Time Between Generations?

"bobbe17" (rob-runte)
04/03/2017 at 11:53 • Filed to: None

Random thought I had this morning- What car goes through generation changes the fastest or slowest?

A few random samplings that popped in my mind (birth to first of latest model)-

Chevy Corvette - 1953-2014 - 7th Generation: 8.71 years
VW Golf- 1974-2015 - 7th Generation: 5.85 years
Dodge Viper- 1992-2013 - 5th Generation: 4.2 years
BMW 3 Series- 1975-2011 - 7th Generation: 5.14 years

What are some other short or long time periods between new generations?

DISCUSSION (20)

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > bobbe17
04/03/2017 at 11:57

Subaru Impreza, 5 generations, 1993- 2017, 4.8 years per generation.

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > TheTurbochargedSquirrel
04/03/2017 at 11:58

The 1st generation lasted 9 years from 93-01.

The 2nd generation lasted 6 years from 02-07.

BlueMazda2 - Blesses the rains down in Africa, Purveyor of BMW Individual Arctic Metallic, Merci Twingo > bobbe17
04/03/2017 at 12:00

The two I can think of immediately off the top of my head are the Chevy Malibu (4 years on average, 5 generations, 20 years since its release as the midsize we know it as today) and the Toyota Camry (3.18 years on average, 11 generations, 35 years since its release in the US).

Ash78, voting early and often > bobbe17
04/03/2017 at 12:03

4 years was the industry standard forever, but some companies (namely Honda) tend to stick with 6 years. I think so much flexibility can be had with facelifts now, the old concept of “generation” is pretty blurred.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > bobbe17
04/03/2017 at 12:04

The Camry seems to turn over very fast. The last Malibu too. But I don’t have any hard data.

Trucks seem to have the most consistently long lives. This is gonna be a bit GM-centric, but that’s what I know so here goes... Silverado went ‘99-‘06, ‘07-‘14, as did the corresponding Tahoe/Suburban. Colorado went ‘04-‘12. The 2nd-gen S10 spanned ‘94-‘04 before being replaced by the Colorado, and the 1st-gen had a span of at least 9 years as well. The last generation of F150 was from ‘09-‘14, the current Ram made its debut in the same year and is still going 8 years later with no (that I’ve heard) rumors about a replacement.

Pich, with Z32 now featuring Civic [Si] / No > bobbe17
04/03/2017 at 12:05

The lancer evolution averages 2.4 years per generation

crowmolly > bobbe17
04/03/2017 at 12:07

GM F-bodies are kind of weird.

First gen: 3 years

Second gen: 11 years

Third gen: 10 years

Fourth gen: 9 years

C3 Vette is really long- 1968 to 1982. 14 years.

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > bobbe17
04/03/2017 at 12:07

Honda were running a new generation of all of their cars every three years for a while.

HammerheadFistpunch > bobbe17
04/03/2017 at 12:09

Well there have been 6-9 “generations” of Land Cruisers depending on how you count. but if you just count from the 20 series up to the 200 series and follow the wagon line, there have been 8 generations since 1951, so every 8.25 years. if you could the heavy duty line there are 4 generations since 1951, so every 16.5 years.

Laurence > bobbe17
04/03/2017 at 12:10

Volkswagen vans - 1949-2015 - 5 Generations: 13.2 Years

I doubt it gets much higher than that...

jariten1781 > bobbe17
04/03/2017 at 12:13

The Aston V8 went from ~69-89. There were various ‘series’ throughout which some would consider different generations, but they’re wrong.

Demon-Xanth knows how to operate a street. > bobbe17
04/03/2017 at 12:13

Typically it’s 4 years, refresh, 4 years, major change.

Example, the Dodge Dakota:

1987-1991: Beginning

1992-1996: front fenders extended, bodywork smoothed over, but major parts still swap, changed to 6 lug, Magnum engines and electronic valvebody transmissions

1997-1999: Basically all new chassis, drivetrain remained largely the same

2000-2004: QC introduced, interior refreshed, other minor changes, 2003 brought rear disks, I wish I had those.

2005-2007: OH GOD NOT THE REDESIGN!

2008-2012: Made boxy like the 1992s were, chassis largely unchanged.

Depending on who you ask, it can be between 3 and 6 generations.

IAN_Z > bobbe17
04/03/2017 at 12:17

Kinja'd!!!

I don’t think the Sequoia has been majorly changed in 17 years

Viggen > bobbe17
04/03/2017 at 12:18

There’s some oddballs out there though in terms of generation length. The Frontier and 370Z are certainly the first that come to mind.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > bobbe17
04/03/2017 at 12:21

Pickup trucks and large SUVs in general go through the longest times between refreshes. The Wagoneer was in production with only front end facelifts but the same body style from 1962 to 1991. The third gen Lincoln Navigator was built from 2007 until just last year.

Kinja'd!!!

As far as cars go, the Crown Vic was built from 1992 to 2011 with only two generations, and the PT Cruiser was built for ten years with only a facelift.

DipodomysDeserti > bobbe17
04/03/2017 at 12:30

The Jeep Wrangler is up there.

YJ: ‘87-’95

TJ: ‘97-’06

JK: ‘07-’17

Only three generations in thirty years and they all pretty much look the same.

Textured Soy Protein > bobbe17
04/03/2017 at 12:40

Toyota Corolla - 11 generations* - 1966-2017 = 4.64 years

Honda Civic - 10 generations - 1972-2017 = 4.5 years

Toyota Camry - 8 generations* - 1982-2017 = 4.35 years

Honda Accord - 9 generations - 1976-2017 = 4.1 years

* Toyota’s been getting a bit lazy as the 6/7th generation Camry and 9/10/11th generation Corolla are barely different enough to qualify as more than a refresh. Enough of the body shell and interior changed but they’re still largely the same car from 2006-2016 for the Camry and 2000-present for the Corolla.

Dusty Ventures > bobbe17
04/03/2017 at 13:03

The Ford Ranger probably pulled off both some of the longest and shortest. From 1983 to 2000 it went through four generations, 4.25 years per generation (with the fourth generation only lasting two years). Then for the fifth and final generation Ford stopped caring and it lasted 11 years with just a few facelifts.

gogmorgo - rowing gears in a Grand Cherokee > bobbe17
04/03/2017 at 14:31

Lada Niva. In production since ‘77, only had a facelift or two. Still rolling off the assembly line.

gmporschenut also a fan of hondas > bobbe17
04/03/2017 at 20:10

mini 1959-2000

range rover 1970-1994

JAAAGGG xj6 1968-1986