Why haven't they made it yet?

[white_goodman]

You have seen the tantalising concept but that seems like years ago and you're still waiting for the production version. In a world where BMW and Mercedes seem to make every single idea that they can think of (good or bad). What cars would you like to see made?

Here's a few I have been waiting for:

Alfa Romeo Giulia - It seemed like a strange decision to stop selling the 159 without having a replacement but if it looks as good (or even better than) the 159, I would be very interested in a RWD Italian 3-Series. I hope it would be better than a 3-Series in fact!

Audi Quattro - Loved the concept. A genuine BMW M4 rival in the vein of the old Quattro/S2 Coupe with 4WD and a manual gearbox option would be great. I know we have the S5/RS5 but that's just a bit meh for me.

Lamborghini Estoque - Again, the concept looked great and if they ever made it, it would surely be the coolest 4 door car on the planet!

Bentley SUV - Not really my thing but surely Old Trafford car park would be full of the things and Bentley's future would be guaranteed for the next 10 years!

Jaguar X-Type replacement (XE?) and Jaguar SUV - IMO Jaguar desperately need these two vehicles if they want to compete with the Germans. The XE is coming apparently but again it seemed like an odd decision to dicontinue the X-Type without having the replacement ready. If it was good, I would buy one over a BMW/Mercedes/Audi. Why do Jaguar take so long to bring new vehicles to market?

Honda NSX - Honda used to be one of my favourite car manufacturers because they appeared to be as much about fine engineering as making money but at the moment they're just dull. I think there would be a market for this (albeit a small one), possibly with some hybrid technology to enhance performance and economy and if it was priced close to F-Type money (possibly a bit more) but less than a 458. Toyota/Lexus have the LF-A and Nissan have the GTR as halo models but Honda have nothing. New Civic Type-R on its way soon though?

Lotus Esprit - Lots of new Lotus models in the pipeline but this is the one I would like to see get made. It would be great to have a British alternative to the 458 and if it's as good as the Exige/Evora then it would surely be a great car.

Land Rover Defender - they have been talking about the replacement for years but seem to have concentrated their focus on endless iterations on the Range Rover instead. I'm sure they could make something more refined and economical than the current Defender on the road but still have comparable off-road ability and be able to offer something fairly simple and utilitarian for those who want that, as well as something fun in the vein of the Jeep Wrangler. A convertible option would be good. I accept that there may not be (or be a need for) a long wheelbase version though but it should look like a Defender.

VW Microbus - I'm not sure why this hasn't made it purely as a camper or MPV rather than a commercial vehicle. The old model limped on with an underpowered engine or you can buy a van-based (T5) one. Surely the market is there for a stylish retro-styled MPV/camper with a decent engine/chassis and the packaging and space-efficiency of the original for its smallish footprint was second to none. Is having a flat front a safety issue?

Are there any more concepts that you have seen that you would like to see get made?

Edited by white_goodman on Wednesday 20th August 16:20

Edited by white_goodman on Wednesday 20th August 16:22

[AlexHat]

white_goodman said:

You have seen the tantalising concept but that seems like years ago and your still waiting for the production version. In a world where BMW and Mercedes seem to make every single idea that they can think of (good or bad). What cars would you like to see made?

Here's a few I have been waiting for:

Alfa Romeo Giulia - It seemed like a strange decision to stop selling the 159 without having a replacement but if it looks as good (or even better than) the 159, I would be very interested in an Italian 3-Series. I hope it would be better than a 3-Series in fact!

Bentley SUV - Not really my thing but surely Old Trafford car park would be full of the things!

Jaguar X-Type replacement (XE?) and Jaguar SUV - Jaguar desperately need these two vehicles if they want to compete with the Germans. The XE is coming apparently but again it seemed like an odd decision to dicontinue the X-Type without having the replacement ready. If it was good, I would buy one over a BMW/Mercedes/Audi. Why do Jaguar take so long to bring new vehicles to market?

Land Rover Defender - they have been talking about the replacement for years but have focussed on endless iterations on the Range Rover instead. I'm sure they could make something more refined and economical than the current Defender on the road but still have comoparable off-road ability and be able to offer something fairly simple and utilitarian for those who want that, as well as something fun in the vein of the Jeep Wrangler. A convertible option would be good. I accept that there may not be (or be a need for) a long wheelbase version though.

The four above are, to my knowledge, coming into production shortly, or are about to be released (XE.

Yes Alfa have taken years longer than they should have replacing the 159, the same with Jaguar and the X-type, though with the X-Type the lack of sales may have proved why they should take their time.

Bentley's SUV is running around now in almost final shape guise testing and the last I saw/read/heard about the Defender was that it wasn't going to look anything like the DC100 concepts.

[chungasarnies]

white_goodman said:

Honda NSX - Honda used to be one of my favourite car manufacturers because they appeared to be as much about fine engineering as making money but at the moment they're just dull. I think there would be a market for this (albeit a small one), possibly with some hybrid technology to enhance performance and economy

Already exists, been in testing for ages https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FfB5eHO1nq4

[Rick Cutler]

Surely the Jaguar X-Type replacement was the XF, much better car but similar market aim.

The XE is supposed to be a compact isn't it?

[robbieduncan]

Never seen a concept but a BMW 7-series touring. I have an E61 5-series touring and would happily have a bigger version!

[xRIEx]

white_goodman said:

Alfa Romeo Giulia - It seemed like a strange decision to stop selling the 159 without having a replacement but if it looks as good (or even better than) the 159, I would be very interested in a RWD Italian 3-Series. I hope it would be better than a 3-Series in fact!

Is it going to be RWD? It's not exactly their bread and butter.

[xRIEx]

Rick Cutler said:

Surely the Jaguar X-Type replacement was the XF, much better car but similar market aim.

The XE is supposed to be a compact isn't it?

The XF replaced the S-Type; the XE 'replaces' the X-Type (i.e. fits in the 3-series/C Class market).

[Speed Badger]

I would like to see a hot hatch such as the Ford Focus RS or Renault Megane RenaultSport to come with switchable FWD, RWD & 4WD options. I know it would be stupidly expensive, but it would be fun - imagine switching to FWD for some touring car fun, then RWD for a bit of excitement then 4WD for when it's wet or in the snow. Marvellous!

[deltashad]

Lancia fulvia concept, Integrale replacement. What's the point, lancia died.

[white_goodman]

xRIEx said:

Is it going to be RWD? It's not exactly their bread and butter.

I thought that was the way they were going to go now after deciding to concentrate on small FWD cars. Perhaps they have changed their mind again though!

[white_goodman]

deltashad said:

Lancia fulvia concept, Integrale replacement. What's the point, lancia died.

Stratos concept was lovely too. Not sure if that was an official Lancia project though.

[Amirhussain]

white_goodman said:

deltashad said:

Lancia fulvia concept, Integrale replacement. What's the point, lancia died.

Stratos concept was lovely too. Not sure if that was an official Lancia project though.

It was the idea of German entrepreneur Michael Stoschek. Fantastic looking thing IMO.

http://www.carmagazine.co.uk/News/Search-Results/F...

[EricE]

white_goodman said:

Stratos concept was lovely too. Not sure if that was an official Lancia project though.

It wasn’t. I had the chance to talk to the creator and owner of this car a few months ago at a rally (yes he drives it... hard). He tried to make a limited production run of this car but Ferrari wouldn’t allow it. The basis for this car is a 430 Scuderia.

He was also supremely pissed that Lamborghini copied some of the design lines from his car for the then brand-new Huracan. (his own words)

[xRIEx]

white_goodman said:

xRIEx said:

Is it going to be RWD? It's not exactly their bread and butter.

I thought that was the way they were going to go now after deciding to concentrate on small FWD cars. Perhaps they have changed their mind again though!

From what I can gather, every car they've produced in the last 20 years (8C and 4C excepted) has been FWD (with maybe 4WD versions available).

I wasn't under the impression the 4C was an indication of a change in direction.

[un1corn]

white_goodman said:

Land Rover Defender - they have been talking about the replacement for years but seem to have concentrated their focus on endless iterations on the Range Rover instead. I'm sure they could make something more refined and economical than the current Defender on the road but still have comparable off-road ability and be able to offer something fairly simple and utilitarian for those who want that, as well as something fun in the vein of the Jeep Wrangler. A convertible option would be good. I accept that there may not be (or be a need for) a long wheelbase version though but it should look like a Defender.

Edited by white_goodman on Wednesday 20th August 16:20

Edited by white_goodman on Wednesday 20th August 16:22

Is there really a market for this? Farmers have just started using Discos.

[EricE]

xRIEx said:

From what I can gather, every car they've produced in the last 20 years (8C and 4C excepted) has been FWD (with maybe 4WD versions available).

I wasn't under the impression the 4C was an indication of a change in direction.

I read that they are going full RWD in the future.
There’s even an M3/C63 fighter called "Giulia GTA" in the works. RWD and the 480 hp TT-V6 originally developed by Ferrari for the Maserati Ghibli.

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/alfa-romeo/giulia/882...
http://www.automobilemag.com/features/news/1307_no...

[xRIEx]

EricE said:

xRIEx said:

From what I can gather, every car they've produced in the last 20 years (8C and 4C excepted) has been FWD (with maybe 4WD versions available).

I wasn't under the impression the 4C was an indication of a change in direction.

I read that they are going full RWD in the future.
There’s even an M3/C63 fighter called "Giulia GTA" in the works. RWD and the 480 hp TT-V6 originally developed by Ferrari for the Maserati Ghibli.

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/alfa-romeo/giulia/882...
http://www.automobilemag.com/features/news/1307_no...

Fantastic

[white_goodman]

un1corn said:

Is there really a market for this? Farmers have just started using Discos.

Too posh and expensive surely and can they tow as much? I would have thought that if The Defender didn't exist or exist as we know it, something like a Nissan Navara or Toyota Hilux would be the most obvious alternative. What do you think a new Defender should be like? The Wrangler still sells very well Stateside, although I think you could retain the fun factor of that and still have something a bit more practical and refined to drive.

[RKDE]

Jag do have an SUV on the way, X17 coming in 2015 / 2016 and if its anything like the concept I will buy it tbh I would like it for next year as I am not sure I can wait that long to change my car...

[xRIEx]

white_goodman said:

Too posh and expensive surely and can they tow as much?

Both rated to 3500kg, according to AQG.