7 Famous Models From The Past With A Questionable Comeback

2023 Author: Natalie MacDonald | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-11-26 13:59

Sometimes they come back. The revival of legendary models of the past is an event. Very often such comebacks are very cool: for example, today we have HondNSX and Land Rover Defender for the XXI century, or the same Gelik with Jimny. They are good in themselves and quite organic in the context of their own history. But for every good example, there is always a bad one - and here are some glorious car names from the past, but in a very strange modern reading.

Ford Bronco Sport

On the one hand, the return of the legendary Bronco name is a tremendous merit of Ford marketers. After all, the Bronco was a really cool SUV that managed to change five generations and formed a huge community of fans around the world. After all, Bronco still sounds proudly and resoundingly.

On the other hand, there is a noticeable image flaw in the 2021 novelty that will take place between the Kug and the Edge. His name is a platform from the Focus passenger car. Imagine: along with the release of a completely solid and capable Bronco SUV with a frame and all the accompanying pies, the Americans also intend to sell its light version under the name Bronco Sport. On the same platform from modern Focus and Kuga. And what is this if not a blow to the perception of the machine?

Ford Puma

Another strange metamorphosis from Ford bears the popular Puma name in the 90s, while not like a coupe or city sports car. But just such - squat and nimble - were the "Ford" Cougars from 1997 to 2002. Creating a new compact crossover one step below the Kuga, the company gave it a once sporting name. Than obliged the pretty guy to introduce himself every time: "Hi, I'm Puma, but not the one you might have known." Definitely a strange comeback of a generally weighty and unforgettable model.

Mitsubishi eclipse

The Japanese did the same, but clicked even harder on the fan's noses. Before forming an inextricable association with “that car from the Fast and the Furious”, Eclipse was popular and loved by tuners and fans of dynamic driving. In 2011, the coupe went down in history, having exchanged four generations and leaving a lot of pleasant memories. But after just a couple of years Mitsubishi Motors introduced the freaky XR-PHEV crossover with a sloping roof. And four years later - not very charismatic pipeline adaptation with the name Eclipse. And the Cross prefix in this case was not an excuse: from a glorious sports coupe Eclipse mutated into a mediocre SUV with a beautiful name. A name that once adorned completely different cars.

Hummer ev

The long history of the legendary brand with military roots was cut short in 2009, when General Motors, drowning in bankruptcy, decided to get rid of the unprofitable brand by simply closing it. Ten years later, the Hummer letters appeared again on the chrome grille of the production car. True, the comeback turned out not the way it could have, - after all, instead of an independent model continuing the interrupted history of the Hummers, the Americans created a GMC pickup with an all-electric power plant. And the name itself will henceforth unite the family of electric cars. Welcome to the present, which dances with special cynicism on the bones of the past.

Ford Mustang Mach-E

And once again about Ford. Until 2019, the Mustang name was associated all over the world with the legendary coupes and fastbacks that use gasoline traction, a rolling roar and a not very obedient chassis to create an extremely vivid driving experience. What happened next? Obviously, the influence of fashion - after all, literally overnight, the electric crossover, the rival of TeslModel Y and Jaguar i-Pace, began to be called "Mustang".

Yes, the dynamics of the unusual Mustang Mach-E turned out to be quite comparable to the Porsche 911, but in all other respects the crossover, to put it mildly, is worthy of its own name. And pony cars must remain ponies.

ToyotSupra

Looking back on the joint project with Subaru called GT86, we are ready to admit that collaboration and mutual assistance are great things. Through the partnership, Toyot created a good sports car that briefly revived a young public's interest in fun driving and tuning. But if the GT86 did not hide behind the name of the legendary ancestor, but only hinted at the connection of times with the numbers 86 (the same reference to the drift legend ToyotLevin AE86), then the revived Supr on the platform and BMW Z4 units directly cries out about its heredity. And if it is difficult to call the new Supra an openly unworthy car - nevertheless, the potential of the German-Japanese coupe is decent and it rides brightly - then such nuances as a two-liter four-cylinder engine (in the "younger" modification) cause an involuntary yawn. From "Toyota" in this variation - one name, and a couple of nameplates on the body.

Datsun

As conceived by the bosses of Nissan and personally Carlos Ghosn, the creation of a budget sub-brand would allow the company to strengthen its position and decently increase profits. But here's the name chosen … In the centuries-old history of Datsun, there were many bright pages, high-profile debuts and truly iconic cars, such as the 510, Bluebird or the 240Z sports car. However, all that most of us mean by "Datsuns" in 2020 is the remade Lad in Russia and no less budget minicars in Indonesia, India and South Africa. The newest history of the brand not only turned out to be boring, but also trampled on the brightest moments of the past.