If you were to bring back a dead car brand, what brand would you bring back?

"not for canada - australian in disguise" (for-canada) 01/02/2016 at 17:57 • Filed to: None

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35

Bonus points if you could come up with a range. I would bring back Pontiac, and the range would be as follows:

City Car - Sunburst (Chevy Spark)

Subcompact - Firefly (Based off the Sonic, RS would be sold as the Turbo, like the Fireflies of the 80s and early 90s)

Compact sedan - Tempest (Chevy Cruze based)

Compact hatch - Acadian (Opel Astra)

Midsize - Parisienne (Opel Insignia, also sold as a wagon)

Fullsize - Chieftan (Holden Commodore SV6/Omega/Calais)

Fullsize performance - GTO (HSV Clubsport)

Fullsize luxury - Star Chief (Holden Caprice)

Fullsize Ute - Caballero (Holden Ute)

Fullsize performance Ute - Caballero Sprint (Holden Maloo)

And, last but not least, a new Firebird based off the Camaro, with a Trans Am version and a new WS6, based off the ZL1 and Z28 respectively.

So, that’s what I’d do if I ran GM and decided to revive Pontiac. It would probably hemmorage money like mad, but it would create some pretty kickass cars. SUVs and trucks would continue on with GMC, instead of having seperate Pontiac SUVs.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > not for canada - australian in disguise 01/02/2016 at 18:00

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pip bip - choose Corrour > not for canada - australian in disguise 01/02/2016 at 18:03

2

Plymouth.

with a small car/medium car/large car (all FWD) plus a 5-7 seat SUV.

sold exclusively to fleets/rental/govt agencies only.

GE90man > not for canada - australian in disguise 01/02/2016 at 18:04

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Technically it's not dead, but I'd love to be able to acquire a Passat R36, which has been discontinued since the B6 generation

JR1 > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 01/02/2016 at 18:09

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Let the old gal rest in piece. Some things are better left to myth and legend

jkm7680 > not for canada - australian in disguise 01/02/2016 at 18:12

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TDI branch of Volkswagen once it dies.

jkm7680 > pip bip - choose Corrour 01/02/2016 at 18:12

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whyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy

XJDano > not for canada - australian in disguise 01/02/2016 at 18:14

2

Studebaker & Tucker.

Studebaker would make sedans, wagon variants & trucks.

Tucker would make 1 car, state of the art luxury.

pip bip - choose Corrour > jkm7680 01/02/2016 at 18:17

0

what’s your suggestion?

jkm7680 > pip bip - choose Corrour 01/02/2016 at 18:18

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that we don’t need any more of this shite.

Probenja > not for canada - australian in disguise 01/02/2016 at 18:19

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But not owned by GM:

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > JR1 01/02/2016 at 18:20

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I can see where that argument could be made. Killed in its prime means it will only ever be cool.

djmt1 > not for canada - australian in disguise 01/02/2016 at 18:20

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I know they aren’t technically dead but given their current situation of rebadging Chinese garbage, I would hardly call them alive. So the Range:

An MX5 fighter as a modern version of this:

A second go at the cheap mid engined sports car but this time add some sports.

Bring back the Z cars.

So a Supermini, a Hot Hatch and a Sports Saloon and send them back out into the world of rallying & touring car racing.

and a Mustang fighter in the form of a new SV. Big engine, RWD, LSD and manual only.

MG stand no chance going into luxury or volume as we have seen from their current struggles so SAIC need to do a JLR/Volvo and give them a bunch of money and say “get on with it”.

pip bip - choose Corrour > jkm7680 01/02/2016 at 18:25

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perfect for Govt / rentals / fleets only!

no retail sales

plus in a few years they’ll make great winter beaters for those living in the snow belt.

JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder! > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 01/02/2016 at 18:30

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I’m not sure I follow....

ranwhenparked > not for canada - australian in disguise 01/02/2016 at 18:32

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I’ve wondered if it might make sense, long-term, for Tata Motors to eventually revive Rover to fill the vast chasm between Tata and Jaguar. It still has a reasonably decent reputation outside the UK market, and even there, enough time has lapsed to dull a lot of the negative, and the connection with Land Rover/Range Rover would help a lot.

Maybe do a lineup of 4 crossover vehicles to start, sized from subcompact to full-size; then, if there’s time and money left, follow up with some passenger car models in the subcompact to midsize categories.

The bulk of production could happen in India and China, with maybe another factory added in Europe later on, if a relaunch there is successful.

jkm7680 > pip bip - choose Corrour 01/02/2016 at 18:35

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No silly, that’s what Chrysler is for.

they-will-know-my-velocity > not for canada - australian in disguise 01/02/2016 at 18:36

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10/10 would bang

djmt1 > ranwhenparked 01/02/2016 at 18:36

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Tata don’t own Rover, SAIC do. Also MG’s current struggles mean that we still haven’t forgot about Rover.

Cé hé sin > not for canada - australian in disguise 01/02/2016 at 18:37

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Delahaye.

They’d be competing for the luxury market so to give the right kind of silent performance they’d have an electric drivetrain. Something like a Tesla but less acceleration, more range and higher build quality.

The 275 Saoutchik would have something of the ambience of the RR Phantom while the shorter wheelbase Chapron would be a slightly sportier variant aimed at the RR Wraith.

V12 Jake- Hittin' Switches > not for canada - australian in disguise 01/02/2016 at 18:53

2

Duesenberg, because why not. But actually Maybach. Yes there is a Maybach Mercedes now, but it doesn’t have anywhere near the presence or cool factor of a 62 or a 57.

Steve in Manhattan > not for canada - australian in disguise 01/02/2016 at 19:32

1

Saab. Hands down.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > not for canada - australian in disguise 01/02/2016 at 19:34

2

MERCURY!

Comet - small economic car (fwd)

Montego - midsize 4 door and wagon. Rwd with ford 5.0 v8

Cyclone - Mustang based with the Shelby flat plane crank

Grand Marquis - full size awd based off new continental

Marauder - Continental but with the Shelby motor and rwd.

Villager - Crossover based off Explorer

Nauraushaun > not for canada - australian in disguise 01/02/2016 at 19:42

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TVR, with a bunch of similar yet awesome straight six coupes. We didn’t know how good we had it last decade.

not for canada - australian in disguise > Nauraushaun 01/02/2016 at 19:47

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You’re in luck!

http://jalopnik.com/the-new-tvr-wi…

2017 can’t come soon enough.

Nobi > not for canada - australian in disguise 01/02/2016 at 19:51

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IIRC, Bob Lutz said in an interview that his plans for Ponyiac would have been to use the ATS to make the next G6 in a plan to eventually turn Pontiac into a RWD only line led by a Zeta platform GTO. If it were me, it would be an all RWD line like Lutz wanted, but ditch the stupid G# names. GTO at the top on the Zeta platform, with the G8 renamed Bonneville. I’d spawn a wagon variant from it. Next would be the four door and wagon Alpha platform which would be the Tempest. The two door will be the new Firebird/Trans Am making it a platform mate to the Camaro again. Then, I’d resurrect the Kappa platform and Solstice, but use some of the Alpha’s weight reduction tricks on it, same goes for the Zeta cars.

ranwhenparked > djmt1 01/02/2016 at 20:13

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Not true, the Rover trademark was owned by BMW and licensed to MG Rover, the rights reverted to BMW when the company went bankrupt in 2005. SAIC tried to buy the brand after that, but Ford had right of first refusal as a result of their Land Rover purchase in 2000 and opted to exercise it. The brand was then sold to Tata as part of Jaguar Land Rover.

SAIC created Roewe specifically because they were unable to acquire Rover.

The part that SAIC does have, though, is the modernized/simplified version of the Longship logo that MG Rover rolled out around 2003, minus the “ROVER” lettering. That was part of the assets bought by Nanjing in 2005, and SAIC got it when they bought Nanjing.

djmt1 > ranwhenparked 01/02/2016 at 20:19

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Fair play, you’re right. Now I hope even more that SAIC finally throw in the towel and admit new MG is a failure. Tata could then buy MG and start actually building cars out of Longbridge again.

Nauraushaun > not for canada - australian in disguise 01/02/2016 at 20:19

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Rumors of the return of TVR (and Saab and Spyker) have been floating around literally since they closed doors. It’s all in Wikipedia - in 2008 they announced the Sagaris 2, but nothing happened and no cars were built. In 2010 they announced plans for new models with possible alternative drivetrains, but nothing happened and no cars were built. They were supposed to return in 2015, didn’t.

I’ll believe it when I see it.

El Rivinado > not for canada - australian in disguise 01/02/2016 at 20:23

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Easy

ranwhenparked > djmt1 01/02/2016 at 20:32

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I don’t think SAIC really care how well MG does in the UK, they’re willing to run the UK operations at a loss because they think it gives the brand more credibility in China if Chinese consumers perceive it as foreign. They manage to sell about 1/4 million a year back at home.

AkursedX > not for canada - australian in disguise 01/02/2016 at 20:56

1

I would bring back Pontiac as well, but I would also bring back the Fiero. A mid-engined miata/brz fighter with a ~200 hp small displacement fuel efficient engine and optional targa or solid roof. And then a hopped-up version with ~300hp turbo 4 to be a bargain option to those who would like a 4c or boxster.

SaigaShooter - He's got an Impreza > not for canada - australian in disguise 01/02/2016 at 21:03

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Easy, I’d bring back AMC and simply build XJ Cherokees, SJ platform Cherokees and trucks, and probably a Javekin too. Keep the classic looks and put in modern powertrains, all the trucks would have an option for a turbo diesel, Manuals will be available for every trim level.

I’d be lucky to sell 100 cars a year, and I’d be ok with that.

boxrocket > not for canada - australian in disguise 01/02/2016 at 22:02

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Pontiac is redundant with so many Buick models having Chevrolet model bases (crude = verano, impala = Lucerne, Malibu = lacrosse, traverse = enclave, trax = enclave, etc.). It run into the same exact problems that got gm into trouble as before.

I’d bring back Mercury. Mercury takes over Lincoln’s current role of rebranded Fords, as they were before, and allows Lincoln to go upmarket where it belongs. This also helps Buick be less redundant in the presence of Cadillac, as it then has a direct competitor.

Bman76 (no it doesn't need a WS6 hood) M. Arch > SaigaShooter - He's got an Impreza 01/02/2016 at 22:56

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And Javelins, specifically a Z28 and GT350R competitor.

Spoon II > not for canada - australian in disguise 01/03/2016 at 01:22

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Tucker, just because I’d love a modern day Tucker Torpedo