What are the "coolest" cars of the 21st century?
Discussion
Very easy to come up with a long list of cool cars from the last century, lots of "firsts"/trailblazers from the 60s and 70s and even 80s and 90s but harder to think of genuinely cool cars from this century (post-2000). Nevertheless, they do exist. Let's say a maximum of 10 cars and in the interest of balance, not more than one car from any single manufacturer. Also give a brief reason why. Here's my two pence worth.
1) I'm going to kick off with the mk1 Focus RS - the standard car was already a revolutionary one for Ford and this one brought back the RS badge after a (6 year?) hiatus. It may have not shared much with the rally car and the 2nd gen car (with the 5 cylinder engine) may have been better technically but it really looked the part and raised the temperature in the hot hatch sector.
2) Nissan 350Z - another comeback of an iconic badge with a long heritage, looked the part in burnt orange with those really deeply dished alloy wheels and a bit of a performance bargain. One of the nicer V6s and usefully cheaper and more reliable than a Porsche Boxster too.
3) McLaren Mercedes-Benz SLR - there has to be something in here with either the 5.5 supercharged or 6.2 NA V8 AMG Mercedes engine (CLK Black Series and SLS were also in with a shot) but surely it has to be the outlandish SLR with those side exit exhausts, air brake, raucous soundtrack and built by McLaren in Woking rather than Mercedes in Stuttgart?
4) Porsche Carrera GT - it's not often that I would pick a Porsche supercar over the equivalent Ferrari/McLaren but in this case, I make an exception. Surely that V10 is one of the greats and its "widowmaker" reputation lends it some notoriety.
5) Audi R8 mk1 - I'm not sure if we were expecting a car like this from Audi at the time, 911 money but more exotic with arguably a better engine, more power than a Ferrari 360 (V8) and more power than a Ferrari 430 (V10) and Iron Man drove one.
6) Aston Martin V12 Vantage - one of the best-looking cars of all time (let alone this century) combined with the spine-tingling V12 soundtrack in Aston Martin's smallest car made this quite the hot rod.
7) BMW 1M - the last of the "skunkworks" BMW M cars but also the first to be turbocharged but still with the legendary straight six engine in relatively small numbers makes this one of the coolest BMW M cars ever for me (but an almost shout out to the E60 M5 with that insane NA V10).
8) Ferrari FF/GTC4 Lusso - far from the best-looking Ferrari but Ferrari certainly broke the mould with this quirky AWD 3 door "shooting brake" and surely that NA Ferrari V12 is one of the all time greats? Much cooler than the Purosandwich which replaced it.
9) Jaguar F-Type SVR - the pre-facelift F-type works better for me and I really thought that Jag was back with this car, very good-looking and with that fantastic 5 litre supercharged V8.
10) Renault 5 e-tech - I'm a bit of an EV sceptic but I think this is possibly the first EV to transcend its powertrain ie usually you have to want an EV to buy one but these look so striking and cool that even people that are a little sceptical of EVs want one.
A few that are up there but just miss the cut for me are the Alfa Romeo 8C, Alpine A110, Lexus LC500, 2018 Suzuki Jimny, Vauxhall VX220 Turbo and original (R53) MINI Cooper S, as BMW could have really messed up the new MINI (like VW did with the "new Beetle") but managed to create a desirable product that wasn't cynical and that everyone wanted.
I also think that the 2nd generation Dacia Duster is really cool at the moment and I really want one but I think that's just me!
1) I'm going to kick off with the mk1 Focus RS - the standard car was already a revolutionary one for Ford and this one brought back the RS badge after a (6 year?) hiatus. It may have not shared much with the rally car and the 2nd gen car (with the 5 cylinder engine) may have been better technically but it really looked the part and raised the temperature in the hot hatch sector.
2) Nissan 350Z - another comeback of an iconic badge with a long heritage, looked the part in burnt orange with those really deeply dished alloy wheels and a bit of a performance bargain. One of the nicer V6s and usefully cheaper and more reliable than a Porsche Boxster too.
3) McLaren Mercedes-Benz SLR - there has to be something in here with either the 5.5 supercharged or 6.2 NA V8 AMG Mercedes engine (CLK Black Series and SLS were also in with a shot) but surely it has to be the outlandish SLR with those side exit exhausts, air brake, raucous soundtrack and built by McLaren in Woking rather than Mercedes in Stuttgart?
4) Porsche Carrera GT - it's not often that I would pick a Porsche supercar over the equivalent Ferrari/McLaren but in this case, I make an exception. Surely that V10 is one of the greats and its "widowmaker" reputation lends it some notoriety.
5) Audi R8 mk1 - I'm not sure if we were expecting a car like this from Audi at the time, 911 money but more exotic with arguably a better engine, more power than a Ferrari 360 (V8) and more power than a Ferrari 430 (V10) and Iron Man drove one.
6) Aston Martin V12 Vantage - one of the best-looking cars of all time (let alone this century) combined with the spine-tingling V12 soundtrack in Aston Martin's smallest car made this quite the hot rod.
7) BMW 1M - the last of the "skunkworks" BMW M cars but also the first to be turbocharged but still with the legendary straight six engine in relatively small numbers makes this one of the coolest BMW M cars ever for me (but an almost shout out to the E60 M5 with that insane NA V10).
8) Ferrari FF/GTC4 Lusso - far from the best-looking Ferrari but Ferrari certainly broke the mould with this quirky AWD 3 door "shooting brake" and surely that NA Ferrari V12 is one of the all time greats? Much cooler than the Purosandwich which replaced it.
9) Jaguar F-Type SVR - the pre-facelift F-type works better for me and I really thought that Jag was back with this car, very good-looking and with that fantastic 5 litre supercharged V8.
10) Renault 5 e-tech - I'm a bit of an EV sceptic but I think this is possibly the first EV to transcend its powertrain ie usually you have to want an EV to buy one but these look so striking and cool that even people that are a little sceptical of EVs want one.
A few that are up there but just miss the cut for me are the Alfa Romeo 8C, Alpine A110, Lexus LC500, 2018 Suzuki Jimny, Vauxhall VX220 Turbo and original (R53) MINI Cooper S, as BMW could have really messed up the new MINI (like VW did with the "new Beetle") but managed to create a desirable product that wasn't cynical and that everyone wanted.
I also think that the 2nd generation Dacia Duster is really cool at the moment and I really want one but I think that's just me!
Edited by white_goodman on Thursday 26th March 16:27
I don't think a 'cool' car necessarily needs to be trailblazing, popular or even 'good'.
The Renault Avantime is a very cool car but I don't think it was actually that good, certainly wasn't popular. The BMW Z8 is another contender and it certainly wasn't met with universal praise.
Out of your list, I'm not sure that the Focus RS or 350z are particularly cool. Good cars, yes, but I don't think you'd particularly impress any non-car people if you showed up in one.
The Renault Avantime is a very cool car but I don't think it was actually that good, certainly wasn't popular. The BMW Z8 is another contender and it certainly wasn't met with universal praise.
Out of your list, I'm not sure that the Focus RS or 350z are particularly cool. Good cars, yes, but I don't think you'd particularly impress any non-car people if you showed up in one.
white_goodman said:
10) Renault 5 e-tech - I'm a bit of an EV sceptic but I think this is possibly the first EV to transcend its powertrain ie usually you have to want an EV to buy one but these look so striking and cool that even people that are a little sceptical of EVs want one.
[/footnote]
That's actually the first car I thought of when I saw the thread title. I think they're a very cool little car and seem to be almost universally liked.[/footnote]
Quhet said:
I don't think a 'cool' car necessarily needs to be trailblazing, popular or even 'good'.
The Renault Avantime is a very cool car but I don't think it was actually that good, certainly wasn't popular. The BMW Z8 is another contender and it certainly wasn't met with universal praise.
Out of your list, I'm not sure that the Focus RS or 350z are particularly cool. Good cars, yes, but I don't think you'd particularly impress any non-car people if you showed up in one.
Absolutely, "good" doesn't necessarily come into it but I think different or didtinctive in some way. I would actually agree with you on the Avantime.The Renault Avantime is a very cool car but I don't think it was actually that good, certainly wasn't popular. The BMW Z8 is another contender and it certainly wasn't met with universal praise.
Out of your list, I'm not sure that the Focus RS or 350z are particularly cool. Good cars, yes, but I don't think you'd particularly impress any non-car people if you showed up in one.
Z8 was just the wrong side of the millenium IIRC? TWINE in which the car featured was 1999 and I recall most were on a V plate. Cool car though, unlike an SL of the same vintage, which is a nice car but not really cool.
I was gonna say Renault 5 too. It's one of the few reincarnations that have got the dimensions right. Plus there's the Alpine version.
Yes it's E. But it looks pretty damned good.
Look at Capri, Mustang and Puma to see when it's just a regurgitated name.
Real PH answer though would be Aerial Nomad. It's pretty damned cool too. If not a little less obtainable.
Yes it's E. But it looks pretty damned good.
Look at Capri, Mustang and Puma to see when it's just a regurgitated name.
Real PH answer though would be Aerial Nomad. It's pretty damned cool too. If not a little less obtainable.
Agree with loads already suggested. When reflecting on it, there has been loads of cool cars made in the past quarter of a century.
In addition to the Dodge mentioned above, I’d go for all three of the main muscle cars… Dodge Challenger, Chevrolet Camaro and the Ford Mustang.
I’d also like to throw in the Range Rover Evoque. A car that was so unique and stylistically different and really cool when launched, changing the landscape of yummy mummy SUVs in the process. Somehow has managed to move into uncool within its lifecycle, but a memorable car nonetheless.
In addition to the Dodge mentioned above, I’d go for all three of the main muscle cars… Dodge Challenger, Chevrolet Camaro and the Ford Mustang.
I’d also like to throw in the Range Rover Evoque. A car that was so unique and stylistically different and really cool when launched, changing the landscape of yummy mummy SUVs in the process. Somehow has managed to move into uncool within its lifecycle, but a memorable car nonetheless.
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