Game changer cars - the future

[Sir Fergie]

Good morning PH

I often think of the game changer cars that have come to market in the past and either bought something new to market and/or gave the competition a jolly good kick up the as.

In the past you've had cars like the 2CV/Beetle/Minor - and then we progressed through the original Land Rover, the Range Rover, Peugeot 205 and Lexus LS 400 amongst others.

And then there was the Mk 1 and 2 Golfs as well - i personally think the Mk 1 while cool - was always a tad overated (yes i know that's a big controversy ive started) - and personally think it was the Mk 2 that was the real game changer in Golf terms.

Anyway - i feel that aside from a few exceptions - Tesla, Prius (yes i know), Ampera and Nissan Leaf - game changer cars seem few and far between these days.

So i throw out the question - what sort of cars would you like to see as Phers - in terms of cars that could be real game changers.

I personally like the sound of the 208 FE hybrid - it needs work - but has a lot of potential i think - but the problem is in the industry now there seems to be far too many soft/pretend off roaders and 2.0 diesels with spoilers and big wheels - to make them look like a proper car - while ruining the ride.

So a proper game changer car that moves the industry forward - but something youd like to own and drive.

I vote 208 FE hybrid - if it was properly developed into a proper production car - and if Peugeot survives long enough - or something from Tesla if they can develop the technology more and bring out a real game changer in the family car market - id say something the price and size of a Focus - with 350 miles range and 2 hour charge up time - would be a massive start.

Especially if a 1 hour top would give 50 percent range - 175 miles being 50 percent of 350.

But what do we all think

[loose cannon]

I'd like to see 0 to 140 mph in 8 seconds a bit of luxury and a compact light design 50 mpg
Manual box and a price tag of £15 k and a British badge on it

[g7jhp]

Surely the BMW 335d was a game changer. It beats everything!

[Justaredbadge]

Morris minor
Audi A2


Can't really think of any more.

Calling the Prius a game changer is laughable. It is a very frustrating, un-environmentally friendly, expensive and boring way to achieve 32mpg.

[Fleckers]

Depends on the game
In 1980's in rallying Audi turned up with a new fangled 4x4 Quattro and kiked everyone's butt

Disk brakes game changer
Alternators game changer
Honda/Datsun game changer as their funny little cars started each morning, even when it was cold or damp

To be honest I think current generation of cars are too far with all the gadgets and h&S bs they have on them

[Sir Fergie]

loose cannon said:

I'd like to see 0 to 140 mph in 8 seconds a bit of luxury and a compact light design 50 mpg
Manual box and a price tag of £15 k and a British badge on it

Sounds good - id actually be happy with such a car with an auto box as well especially if you could intervene as a driver to change up or down manually at anytime.

And I think the technology to do that is moving along nicely - DSG from VAG - plus the newer type gearboxes the truck manufacturers are using now - automatic boxes which the driver can operate manually at anytime.

Some good suggestions as to cars that have been game changers - Audi A2 and the original Audi Quattro are both very good calls.

I take on board what was said about the Prius - but new technology ins't always perfect - and I think what the Prius has done has driven on other manufacturers to further develop battery design and come up with new ideas.

What id like to discuss though - is what could be done in the future in terms of game changer cars - we seem to be hitting a bit of a no mans land in the car industry now - with too many 2.0 diesel saloons with big alloys and too many soft off roaders.

Think Land Rover have an opportunity for a game changer in the next Defender - but I fear we may be on for a massive fk up instead - with too much focus on appealing to those who want image rather then a genuine attempt to bring the Land Rover concept from so long ago - to a better place and to a genuinely new exciting game changer place.

[_Al_]

The next "game changer" will be the fully auto white goods that you charge less often than your phone and throw away when it breaks.

[wolfracesonic]

I think it depends on what you mean by game changer. Some deserve that sobriquet by virtue of creating a new segment of vehicle altogether, without necessarily utilizing any ground breaking technology e.g

Model T, first car for the masses
MK1 gti, first hot hatch (pipe down Sunbeam Lotus owners)
Audi A2, first boutique supermini (fair enough aluminium body)
Honda NSX, first 'reasonably' practical supercar
Mini, first transverse engine, four seat, mainstream .....errrr Mini

Then are those that introduce a new technology to an existing class, e.g

Audi Quattro, first 4 wheel drive sport coupe (pipe down Jensen FF owners)
Muira, first mid engine supercar
S class, a whole load of st
Prius/Insight, first mainstream 'leccy cars

Not sure what any the above means, but there can't much room left for any new vehicle segments (can there?) and technology wise surely it is just going to be an incremental increase in battery AH capability.

[eldar]

Justaredbadge said:

Morris minor
Audi A2


Can't really think of any more.

Calling the Prius a game changer is laughable. It is a very frustrating, un-environmentally friendly, expensive and boring way to achieve 32mpg.

32mpg? You are making that up.

Fuelly tracks 2,500 Priuss or is that Prii? over 27 million miles and they average from 50.1 for 2001 model cars and 58.4 mpg for 2012. The worst recorded is 39mpg.