21st century automotive icons...
Discussion
Tuvra said:
R53 / R56 Mini:
Also, original Focus & KA:
OP:
Agree with the Veyron & Phantom. None of the others though.
That's fair enough and I probably agree with you on the MINI but the mk1 Focus and Ka although modern and revolutionary were both late 90s designs. I think the mk3 Mondeo was the first millenial Ford(?) but hardly iconic. Also, original Focus & KA:
OP:
Agree with the Veyron & Phantom. None of the others though.
Edited by Tuvra on Thursday 4th February 15:11
This might work though!
Edited by white_goodman on Thursday 4th February 17:11
white_goodman said:
Jaguar F-Type
Is is a 21st century E-Type?
Dont think i've seen a 3/4 view of one of these in Silver. Looks absolutely sensational.Is is a 21st century E-Type?
Not sure about an icon but as a production car from birmingham.............they've come on a way since the austin princess. (Industrial area, not brand of manufacture, obviously!)
Might get a few eye rolls for this, but I think people will still be talking about and driving S2000s in 50 years. It was released for the 2000 model year (though production began in 1999) so it may not qualify. I'm not saying it's the most iconic car (I think the Veyron probably takes it) but I do think they are a car that will be remembered for many years.
Mk1 Exige was year 2000, though the original Elise is obviously more 'iconic' being more well known and sold in much higher quantities.
Glad to see the Vantage mentioned - truely gorgeous and about as timeless a design as you get these days (though i'm biased!).
Mk1 Focus RS was this century, right?
A big icon for me at least was the B5 RS4.
https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8573/16477697338_357...
Glad to see the Vantage mentioned - truely gorgeous and about as timeless a design as you get these days (though i'm biased!).
Mk1 Focus RS was this century, right?
A big icon for me at least was the B5 RS4.
https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8573/16477697338_357...
Edited by JS1500 on Thursday 4th February 18:44
As much as I hate to say it, I think the OP answered his own question with the first photo. The Bugatti Veyron is probably one of the few modern cars that even non petrolheads will have heard of and recognise, despite the fact that I hate almost everything it stands for (flashy, super fast car, mostly owned by people without the talent to drive them like they're meant to be)
However, personally I'd say the Ariel Atom... The first absolutely ballistic open top production car. They took a Caterham/motorbike combo and made a monster!
However, personally I'd say the Ariel Atom... The first absolutely ballistic open top production car. They took a Caterham/motorbike combo and made a monster!
I really hate it when cars are referred to as "icons". Performance Car magazine, then Evo adopted the term and flogged it to death, seemingly believing that rule-bound multitools were items to be worshipped.
A car is an object that serves many purposes, not just for the one outstanding statistic or quality. It is something that can be liked or loved but it is not something that can influence future generations because they're all bound by whatever regulations there are at the time.
A car is an object that serves many purposes, not just for the one outstanding statistic or quality. It is something that can be liked or loved but it is not something that can influence future generations because they're all bound by whatever regulations there are at the time.
I think those who have said Tesla and Prius have nailed it. I think if you asked someone with no particular interest in cars "what is a prius?", most people would know, just like most people knew what minis and land rovers were last century . Same with Tesla, though I suppose Tesla is a manufacturer, not a model of car so maybe that doesn't count, I don't think many non enthusiasts would know what a P90D was, even I had to just look it up.
Can't say I'm a fan of either of these. But as much as I love internal combustion and owning a piece of machinery rather than just a product, I also love having polar ice caps and a diverse range of fauna and flora. So maybe they aren't so bad, if the uninterested masses are happy to drive or be driven around in these, then we don't have to feel so bad about hooning around with 6, 8, 10 or 12 cylinders filling our ears with joy.
Other than that, maybe the Porsche Cayenne or BMW X5, as I think these show the shift in how car manufactures view themselves and their market in the 21st century, and I think the success of these two models has really shaped the car market we see today. So as much as we all hate them, I think they could be counted as automotive icons of the 21st century.
The only two cars that I think you could calls 'icons', that appeal to the likes of us, as others have said, are the Veyron and Nissan GTR. Regardless of what you think of them, you can't deny that in terms of mainstream manufactures, they are in Ultimate evolution of the 1st generation of motor car. Veyron for what it is; 8lt, quad turbo, W18, 1000+BHP, 1500NM, 260MPH, street legal, reliable production car. And the GTR for what it can do for the price. It brought supercar performance down to a (relatively) accessible price.
Can't say I'm a fan of either of these. But as much as I love internal combustion and owning a piece of machinery rather than just a product, I also love having polar ice caps and a diverse range of fauna and flora. So maybe they aren't so bad, if the uninterested masses are happy to drive or be driven around in these, then we don't have to feel so bad about hooning around with 6, 8, 10 or 12 cylinders filling our ears with joy.
Other than that, maybe the Porsche Cayenne or BMW X5, as I think these show the shift in how car manufactures view themselves and their market in the 21st century, and I think the success of these two models has really shaped the car market we see today. So as much as we all hate them, I think they could be counted as automotive icons of the 21st century.
The only two cars that I think you could calls 'icons', that appeal to the likes of us, as others have said, are the Veyron and Nissan GTR. Regardless of what you think of them, you can't deny that in terms of mainstream manufactures, they are in Ultimate evolution of the 1st generation of motor car. Veyron for what it is; 8lt, quad turbo, W18, 1000+BHP, 1500NM, 260MPH, street legal, reliable production car. And the GTR for what it can do for the price. It brought supercar performance down to a (relatively) accessible price.
Yup, definitely the Prius. None of the others will be widely recognised in 50 years, but there will be 70 year olds in 2066 reminiscing about the Prius and when Uber had drivers. An iconic car needs to be evocative of an era, and people will see pictures of the Prius and immediately think noughties.
Veyron, has to be
P1 LaFerrari and 918 will be legendary not just for what they are, but the fact they were at the same time. Sort of how the F40 and 959 are often mentioned together.
Tesla
Conti GT and Phantom marked the rebirth of the 2 brands with their own viable identities which i think is pretty special.
P1 LaFerrari and 918 will be legendary not just for what they are, but the fact they were at the same time. Sort of how the F40 and 959 are often mentioned together.
Tesla
Conti GT and Phantom marked the rebirth of the 2 brands with their own viable identities which i think is pretty special.
Porsche Cayanne - defines a genre (perhaps people from the UK will feel the Range Rover still rules that market, but in the 21st Century that market is global)
Veyron is definately an icon.
The TT and Prius are iconic, but a couple of years too early.
I'm struggling to think what will become iconic other than the likes of Tesla. I'd imagine the P1, 918, LaF will be icons of the twenty teens (the way the F40 and 959 are icons of the 80s, but not the 20th century).
Veyron is definately an icon.
The TT and Prius are iconic, but a couple of years too early.
I'm struggling to think what will become iconic other than the likes of Tesla. I'd imagine the P1, 918, LaF will be icons of the twenty teens (the way the F40 and 959 are icons of the 80s, but not the 20th century).
Icon? It means different things to different people.
To me, its something that, when you see it, you instantly know what it is.
For example, a VW Beetle is an iconic car. Do I want one? Hell no. About as much as I'd want leprosy.
Theres a bunch I'd rule OUT:
Porsche 911s - they all look the same, and for the last 1000 years or so.
Aston anything - again, they all look the same
Et al.
Funnily enough, movie culture has probably done more to enhance "iconic" status. Think all the popular car movies, and what cars have come out of them (Even the Herbie / Beetle got a shout there).
Who can forget the General Lee in Dukes of Hazzard? Whats the equivalent this century? The Fast and Furious franchise?
To me, its something that, when you see it, you instantly know what it is.
For example, a VW Beetle is an iconic car. Do I want one? Hell no. About as much as I'd want leprosy.
Theres a bunch I'd rule OUT:
Porsche 911s - they all look the same, and for the last 1000 years or so.
Aston anything - again, they all look the same
Et al.
Funnily enough, movie culture has probably done more to enhance "iconic" status. Think all the popular car movies, and what cars have come out of them (Even the Herbie / Beetle got a shout there).
Who can forget the General Lee in Dukes of Hazzard? Whats the equivalent this century? The Fast and Furious franchise?
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