt drivetrain in the Blazer? Do that to everything in the lineup.
PHEVs are having a moment right now, as the regulatory apparatus meant to keep our oceans from invading midtown Manhattan cowers in the face of businesses that might suffer slightly lower profits with all-EV lineups because those same regulators won’t invest in electric infrastructure. What was I talking about again?
I’ve said it before on here - but it’s worth repeating. The Honda Element.
That vehicle, with a PHEV powertrain (or full EV - but I like still like the idea of ICE when taking it to more remote camp sites) and other modern amenities would be incredible.
Modern cars are so often either trying to hide their boxiness, or leaning into it in hyper-aggressive uber-masculine ways. The Element was just cool and boxy, and neither one had any real bearing on the other.
Suzuki Samurai/Jimny
Drove one throughout high school, and it could keep up with offroading just outside the suburbs with anything. Any place they could go I could go better, and some places I could go they couldn’t.
The Jimny lives on abroad, but we should still have it here. He’s just a little guy! Look at him!
My vote goes to the Cadillac XLR:
These were supposed to be a Mercedes SL fighter, but the recession-era GM interior and Northstar V8 were big letdowns. GM has done some pretty remarkable things with the Cadillac brand since that time, and I can’t help but wonder what a modern Cadillac 2-seat Grand Tourer could be. Especially with a Blackwing-powered XLR-V.
Cadillac: Rebadge the C8. Do it. See what happens. You’ll sell at least three of them, I’m sure.
Honda CRX and the Honda Prelude. Loved those cars! Stay true to their styling roots and either of these cars would be killer with the Type-R motor in them.
A car to slot in below the Civic in Honda’s lineup would be fantastic. A sporty car to slot in would be even better. We do love a sporty car here.
Saab Sonett IV based on the Aero-X concept. The world needs more funky Swedish sports cars.
The Aero-X concept is absolutely gorgeous, and we deserve a modern incarnation. I understand it would have to change for modern safety regs, but it honestly wouldn’t have to change that much. We have the Supra.
Where’s my 8th Gen Ford Fiesta!?!
There is nothing close to it on the market. A small agile, and fun to drive sub-compact. Can make it rocket on rails with the ST trim, or a great economical first car for your 16-18 year old in SE trim. Extremely useful and versatile car.
Where are you keeping it, Ford? We know you have it somewhere. Some secure warehouse, no doubt. but somewhere. Give it to us.
The PT Cruiser, yes it wasn’t the greatest and like they do it got neglected to death, but it was where the market is now so something in that space could’ve been competing with everything from the Encore and Evista up to X1's and GLA’s. It wouldn’t have needed to keep the retro styling, it could be like a scaled down Pacifica styling wise. A tall compact hatchmobile is a lineup must have now for an entry point, Chrysler’s various handlers of course ran away from the heart of the market (why have a competetive SUV when you can sell fewer and fewer sedans and minivans).
I genuinely cannot picture what a 2024 model year PT Cruiser would look like. We’ve gone through so many styles of retro and modern since its release, and now the brand it’s from barely even exists. The basic layout, sure, but the PT Cruiser itself?
We never got it in the states but id like to see a modern version of the BMW 135 2dr hatch. Or really just any 2dr hatch with RWD and a manual. But just imagine the latest BMW 2series as a 2dr hatch like this. I miss the days where lots of cars came with RWD and a hatch or fastback and werent stupid expensive.
More rear-driven two-door hatches! It’s the perfect vehicle layout, the ideal car, and yet they’re unfindable here in the States. What did we do to deserve this?
Buick Roadmaster. Give me a modern Land Yacht!
I’d argue that pretty much everything is a land yacht now. They’re just taller. Land cruise ships maybe? Land hydrofoils, but slow? We’ll workshop it.
Crown Victoria. Use the 2007 Interceptor concept as inspiration, and while Ford is at it make a new Lincoln Town Car off the same platform. It’s entirely doable. The Interceptor was based off the Mustang platform. Make the new Crown Victoria the same way.
Did you know people import Crown Victorias to Scandanavia? I can’t imagine doing such a thing, but they probably can’t imagine the allure of Volvos we never got over here. The grass is always greener.
VW Vanagon or Type 2 “bay window” bus/van. Honda Fit. Both were highly efficient but not the safest (or profitable) vehicles on the road, during their respective runs. Both still have their fan bases.
My friend, I’m delighted to inform you that there is in fact a modern Volkswagen bus. It’s called the ID Buzz, and it’s exactly the answer to this question — a modern generation of an older car.