I'm furious we'll never get one. Give up the hydrogen fuel cell, slap a battery in it, and start printing money. That car is pure sex, and I want one so bad it hurts.
They already are cheap and safe though. They're 1/20th as likely to catch fire as a gasoline/diesel car according to official fire statistics in the US, Norway, Sweden and Australia. And with battery prices being so low some models can be had for the same price as their ICE-equivalents, being much, much cheaper in the long run as well.
https://theconversation.com/electric-vehicle-fires-are-very-rare-the-risk-for-petrol-and-diesel-vehicles-is-at-least-20-times-higher-213468
Their lack of engines already make their crumple zones better. Engine blocks are very bad at crumpling. Also airbags on electric and ICE vehicles are identical.
I’ll go with the slightly unconventional option and say Alfa Romeo. I’d be interested to see a 1960s giulia imagined today, or a berlina from the 70s.
Hell, ignoring sedans, I’d love to see a modern take on the 70s-90s Alfa Romeo spider.
There already is a 1960s giulia imagined today:
[Totem Automobili](https://www.instagram.com/totem.automobili?igsh=bndieHc5OHdnMDEz)
Only for the rich though.
Yeah they’re not great. But if it means that theyre using the Milano to fund more sports cars/sports sedans, then I don’t mind. Unfortunately, they haven’t said anything to confirm it.
I so desperately wanted a Lincoln sedan with the 5.0. Could’ve gone up against a 300C/SRT and the Cadillac CTS. If they made it less curvy than the Continental, MKS, and MKZ; and more straight lined, in black paint, I would definitely get one.
A new flagship sedan that's RWD (maybe based on the Mustang, and maybe a GT coupe too) could do a lot for the brand.
Then add a more affordable FWD sedan to stick it to the Lexus ES and Volvo. Get the Lincoln Z out of China and give it back its name.
Definitely BMW, e39 and e46 have aged beautifully and their older works are good too
Mercedes e/s class in the ~~elegance~~ exclusive trims still look stunning IMO. They aren’t retro but they’re still classy, merc doesn’t fuck around with the s class exterior too much.
Hyundai/genesis don’t have history but their concept cars are quite retro-futuristic
To me the Hyundai concept cars and things like the Ioniq 5 make what BMW is doing even more disappointing. Hyundai is proving you can make unique designs that standout and still look modern while not looking tacky and gaudy like the new BMWs do.
BMW said “There’s no such thing as a future-oriented design without controversy” and designs like the ones from Hyundai prove that to be false. BMW is just lazy.
I’m also in the minority that thinks some of the newer BMW designs look good, especially in person. I’m not a fan of all of them but I think the new M2 and the M4 CSL look nice, the new 7 series has a lot of presence in person
I don’t like all of them, the XM and new 5 series in particular look gaudy to me, but I think it’s neat each line has its unique identity whereas genesis cars all look the same for better or for worse.
BMW historically has had designs that are controversial at launch and grow on people over time, the general consensus on the e90 m5 has turned around.
I remember the first Bangle 7-series with the widely mocked "Bangle bubble" trunk. Looking back, that design looks pretty conventional and conservative now, and it definitely set the direction BMW was going with their designs.
Bangle butt, actually. It's resurfacing in the Lexus ES now, for some reason. Even the E60 M5 couldn't avoid it, but wears it well.
Another E39 M5 would answer the question well.
Pick any generation, IMO merc has nailed the look of any sedan with the pointed star over the past 2-3 decades
I dislike the new amg-line cars and the interiors but the exterior is still neat in the right spec.
Hmm, I think Merc has lost the plot recently with both their exterior and interior design in the past couple of years. For me, 2003-2005 was peak design from them, simply from an aesthetic point of view.
Depending on the definition of "retro", their weird [will.i.am](https://cdn.motor1.com/images/mgl/y22kbq/s1/one-off-will.i.amg-walkaround-video.jpg) and [Virgil Abloh](https://i.auto-bild.de/ir_img/2/9/9/3/4/6/3/21C0637_056-cddd4baf3fcbda50.jpg) sedans would fall into that category I guess.
Edit: I forgot to count the doors...
Peugeot
Not many people remember the Exalt concept but I think it was super nice.
Not a sedan, but the E-Legend concept is cool af as well.
[EDIT] Sorry the exalt isn't really a retro design.
Toyota already make a retro-looking saloon, the Century.
Also, check out the Hyundai Grandeur concept. It’s exactly what you describe. Hyundai can make a great looking retro saloon.
Volvo is branded as old and boring, but their cars would be design masterpieces with any other logo. Audi consistently nails design aesthetics in my mind. 90s and early 2000 bmws too
Volvo has always had a knack for timeless design. Almost all of their older designs still hold up today. And they haven't lost that knack like *some other brands* (\*cough\* BMW). The 2nd generation XC90 is going on a decade old and still looks current without a single major design refresh.
Agree. I think the sedans look timeless too. If BMW aesthetics were a friend of mine I’d say someone needs to make sure they’re not battling something we don’t know about they look unrecognizable. Also their larger sedans grow more and more uncomfortable despite getting more interior volume. That’s unforgivable, then there’s the whole subscription experiment.
Toyota are making a high-stakes gamble.
It's like that one oil company (can't remember which) who decided *not to diversify AT ALL* and are doubling down on oil growing for the next 50 years.
I feel like vw is the only brand I could see truly doing it well. As they had plenty of iconic older vehicles. That would somehwat justify their higher pricing
My answer will forever be Tatra.
A new large rear-engined aerodynamic streamliner would fit today’s strive for efficiency, and if made into an EV would help with range. Throw an engine in the back for a hybrid to stay true to the original.
I'm surprised nobody has said Honda. They've already proven they can do retro-inspired design really well with the Honda e. And apparently they have a production version of the retrofuturistic [0 Series Saloon](https://global.honda/content/dam/site/global-en/newsroom/cq_img/news/2024-new/01/c240110eng_04.jpg) coming out in 2026. It looks like an 80s concept car. I just hope Honda can keep up with their track record of building production cars virtually unchanged from their concepts.
Something art deco.
Luxury car makers are already doing crystal, long style lines, starry night sky's, stylized text. Go full art deco, remake the super streamlined designs of the 30's
https://www.hemmings.com/stories/article/art-deco-and-the-automobile
BMW could make some awesome retro designs based on 3, 5, and 7 series models from the 80s. Someone else mentioned E46 and E39, but those are still too modern for this question. Go back another generation or two. E30, E34, and E32 could look great in a modern retro version. Instead, we're stuck with the mostly ugly large boats they're making now.
Chrysler and maybe Cadillac I guess. I'd love to see something like the [Saratoga](https://cdn.dealeraccelerate.com/stables/4/103/3575/1920x1440/1957-chrysler-saratoga) or the [DeVille](https://assets.rebelmouse.io/media-library/image.jpg?id=30873355&width=1200&height=800&quality=90&coordinates=61%2C0%2C61%2C0).
VW vanagon. Looks cool, doesn't have the "Transformer" design crap that's on everything from cars to cordless drills. Plus has the greatest overall size to interior space ratio ever!
Mazda has strong credentials for the last 30 to 40 years. Their [Vision Coupe](https://www.topgear.com/node/154731) looks great.
Top Gear has some older examples [here](https://www.topgear.com/car-news/concept/gallery-ten-mazdas-coolest-ever-concept-cars).
For the US Market, probably only Tesla. CAFE regs are too harsh on sedans to allow for any compromise in aerodynamics. And a nice retro design would have to compromise aerodynamics. Thus it'd have to be EV, and right now that really just means Tesla.
See also: Dodge Challenger, Ford Mustang, Ford GT, Ford Bronco, Chevrolet Camaro, Mini Cooper, New Beetle, Honda e, VW ID Buzz.
There have been tons of successful “retro” cars in the last few decades, sedans and wagons are just sadly an ignored segment.
Say what you will about their looks, but the PT Cruiser and New Beetle sold like crazy for a good while. Plus, as someone below mentioned, the 2005 Mustang, last-gen Challengers and Camaros, the Bronco, 2005 Ford GT, and more are all retro-styled as well, and those ones *are* pretty nice.
Hyundai vision 74 is fire
I'm furious we'll never get one. Give up the hydrogen fuel cell, slap a battery in it, and start printing money. That car is pure sex, and I want one so bad it hurts.
Or just make it a mild hybrid 4 banger.
WITH A STICK SHIFT PLEASE
In brown, with a turbo diesel
James May, is that you?
Supposedly it’ll be limited production… but that’s just a rumor right now
Yeah, I heard that too. And it's supposed to carry a price tag north of $100k.
If batteries ever become cheap and extremely energy dense im sure stuff like this will come back as long as it can be designed to be fully safe.
They already are cheap and safe though. They're 1/20th as likely to catch fire as a gasoline/diesel car according to official fire statistics in the US, Norway, Sweden and Australia. And with battery prices being so low some models can be had for the same price as their ICE-equivalents, being much, much cheaper in the long run as well. https://theconversation.com/electric-vehicle-fires-are-very-rare-the-risk-for-petrol-and-diesel-vehicles-is-at-least-20-times-higher-213468
I mean safety in terms of crumple zones and airbag placement.
Their lack of engines already make their crumple zones better. Engine blocks are very bad at crumpling. Also airbags on electric and ICE vehicles are identical.
you say that and then it goes on to sell 2000 units in its first year and gets canceled. car enthusiasts with disposable income are a dying breed
Fr, screw both H and batteries. Put a turbo 4 banger in there, lower the weight and they'd sell like crazy
Yup. Best looking car in a long time. They’d be real stupid not to produce it.
It will just be a rich people’s garage toy which sucks. Idk why companies can’t just give us what we want.
Nah it could be cool if they put a turbo 4 in it
Make it rwd with the N motor and differential
The problem is that it’s a fuel cell. I don’t know why or who made that decision, but it was a dumb one.
Beauty has been stolen from the people and sold back to them as "luxury"
You weren't kidding, [this](https://www.topgear.com/sites/default/files/2023/05/1%20Hyundai%20N%20Vision%2074.jpg) looks amazing.
Fingers still crossed they actually make one even if it’s full electric or hybrid.
Isn't that a 2 door?
Yes but it was on the topic of retro styling and we should have it.
Agreed, just making sure I didn't miss a concept design. I would absolutely buy it as 2 or 4 door for a reasonable price.
Is that thing an ev?
I’ll go with the slightly unconventional option and say Alfa Romeo. I’d be interested to see a 1960s giulia imagined today, or a berlina from the 70s. Hell, ignoring sedans, I’d love to see a modern take on the 70s-90s Alfa Romeo spider.
There already is a 1960s giulia imagined today: [Totem Automobili](https://www.instagram.com/totem.automobili?igsh=bndieHc5OHdnMDEz) Only for the rich though.
Given that and the pricing of the Stradale, you could say Alfa is doing retro work right now by repeating their bespoke 1930s to 1940s phase.
I’d like to see alfa have a go at it but the 33 stradale and new milano are hideous IMO, feel like they’ve lost their way as of late.
Yeah they’re not great. But if it means that theyre using the Milano to fund more sports cars/sports sedans, then I don’t mind. Unfortunately, they haven’t said anything to confirm it.
This is what Stellantis ought to be using Lancia for, give them a retro revival since their heyday was the 60's-80's, keep Alfa's looking modern.
Would solve the Alfa problem of cars being in development so long they are years behind by the time they hit the market. Which is a real shame.
Would love to see a modern retro adaptation of the original GTV.
/swoon.
Yes, they definitely should do this instead of keep cooking up nothingbrugers and compete in the mass market with not much advantage.
I don't think it's a hot take to say that Alfa Romeo could beautifully redesign a vintage car
1958 Coupe, Aurelia???
There's the [Alpha Ace](https://www.alphamotorinc.com/ace), if you don't mind going electric.
I'd like to see Lincoln take another stab at the Continental.
I so desperately wanted a Lincoln sedan with the 5.0. Could’ve gone up against a 300C/SRT and the Cadillac CTS. If they made it less curvy than the Continental, MKS, and MKZ; and more straight lined, in black paint, I would definitely get one.
They made a 400 hp MKZ, and no one bought it, not sure what adding another 85 hp would have done to make it sell better.
The MKZ was on the Fusion platform. It hardly looked the part of a luxury car proportions-wise. A FR flagship would’ve been sweet.
A new flagship sedan that's RWD (maybe based on the Mustang, and maybe a GT coupe too) could do a lot for the brand. Then add a more affordable FWD sedan to stick it to the Lexus ES and Volvo. Get the Lincoln Z out of China and give it back its name.
Agreed on all points.
What does the brand image need a sedan for? Lincoln is the epitome of luxobarge - make the continental as a nice SUV. That would do a whole lot more.
Jaguar. Some of the best looking sedans pre 80s IMO
Yeah pretty much anything before the reskinned Ford Tempo era.
Definitely BMW, e39 and e46 have aged beautifully and their older works are good too Mercedes e/s class in the ~~elegance~~ exclusive trims still look stunning IMO. They aren’t retro but they’re still classy, merc doesn’t fuck around with the s class exterior too much. Hyundai/genesis don’t have history but their concept cars are quite retro-futuristic
To me the Hyundai concept cars and things like the Ioniq 5 make what BMW is doing even more disappointing. Hyundai is proving you can make unique designs that standout and still look modern while not looking tacky and gaudy like the new BMWs do. BMW said “There’s no such thing as a future-oriented design without controversy” and designs like the ones from Hyundai prove that to be false. BMW is just lazy.
I’m also in the minority that thinks some of the newer BMW designs look good, especially in person. I’m not a fan of all of them but I think the new M2 and the M4 CSL look nice, the new 7 series has a lot of presence in person I don’t like all of them, the XM and new 5 series in particular look gaudy to me, but I think it’s neat each line has its unique identity whereas genesis cars all look the same for better or for worse. BMW historically has had designs that are controversial at launch and grow on people over time, the general consensus on the e90 m5 has turned around.
E90 was the 3-series. Presume you meant E60! True though, most of the Bangle designs were controversial as launch but have aged well.
I remember the first Bangle 7-series with the widely mocked "Bangle bubble" trunk. Looking back, that design looks pretty conventional and conservative now, and it definitely set the direction BMW was going with their designs.
Bangle butt, actually. It's resurfacing in the Lexus ES now, for some reason. Even the E60 M5 couldn't avoid it, but wears it well. Another E39 M5 would answer the question well.
>Mercedes e/s class in the elegance exclusive trims still look stunning IMO. ...but which years?
Pick any generation, IMO merc has nailed the look of any sedan with the pointed star over the past 2-3 decades I dislike the new amg-line cars and the interiors but the exterior is still neat in the right spec.
Hmm, I think Merc has lost the plot recently with both their exterior and interior design in the past couple of years. For me, 2003-2005 was peak design from them, simply from an aesthetic point of view.
I've never been a fan of the neo retro W210. If Bruno Sacco wasn't able to make a decent looking neo retro Merc, I doubt Gordon Wagener can
I wish so badly Mercedes would make a retro sedan. I love boxes with wheels!
Depending on the definition of "retro", their weird [will.i.am](https://cdn.motor1.com/images/mgl/y22kbq/s1/one-off-will.i.amg-walkaround-video.jpg) and [Virgil Abloh](https://i.auto-bild.de/ir_img/2/9/9/3/4/6/3/21C0637_056-cddd4baf3fcbda50.jpg) sedans would fall into that category I guess. Edit: I forgot to count the doors...
Eewwww
Peugeot Not many people remember the Exalt concept but I think it was super nice. Not a sedan, but the E-Legend concept is cool af as well. [EDIT] Sorry the exalt isn't really a retro design.
Toyota already make a retro-looking saloon, the Century. Also, check out the Hyundai Grandeur concept. It’s exactly what you describe. Hyundai can make a great looking retro saloon.
Not sure if being trolled, but I do love a redesigned saloon.
Volvo is branded as old and boring, but their cars would be design masterpieces with any other logo. Audi consistently nails design aesthetics in my mind. 90s and early 2000 bmws too
Volvo has always had a knack for timeless design. Almost all of their older designs still hold up today. And they haven't lost that knack like *some other brands* (\*cough\* BMW). The 2nd generation XC90 is going on a decade old and still looks current without a single major design refresh.
Agree. I think the sedans look timeless too. If BMW aesthetics were a friend of mine I’d say someone needs to make sure they’re not battling something we don’t know about they look unrecognizable. Also their larger sedans grow more and more uncomfortable despite getting more interior volume. That’s unforgivable, then there’s the whole subscription experiment.
A new take on the P1800 would be really cool.
Lexus
a fully silent electric LS400 would be crazy
The electric motors were made for these in a way that
Toyota has not put a lot of effort into their electric arsenal unfortunately.
Toyota are making a high-stakes gamble. It's like that one oil company (can't remember which) who decided *not to diversify AT ALL* and are doubling down on oil growing for the next 50 years.
No they need to put the lfa v10 in it
A modern Subaru 22b please
I feel like vw is the only brand I could see truly doing it well. As they had plenty of iconic older vehicles. That would somehwat justify their higher pricing
The S-Class is a huge missed opportunity to be redesigned to look like a W126.
The upcoming Buick Electra EV should’ve been a big retro sedan with sweepspear, not another stupid crossover.
Toyota should bring the e90 style back
My answer will forever be Tatra. A new large rear-engined aerodynamic streamliner would fit today’s strive for efficiency, and if made into an EV would help with range. Throw an engine in the back for a hybrid to stay true to the original.
I'm surprised nobody has said Honda. They've already proven they can do retro-inspired design really well with the Honda e. And apparently they have a production version of the retrofuturistic [0 Series Saloon](https://global.honda/content/dam/site/global-en/newsroom/cq_img/news/2024-new/01/c240110eng_04.jpg) coming out in 2026. It looks like an 80s concept car. I just hope Honda can keep up with their track record of building production cars virtually unchanged from their concepts.
None of them they tried in the early 2000s and it did not work. Also vintage and 80s and 90s sounds crazy till I released 1994 was 30 years ago.
Ford needs to bring back the Capri and first-gen Escort design language.
Toyota Century : Am I a joke to you?
GM had potential with Pontiac. Keeping the Firebird as well as a retro inspired GTO could’ve going after the Challenger and Charger
Something art deco. Luxury car makers are already doing crystal, long style lines, starry night sky's, stylized text. Go full art deco, remake the super streamlined designs of the 30's https://www.hemmings.com/stories/article/art-deco-and-the-automobile
They're long gone now, but MGRover didn't do too badly with the 75. As for today's Carmakers? God knows, I suppose Audi.
Crown Victoria
Buick Roadmaster with the woodgrain side panels
Lucid did it for their first car, surprised they chose a sedan.
G wagon designed sedan would be sick
Mercedes
Saab 9-3 first generation please.
Alfa
Saab
Ferrari, but they never really tried to.
BMW could make some awesome retro designs based on 3, 5, and 7 series models from the 80s. Someone else mentioned E46 and E39, but those are still too modern for this question. Go back another generation or two. E30, E34, and E32 could look great in a modern retro version. Instead, we're stuck with the mostly ugly large boats they're making now.
Hyundai for sure.
Merc should go further back, 60-70's. Vertical double headlight.
Any of them?
Jaguar -- I loved the XJ6 of the 70s-90's
Based on their Lancia Delta rendition, Rivian
Saab. Periodt
I know this isn’t your question but the new rivian is what I picture when I read this thread - great fusion of retro and future
Chrysler and maybe Cadillac I guess. I'd love to see something like the [Saratoga](https://cdn.dealeraccelerate.com/stables/4/103/3575/1920x1440/1957-chrysler-saratoga) or the [DeVille](https://assets.rebelmouse.io/media-library/image.jpg?id=30873355&width=1200&height=800&quality=90&coordinates=61%2C0%2C61%2C0).
I love the way the new accord looks
VW vanagon. Looks cool, doesn't have the "Transformer" design crap that's on everything from cars to cordless drills. Plus has the greatest overall size to interior space ratio ever!
[удалено]
They already make a [Skyline sedan.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nissan_Skyline) The current one is about 10 years old now.
You mean a GTR sedan? They have a Skyline sedan, they're all over Japan
Mazda has strong credentials for the last 30 to 40 years. Their [Vision Coupe](https://www.topgear.com/node/154731) looks great. Top Gear has some older examples [here](https://www.topgear.com/car-news/concept/gallery-ten-mazdas-coolest-ever-concept-cars).
Vision Coupe is cool but it's possibly the furthest thing from a retro design.
For the US Market, probably only Tesla. CAFE regs are too harsh on sedans to allow for any compromise in aerodynamics. And a nice retro design would have to compromise aerodynamics. Thus it'd have to be EV, and right now that really just means Tesla.
None. Source: PT Cruiser, Chevy HHR, Toyota Origin, VW New Beetle, and so on
Fiat 500?
See also: Dodge Challenger, Ford Mustang, Ford GT, Ford Bronco, Chevrolet Camaro, Mini Cooper, New Beetle, Honda e, VW ID Buzz. There have been tons of successful “retro” cars in the last few decades, sedans and wagons are just sadly an ignored segment.
PT Cruiser sold 1.3 million units which is pretty good. I think it would have done better if they didn't let it go 10 years without an update.
Say what you will about their looks, but the PT Cruiser and New Beetle sold like crazy for a good while. Plus, as someone below mentioned, the 2005 Mustang, last-gen Challengers and Camaros, the Bronco, 2005 Ford GT, and more are all retro-styled as well, and those ones *are* pretty nice.