Peugeot 504
Pininfarina · 1968
The Peugeot 504 is a durable, mechanically coherent saloon built for longevity over novelty. Its design solves for resilience — not agility, comfort or style.
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Peugeot Quasar
Gérard Welter · 1950
The Peugeot Quasar is a 1984 in-house concept built on the 205 T16’s chassis and engine. It features scissor doors and an exposed engine bay. Its interior draws from science fiction. It never entered production. It now resides at the Peugeot Adventure Museum.
Plymouth Barracuda
Elwood Engel team · 1964
The 1964 Plymouth Barracuda is a fastback rebody of the Valiant, built on the Chrysler A-body. Its innovation was optical, not mechanical: the largest rear window ever fitted to a standard production car. It offered no new powertrain or chassis architecture at launch — only a new silhouette grafted onto an existing car. It beat the Mustang to market by two weeks, but did not define the pony car category on its own terms. It is significant as a case study in low-risk styling iteration, not as a driver’s machine or engineering departure.
Plymouth Road Runner
Plymouth · 1968
The Plymouth Road Runner is a 1968 US muscle car introduced by Chrysler under its Plymouth brand. It was based on the Belvedere, Plymouth’s basic mid-size model, and built on the Chrysler B platform. It launched as a 2-door pillared coupe, later adding a hardtop. It used licensed cartoon branding and a distinctive horn. Its performance and sales declined in the 1970s due to fuel economy and emissions regulation. By 1976, it was a non-performance trim package on the compact Volaré.
Polestar 1
Thomas Ingenlath · 2017
The Polestar 1 is a 2-door plug-in hybrid sports car developed by Polestar as its first independent model. Based on Volvo’s 2013 Concept Coupé and built on Volvo’s SPA platform, it features a twincharged 2.0 L I4 petrol engine driving the front wheels and two electric motors driving the rear wheels. Production was limited to 1,500 units from 2019 to 2022 in Chengdu, China, exclusively for left-hand drive markets.
Pontiac GTO
John DeLorean · 1964
The 1964 Pontiac GTO is a front-engine, rear-drive, two-door, four-passenger automobile. It began as an optional package on the LeMans. It exploited a GM policy loophole to install a larger engine. It popularised the muscle car segment. It marked the start of Pontiac’s identity as GM’s performance division. It was named after the Ferrari 250 GTO.
Porsche 356
Erwin Komenda · 1948
The Porsche 356 is Porsche’s first production automobile: a rear-engine, rear-wheel drive, air-cooled flat-four sports car, designed by Erwin Komenda, produced from 1948 to 1965 in coupé and cabriolet body styles, with approximately 76,000 units built.
Porsche 914
Heinrich Klie · 1969
The Porsche 914 was a mid-engined targa-topped roadster co-developed by Volkswagen and Porsche between 1969 and 1976. It used either a 1.7 L flat-four or 2.0 L flat-six engine, both mounted midship. Over 118,000 914/4 units were sold worldwide, while only 3,351 914/6 models were built before discontinuation in 1972. It won Motor Trend's Import Car of the Year for 1970 and served as Formula One's first safety car at the 1973 Canadian Grand Prix.
Porsche 917
Hans Mezger · 1969
The Porsche 917 is a sports prototype race car developed by Porsche’s 1960s Race Design office under Hans Mezger’s leadership to exploit 5-litre sports car regulations. Its spaceframe chassis weighs 42 kg and is permanently pressurised with gas to detect cracks. Power comes from a new 4.5-litre air-cooled flat-12 engine designed by Mezger. It gave Porsche its first overall wins at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1970 and 1971, and was chiefly responsible for Porsche winning the International Championship for Makes in both years. It was initially unwieldy but improved through continuous development. Porsche later adapted it for Can-Am racing, culminating in the twin-turbocharged 917/30.
Porsche 924
Harm Lagaay · 1976
The Porsche 924 is a two-door, 2+2 coupé produced by Porsche in Neckarsulm, Germany, from 1976 until 1988. It was the first production road-going Porsche to use water cooling and a front-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout, and the first Porsche to be offered with a conventional fully automatic transmission. It began as a joint venture with Volkswagen and its overall styling was created by Dutch designer Harm Lagaay. A turbocharged version was introduced in 1978.
Porsche 928
Wolfgang Möbius · 1977
The Porsche 928 is a grand touring car produced by Porsche AG from 1977 to 1995. It is a 2+2 coupé with a rear hatchback, featuring a front-mounted, water-cooled V8 engine driving the rear wheels. It was Porsche's first production car with a V8 engine and its first fully in-house design for a production vehicle. The 928 aimed to blend sports car performance and handling with luxury car comfort and spaciousness, and was conceived as a grand touring car with a conventional engine. It won the European Car of the Year award in 1978.
Porsche 944
Anatole Lapine · 1982
The Porsche 944 is a front-engine, rear-wheel drive two-door sports car developed from the 924 under Anatole Lapine’s leadership. It used water-cooled, all-alloy inline-four engines ranging from 2.5 L to 3.0 L across its 1982–1991 production run. Over 163,000 units were built — the highest volume for any Porsche sports car up to that point. It was offered as a coupé or cabriolet. The nameplate ended after 1991, replaced by the 968 for 1992.
Porsche 956
Norbert Singer · 1982
The Porsche 956 is a Group C sports-prototype racing car designed by Norbert Singer and built by Porsche in 1982 to comply with new FIA Group C regulations. It replaced the 936. It features Porsche’s first aluminium monocoque chassis and first ground-effect aerodynamics. It uses a 2.65 L turbocharged Flat-6 engine derived from the 936/81. Twenty-eight units were built between 1982 and 1984, including the 956B variant introduced in 1984. It won seven Le Mans titles and contributed to three Manufacturers’ and two Teams’ World Championships between 1982 and 1986.
Porsche 959
Helmuth Bott · 1986
The Porsche 959 is a homologation special turned benchmark: the first pure high-performance sports car with all-wheel drive and sequential twin-turbos. It redefined what a street-legal performance car could do—and forced Porsche to adopt those systems across its turbo range.
Porsche Taycan
Mitja Borkert · 2019
The Taycan redefines Porsche’s electric identity—not by chasing range alone, but by engineering for responsiveness, thermal resilience, and driver feedback. It is not a stopgap. It is the first proof that Porsche’s steering, weight distribution, and longitudinal control could translate to battery power without mimicry.
Renault 5
Michel Boué · 1972
The Renault 5 is a foundational supermini: compact, practical, and relentlessly focused on interior usability. Its longitudinal front-wheel-drive layout and torsion bar suspension prioritise simplicity and space over handling sophistication. Michel Boué designed it outside his regular duties — and died before seeing its 15-year dominance as France’s best-selling car. It changed expectations of what a small car could carry, how it could be serviced, and who it could serve.
Renault 5 E-Tech
Gilles Vidal · 2024
Renault 5 E-Tech is a B-segment battery electric hatchback produced since 2024. Styled under Gilles Vidal, it draws on the original Renault 5’s form language. Built at Douai using the CMF-B EV platform, it offers 40 kWh or 52 kWh batteries, motor outputs up to 110 kW, and 130 kW DC fast charging via a bonnet-mounted port. Its range peaks at 400 km. It is front-motor, front-wheel drive only.
Renault Avantime
Patrick Le Quément · 2001
The Renault Avantime is a 2001 one-box grand tourer marketed by Renault and designed and manufactured by Matra. Patrick Le Quément led its design. It combines estate space with four-place pillarless coupé qualities. It features an aluminium structure, aluminium panels for the greenhouse, and a full sunroof of strengthened heat-reflecting glass. As a one-box design without B-pillars, it blends MPV, estate, or shooting brake elements with 2+2 coupé style and convertible elements. Renault self-described it as a grand tourer.
Renault Espace
Fergus Pollock · 1984
The Renault Espace is a long-running series launched in 1984, evolving from a pioneering MPV—first built by Matra—through successive generations to a modern SUV. Its design origins trace to British designer Fergus Pollock in the 1970s, later developed by Matra and adopted by Renault. Early generations featured innovative construction (fibreglass body on galvanised steel spaceframe), longitudinal engine layout, and flat-floor interiors. Later generations shifted to transverse engines, Renault-led development, and increasingly crossover styling—culminating in the sixth-generation SUV launched in 2023.
Renault Twingo
Patrick Le Quément · 1992
The Renault Twingo (1992) is a two-door, front-engine city car designed under Patrick Le Quément’s leadership to reverse Renault’s declining sales through bold, autonomous design. Its defining feature—the smile-shaped front end—was a deliberate assertion of styling priority over mechanical packaging. It delivered visibility, compactness, and instant recognition, but sacrificed rear access, cargo space, and dynamic refinement. It marked the moment Renault’s design department gained executive authority—and proved that a city car could be defined first by how it looked, not how it was engineered.
Renault Vel Satis
Patrick Le Quément · 2001
The Renault Vel Satis is an executive hatchback manufactured by Renault from 2001 to 2009. It was launched at the 2001 Geneva Motor Show to replace the Safrane. Designed by Patrick Le Quément’s team, it formed part of Renault’s effort to develop an independent formal language. It is noted for its height — 13 cm higher than the Safrane — which benefits interior space. It was Renault’s flagship model and the company’s first car offered with adaptive cruise control. It was the second car ever to receive a five-star Euro NCAP safety rating. Approximately 62,000 units were manufactured over eight years. The name Vel Satis is a portmanteau of Velocity and Satisfaction. It shared its platform with the Laguna II and Espace IV and was manufactured in Sandouville, France.
Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud
John Blatchley · 1955
The Silver Cloud is Rolls-Royce’s decisive post-war statement: a large, rigid, body-on-frame saloon that abandoned pre-war cues and shared its architecture with Bentley for the first time. It prioritises presence, coachbuilding flexibility, and dimensional authority over agility or innovation.
Saab 900
Björn Envall · 1978
The Saab 900 is a Swedish automobile produced from 1978 to 1998. It was introduced on 12 May 1978 for the 1979 model year. The Saab 900 has a longitudinally mounted, 45-degree canted, inline four-cylinder engine. The Saab 900 was produced in two- and four-door sedan, and three- and five-door hatchback configurations and, from 1986, as a cabriolet. The Saab 900 CC (Combi Coupé) body was developed from the Saab 99 model. The Saab 900's double wishbone suspension design provided excellent handling and road feel. The Saab 900's rear suspension comprised a typical beam axle design, stabilized with a Panhard rod. The Saab 900 has a deeply curved windshield, improving driver visibility.
Saab 9000
Giorgetto Giugiaro · 1984
The Saab 9000 is a formally resolved, transversely engineered executive car that delivered space, visibility, and quiet competence — at the cost of driving drama and mechanical distinctiveness.
Škoda Favorit
Bertone · 1987
The Škoda Favorit is a front-engine, front-wheel-drive supermini hatchback introduced by Škoda Auto in 1987 after protracted development involving disputes with Nuccio Bertone; it succeeded the rear-engined Estelle and marked Škoda’s shift toward modern European design norms, with later estate and pickup variants, and notable motorsport success despite its modest specification.
SSC Ultimate Aero
Jerod Shelby · 2006
The SSC Ultimate Aero is a mid-engined sports car built by SSC North America from 2004 to 2013. It held the Guinness World Records production car speed record from 2007 until 2010. Jerod Shelby stated the early design philosophy was to make it a driver's car where throttle input could influence steering. The Aero features butterfly doors similar to those on the McLaren F1 and Ferrari Enzo. Carbon fibre and titanium are used throughout the car.
Studebaker Avanti
Raymond Loewy team · 1962
The Studebaker Avanti is a personal luxury coupe manufactured by Studebaker Corporation between June 1962 and December 1963. Designed by Raymond Loewy's team under Sherwood Egbert's direction, it was built as a halo car and marketed as America's only four-passenger high-performance personal car. It featured a radical fiberglass body mounted on a modified Studebaker Lark chassis and powered by a modified 289 Hawk V8 engine. It introduced front disc brakes — the first American production model to offer them — and a bottom-breather air intake. Called the fastest production car in the world upon introduction, it broke 29 world speed records at the Bonneville Salt Flats. Only 1,200 units were built in 1962 despite a goal of 20,000. Production ended in December 1963, though licensed derivatives continued until 2006.
Subaru SVX
Giorgetto Giugiaro · 1991
The Subaru Alcyone SVX is a 1991 two-door, front-engine coupé styled by Giorgetto Giugiaro. It was Subaru’s first luxury/performance vehicle. It featured an aircraft-inspired 'window-within-a-window' side-glass configuration. It used only the 3.3-litre flat-six EG33 engine and an automatic transmission. All-wheel drive was offered via ACT-4 or VTD systems — or front-wheel drive in some markets. Production ran from 1991 to 1996.
Suzuki Cappuccino
Suzuki · 1991
The Suzuki Cappuccino is a 1991–1998 Japanese two-seater roadster designed to meet Kei car regulations. It features a turbocharged 657 cc DOHC inline-three engine, front mid-engine layout, rear-wheel drive, and adaptable roof configurations (closed coupé, T-top, targa, full convertible). Its dimensions—3,295 mm long and 1,395 mm wide—comply with Kei limits. Front-rear weight distribution is 50/50% with both seats occupied.
Tata Indica
I.DE.A Institute · 1998
The Tata Indica (1998) is a B-segment five-door compact hatchback, India’s first diesel hatchback and Tata’s first passenger hatchback. Styled by I.DE.A Institute, it used an indigenous 1.4-L petrol/diesel inline-four engine. Early buyers reported discrepancies between promised and delivered horsepower and mileage. Production ran from 1998 to 2018.
Tatra 603
František Kardaus · 1956
The Tatra 603 is a large rear-engined luxury saloon produced by Tatra from 1956 to 1975. It continues the streamlined sedan lineage begun with the Tatra 77. In Socialist Czechoslovakia, only high-ranking party officials and factory heads were driven in 603s; the car was also exported to allied countries. Three successive versions—the T603, 2-603, and unofficial -3—were manufactured, distinguished by headlamp arrangements and progressive updates including disc brakes and contactless thyristor ignition. Its V8 overhead valve hemi engine was air-cooled and derived from earlier Tatra models. A total of 20,422 units were built, mostly by hand.
Tatra 77
Hans Ledwinka · 1934
The Tatra 77 is one of the first serial-produced, truly aerodynamically-designed automobiles, produced by Czechoslovak company Tatra from 1934 to 1938. It was developed by Hans Ledwinka and Paul Jaray, the Zeppelin aerodynamic engineer. Launched in 1934, the Tatra 77 is a coach-built automobile, constructed on a platform chassis with a pressed box-section steel backbone rather than Tatra's trademark tubular chassis, and is powered by a 60 horsepower (45 kW) rear-mounted 2.97-litre air-cooled V8 engine, in later series increased to a 75 horsepower (56 kW) 3.4-litre engine. It possessed advanced engineering features, such as overhead valves, hemispherical combustion chambers, a dry sump, fully independent suspension, rear swing axles and extensive use of lightweight magnesium alloy for the engine, transmission, suspension and body. Another one of his significant contributions to automotive design was the streamlined car body. Under him, Tatra brought the first mass-produced streamlined cars to the market. With his son Erich, who became chief designer at Tatra, Ledwinka and Erich Übelacker, a German engineer also employed by Tatra, designed the streamlined Tatra models T77, T77a, T87, and T97, all of which have rear-mounted air-cooled engines.
Tatra 87
Hans Ledwinka · 1936
The Tatra 87 is a Czechoslovak-built, rear-engine, streamlined saloon produced from 1936 to 1950. Designed by Hans Ledwinka, Erich Ledwinka, and Erich Übelacker. Based on Paul Jaray’s aerodynamic proposals.
Tesla Cybertruck
Franz von Holzhausen · 2019
The Tesla Cybertruck is a battery-electric full-size pickup truck designed by Franz von Holzhausen and unveiled as a prototype in November 2019. Its flat, unpainted stainless steel body panels form sharp angles reminiscent of low-polygon computer models. During its 2019 unveiling, Elon Musk struck its side with a sledgehammer—and it dented. It entered limited production at Gigafactory Texas in 2023, with customer deliveries beginning in November 2023. As of 2026, two variants are available: a tri-motor AWD 'Cyberbeast' and a dual-motor AWD model.
Tesla Model 3
Franz von Holzhausen · 2017
The Tesla Model 3 is a battery electric mid-size sedan with a fastback body style introduced in 2017. Franz von Holzhausen led its design. It was marketed as a more affordable, mass-market family car relative to earlier Tesla models. It became the world’s top-selling plug-in electric car from 2018–2020 and the first electric car to reach 1 million global sales in June 2021. It features a five-passenger capacity, front and rear trunks, EPA-rated range of 215 miles for the Standard Range version, sports-car acceleration, and a drag coefficient of Cd=0.225 (later improved to 0.219). A major design refresh — codenamed 'Project Highland' — was introduced in late 2023/early 2024, bringing revised styling, improved range, new hardware (including HW4), and structural changes. The car was designed under Franz von Holzhausen and described as targeting the Audi A4/BMW 3 Series/Mercedes-Benz C-Class segment.
Tesla Model S
Franz von Holzhausen · 2012
The Tesla Model S (2012) is a battery-electric, four-door full-size sedan — Tesla’s second vehicle — designed by Franz von Holzhausen and produced from 2012 to 2026. It established electric propulsion as viable for mainstream saloons, winning Motor Trend Car of the Year in 2013.
Mini
Alec Issigonis · 1959
The Mini is a two-door, four-seat saloon designed by Sir Alec Issigonis for BMC in response to the 1956 Suez Crisis fuel shortage. Its front-wheel-drive, transverse-engine layout with sump gearbox and 10-inch wheels maximised interior space, delivering 80% of the floorpan to passengers and luggage. It used Alex Moulton’s rubber cone suspension — a time-driven compromise that sharpened road feedback. It influenced Honda N360, Nissan Cherry, and Fiat 127. It was voted second-most influential car of the 20th century in 1999. It remained in production from 1959 to 2000, selling 5.3 million units — the best-selling British car in history.
Toyota 2000GT
Satoru Nozaki · 1967
The Toyota 2000GT is a landmark Japanese sports car: a limited-production, front mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive fastback coupé developed by Toyota with Yamaha, launched in 1965 and built from 1967 to 1970. It featured a 2.0 L straight-6 engine, re-engineered by Yamaha for performance, and was hailed internationally as a world-class GT—shifting global perception of Japanese automotive capability. Its legacy includes racing success, cultural prominence (notably in You Only Live Twice), and status as the first seriously collectible Japanese car.
Toyota Celica
Toyota Design · 1970
The Toyota Celica (1970) is a rear-wheel-drive coupe built on the Toyota Carina’s platform. It uses four-cylinder R-series engines in early North American models. Toyota coined 'liftback' in 1973 for its fastback hatchback. It was exclusive to Japan’s Toyota Corolla Store chain. Drive layout switched to front-wheel drive in August 1985.
Toyota GR Yaris
Toyota Gazoo Racing · 2020
The GR Yaris is a rally-homologated, three-door hatchback built by hand at Toyota’s GR Factory in Motomachi since September 2020. It uses a bespoke 1.6L turbo three-cylinder engine and was produced in volumes exceeding WRC requirements. It is sold globally except in North America.
Toyota Sports 800
Shozo Sato · 1965
Toyota Sports 800 (1965) — A lightweight, targa-top roadster built around an air-cooled 800 cc boxer engine. Designed for agility and aerodynamic efficiency, not speed or comfort. Sold exclusively in Japan via Toyota Publica Stores. Production: 1965–1969. Units built: ~3,131.
Tucker 48
Alex Tremulis · 1948
The Tucker 48 is a saloon defined by unmet promise and tangible innovation. It established safety and driver-centred layout as non-negotiables—before Detroit accepted them. It failed to deliver its own engine or prove its systems in volume. Its legacy is procedural, not mechanical.
Vector W8
Gerald Wiegert · 1989
The Vector W8 is a 1989–1993 American supercar built by Vector Aeromotive Corporation. Designed by Jerry Wiegert and refined by David Kostka, it evolved from the W2 prototype shown publicly in 1976. Inspired by the Alfa Romeo Carabo and fighter jets, it used aerospace materials and ‘Aeromotive Engineering’. It passed DOT crash and emissions tests before production. Conceived as America’s answer to Ferrari, Lamborghini, and Porsche, it remains a singular demonstration of ambition over execution.
VinFast VF 8
Pininfarina · 2022
The VinFast VF 8 is a battery electric mid-size SUV styled by Pininfarina and launched by VinFast in 2022. It features dual-motor all-wheel drive, round proportions, chrome ornamentation, and a double-strip headlamp layout. Its dashboard uses a two-colour aesthetic with physical driving mode switches and a large multimedia touchscreen. Early reception highlighted poor build quality, ride, handling, braking, and driver assistance systems — alongside praise for infotainment, warranty, and range.
Volkswagen Beetle
Ferdinand Porsche · 1938
The Volkswagen Beetle is the Volkswagen Type 1. It was conceived in the early 1930s under Adolf Hitler’s directive for a 'people’s car' to serve Germany’s Reichsautobahn. Ferdinand Porsche’s team developed it from 1934, building two prototypes in 1935. Production began in 1938 but was delayed until 1945 by World War II.
Volkswagen Corrado
Herbert Schäfer · 1988
The Corrado is a front-wheel-drive sport compact coupé designed by Herbert Schäfer and built by Karmann in Osnabrück from 1988 to 1995. It uses the Volkswagen Group A2 platform—the same as the Golf Mk2—with flush-mounted windows and an active rear spoiler that deploys above 100 km/h. It seats four in a 2+2 layout and is a three-door liftback. 97,521 units were produced.
Volkswagen Golf Mk2
Herbert Schäfer · 1983
The Volkswagen Golf Mk2 is the second-generation hatchback successor to the Mk1, launched in Europe in September 1983, Britain in March 1984, and the US as a 1985 model. It was Volkswagen’s highest-volume seller from 1983, with German production ending in late 1992 and approximately 6.3 million units built. It was offered as a 3- and 5-door hatchback, with inline-four petrol and diesel engines ranging from 1.05 L to 1.8 L.
Volkswagen Karmann Ghia
Luigi Segre · 1955
The Karmann Ghia is a stylistic intervention on Volkswagen’s existing platforms — not an engineering evolution. Its value lies in how cleanly it reimagined utilitarian packaging as elegant form. It succeeded commercially because it offered visual distinction without demanding mechanical compromise. It is worth knowing about as a case study in automotive branding before branding existed.
Volkswagen New Beetle
J Mays · 1997
The New Beetle is a compact, front-engine, front-wheel-drive car introduced in 1998, inspired by the exterior design of the original Beetle. It was assembled in VW's Puebla factory in Mexico. It received a facelift in 2005 and remained in production until 2011. The New Beetle carries many design similarities with the original VW Beetle: separate fenders, vestigial running boards, sloping headlamps, and large round taillights, as well as a high rounded roofline. Unlike the original Beetle, the New Beetle has its engine in the front driving the front wheels, with luggage storage in the rear. The New Beetle achieved five stars in the 2011 Euro NCAP tests. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) gave the New Beetle a Good overall score in their frontal crash test. However, the IIHS rated the Beetle Poor in their side impact test.
Volkswagen Type 2
Ben Pon concept · 1950
The Volkswagen Type 2 is a forward-control light commercial vehicle introduced in 1950. It was Volkswagen's second mass-production light motor vehicle series, inspired by Dutch importer Ben Pon. Pon conceived the design after seeing a Type 1-based Plattenwagen in Wolfsburg in 1946 and sketched it on 23 April 1947, specifying a 690 kg payload and front-placed driver. Production began in 1950, delayed only because the factory was at capacity building the Type 1. For its first 40 years, all variants used a forward-control layout with a rear-mounted flat-four engine and shared the Beetle’s wheelbase.
Volvo 262C
Jan Wilsgaard · 1977
The Volvo 262C is a luxury coupé made by Volvo from 1977 (as a 1978 model) until 1981. Designed in-house by Jan Wilsgaard. Built by Bertone in Turin, Italy. Based on the 264 six-cylinder saloon.
Volvo P1800
Pelle Petterson · 1961
The Volvo P1800 is a 2+2, front-engine, rear-drive touring car introduced in 1961. Styled by Pelle Petterson under Pietro Frua, it was marketed as a touring car—not a sports car—despite later being called one. It sold 47,492 units between 1961 and 1973, offered first as a coupé and later as a shooting brake. Its mechanicals came from the Amazon/122 series. Volvo denied Petterson’s authorship until 2009. An 1800S owned by Irv Gordon reached 3.25 million miles. The project began in 1957 to replace the failed P1900 and target US and European markets.
Aston Martin Bulldog
William Towns · 1979
A one-off 1979 concept built to show off Newport Pagnell—and chase a title it never claimed.
Chrysler Turbine Car
Elwood Engel · 1950
The Chrysler Turbine Car was an experimental two-door hardtop coupe designed by Elwood Engel and built by Chrysler with bodywork by Carrozzeria Ghia. It used the A-831 turbine engine, was produced in 55 units between 1963 and 1964, and featured power brakes, power steering, and a TorqueFlite transmission. All were finished in 'turbine bronze' paint.
Ford RS200
Ghia · 1984
The Ford RS200 is a purpose-built homologation special: mid-engined, all-wheel drive, plastic-fiberglass body by Ghia, built by Reliant in Shenstone to meet FIA Group B’s 200-unit rule. It exists only to enable a rally car—not as a design statement, luxury product, or road-going evolution.
General Motors Firebird
Harley Earl · 1953
The Firebird I is a 1953 GM concept car designed by Harley Earl. It was the first gas turbine-powered car tested in the United States. It features a single-seat cockpit under a bubble canopy, a bullet-shaped fiberglass fuselage, short wings, and a vertical tail fin. It was built for the 1953 Motorama show. GM never intended it for production.
Honda CR-X
Honda · 1983
The Honda CR-X (1983) redefined what a compact front-wheel-drive car could do — not by adding power or luxury, but by removing mass and complication. It was never a sports car in form or intent. It was a Civic sharpened for feedback, visibility, and agility. Its global variations — two-seat in North America, 2+2 elsewhere — show Honda’s willingness to tailor packaging without fragmenting engineering. It changed expectations for economy cars: they could be fun to drive, not just efficient to own.
Koenigsegg CC8S
Christian von Koenigsegg · 2002
The CC8S is the first production car from Koenigsegg Automotive. It is a mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive targa top sports car built from 2002 to 2004 in six units. It introduced the dihedral synchro-helix doors and front-trunk roof stowage. It won the Guinness World Record for Most Powerful Production Engine and design awards from Red Dot and Utmärkt Svensk Form. It was developed from the CC prototype after eight years of research and development beginning in 1994. Chassis, suspension, brakes and other components were designed in-house. The pre-production car debuted at the 2000 Paris Auto Show. Its unique features include the front-trunk roof storage (unlike the Ferrari F50), the dihedral synchro-helix doors, and a central free-flowing exhaust based on the 'Rocket Cat Principle'. Christian von Koenigsegg and David Crafoord co-created the design concept.
Lucid Air
Derek Jenkins · 2021
The Lucid Air is a battery electric four-door luxury sedan, Lucid Motors' first production car, announced in December 2016 and launched in 2021. It highlights its record-setting EPA range (up to 520 miles for the Dream Edition), aerodynamic efficiency (Cd=0.21 pre-production, Cd=0.20 production), performance capabilities (e.g., 0–60 mph in 2.5 seconds, 235 mph top speed), and technical features including its 924-volt architecture, bidirectional charging, and DreamDrive ADAS with 32 sensors. The Air Pure, Touring, Grand Touring, and Dream Edition trims are detailed, along with battery capacities (88–112 kWh), power outputs (430–1,111 hp), and production milestones including commencement in late 2021 and deliveries beginning October 30, 2021. Design leadership is attributed to Derek Jenkins, and the vehicle is positioned against the Tesla Model S and German luxury models.
Mitsubishi Galant VR-4
Mitsubishi · 1987
The Galant VR-4 is Mitsubishi’s first high-performance all-wheel-drive sedan, developed for Group A rallying and launched in 1987. It introduced the Dynamic Four AWC system — a full-time four-wheel drive setup with viscous coupling, plus four-wheel steering and four-wheel ABS. It was sold globally to meet homologation requirements, including 2,000 units in the US in 1991 and 1,000 in 1992. Later generations added liftback (Eterna ZR-4) and station wagon (Legnum) variants. The eighth generation was initially JDM-only but gained overseas cult status via grey imports. In 2000, Ralliart officially imported 200 units to the UK. Production ended in 2002 due to revised Japanese emissions standards.
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution
Mitsubishi · 1999
The Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution is a rally-bred sports sedan built on the Lancer platform. Ten generations were produced from 1992 to 2016. All used a two-litre intercooled turbo inline-four engine and all-wheel drive. It launched in Japan only, then reached the UK and Europe around 1997 via Ralliart dealers—starting with the Evolution IV.
Nissan 180SX
Nissan · 1989
The Nissan 180SX is a Japanese-market fastback built from 1988 to 1998 on the S13 platform. It featured pop-up headlights and a liftgate. It launched in March 1989 and was sold exclusively through Nissan Prince Stores alongside the Skyline and Silvia. It used the CA18DET turbo engine initially, then upgraded to the SR20DET in 1991 and added the SR20DE in 1996.
Plymouth Superbird
Chrysler Engineering · 1970
The Plymouth Superbird is a 1970-only, NASCAR-focused, aerodynamically enhanced variant of the Plymouth Road Runner, developed as Plymouth's response to the 1969 Dodge Charger Daytona and designed to lure Richard Petty back from Ford; it featured a distinctive nosecone, high rear wing, and 'beep, beep' horn, with three engine options — most notably the rare 426 Hemi — and was built in limited numbers (around 1,935 units) to meet NASCAR homologation rules.
Proton Saga
Mitsubishi · 1985
The Proton Saga is a foundational Malaysian car—not a technical benchmark, but a political and industrial one.
Renault Clio V6 RS
Renault Sport · 2001
The Renault Clio V6 RS is a radical departure from the hot hatch formula: mid-engined, rear-wheel drive, hand-built, and deliberately impractical. It exists as a mechanical argument—against front-drive orthodoxy, against shared-platform economics, against the idea that a ‘hatch’ must behave like one. Its legacy is not volume or versatility, but velocity of idea.
Saleen S7
Phil Frank · 2000
The Saleen S7 is an American hand-built, high-performance sports car. It debuted on August 19, 2000, at the Monterey Historic Races. It was the first fully proprietary car produced by Saleen. Phil Frank contributed the body and interior CAD design and development. Its all-aluminium engine is a bored-and-stroked derivative of Ford's 351 Windsor small block with Cleveland-style canted valve heads. It is not based on the FE big-block. It produces 550 hp (410 kW) at 6,400 rpm.
Volkswagen W12
Giorgetto Giugiaro · 1997
The Volkswagen W12 was a series of five mid-engined concept cars developed by Volkswagen Passenger Cars between 1997 and 2001 in collaboration with Italdesign and Giorgetto Giugiaro, featuring a 5.6 L W12 engine and designed to showcase Volkswagen Group's supercar and high-performance engine capabilities; variants included the W12 Syncro Coupé (AWD), W12 Roadster (RWD), and W12 Nardò Coupé/Record Car (high-speed variant), with the latter setting a 24-hour endurance speed record at the Nardò Ring in 2002.
Alfa Romeo Carabo
Marcello Gandini · 1950
The Alfa Romeo Carabo is a 1968 concept car designed by Marcello Gandini at Bertone. It debuted at the 1968 Paris Motor Show. It used the chassis of an Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale with a mid-mounted 2.0 L V8 engine and 6-speed Colotti manual transmission. It featured scissor doors — the first known use — and iridescent green-orange colouring inspired by Carabidae beetles. Built in ten weeks using fiberglass, it was never intended for production but was fully functional. It helped establish the wedge shape trend in 1970s supercars and concept cars. Gandini’s design philosophy prioritised vehicle architecture and mechanics over styling.
Alfa Romeo Tonale
Alfa Romeo Centro Stile · 2022
The Alfa Romeo Tonale is a compact luxury crossover SUV launched in February 2022. It is Alfa Romeo’s first hybrid vehicle and first new model in six years. It sits between the Junior and Stelvio in the SUV lineup. It uses a modified SCCS platform shared with the Jeep Compass. It offers mild-hybrid and plug-in hybrid variants, the latter with a 15.5 kWh battery and 48 km electric range. It was delayed from 2021 to 2022 due to semiconductor shortages and drivetrain requirements. A rebadged version, the Dodge Hornet, launched in North America in August 2022.
Alfa Romeo Alfasud
Giorgetto Giugiaro · 1971
The Alfasud was Alfa Romeo’s first front-wheel-drive, boxer-engined, mass-market car — conceived in Turin, built in Pomigliano d’Arco, styled by Giugiaro, engineered by Hruska. It prioritised low centre of gravity and aerodynamic efficiency over corrosion resistance. Its legacy is mechanical clarity, not durability.
Alpine A110 (2017)
Antony Villain · 2017
The Alpine A110 (2017) is a rear mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive sports car built on an all-aluminium chassis and powered by a Nissan-derived 1.8-litre turbocharged inline-four engine. It debuted at the 2017 Geneva Motor Show. Production ended in June 2026.
Alpine A310
Michel Beligond · 1971
The Alpine A310 is a French sports car, launched in 1971 as Jean Rédélé’s final Alpine model. It debuted at the 1971 Geneva Motor Show. It used a tubular steel backbone chassis and a one-piece fiberglass body. Its engine was mounted longitudinally in the rear and drove the rear wheels via a five-speed manual gearbox. The driving position was low and sporty, with footwells angled toward the car’s centre.
Renault Alpine GTA/A610
Heuliez · 1984
The Renault Alpine GTA is a rear-engined sports coupé launched in 1985 by Alpine under full Renault ownership. It replaced the A310, sharing its layout and V6 PRV engine. Marketed as the Alpine V6 GT or V6 Turbo in Europe—and as the Renault GTA in Britain—it featured aerodynamic design (Cx 0.28–0.30), lightweight composite body panels, and a steel backbone chassis. Production spanned 1984–1995, totalling ~7,300 units across both GTA and A610 models.
Aston Martin V8 Vantage (1977)
William Towns · 1977
The Aston Martin V8 Vantage (1977) is a British grand tourer and high-performance variant of the Aston Martin V8. It was launched as 'Britain's First Supercar', citing 170 mph top speed and 0–60 mph in 5.3 seconds. Its engine shares architecture with the Lagonda but adds high-performance camshafts, increased compression, larger inlet valves, and bigger Weber carburettors. Early models produced 380 bhp. William Towns did not design it — he left Aston Martin in 1977.
Audi A2
Luc Donckerwolke · 1999
The Audi A2 is a compact MPV-styled supermini produced by Audi from November 1999 to August 2005. Luc Donckerwolke designed both its 1997 Al2 concept and production form. It uses aluminium spaceframe construction, resulting in an average weight of 830 kg and class-leading efficiency — including the 3L diesel variant, Europe’s first five-door under-3 L/100 km. Built on a dedicated aluminium line in Neckarsulm, it featured advanced aerodynamics (Cd 0.25–0.29), a service hatch, and start-stop. Despite innovation and praise for design, it incurred €7,530 loss per unit and sold only 176,377 examples before discontinuation.
Audi e-tron GT
Marc Lichte · 2021
The Audi e-tron GT is a battery electric executive car produced by Audi since late 2020. It is Audi’s first full-sized electric sedan. It is based on the J1 platform shared with the Porsche Taycan. The production car extensively recreates the 2018 concept design. It is a 4-door sedan with a sporty coupé-style silhouette. Its driveline uses an 84 kWh net battery and two electric motors for all-wheel drive. It accelerates from 0–100 km/h in 4.1 seconds and has a top speed of 245 km/h.
Audi R8
Walter de Silva · 2006
The Audi R8 is a mid-engine, two-seater sports car with quattro all-wheel drive. Introduced by Audi AG in 2006, it was built exclusively by Audi Sport GmbH at Neckarsulm, Germany, using an aluminium monocoque based on the Audi Space Frame. At launch, it was the first production car with full-LED headlamps.
Pininfarina Battista
Pininfarina · 2022
The Pininfarina Battista is not a revival—it is a declaration. It replaces combustion with four wheel-mounted motors. It replaces tradition with a carbon monocoque built for mass reduction. It replaces volume with 150 units. It is the first Pininfarina-branded car. And it arrives not as a concept, but as a production machine built in Cambiano.
Bentley Continental GT
Dirk van Braeckel · 2003
The 2003 Bentley Continental GT is a grand touring car. It launched after Volkswagen AG acquired Bentley in 1998. It was the first Bentley built using mass production techniques. It uses a 6.0 litre twin-turbocharged W12 engine and Torsen-based permanent four-wheel drive. The coupé has no B-pillar and fixed front quarter glass. Dirk van Braeckel designed it to outsell the Arnage. It sold 5,983 units in 2004 — 62% above forecast.
BMW 8 Series (E31)
Klaus Kapitza · 1989
The BMW 8 Series (E31) is a two-door grand tourer built by BMW from 1990 to 1999. It uses a front-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout. It is powered by either a V8 or V12 engine. Development began in July 1981 and concluded in 1986. It debuted at the Frankfurt Motor Show in early September 1989. BMW used CAD tools to design its all-new body. Its drag coefficient is Cd=0.29. It replaced the E24 6 Series but was not a direct successor. Total production was 30,609 units.
BMW i3 (hatchback)
Richard Kim · 2013
The BMW i3 (hatchback) is BMW’s first mass-produced zero-emissions vehicle. Styled by Richard Kim, it uses a carbon-fibre reinforced polymer passenger module on an aluminium chassis. It is rear-wheel drive. It has four doors, including rear clamshell doors. It debuted as a concept in 2011 and entered production in 2013. It was the first mass production car with most of its internal structure and body made of carbon-fibre reinforced plastic. It won the 2014 World Green Car and World Car Design of the Year awards.
BMW Vision Neue Klasse
Domagoj Dukec · 2023
The BMW Vision Neue Klasse is an electric concept car unveiled at IAA Mobility 2023. It previews next-generation BMW design. Its linear body features a tilted-forward 'shark nose', 21-inch aerodynamic wheels, and sensor-activated doors. Headlights integrate into the kidney grille. Taillights use 3D-printed light elements. The interior omits chrome and leather, includes BMW Panoramic Vision on the windshield, a square center display, and operable steering wheel controls. It uses the sixth-generation eDrive system and a newly developed cylindrical-cell battery — improving charging efficiency and driving range by up to 30% each.
Bugatti Chiron
Achim Anscheidt · 2016
The Bugatti Chiron is a mid-engine, two-seater sports car designed and developed in Germany. It was manufactured in Molsheim, France. It succeeded the Veyron. It debuted at the 2016 Geneva Motor Show. Its design was previewed with the Vision Gran Turismo concept. It is named after Louis Chiron. It uses a heavily updated 8.0 L quad-turbocharged W16 engine producing 1,103 kW and 1,600 N⋅m. It has a carbon fibre body, independent suspension, and Haldex all-wheel drive.
Bugatti Royale
Ettore Bugatti · 1927
The Bugatti Royale is a large luxury automobile built by Bugatti from 1927 to 1933. Ettore Bugatti conceived it as a royal conveyance. It has a straight-eight engine derived from an unrealised French Air Ministry aero design.
Buick Y-Job
Harley Earl · 1950
The Buick Y-Job is the first concept car — a 1938 Buick convertible built to test design ideas, not sell units. Designed by Harley Earl, it used a Buick Super chassis and featured power-operated hidden headlamps, electric windows, and styling cues that defined Buick for decades. It became Earl’s daily driver after public debut. It changed how mass manufacturers develop cars: by treating design as a public-facing experiment.
Cadillac Seville
Bill Mitchell team · 1975
The Cadillac Seville redefined American luxury scale and electronics. It was not a sports sedan. It was not a technology showcase for its own sake. It was a calibrated response: smaller, smarter, and feature-dense — built to hold ground against Europe, not chase it.
Cadillac Sixteen
Brian Smith · 2005
The Cadillac Sixteen is a 2003 concept car. It has a proprietary 13.6 L V16 engine. It uses a four-speed automatic transmission driving the rear wheels. It references the 1930s Cadillac V-16. It weighs about 5,005 lb. It influenced later models including the Celestiq.
Chevrolet Bel Air
Harley Earl team · 1955
The 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air is a full-size car. It began as a two-door hardtop designation in 1950. It is named after the Bel Air neighbourhood in Los Angeles. From 1953, it became a premium trim level across body styles. By 1975, it had become a budget fleet sedan in the US. Canadian production continued through 1981. First-year production was 76,662 units.
Chevrolet Camaro (first generation)
Henry Haga · 1967
The first-generation Chevrolet Camaro is a 1967–1969 American pony car built on a new rear-wheel-drive GM F-body platform. It shares that platform with the Pontiac Firebird. Its standard engine is a 230 cu in straight-6 producing 140 hp and 220 lb⋅ft torque, paired to a 3-speed manual. Most units were assembled in Norwood, Ohio and Van Nuys, California — with local assembly also in the Philippines, Belgium, Switzerland, Venezuela, and Peru.
Chevrolet Corvette (C4)
Jerry Palmer · 1984
The C4 redefined the Corvette as a structurally coherent, driver-focused machine—not through power, but through chassis discipline. Its legacy rests on endurance records, not lap times. Its sole 1983 survivor is a museum artifact, not a driver’s car. It is the first Corvette that feels engineered, not assembled.
Chevrolet Corvette (C5)
John Cafaro · 1997
The Chevrolet Corvette (C5) is the fifth-generation Corvette sports car, produced from 1997 to 2004. It introduced a hydroformed box frame, rear-mounted transaxle, and the all-aluminium LS1 engine — the first GM vehicle with third-generation LS engines. It was the last Corvette with pop-up headlights. The Z06 variant launched in 2001. The C5-R racing variant won the 24 Hours of Daytona and 24 Hours of Le Mans in the GTS/GT1 class.
Citroën C4 Cactus
Mark Lloyd · 2014
The Citroën C4 Cactus is a subcompact crossover SUV built in Spain from 2014 to 2020. Its AirBump panels solve real parking damage. It launched at Geneva 2014 after a Frankfurt 2013 concept. It offers five-door practicality with 1.2 L petrol or 1.6 L diesel engines. An estate version was cancelled. It is not off-road, not electric, not performance-oriented — but it is unmistakably itself.
Citroën C6
Jean-Pierre Ploué · 2005
The Citroën C6 is an executive saloon launched in November 2005. It was designed by Jean-Pierre Ploué’s team to replace the XM, six years after the XM ceased production in June 2000. It draws directly from the C6 Lignage concept shown at Geneva in spring 1999.
Citroën Méhari
Jean-Louis Barrault · 1968
The Citroën Méhari is a lightweight recreational and utility vehicle made by Citroën from 1968 to 1988. It was designed by Roland de la Poype. It used the Dyane 6 chassis and a 602 cc flat twin engine. It was named after a fast-running dromedary camel.
Cord 810/812
Gordon Buehrig · 1936
The Cord 810/812 is a 1936–1937 American luxury automobile designed by Gordon M. Buehrig for Cord Automobile, a division of Auburn Automobile Company. It pioneered front-wheel drive with independent front suspension in the US. It introduced hidden headlights and replaced the radiator grille with horizontal louvres — earning the 'coffin nose' nickname. Its semi-automatic transmission sat ahead of the engine, eliminating the driveshaft and transmission tunnel. It omitted running boards. Total production was 2,972 units. The Cord 812 was recognised for its originality by the Museum of Modern Art in 1951.
Czinger 21C
Dave O'Connell · 2021
The Czinger 21C is a 3D-printed, tandem-seat, rear-wheel-drive hybrid sports car with a central V8 and front electric motors. Eighty units will be built, beginning in 2021. It rethinks structural integration — fusing brake and suspension functions — but sacrifices cabin space, all-wheel capability, and service maturity.