Cars that really were a stand out move

[Urko]

The Jaguar E-Type seems the obvious contender, and the Mini.

But a poster in another thread reminded me of more recent examples -

Vauxhall Ampera

Released at a similar time to the BMW i3 REX.  The i3 used a lot of funky materials and skinny tyres etc to assert its difference, but in REX form it was putting a motorbike engine in the boot connected to a generator.

The Ampera was the reverse - fairly conventional body etc, but way more sophisticated in terms of the interaction between petrol engine and battery power - and a plug-in to boot.  A lot of contemporary journalism seeks to paint the two as competitors and either glosses over the massive difference in engineering, or else wrongly reports the Ampera as something akin to the BMW which it really wasn't .

This was GMs big push for electric and it continued in the USA where it was a big seller with a decent reputation.

Discovery 3

Almost everything was new about the Disco 3.  I know it has a tarnished reputation - but my best mate who drives a 66 plate Q5 is still impressed with my Disco.  The engine, suspension and interior were all a big step up from the D2.  It's 19 years old but has touch screen nav, 4x heated seats, heated screen, OEM HID lights which are still excellent, it can tow 3.5t without skipping a beat etc etc. Like the Ampera it's not perfect but it is a game changer with all independent suspension.

Jag X350

How about a luxury car that you can actually fit in (unlike the cramped interiors of previous models), but which weighs about the same as a Mondeo of the same era - meaning it embarrases the steel body S-type in performance and  economy despite having more space?

 

 

[Peter C]

Ford Sierra. Controversial styling that upset traditional Ford customers eventually became the template for modern family car design, antiquated engines and drivetrains aside.

[inconsistant]

I’d like to nominate the General Motors EV1, the subject of the film ‘Who Killed The Electric Car?’

Wonderfully forward thinking, unfortunately the project was cancelled about the time they threw loads of money at developing the Hummer brand. 

[goosey]

I always thought when the first Mercedes Sprinters came out they were a massive leap ahead of all other vans available at the time 

[Soundwave]

Skoda Octavia (90s). The car that finally silenced the Skoda jokes once and for all... with some help from VW, of course. Delivered an excellent spec-to-price ratio, without too much sacrifice in quality. The Felicia had been a big step in the right direction, but it was the Occy that really made people shut their yaps. 

Then a few years later it spawned the first of the vRS badged cars, offering a relatively affordable way into performance car ownership. The idea of a performance Skoda had been utterly inconceivable just a few years prior.

For a mediocre car, it had quite a legacy. 

[chaseracer]

Predictable this may well be from me, but... Citroen 2CV.

Not without its faults, but a clever and efficient design that helped to get a ruined France mobile after WW2.

[Barry Cade]

X1/9. Way ahead of its time, targa roof, mid engine, 4 wheel discs, bonded screen for an affordable price.... in 1972.

[HMC]

mk1 focus. After the mk5 escort it was like being slapped across the face- in the best way.

[Popsicle]

1 hour ago, goosey said:

I always thought when the first Mercedes Sprinters came out they were a massive leap ahead of all other vans available at the time 

This all over for me. 4m load space for 4 standard  pallets, sit at NSL all day, everyday, fast smooth and quiet and return nearly 30 mpg to boot.

[RichardK]

Original A-Class - W168

Mercedes 190E - W201

Chrysler LH series

Rover P6

[mk2_craig]

Multipla. 

[bunglebus]

Audi A2

Now lots of stuff looks like this

[groovyboovy]

Been mentioned all ready but BMW i3

[Leyland Worldmaster]

8 minutes ago, bunglebus said:

Audi A2

Now lots of stuff looks like this

They're durable too. Alison's milage and general condition:

 

[chaseracer]

54 minutes ago, RichardK said:

Chrysler LH series

The one that traces its DNA back to the Renault 25?  I'm genuinely curious now!

[RichardK]

10 minutes ago, chaseracer said:

The one that traces its DNA back to the Renault 25?  I'm genuinely curious now!

300M could out-G-force the similar size of Quattro in a slalom test...

Neon is also immensely clever, in an efficient way.

[JeeExEll]

Austin / Morris 1800 ADO17 1964.

Jensen Interceptor 1966.

Mk1 Capri 1969.

Princess 1975.

Citroen CX 1975.

Audi UR Quattro widebody coupe 1980.

Renault Espace 1984.

Lexus LS400 1989.

Toyota Previa 1990.

[Bazfr69]

I’m aware of their largely unloved status here but the Beetle can’t be ignored in a topic like this. 
 

A worldwide people’s car. 

[adw1977]

Range Rover (the original one).

It really created a market segment that hadn't previously existed.

[junkyarddog]

MK1 Golf GTI

[Urko]

1 minute ago, adw1977 said:

Range Rover (the original one).

It really created a market segment that hadn't previously existed.

I am old enough to remember it coming out (and was a car mad kid) I kept the advert out of the Sunday Times mag for ages.  The original door handle design as well as the clean and minimal yet modern looking exterior design just looked fabulous at the time.

[Blue 850]

Fiat 127 originally from 1971 with the hatchback introduced in 1972, a  year after the Renault 5 3dr  but more conventional,  it set the template for other manufacturers to copy. 

[Urko]

4 hours ago, Peter C said:

Ford Sierra. Controversial styling that upset traditional Ford customers eventually became the template for modern family car design, antiquated engines and drivetrains aside.

Excellent point - this is another one I remember coming out - and there being actual hate for it because it was so different.

[artdjones]

5 minutes ago, Urko said:

I am old enough to remember it coming out (and was a car mad kid) I kept the advert out of the Sunday Times mag for ages.  The original door handle design as well as the clean and minimal yet modern looking exterior design just looked fabulous at the time.

David Bache was an excellent stylist.

[junkyarddog]

Mk1 Lotus Cortina.

[JeeExEll]

The Rover 3500 SD1 1976.

Jaguar XJ6 4.2 swb and XJ12 1968 and 72.

Alfasud 1974?

SAAB 99 Turbo 1977?

[adw1977]

Going back a bit further, the Austin 7.

Replaced various cyclecars in the market place with a proper 4-cylinder, 4-wheeled small car.

[forddeliveryboy]

There are two cars which helped define the modern motor car, the Ford Model T and Citroën's 1933 front drive saloon.

[Richard_FM]

10 minutes ago, adw1977 said:

Going back a bit further, the Austin 7.

Replaced various cyclecars in the market place with a proper 4-cylinder, 4-wheeled small car.

Herbert Austin claimed it was a scaled down car, not a scaled up motorcycle!  Similarly the Mini saw off the Bubble Cars within a few years.

[Urko]

12 minutes ago, JeeExEll said:

Alfasud 1974?

Hmm thinking about that and the Citroen GS I'd be bound to mention the Jowett Javelin.