Choose a car brand in need of redemption. If you were in charge of its lineup of models & trims, what would add, take away, modify from the current?
Posted by revocer@reddit | askcarguys | View on Reddit | 129 comments
stabbingrabbit@reddit
Ford pickups. Bring back the useful dash and smaller full size pickup.
cballowe@reddit
I agree. Need something like the 90s sized ranger in the lineup.
Though I'm also bringing back the focus and fiesta and killing off the weird small SUVs.
And there needs to be a single cab, short bed pickup in there - but not only offered in the base trim. It doesn't need high ground clearance. Doesn't need a massive intimidating front end. Just needs to be capable of hauling material home from the hardware store and also solo or 2 person road trips.
stabbingrabbit@reddit
I find even on the current Maverick the sides are so tall you cant lift a tool box over the side. I am 6 foot tall. Old truck beds came to my waist and now they are up to my shoulders.
cballowe@reddit
Same. You should also be able to have a child standing in a crosswalk in front of the truck and be able to see them. If the hood is at my shoulders instead of my waist it's too tall. And you can't tell me it needs to be that tall to fit a big engine - if you can put a coyote in a mustang, a truck doesn't need to be tons taller.
stabbingrabbit@reddit
I think it was the safety standards. They had to make them stop faster so that made them put on bigger brakes which caused bigger wheels and tires and to keep the look of the wheel wells proportional the trucks got bigger. CAFE standards also played a part as bigger vehicle had different gas mileage requirements.
cballowe@reddit
Cafe standards had weird gas mileage rules tied to the size of vehicle and not the overall fleet. I'm not sure why braking and wheel/tires size would be useful / would have also hit things like heavy EVs. Unless it was tied to towing capacity or something?
In either case, the ultra high hoods have negative consequences for overall safety due to lowered visibility of things right in front of the truck as well as the impact points if they hit a pedestrian. The increased weight of modern truck also leads to carrying far more kinetic energy into accidents.
dlickyspicky@reddit
Chrysler. First things first, bring back the 300, then move to rebadge engineering, using cars like the Dodge Durango, the Jeep Compass, and especially the Wagoneer as high class luxury vehicles. Reuse long dead names like the New Yorker or Aspen.
After successfully rebuilding (or building) a lineup, start work on a Sebring and Crossfire, aimed directly at BMW and Mercedes equivalents
LandscapeJust5897@reddit
I would love to see the Imperial make a comeback š
JEMColorado@reddit
Wasnāt the Crossfire based on Mercedes chassis?
__slamallama__@reddit
Legitimately all of the stellantis brands could be great, and yet...
howrunowgoodnyou@reddit
Sebring was always trash tho. Let it die.
Maybe a diff Chrysler nameplate that was actually cool.
dlickyspicky@reddit
Ah it was always trash, but in my vision we give it a chance
rcheneyjr@reddit
Plymouth was cool!
Toowoombaloompa@reddit
Everything Stellantis.Ā
They should stop trying to make every brand fill every niche. Each brand would have 1-3 models each, aligned as follows:
Jeep should just do proper, capable 4x4s.Ā
Fiat should just do the 500. Drop Abarth as a standalone brand.Ā
Citroen should just have stunning, elegant cars. Drop DS as a standalone brand.
Maserati should also stick to stunning, elegant cars but a level above Citroen.Ā
Vauxhall/Opel/Peugeot/Chrysler should make generic crowd pleasing volume selling SUVs.Ā They would use badge engineering, with no two of them selling in the same market.Ā
Dodge do muscle cars. Lancia do sports cars. Alfa do GTs.Ā
RAM do what they're doing now: stick with trucks and vans.Ā
Due-Instruction1026@reddit
Suzuki
Ok-Situation-9199@reddit
Lexus! Big time. Begin lessons from Rolls, Bentley, and Aston and stop cheapening what has the potential to be an outstanding product line. Went to purchase, test drove and the road noise was unbelievable! Bought a Bentley.
Toowoombaloompa@reddit
Lexus is a funny one.Ā
It was launched by Toyota to try and capture some of the North American luxury market and I believe it did quite well there.Ā
But they struggled to be taken seriously in Europe because of snobbery.Ā
Stunning-Olive-4305@reddit
Land Rover!!!! What they've done to this humble and quirky and desireable brand is so sad. And the attempt to bring back the defender? the right idea... but that thing is NOT a defender... maybe... they should have called that truck the new "Discovery" model as it is kinda a close cousin to it... and the new "Discovery..." the one that actually owns that name... isn't a discovery at all. I don't know what it is... but discovery wasn't the name for it... Any other rover enthusiasts have ideas?
Toowoombaloompa@reddit
I would love them to focus on reliability.
Biggest gripe I hear is from owners who go for weeks without the car because it's in the garage getting fixed under warranty.Ā
jfcat200@reddit
Pontiac. Trans-Am, GTO,
maybach320@reddit
Mercedes, get the engineers back into the boardroom stop listening to the accounts for the next 10 years and focus on making cars that last decades with basic maintenance vs a car thatāa designed to sell a logo and the thought of luxury. Think of 70-00s Mercedes quality and styling thats still iconic and loved today.
lucky_bastich@reddit
Jeep. Enough trying to convince people it's a luxury brand. Every model is class-leading in off-road capability and uses quality parts. Do away with quirky features and appearance packages as price-drivers. Simple, reliable, capable would be the motto of the brand.
Models would be:
Jeep Cherokee (except body-on-frame with a longitudinal engine and a rear-wheel-bias 4wd system with a low range, a solid rear axle with a locker optional, and an NA I6 engine, or at most a low-boost turbo designed to minimize power loss at altitude more than add ridiculous power the truck doesn't need.)
Grand Cherokee (with torsen limited-slip in the front and solid rear, I6 and V8 options). Probably the only model I would endorse a luxury trim for.
Wrangler and Gladiator (both as is but without the cost-cutting crappy parts that keep failing, particularly in the electronics and powertrains. And an I6 as the standard engine. I feel like the Hurricane could be good if it was made with quality parts and not twin-turboed to absurdity. Again, just a low-boost turbo to minimize loss at altitude. These cars don't need to be street racers.
And that's it. That's literally all they have to do. Simple, reliable, capable. Come on, Stellantis. It's not that friggin' hard.
Gizmosragingerection@reddit
Nissan. Bring back the Maxima, SE-R Line, Xtera and bring the Pajero to the US
WurdSmyth@reddit
And dump all the CVT's
MaleficentExtent1777@reddit
And terrible 4 cylinders in the SUVs.
ScarySpikes@reddit
Also Nissan: Bring the upcoming Skyline out globally as a Nissan Skyline. Infiniti is a dying brand, a sports sedan won't save it and will end up cancelled just just like the old Q60 was a few years ago. On the other hand the Skyline brand name is pretty strong. The teasers Nissan showed off certainly make it look like they are pulling details from the R32-R34 generations, It makes way more sense to appeal to the gran Turismo playing generation that remembers those cars.
ForgottenGrocery@reddit
While youāre at it, please bring in their Serena minivans. Would love to have them in the US
Its_Days@reddit
Might as well just tack on all their other cars, 180, 240, silvia. Old Nissan was goated.
ajaxp0wder@reddit
Killing the CVT and replacing it with a ZF box would change nissans fortunes over night..
In addition. New s chassis to compete with the GT 86
Next_Emphasis_9424@reddit
I fully believe that their Frontiers will take the mantel of refuse to die pickups that the old tacomas had. They are very last all mechanical naturally aspirated truck you can buy.
TorontoRider@reddit
Hell, bring back the B210. Simple, light, fast, and cheap.Ā
LAM678@reddit
isnt the patrol the same as the armada
MA712K@reddit
It is, yeah
infinit_joe3@reddit
Silvia š
Dnlx5@reddit
I still say bring back the IDX as the silvia as an entry level sedan/coup. The nismo one can be a drift toy.Ā
Offer it in RR electric, and RR with a tiny engine.Ā
devo9er@reddit
Also, fix the front end of the new Z. The back is glorious and the front headlights just look silly and doesnt match the rest of the car. And drop the price about $10k and they would sell 10x better
Stunning-Olive-4305@reddit
yes on the xterra!!! i can hear that lenny kravitz commercial with the yellow one doing a 4wheel drift in the desert!!!
MishkaShubaly@reddit
What, no hardbody?
RevolutionaryDog8372@reddit
Frontier already good
PerformerBrief5881@reddit
pajero its miitsubishi, I get that one in my car brand redemption! you can have the
Gizmosragingerection@reddit
You're right. I think I was thinking of the Patrol
popcornfart@reddit
Patrol?Ā Commandeering the pajero would be an act of piracy
mattSER@reddit
Well, they're doing the Xterra at least, so that's one down
Ok-Lavishness-7904@reddit
Pontiac. They were marketed to youth, and excitement. GM really needs to reinvest in young buyers
Ford could use an even smaller Kei sized truck, marketed as the cheapest vehicle for the US market. Call it the Courier. You can even offer it in only black, if you like š
Meta_Art@reddit
Didnāt Jon Voight drive a LeBaron?
boc333@reddit
Yeah he did. Periodontist if I recall.
Seeker80@reddit
They could learn much from the 'European Pontiac,' aka Seat out of Spain. They reskin VW Group vehicles and make them look more exciting. There's some nice GM hardware Pontiac could use for that.
Pontiac could try to be more youthful, or more exciting in general. I think it might be interesting if they tried to position themselves as a 'poor man's BMW.' Everything would drive very well, and while they wouldn't be as luxurious as Cadillac, they'd have some of their sporting feel there. Instead of a V8 CT5 Blackwing, they get that chassis with the turbo V6 instead.
FSFreakman21@reddit
Right on. I was obsessed with their brand as a kid and I feel like they pretty much shit the bed with it.
No-Cantaloupe-6535@reddit
an EV Aztec would sell like crazy today
Informal_Ad4399@reddit
A new Dodge Magnum. That thing looked beautiful. Put a Hellcat engine in it for fun.
The Neon should come back as well. Those were everywhere. It used to be a nice affordable 4 door car that took a beating but was also highly tuneable for gear heads.
Pontiac for sure needs a comeback.
The Grand Prix was a budget sports car that was a fun drive. The GTP could really move for a late 90s/early 2000s sports car. Take away the super charger and put an EV in place to eliminate the need for premium. Doesn't need a long range. It's mainly there to act as the SC.
The Aztec could be full EV centered around weekend camping. Fold out panels on the roof, with a cover. The tie down rack would clip in place to hold the cover on and secure the panels. It would produce much, but would be enough to help power a small camping lamp or help add a slight amount of range. Bonus sunshade as well.
I know it wouldn't happen, but I want another Ram 50 as well. Same size.
Sweatyfatmess@reddit
All car brands.
OBD II and manufacturer specific codes should be displayed in plain english on the display used for the mandatory reverse cameras. Do not force techs to buy manufacturer specific computers to read codes and eliminate a way techs rip off customers with fake diagnoses.
Eliminate the āsoft touchā coating that turns into sticky gel as it ages. It makes car interiors feel like a todderās hand.
Introduce 2 door hatchbacks that start in low 20s. Roll up windows. Analog instruments. Manual transmissions. 13ā steelies. 3 cyl 1.2L engines. Basic affordable transportation for working people.
Stop selling vinyl seat coverings as a vegan leather upgrade. Stop piping in engine sounds through the stereo, instead introduce noise cancellation in the stereo (just like you can get on bluetooth headphones) as an option. Eliminate fake āgearsā and paddle gear selectors on CVTs. Itās insulting to treat your customers as morons.
JohnSmith012789@reddit
Maserati. Bring back the Quattroporte with the new interior and exterior of the Grecale and GranTurismo and bring back the F154 V8 with a manual option since emissions regulations have been relaxed to all 3 and bring back a mid engined Spyder version of the GT
phatelectribe@reddit
Aston Martin. They should dump the Merc AMG engines and go back to making their own v8 and v12 naturally aspirated engines.
halfuhsandwich@reddit
Risky move. The Merc engines and their craftsmanship alone are the only two things keeping them alive at this point.
phatelectribe@reddit
Disagree.
Moving to AMG was purely a cost cutting measure and the engines are less reliable than the VH series engines. Theyāre easier to service but Aston lost some magic when they switched.
PerformerBrief5881@reddit
Miitsubishi!
Homologate a rally car with the EVO name and sell the required 2500 cars only! Sell at a loss if needed, but it must have a wait list and a buzz of desire on it. Set them in dealer showrooms before delivery.ā
ābuild one of the current platform into a modern pajero join the Dakar. Upsell it as a competitor to the porsche 911 āDakar or Lamborghini Sterrato.
Build a show car only modern day starion for the auto shows (a la Hyundai n vision)
Create a top offroad level trim for all suvs (marketed as "victory road", call back to vr4) a la ford "raptor" levels.
Beneficial_Leg4691@reddit
Mitsubishi is a non starter for me. Except for the old eclipse nothing has ever grabbed me.
PerformerBrief5881@reddit
3000gt vr4
Starion
EVO
Pajero
If you cant love those, my new Mitsubishi brand doesnt want you as a customer anyway. We want people that love great cars!
Beneficial_Leg4691@reddit
3000gt looked cool but I don't recall its performance being all that great comparativelyĀ
bissimo@reddit
I saw a 3000GT VR4 on the freeway two days ago. It was clean and sounded great. I happy there's still a few tooling around.
toiletsurprise@reddit
There's a dude that drives one in the winter where I live in MN, equal parts sad and impressive.
LogicalAsk5426@reddit
Omg that's a blast from the past, the station, had many a near death experience with mine. Turbo was nothing nothing then all the boost hit. Fun times had with ....actually towed the starion out of a hedge with a pajero. Had an evo 3 after that which was a wicked thing to go but came to a sudden stop. Salvaged the running gear which we built into a mitsi colt floor pan and all went in out of the evo. Ya know its lost now how awesome Mitsubishi was at a time.
racermd@reddit
No love for the 3000GT?
Seeker80@reddit
Mitsubishi could partner with Nissan & Renault to develop a small car platform. The Corolla/Civic segment. They make a very good platform, then finish the car off to make it fit their respective brands.
Renault would get a new fwd Megane hatch with Renaultsport trim.
Nissan gets a fwd Sentra sedan with SE-R trim, and an awd Pulsar GTi-R hatch.
Mitsubishi would Lancer available in awd Ralliart & Evolution trims. This platform could also get a coupe variant to base an Eclipse on.
Do it again for an FR layout sports car.
Renault can sell it as a rwd Alpine.
Nissan can base a V6 & rwd Z on it, an I3/I4 & rwd Silvia and a V6 rwd/awd Infiniti coupe.
Mitsubishi can do a 4cyl & rwd Starion.
MainelyKahnt@reddit
So you want to make cars that are unaffordable, unobtainable, or both? That's not redemption, that's just business suicide. Bringing back the pajero would be sick. But making it a fast dakar truck competing against the Porsche 911 dakar is dumb AF. Bring it back to its roots as a plucky, reliable, and affordable small 4x4 with a manual gearbox. Wasting money on concepts nobody will ever be able to buy just pisses off your customers. Make the starion real and have it compete against the new supra. Definitely give us an EVO but make more than the necessary 2500 of them ffs.
eagledog@reddit
Especially given the crime they committed against the Eclipse.
And it's been 10 years since we last got a Lancer Evo. What's the holdup guys?
Meta_Art@reddit
Subaru. Give me an awd wagon with a manual transmission please. Miss first and second gen forester especially. And a real Brat type would be awesome thanks
alanbdee@reddit
Jeep wrangler. Make it as simple as possible with parts that span decades.
CoachOpen1977@reddit
Isuzu!
The 2028 Impulse would be offered in FWD and AWD configurations in 4 cylinder NA or turbo with choice of a 6MT or automatic, or AWD hybrid.
The Stylus remains a compact sedan, sharing the same choices of configurations as the Impulse.
The Amigo and Rodeo would return as compact crossovers Think first-gen RAV4, but on steroids. Available in AWD 4 cylinder automatic, or AWD hybrid configurations.
The VehiCross would return as a futuristic body-on-frame rugged off-roader, but this time itās 4-door. Available with NA or turbo V6 and 4WD, or AWD hybrid.
The Axiom returns as a midsize body on frame luxury SUV with optional 3rd row, sharing many components with the VehiCross.
The Pāup returns as a single or double cab pickup with configurations ranging from NA 4 cylinder RWD, to turbo V6 4WD, or AWD hybrid. Also shares many components with the VehiCross.
The Oasis returns as a sort of mini-mini van, think Mazda5 or Dodge Colt Vista, based-on and sharing many components with the Honda HRV.
revocer@reddit (OP)
Now that is a lineup.
halfuhsandwich@reddit
Jaguar. Simple. Stop production on everything. Bring back the E-type.
markrulesallnow@reddit
Audi. Make them in Indiana to beat tariffs. Make them the āaffordableā of the big 3 luxury German brands. But this also means lower Volkswagenās prices too
Leather-Hotel-7310@reddit
Lexus. Iām bringing back the original LS400 just the way it originally looked but with modern tech, a new SC300/400 thatās inspired by the original and has nothing in common with the SC430, a new LFA and Iāll be reviving the IS and GS lines.
Iāll also be adding a new line called the ZS which will be a high performance hypercar that transforms into a sedan, pickup truck, SUV or fully functional Helicopter with the press of a button. It also has a detachable superbike.
Lexus also needs a minivan so Iāll slap some Lexus badges on some Siennas and make them all Lexusy with upgraded materials.
To top it off, Iāll be introducing the all new 6 row, 18 seat Lexus EX (E for Extended) SUV thatās twice as long as an LX and has just one giant door on each side that opens up to all 6 rows of seating. Perfect for soccer moms with only one kid that doesnāt even play any sports that donāt think their 9 seater Suburban is oversized enough!
ExternalMaximum6662@reddit
Volkswagen.
sourgrapekate@reddit
Bring back the regular Golf. Do the GTE already and a hybrid Golf. Hybrid everything. Make sure every dealer is above board in sales and service. Add the color green and a small truck made in TN. Bring back lower prices, too.
RelationNo9374@reddit
Cadillac is frankly doing great Iām seeing the crossover EVās are selling remarkably well. The Escalade sized one looks sick.
New Deville and Coupe deville they need to harken back to the 68-70 model which is perfect. Perfect for an EV and for a PHEV. They donāt have to be the most efficient they just gotta drive, ride, and feel like they own the road. Size matters here more than absolute performance and range
redditorrrrrrrrrrrr@reddit
Chevrolet has hit the point of just copy pasting the same garbage left and right and scaling it up and down according to model size goals. It would end with me.
The current Blazer is IMMEDIATELY discontinued. It will come back as a body on frame 4x4 off-roader to compete with the bronco and Wrangler. It will also come as bare bones as possible all the way up to luxury trim for custom orders. I also don't understand it's point in the market when the equinox already exists.
Mid engine corvette is changing its name for any future mid engine models. The quest for lap times has made them forget what the corvette is all about. The actual Corvette name will be given back to a front engine RWD platform.
Focusing on competition with the Ford Maverick. An s10 is necessary in the current market, and once again bare bones all the way to luxury trims depending on orders. Gasoline, hybrid and EV option.
3 cyl turbos are all gone. 2.7 turbobmax all around in smaller applications.
Bring back the Impala / Buick regal tour X wagon... Gasoline hybrid and EV option as well.
Welcome home the SS/Hennessy performance collabs no longer will these be visual upgrades only like the RS line but they will include extra boost and actual performance and suspension upgrades from standard models.
Dredgeon@reddit
Mid engine corvette has forgotten what it's all about?
You got Zora rolling in his grave with this shit. The most boneheaded take in this whole thread. Let the Camaro stretch it's legs and let the Corvette keep doing what it's always done. Beating the European sports cars at their own game (especially for the price). Genuinely what is the point of making the Corvette front engined again?
18436572_V8@reddit
Hell yes.
Iāll add some to your points 1. Not only should the blazer not exist because of the equinox, it shouldnāt exist because of the traverse. A Blazer based on the Colorado would be bad ass, especially a two door ZR2 one.
With the Camaro gone, thereās room for a more entry level V8 car, and a front engine Corvette would be perfect. Rumor is Camaro might return, but Iād love to see the Vette return to being the best front engine rear drive performance car for the money. Let the current platform go nuts.
How GM has let the compact truck segment go is beyond me.
Oddly enough (and sadly) the 2.7 turbo is the best most reliable truck engine they make right now. Iām not sure if it would fit where some of those little 3 bangers fit, but a 2.7 awd Trax would be something.
My wife had a TourX. Great car. I wish they would have had a turbo 6 option and brought back the grand national name.
There were many decent factory performance collaborations that could come back including the ones you mentioned plus Callaway and GLP.
Sadly, cars are no longer made for people who actually like cars.
stulogic@reddit
Iām going for Toyota, the aim of recapturing their absolute domination of a line-up in the 90s. I was alive then, was a JDM fan then, and wasā¦ a Nissan guy. In hindsight, while I still love my Nissans and have several from that era, Toyota absolutely crushed it.
Iām keeping everything as it is since theyāre cooking already when it comes to appliance grade stuff.
Iām using the profit to develop a sedan on the TNGA-L platform, redeveloping a modern 2JZ with Yamaha, and bringing a modern JZX100 to market despite the world hating sedans now. Iām also making a wagon version since everyone else is ignoring economics. RWD, boosted 3.0 straight 6 with some mild hybrid for boost infill and emissions compliance, BRZ levels of frugality on the base models, a sports model and tourer V equivalent wearing a Lexus badge. Huge focus on aftermarket friendliness and marketed squarely at my demographic - Milne oaks with a bit of disposable that grew up adoring 90s JDM and tuning.
Then, Iām taking the Sienna and sending it to GR to make our new 2JZ fit, making an AWD hybrid Sienna GR with more power than is necessary, beefing the brakes up, lowering it, and maximum cool dad points.
Next, Iām taking the Prado / LC250 and ā¦ you guessed it, shoving our new engine in that.
Then, Iām funding a design department specifically tasked with making restomod designs for some past icons, and a skunkworks department tasked with manufacturing it and releasing limited numbers factory refreshed, fully refreshed icons updated with factory backed modern creature comforts. Sell the parts along with factory reproduction parts Ć la Nismo to keep older stuff catered to with new parts.
A full line-up of factory restomod Supra, ST185, ST205, Chaser, Land Cruisers and so on will then be given a massive marketing budget to just make Toyota cool as shit, attend all the events and captivate people.
Ok_Height3499@reddit
Cadillac. Iād bring back a real full-sized car with 1959 dimensions, modern styling, super luxurious interior, and big V-8 power. I own a 2019 XTS and the wheelbase is the same as my parents 1963 Studebaker Lark. I bought that POS on the rebound after an accident destroyed my other car and itās a joke compared to those real Cadillacs.
RelationNo9374@reddit
Acura your interiors srr garbage. They look like Pontiac Grand Prix Grand Am. infotainment are garbage too.
The MDX and RdX are otherwise solid products.
The Integra is garbage (I donāt care what Car & Driver says - theyāre wrong).
Bring back a Legend sedan with a luxurious interior. Something like the 2024ish ES300. Make a better Integra that is quieter and drives like a Lexus IS.
Redo the NSX - a little nicer looking with a ripping sounding engine. Think mid engine Lexus LC coupe interior and overall swagger.
Make a crazy nice minivan
RelationNo9374@reddit
Chrysler needs to 2X their warranty coverage so that people start to trust it again
Chrysler also needs a new 300 sedan and it ought to continue the same design, attitude, and proportions of the recently cancelled ones. Absolutely Not based on the new Charger! Holy hell those new Chargers look like beached walruses.
Chrysler needs to rebrand a Jeep into a G wagon competitor ASAP.
revocer@reddit (OP)
ACURA
I would make their lineup more BMWesque but with platform/badge engineering from Honda, with a slight rebranding.
Sedans and Coupes will have name branded models instead of initials, all with manual transmission options. Manual transmission will be available across all trims, not just the higher performance trims.
Integra
Vigor
Legend
SUV lineup I would keep more or less as is, no rebranding:
ADX
RDX
MDX
Iād also create an entirely new lineup, for coupe crossover / SUVs, like the BMW X4 and X6.
Small
Medium
Large
Names TBD.
The trick to this is that each of small, medium, and large of each type will be a shared platform with their respective size. So we could adjust market demand. But even if a car doesnāt sell well, it will still be part of the lineup, just not produced.
Halo car:
NSX, and it would truly attempt to break the barriers as being a Next Generation Experimental.
I am also toying with the idea of an entirely new lineup hybrid lineup, assuming it can meet performance goals. Think the gen 2 NSX, and the performance gained from its hybrid drivetrain. And yes, even the manual transmission version would get a hybrid. Honda already has the technology with the CR-Z, it just has to be modernized and adapted for stronger drivetrains.
Guilty-Log6739@reddit
Acura and Honda has been asleep at the wheel for far too long.
Toyota is out here with the GR86, GRC, and Supra. On top of that, theyāre planning on releasing the GR supercar and a new MR2.
And Honda has the type R, which is sick, and the prelude, which sucks.
They need to get back to their roots
revocer@reddit (OP)
The Prelude āplatformā / āchassisā would make a perfect Integra Coupe, styled to look more like an Integra, and with innards to do the Integra justice.Ā
PerformerBrief5881@reddit
Dont forget the yaris gr! won the wrc with it the last 3 year. Toyota is out there killed it.
Guilty-Log6739@reddit
Yeah the GR Yaris is sweet. I bought a GR Corolla because Honda refused to let me test drive a Type R without buying the car.
I get the Type Rs are amazing, but thatās ridiculous.
They also canceled the tlx type s and the prelude is not competitive for its price.
So all theyāve got thatās truly competitive is the type R and the buying experience isnāt great.
Ombortron@reddit
So many Acuras are like āalmost really goodā, often annoyingly so, like theyāve got many models that are on great platforms with great designs, which drive well in many ways, but then they just have one or maybe two bigger flaws that make things fall a bit flat. And usually those issues are relatively easy to address too. Or even if they offered the current versions as cheaper base models, with better versions that are reasonably priced. Like maybe Iād accept some of those compromises at a better price point, but right now there are too many Acura models that donāt quite hit the mark for their respective prices, in my opinion.
SergeantBacon101@reddit
Lotus. They will never be a stable car company, so might as well have some fun until they get sold on to the next owner.
-Dump the current EV lineup
-Create a gas/hybrid sedan that uses the Emeya name - smaller than the M5 and a hell of a lot lighter (target sub 4k pounds) offer a manual with the gas only model and also offer a hybrid to boost emissions ratings.
-Bring back the Esprit as a sub 200k GT3 competitor. Make it a little bigger than the Cayman, fit it with a twin turbo small displacement V8. Manual and DCT options. Beautiful styling, make it stand out amongst the somewhat safely styled modern supercars.
-Bring back the Elise, keep the formula the same but with some slight modernization. Borrow the Civic Type-R's drivetrain for one option, and also offer the 2.0 Turbo Mercedes engine with DCT.
-Create an SUV, but make it something in the vain of the local motors Rally fighter. Badass, dakar ready, but still practical enough for somewhat luxury mass-market.
wpmason@reddit
Chrysler
Step one, weāre making a new Imperial as the flagship.
Oh wait, they actually already made it, but badged it as a Jeep.
You make the Wagoneer they Imperial, lose any Jeep ālifestyleā touches and just make it a really nice, lush, luxury SUV.
The Wagoneer Sā¦ thatās the Imperial Cruiser now.
You also make some low-slung luxury sport models (in the German fashion)ā¦ the big one is the Concorde, the midsize is the Javelin.
In the middle of the range, balancing luxury, practicality, and cost you have the LeBaron.
You also make a luxurious compact SUV at the low end of the Chrysler range ideal for urban life and call it something that really evokes that lifestyleā¦ something like New Yorker.
NoEmu5969@reddit
Buick. Bring back the 3600 and rebadge other GM products. The only difference between a Chevy and a Buick is the Buick has the V6, a Buick badge, and a few extra pounds of sound deadening.
Ombortron@reddit
What I wouldnāt do for a well designed sporty Buick, especially a well executed Buick Regal (and having a GNX version would be the coolest of course). Youāve got a range of engines you could theoretically offer on various trims, from corvettes and blackwings š the last version even had a variant that was a wagonā¦..
howrunowgoodnyou@reddit
3800?
NoEmu5969@reddit
That one
phoenix823@reddit
The only real answer to this question is Chrysler, and for one gigantic reason. Nearly every SUV that is sold today should have been a minivan, and nobody did minivans like Chrysler.
BC999R@reddit
When I used to travel to Asia for business, I was surprised how in China and Hong Kong especially, minivans are luxury cars. Long black chauffeur driven Toyota Alphards and even Buick minivans, with wide low profile tires flashy alloys and blacked out windows were everywhere. Roomy, comfortable - they are the stretch limo of the 21st century. Chrysler could own that market world-wide.
phoenix823@reddit
My brother has a Honda Odyssey and I remember being really impressed with the ride, comfort, room, and power when I first got in. I take a taxi service pretty frequently that uses Tahoes and Suburbans and while they're nice, they're not luxury. Even the GLS/X7/Q7 SUVs are fine, but they're nothing like an S-class Mercedes. I would think a minivan with a bit of a lift (nothing like a Tahoe) and a bunch more sound deadening made for adults/not kids would sell like crazy. Shape/style it like one of the new Range Rovers. That's basically what Hyundai did with the Palisade.
shadow_of_nifelheim@reddit
I wish we could have SAAB back. Maybe a SAAB 900-like hatchback with sedan and convertible options, a 9-5 EV sportcombi, maybe something like a 9-7 for people who want an SUV but not a rebadge something with more SAAB DNA, and then maybe a SAAB Sonnet for something faster and sportier.
ll_simon@reddit
Nissan, purely to get the Skyline back on track. Weāre going on 20 years without a real new generation. I get the,āif aināt broke donāt break itā but come on
Jcw28@reddit
Alfa Romeo.
Bin off the SUVs, bring back a family hatchback with good looks and character, and make some roadsters.
Alfa's should be achingly beautiful and fundamentally a bit less refined than their competitors.
Zestyclose-Gap-9247@reddit
Not sure Honda needs redemption per se but I dream of adding a few things in its lineup that would make it the #1 brand again in my heart
Accord - add a wagon trim, panoramic sunroof, and hybrid with power train with 270 hp minimum
Odyssey - add hybrid trim, update dash and infotainment to match rest of line up, front and rear sunroof, better 360 camera,
Civic - near perfect, just needs 220 hp minimum across the line up
Ridgeline - make it smaller to compete with the Santa Cruz and Maverick. No one respects it as ārealā truck anyway, itād kill in the mini truck segment, add hybrid trim
I donāt care very much for SUVs so no recs on the SUV line up.
Jcw28@reddit
They also need an about turn on the decision to stop making the Civic Type R for Europe. It's a cornerstone of their identity.
AmchadAcela@reddit
First Elon Musk would need to be fired as step 1 to save Tesla and I would merge Tesla with the Boring Company. Step 2 would be to allow the Tesla and Boring Company workers to unionize. I would scrap the Cybercab and develop an autonomous transit vehicle platform that would be scalable from a paratransit van up to a 60 foot articulated bus. I would then develop a scalable car platform to be used for compact, midsize, and full size sedans, vans, crossovers/suvs, and trucks. The cars would be designed to be able to last at least 10 years and 150k miles and come standard with a revamped/safer Autopilot. Tesla and Boring Company would become a one stop shop for planning and building autonomous electrified transit for public transit agencies.
CartierWlayvo@reddit
Mitsubishi
Honda brought back the prelude, Toyota brought back the Supra, Nissan has the Z. I want to see a revival of the Lancer
boxersunset121423@reddit
Redeem Nissan. Bring back the Maxima as an AWD sports car, keep the Altima as an equivalent to the Accord and Camry. Bring back the Versa as an affordable car. Bring back the Xterra, which they are doing, and make the Pathfinder more competitive.
Kill the Kicks Play, make the current Kicks more affordable, make a lower more affordable trim of the Murano and donāt touch the Armada.
No-Understanding-912@reddit
Bring back Scion and focus on barebones cheapest cars possible. The few bottom trim no frills cars Toyota makes are gone as soon as they hit the lot, if not before.
I think if a company actually built something to sale for as little as possible, they'd actually do well. They all just focus so much on maximizing profits that they have completely lost an entire market of buyers, the entry market.
revocer@reddit (OP)
I miss Scion.
mundotaku@reddit
Mercedes Benz. Stop the tasteless Chinese crap with the LED'ss and get back to defining luxury by building insane quality car and leaving the technology to others.
The lineup should be:
G Wagon.
Baby G Wagon.
No more A class, but GLA only.
C and E class become the same car. C is a short wheel base, E long wheel base. A coupe will be available as a C class.
S Class will focus again on quality over technology. Technology can be outsourced.
SL will be shrinked and inspired more in the W113 Pagoda. The quality and finished would be above anything on the market. No plastic allowed unless necessary.
Maybach will only be used to the top of the line S class and G wagon. This is focused on maximum quality of exclusive materials and tailored exclusively for their owners.
AMG will be only used for the SL and C coupe and will solemnly be used for sport applications.
Every 5 years, a very special ultra flagship car will be introduced with a very limited run.
This includes:
-A Mercedes-Maybach 600 Pullman only to be sold to head of states and selected individuals.
-A very special GT car powered by a detuned version of the F1 engine. Again, it only sold in very limited numbers to very special individuals.
In general, exterior design would return to be boxy and look like no other car on the market
fuzzimus@reddit
Lincoln
Big sedan, hybrid or EV, suicide doors
PerformerBrief5881@reddit
They did the doors on a continental and then made the damn thing limited edition. I got it first year, but why not mainstream after that!
Automatic_Mulberry@reddit
Fiat (in the US market).
They did a '60s ('50s?) revival with the 500 and its derivatives. Now let's do a '70s revival with an X1/9 neo - a two seat mid-rear engine Targa sports car.
And, screw it, embrace the uglitude and bring a Multipla to the US, too.
Beneficial_Leg4691@reddit
Lol you would sell dozens
bissimo@reddit
That's very optimistic: https://www.jalopnik.com/fiat-sold-just-605-cars-in-2023-1851149473/
FlyingJess@reddit
Peugeot, just focus on reliability like they used to. Drop that fucking puretech. I've heard that they are finally using a chain, so maybe... Maybe, they are starting the redemption arc themselves.
Fragrant-Anybody0717@reddit
Audi(this is applicable to many brands) less screens, more buttons, add manual transmission.
imachiknsamich@reddit
GM
Believe it or not back in my day.They used to make cool fun fast, reliable cars
Like the pontiac transam or the corvette when it still had a clutch pedal. Hell, they even had regular cars that you can option out with high performance parts like a cavalier Z24.
Now, GM puts out nothing but bland ass SUVs that nobody really cares about. And one sports car, which is more like a faux-rari
In my opinion, that was one of G m's biggest mistakes ever. They took their flagship sports car and made it for girls with the engine in the wrong spot
HDauthentic@reddit
Scion would do pretty well with their original business model in 2026
Fellwuckly@reddit
Mitsubishi
ASGT908@reddit
Jaguar but I think they missed the boat on this. About 15 years ago when the MK3 Focus came out, they should have built a mass market hatch to compete with the BMW 1 series, Audi A3 and mercedes A Class based on the ford focus. Also missing for a long time a 3 Series rival which when the XE came out in 2015, was as cramped as a 1 series MK2 in the back.
norf937@reddit
The brand isnāt really in need of redemption but Tesla.
Iāve been daily driving the Model S Plaid for about a year now and itās a fantastic vehicle. āFull tankā everyday, practically 0 maintenance, drives me around, and the instant 1000+hp has allowed me to never come close to losing a street race lol.
They recently discontinued the X&S which hurt. If I was in charge i would have definitely gave them a refresh.. change the look, tighten up any quality issues, and keep them as the Halo vehicles. Killing off two of your best vehicles feels like a miss.
Wigberht_Eadweard@reddit
I see the og teslas (not roadster) with the black faux grille every once in a while and I think that styling is 10x better than what theyāre doing now.
zespak@reddit
Been dailying a Model S for 7 years now. The brand is in dire need of redemption. Also, as you said, a refresh. The Model S is an amazing family vehicle, sad they discontinued it.
NoEmu5969@reddit
The brand is in desperate need of redemption.
norf937@reddit
They outsell every other EV manufacturer in the US combined & by a lot. They are also a top 10 selling manufacturer in the US and have a top 10 selling vehicle (model Y) while selling only EVs.
If anything the EV market in general needs a redemption, not really Tesla.
NoEmu5969@reddit
Half of their market knows they are lead by a Nazi and they can only stay competitive as long as Chinese brands are shut out.
jabroni4545@reddit
Redditors are not half of their market.
Sobchak_84@reddit
Jaguar. Basically start over and do the equivalent to the porsche lineup. 1 high end sports gt, 1 2-seater, 2 crossovers, 1 super sports sedan.
Cranks_No_Start@reddit
Jaguar. Ā
Bring back the XJ and a version of the E-Type.Ā At this point they are DOA and itās a shame.Ā