![]() 01/11/2014 at 19:27 • Filed to: OPPOPOLL | ![]() | ![]() |
I've been relentlessly following the auto industry the last 10 years or so and I can't tell you how many times I've heard rumors of a cherished model coming back from the dead, only to be disappointed. Or in other instances it's some sort of new IP usually performance related that gets teased and conceptualized.
Now sure some do successfully make the leap back to the land of the living (Camaro, Charger, Challenger, LFA, Toyoburu twins, and maybe soon the NSX) but most just wallow around in "it's being considered" purgatory.
So who's the best/worst at this? Here are a few examples I can think of off the top of my head: New RX-7, Supra, next gen Lancer Evolution, mid-engined Corvettes, El Caminos, rwd Ford/Lincolns, every Alfa Romeo (though the 4C did come through), a BMW supercar, Silvia successor, S2000 successor, and surely many more.
![]() 01/11/2014 at 19:36 |
|
Ford GT, Mirua, Lancia
![]() 01/11/2014 at 19:41 |
|
Worst specific model: New NSX. They've gone so far as to tease multiple concept models and push the production date back at least 4 times. By comparison, BMW went from i8 concept (which is very similar to the NSX in marketing and tech, I believe) to production car in like, 2 years.
Worst "general" model: RWD Cadillac supercar, or XLR sucessor
We've had the Cien, Ciel, Sixteen, El Miraj, and now this new one they've got under wraps, all of which promise a supercar, a mid-engined monster, or some RWD sports car successor to the XLR. None of them have delivered, and even their 10 year old concepts look fresh and new today.
Honorable mention goes to the LFA/Supra/GT86, which shared a number of prototypes that had almost nothing to do with the final production cars, were highly deceptive on the price and volume of the finished products, and given the extremely long and wasteful development time for the LFA, and were teased for a decade. But, at the end of the day, they DID deliver something, just not what was promised.
![]() 01/11/2014 at 19:43 |
|
I can understand the Ford GT. It was an anniversary car and market study, and they haven't really teased anything new since to suggest they will continue the line.
But the Miura and Lancia (any RWD lancia, particularly the Stratos) concepts are like candy on a string dangling in front of enthusiast faces.
![]() 01/11/2014 at 19:44 |
|
well you did have the GT90 but that was a while ago
![]() 01/11/2014 at 19:46 |
|
The return of a Delta Integrale
![]() 01/11/2014 at 19:47 |
|
![]() 01/11/2014 at 19:49 |
|
VW.
You have the nardo, vx3,
Concept R/blue sport
![]() 01/11/2014 at 20:39 |
|
RX7 successor. Sorry folks, the RX8 was a limp wristed, pantywaist, diet version of the REAL DEAL.
![]() 01/11/2014 at 21:04 |
|
I've never heard of a plot to bring back the Integrale, not that it wouldn't be awesome. Well, it wouldn't be awesome if it had anything to do with the current Delta
woof
![]() 01/11/2014 at 21:05 |
|
The Stratos tease is/was mean. Audi sure wants to make a Quattro, but I feel like it would be really redundant with the RS3, TT-RS, and RS5.
![]() 01/11/2014 at 21:09 |
|
I'd say the NSX is king of this kind of thing up until one get driven off the showroom floor.
I can't decide if the Sixteen concept or the Cien concept are bigger tease.
![]() 01/11/2014 at 21:11 |
|
Sixteen, definitely. We got our America Supercar in the GT, we never got our Rolls-Royce competing luxo-barge.
![]() 01/11/2014 at 21:35 |
|
What they both should do is make them as STi competitors. The markets they would to release these cars into are cluttered. How cool would a $40k Stratos be!?
![]() 01/11/2014 at 22:37 |
|
Every time I see an RX7 I have a crisis.
![]() 01/11/2014 at 22:38 |
|
The RS5 is the only one of those that is true 4WD, aka, not a haldex / FF conversion, if I'm not mistaken. Isn't the Quattro supposed to be A4 based, and therefore a true 4WD?
![]() 01/13/2014 at 16:18 |
|
A Silvia revival has the potential to be absolutely fantasmic. Nissan might not even try it though, for fear of completely fucking it up and disenfranchising some of its bigger enthusiasts (same could be said for the "Skyline" name, which has been in retirement stateside since '02...we don't include the G35 over here).