Random Question Time: Throwback to the Future

[Ermahgerd]

It's another round of Random Question Time. Last time we talked about obscure cars, that for one reason or another, we tend to see a lot of in our personal slice of the planet (6 pack of Mirai for anyone?). https://opposite-lock.com/topic/24724/random-question-time-uncommonly-common/2

But with all the chatter about the new Integra and whether or not it is worthy of the name, or even should be revived at all, it got me thinking. We've seen quite a few of these much-hyped comebacks lately. Whether it's retro-styling like the Ioniq 5, reviving long dead nameplates like the Maverick, or bringing back entire vehicle concepts like the Bronco, Nissan Z, and the Supra, throwbacks are all the rage in the auto industry.

So, I find myself wondering: what car do we wish made a proper return? Even though I've never seen one in the flesh, I know I'd sleep better knowing that the Maloo was prowling the streets again. I'd also be pretty excited if Audi brought back the legendary Quattro S1 like they kinda teased us they would with the RS concept. Lancia claims a return of the Integrale but I'm not holding my breath.

So, what do you want to see return from the grave?

[facw]

@ermahgerd Obviously we need a new Previa.

Also, re: Quattro when I was in Chicago a couple weeks ago my friend's kids had one of these and I was jealous:

[MUSASHI66]

@ermahgerd Toyota PU. Something to compete with the Maverick.

K5 Blazer to compete with the Bronco once again.

MB 190E. Modern C class is way too big.

Lancer EVO

[nermal]

@ermahgerd

I'm shocked that a new one of these hasn't been made yet. Just take a 1500 pickup, and close in the back. Relatively easy from a design perspective.

[benn454]

@musashi66 Seconded on the Blazer

[Ermahgerd]

@musashi66 Chevy REALLY needs to get to work on a K5. Mary Barra should take the hint with the Bronco success.

[adamftw]

Yea, there's no reason they shouldn't be slapping a "permanent" hard top on a 1500 RCSB ZR2 Silverado and calling it a K5. Even with two doors, it would be big enough to get 3 adults back there.

[benn454]

@adamftw Or the Colorado ZR2

[Napoli]

@musashi66 Evo all day long!

[Ermahgerd]

@napoli For that we need to bring back Mitsubishi in its entirety back from the dead. Definitely worth it tho.

[CobraJoe]

@ermahgerd The small 4 seat RWD hatchback/liftback.

I know it's not a specific model, but there were several in the 70s, and tons of them in the 80's and 90's.

Foxbody Mustang/Capri
Camaro/Firebird
Merkur XR4Ti and Scorpio
280SX
All the Z cars
924/944/928
Supra
Isuzu Impulse
Pinto
Vega
Gremlin
Starion/conquest
Corolla AE86
Mazda RX7

And I know I'm forgetting some. Today, there is the Stinger, which isn't small, and the BMW i3, which is expensive for the power offered.

Why must car enthusiasts live with a cramped interior and a tiny trunk? Make sports cars useful again!

[adamftw]

@benn454 yea, prob would fit the market better but the K5 was a full-size.

[Ermahgerd]

@cobrajoe Now that you mention it, a 928 wouldn't be that hard. They could basically make it a 2 door Panamera. I know that's not a particularly small vehicle but they are fast, nimble for the weight and 928 was always intended as a GT car anyway.

[awesomeaustinv]

@ermahgerd Buick GSX or GNX. Buick’s whole ad campaign where they tried to market to the youth and make themselves cool was sad to watch, because you just can’t do that if you don’t have any cool cars. And no, the wagon doesn’t count, and you know why. But Buick used to have cool cars. They had the GSX in the 70s, which was a great luxury muscle car in its day, and more recently there was the GNX, which is arguably an even better choice to bring back because 80s nostalgia is huge right now and that thing was legendary. It wouldn’t even be that hard! Just take whatever Buick sedan they have right now, or federalize a Chinese one if they don’t sell sedans in the states anymore, and give it a widebody, black paint, and a turbo V6. The GSX could be a different trim package with a V8 and more emphasis on straight line performance. Basically, what Cadillac is doing now is what Buick should be doing. Cadillac should be making elegant luxury barges anyway.

[Milky]

@ermahgerd "All" Audi would have to do is put the I-5 in a slightly re-bodied RS5 and bam, perfection. Turn that engine 90 degrees and lets go rally baby.

[Zaphod's Heart of Gold]

@awesomeaustinv To this day the one car my dad wants back is his old Buick GS, not even a GSX but close to it. Not that his automotive legacy is anything awe-inspiring but does include a '71 Chevelle SS, a '90s big bronco, and an '03 Marauder. He wants the Buick.

[awesomeaustinv]

@zaphod-s-heart-of-gold Exactly. There is still some love today for Buicks of the past, and the fact that GM isn’t capitalizing on it is another example of why GM is the most frustrating car company. The C8 is the only good decision they’ve made in a long time.

[Zaphod's Heart of Gold]

@awesomeaustinv I have an irrational love of corvettes (have my whole life) and I don't like the C8. On paper it's the best performance value out there, and this has been true for much of its existence, but I think the design is utterly terrible. It wants to be a ferrari but has all the elegance of....well, a chevy. The design flow from the C4 to the C7 seems like a natural progression, even if I think the C7 is overwrought (C6 is peak corvette design IMO) but they took it to a whole new level and the proportions are all wrong and it's haunchy with too many creases for the sake of creases

[WhoIsTheLeader]

@ermahgerd Bring back the Cruze

But really, I'd love to see a genuinely useful cheap small utility vehicle again. Fortunately this just happened with the Maverick, provided it's good.

But then I also want to see a genuinely novel small car again a la 2CV, Beetle, 500, etc. Give it a cloth roof, innovative space usage, and unapologetically functional design and maybe I'd be one of three people to buy it.

[benn454]

@adamftw True. As was the Bronco originally. That is no longer the case.

[MybirdIStheword]

@ermahgerd the sport hatchback, ALA 3rd &4th gen camaros\firebirds, starion, 944, ect. It was a good body style, and I liked the extra space with fold down rear seats.

[іди на хуй Влад - formerly known as Distraxi]

@ermahgerd Clio Williams or 205GTi, or even an AX GT. None of which would be possible nowadays because they were made of tinfoil, but in any case, a small superlight FWD “hot” (though not by todays standards) hatch that’s practical as an only car if you don’t have to wrangle too many kids, fast enough to be fun if you rev the guts out of it but not fast enough to get you in trouble, and ALL about the tossability.

VW make a nod in that direction in Europe with the Up GTI, but it’s a Mk1 Golf GTI reborn not a hot hatch a la Francaise, and the Golf was always too sensible a choice anyway. The 500 Abarth gets it but is way too flawed. And other equivalents like the FiST are a step up in size and weight and a step down in silly grin factor. The ones who did it best were the French: let’s have them doing it again, and turned back up to 11 where it should be.

[MybirdIStheword]

@awesomeaustinv It's gotta look mean, like the old GN. Or be a modern interpretation of the old chevelle body, that could be pretty interesting.

[newjoekaz]

here's a comeback for ya

[SamV8]

A British roadster like the Triumph TR6 or Austin Healy 3000