Why new cars look like the 1980s again

[@djangokill65]

Mark Fisher was right. "In our capitalist societies, as technology advances, our culture deteriorates and we increasingly lose our sense of time and progress, becoming amnesiac consumers stuck in an endlessly recycled and rebooted past."

[@djyoungg1]

RIP to a GOAT fisher

[@drive]

man, that rings true

[@roots4x]

Those are the words of someone who can't see how short our lives are. Small cycles in styling and fashion will be indistinguishable to people 100 years from now. Technology and fashion typically move so much slower than we can imagine in our modern lives. Going back a couple decades is basically just the same era as far as our distant successive generations are concerned. As regarded as Fisher was, he was just a man who seemed to love criticizing an economic system that gave him and every person in the developed world a life beyond subsistence farming and peasantry.

[@Rissen_]

couldnt you argue that thats why we are recycling the past into the present? to cling on to the times we're slowly forgetting due to natural entropy/aging whilst capatalism is just serving what we're asking for. I feel like the passing of time causes the deterioration and culture splits not capatalism.

[@trashyspeeds266]

Ok, in that case, can we go back to American 50s and 60s designs? Where cars actually looked fkn good?

[@lavafish7660]

just bring back small cars, I'm tired of these massive vehicles everywhere

[@kanaric]

They did. Hardly anyone buy them.

[@tijgertjekonijnwordopgegeten]

​@@kanaricWho did? And they aren't marketing them, all that is being marketed is SUVs

[@Maxwell_Brune]

Just make the US stop with the whole "utility" law allowing the manufacturers to follow less strict emission guidelines for SUVs and you're golden

[@gordocarbo]

@@tijgertjekonijnwordopgegeten Agree!! Those crossovers are huge piles of crap. If youre remotely tall they are a pain to get in and out of without knocking your head on something. With EVs it will only get worse. Car mfrs are gonna discontinue a number of models. They will all be pretty much the same car, different body. Like a 1970s go cart generic crap

[@katana258]

TRY A k.i.a. soul for a ride

[@Trypticon1]

I genuinely don’t think these modern designs capture the 1980s style. They just look like 2000s SUVs with slight creases added to the body panels, and funky tail lights. Where’s my 2nd Gen CR-X? The CR-Z was crap. Where’s my Toyota Celica? Volvo 740 wagon? What if I want a brand new boxy Grand National? An angular MR-2? I want pop-up headlights, genuine boxiness, louvres, and while we’re at it, let’s bring back physical buttons on the dash. I hate having to wait until I’m stopped at a light to do anything.

[@divid3d]

yes!

[@supercleaner]

Bring back cars you can maintain yourself without having a degree in engineering and $100,000 worth of special service tools (SST). So many overcomplicated features are making cars less fun to drive and unaffordable to purchase.

[@supercleaner]

I just got a 1991 MADE FOR AMERICA BMW 318i sedan. It's not so clean, but it's low mileage and mechanically sound - 5 speed manual. I want to max rev it on curves and hills and do European style driving, except we have no autobahn to go fast safely. Simple, high-reving fun is all I want. 138 hp is plenty for that. Tuneup and maintenance parts on order to counter 10 years in storage. I hope I survive my experience. Old school rocks!

[@edu7979]

yeah these are literally just modern day pieces of ugly shit that look slightly boxier, wtf is this????????

[@bricefleckenstein9666]

Oh ghods, you don't REALLY want the nightmare of "pop up headlights" back again I hope? Louvres at least helped keep the sun out some of the time.

[@ricepony33]

Bring back small manual RWD sedans and wagons.

[@CyanRooper]

Bring back entry level enthusiast vehicles like sporty RWD coupes such as the Capri (not the dumb SUV thing) and FWD hatchbacks like the CRX.

[@ihatehandles3]

dont know about manuals but for sure companies will make small rwd cars and say it is the future of individual transportation

[@Whatshisname346]

While this is a great idea, the market says differently. I live in the Nordic region, one of the few markets where wagons are still popular and even here they’re losing out to SUVs. The issue is that because of the price of new cars, young people and families aren’t buying new cars as much as they were. That leaves the market mainly to older image conscious buyers who still think wagons are a bit meh and SUVs give them some ‘rugged individualism’ vibes. Also, how many ‘good’ small RWD wagons were there? BMW E30 maybe. Didn’t even come to the states. Most Volvos were pretty big even by today’s standards. Audis and VWs were all FWD or 4WD.

[@emptyshirt]

Read about the US CAFE footprint rule. Small cars aren't coming back in the US. As a bonus, read about what vehicles qualify for section 179 of the tax code. Buisiness owners are never not going to pick the truck that qualifies for a $25000 rebate.

[@Inferno45]

Nobody wants wagons. They looks like turds.

[@sentiencepsn2714]

The retro styling is aimed at older generations for a reason. They can afford it. What’s the point of styling something for younger buyers if the average new car cost nearly $50k? Besides, manufacturers originally tried the futurist design language already for EVs.

[@OldSchoolZ-wy2yx]

$50K is an insane amount of money for garbage

[@lordterra1377]

EVs are a scam.

[@regisdumoulin]

The older generation buys new retro cars... The younger generation buys actual older cars 😊

[@lordterra1377]

@@sentiencepsn2714 EV are a scam. They are awful.

[@edu7979]

and the battery junk is stillll as ugly as ever so nothing ever changed

[@mattpipes5106]

Cars of the 80’s needed to be utilitarian, efficient and useful… if that’s a trend, good.

[@benjaminmatute9085]

But also high performance and nostalgic as well as cool. Which is also good.

[@jamesgizasson]

Exactly. Which is why the auto industry will completely ignore HOW those cars were built in favor of a nostalgic aesthetic that sells to suckers. T^T

[@benjaminmatute9085]

@@jamesgizasson Bruh, you realize that this is a good thing right? If we completely forget what made the mustang famous in terms of looks and feel then we forget about the mustang in total. Look at Pontiac in the 2000’s when instead of looking like a big muscle car looked like the Holden it was designed after. When you buy a challenger you also want the looks and history of the car and history has proven that once a good design is out and companies want to change it it turns out looking like crap on that car and it doesn’t sell.

[@jamesgizasson]

@@benjaminmatute9085 Brother... I don't care what it looks like, as long as it's built well. That seems to be the only thing they struggle with.

[@benjaminmatute9085]

@@jamesgizasson You really don’t know what i was saying. If dodge made a challenger that looks nothing like a challenger because challengers clearly have that 70’s design that made them so popular are you rly gonna buy it? Heck is a anyone?

[@vetar3372]

I don't think manufacturers are serious about bringing anything "back". The 80s were futuristic sure, but it was a much friendlier futurism than todays brutal overstyled designs. Most cars are still SUVs, and go for the "aggressive" generic shape look. The whole cyberpunk aesthetic seems more like an online or techy thing, but it does influence designs, especially EVs. I think the yearning for a past version of the future is strong because society looks for escapism

[@rafapenson]

None for the manufacturers got this retro style for sure, some cars like Renault 5 and new fiat panda that remind the old ones.. the only examples about this "retro trend"..

[@pyeltd.5457]

@@rafapensonneed a new Citrëon AX to save France

[@CryptidBuddy]

Not really friendly, things like the Countach or the insanity of the concept cars still hasn’t been matched, the closest thing today would be a cybertruck

[@vetar3372]

@@pyeltd.5457 funnily enough i own a BX mk1. It took me a long time to find something that actually looks the way i want

[@edu7979]

@@CryptidBuddy Yeah no the closest thing today would be the n vision 74, not the cyberfridge

[@thepointsnorth]

Retro styling clues are totally irrelevant when taken from 80s sedans and applying them to crossover SUVs. That’s a totally different form of vehicle that is devoid of stylishness by nature.

[@SeeSawMassacre]

I agree. Taking some small design feature and applying it to something else is just lazy hackery.

[@kanaric]

Yet this Hyundai SUV gets raved for style. Guess you are wrong lol.

[@zgSH4DOW]

No one's buying a crossover for the style Why are you mad about it

[@brrebrresen1367]

@@kanaric thing with Hyundai is that they are "taking inspiration from" the styles not "replicating" the styles and trying to sell on nostalgia alone. the Ioniq 5 is just that, an Ioniq 5.... not trying to be something else. and that is what people love about it. then there is Ford. makes a new car, put on some minor elements of nostalgia on some run of the mill "SUV" and then puts an iconic name on it and tries to sell it on nostalgia, a nostalgia it don't have. the Mustang Mach E would have been fine if they sold it as just the Mach E. but they had to add the Mustang name to it and they tries heavily to sell on the Mustang branding. and if the Mach E wasn't bad enough then there is the coming new Ford Capri...

[@edu7979]

@@kanaric that hyundai suv is a hideous pile of junk

[@rob_does_stuff]

Could we just get back to 1980's pricing, please?

[@chriselore5717]

I agree a regular cab long bed 5.0(305) v8 chevy 1500 which is what I got is like $9,500 brand new in 1985 I priced it like $32,000 for the same thing brand new

[@UmmYeahOk]

Even adjusted for inflation would be great.

[@borishorv]

And quality

[@ZetoBlackproject]

Are you willing to let go of everything else too? Like onboard screens, ECUs, airbags, etc...? If so, sure.

[@djangokill65]

Sorry. Line must go up 📈

[@antonioarroyas7662]

A retro Civic hatch would kill it these days.

[@michaelclark3192]

They tried with the awesome designed Honda E but it failed, but that was Honda's fault for being too expensive, not enough range and not selling it in enough places.

[@soundseeker63]

@@michaelclark3192 So basically the design part was a success, but the EV part was a failure. Imagine if they put one of their VTEC engines in it and charged 50% less how popular it could have been.

[@Melrieoi]

@@michaelclark3192 The E is the only EV i have been vaguely interested in. So lets hope the ID 2 won't be a repeat of that.

[@Mofapilot]

​@@soundseeker63 They have one, it's called Honda N-One

[@DerpEye]

All this is useless. New cars are slowly becoming unaffordable for the average person, and are just unreliable smartphones on wheels.

[@redlight3932]

seems as if we have a economic downfall every 100 years and the same issues crop up time and time again

[@mikebronicki8264]

There's a retro trend I can get behind. Ditch the 20 inch flat screen, GPS and Bluetooth and give me a 1990's interior. That much less to break.

[@Nun195]

@@redlight3932capitalism baby!

[@kanaric]

New cars are not unaffordable to the average person unless you have no clue what an average person in the US makes which you probably have no idea. Half the people who post shit like this are like the mom from Arrested Development thinking a banana costs $10. Totally out of touch and no sense of what things cost at all.

[@xJDMWaRRi0Rx]

@@Nun195 nah not capitalism... Its the guys that got kicked out of the bar 109 times for doing this to countries

[@randominternet8198]

I like the 80s styling so much better, I hate the styling Tesla has so much

[@gordocarbo]

Me too, all evs. Same bland watered down generic piece of plastic with a different emblem No cool colors to choose from anymore just a few basics. Anything to save a buck CAnnot believe adults get excited about fake engine sounds, maybe kids with video games do but..

[@chrisstromberg6527]

It looks like something you might step in at a dog park!

[@josejh-eb8st]

​@@clintonmcbride7015where? They're fuckin hideous

[@EmperorEdwardXIII]

Remember that Cyberpunk was born in the 80s and this is the future...

[@kornkernel2232]

Yep, and think about it we are actually kinda living to that cyberpunk futurism of the 80's now, just cleaner, not gritty and not as dystopian (depending how you look the world these days). What we mostly differ that 80's didn't think too much or most scifi didn't thought off is the having internet everywhere, more wireless, and less physical storage. But general concept of how tech revolves in our society pretty much 🔮 cted those 80's sci-fi, just less robots and no human Androids. But general AI is coming, which is more of 90's and early 2000's concept of futurism. We still have decades to really nail AI. What we have now likes of ChatGPT is just a smart part of the bigger AI in the future.

[@beatonthebrat4000]

YES !! ❤❤❤❤

[@rhadiem]

Hell yeah it is. VR, AI, flying cars and WW3 loooming. We're nearly there.

[@mrfishsticks266]

No

[@anticorporatists9959]

​@@kornkernel2232you forgot the drop in quality of vehicles with this mindset

[@blakecampbell-taylor2865]

I saw a mint condition 1980 Cadillac Coupe DeVille today and I was stunned by how refined and elegant it looked compared to what Cadillac has been putting out in recent decades. It made me realize how much I would love to see a retro early 80s Cadillac EV.

[@jamesbosworth4191]

Today's "cadillacs" are in no way real Cadillacs. Cads are supposed to be out and out LUXURY cars. That means big, grand, plush, indulgent, not sensible or practical. Sensible and practical is for Fords, Chevys, and Plymouths.

[@Whatshisname346]

In Europe, I’d dare say the 80s was our peak (or the start of our peak) automotive era. Audi was starting its Quattro era, Saabs were showing how to do mass market turbos, BMWs were literally the ultimate driving machine and Volvo and Mercedes were building rock solid cars. The mass market brands were also doing brilliant work with the rise of the hot hatch, turbo diesels and cool quirky graphics. Even your average small cars were pretty good. Think fiat panda, Peugeot 205, Ford Fiesta or fiat UNO. Simple, well-designed, fun, easy to live with cars. You also had some pretty iconic marketing such as Grace Jones’ Citroen CX advertisements, Audis Vorsprung durch Technik and BMWs ultimate driving machine, so culturally it is an era we can hark back to where we were meeting and exceeding the competition.

[@jon-paulfilkins7820]

As a brit, I must say that most 80's cars left me cold at the time. At least they can skip Lucas electrics.

[@tofu042]

couldnt agree more. My own cars were always from the 80s or 90s and everytime I drive something modern, I wonder how disconnected I feel from the road.

[@the_kombinator]

LMAO the 80s in Europe was the same thing as the malaise era of the US in the 70s.

[@novawolf_gaming]

I would honestly say Volvo might be one of the only few companies left that have stuck to their guns

[@p.informatico1320]

Even if the 80s were good, I think the 90s were the peak for european auto industry...

[@PresidentHotdog]

Americans want manual gearboxes now because in their films, changing gear seems to give massive acceleration boosts.

[@jamesbosworth4191]

It would be nice of lots of buyers started demanding manual transmissions, as we should have the choice of standard shift or automatic.

[@simonbone]

2:30 The New Beetle flopped in Germany, where the original was seen more as the family car from poorer times, rather than the first car you used to drive to the beach as a teenager.

[@antonioarroyas7662]

It was made in Mexico with the American market as a major target.

[@mattwolf7698]

It's annoying how the Mini, Fiat 500 and Beetle abandoned their affordable roots.

[@cratecruncher4974]

I recall visiting Mexico City in '92. There were thousands of bright green Super Beetle cabs running around. They were all in good nick for Mexico.

[@fortimusprime]

It still sold quite well on the U.S.

[@nonick969]

It flopped everywhere. Fiat 500 would have been a better example

[@JeromePJr]

Bring back station wagons. Especially small wagons like the Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera Crusier. That was my first car and I loved it.

[@avgFloridian]

It would be really funny if new EVs did retro throwbacks to the 1820-1920s EVs.

[@williambrasky3891]

Please! My wife says she’s already regretting giving me a Stanley Steamer! She complains every time we go out together that we smell like shit (because the big hot steamer she laid on my chest, for my birthday). Ever since I sent her to the asylum for trying to vote, she hasn’t shut up about the wonders of electrical assistance and laudanum. I just recently converted our home to run on whale oil, Sperm of The Future!, and all that. But she insists she must have electricity to run the device Doc says is of utmost vitality to her regime of treatments. So, here I am buying a new electro mobile on the prescription of a medical doctor! It’s been 2 days. And let me tell ya, life ain’t ever smelled sweeter! Me ole wife just hops in that little battery buggy in the morning and goes about town, tiller in one hand, Hysteria-Be-Gone vibrating in the other. She says she feels like a female Zeus, commanding the ecstasy of electricity to take her all the places I’d never bothered! She gets back after a full day of driving, makes supper and it’s right to bed! I don’t have to listen to her whine all day as I try to do important business, and she gets to take in the all the delights modern Cleveland has to offer! I’m telling you, this is the answer to all problems in society!

[@Neojhun]

Soo horseless carriages with modern EV drive train. That would be hilarious overkill.

[@gordocarbo]

Imagine one of those running a 10 sec quarter

[@TheMrPeteChannel]

1820s EVs?

[@jamesbosworth4191]

1900s - 1920s. There were no cars until the 1890s.

[@illusiveelk2558]

They're banking on Gen X/Y's desire to go back to a time before everything was screwed up. And that time was either before they were born or before they were old enough to really experienced it. I guess you could call it second-hand nostalgia.

[@kanaric]

That isn't true at all. They are going by the fact that in media and games 80s nostalgia is in like boomer nostaligia was in 20 years ago with shit like the HHR. That's literally all it is. And these cars don't look 80s at all on top of it. Square headlights = 80s? Literally when half of every truck, and this is an SUV, has had square headlights the last 20 years.

[@gordocarbo]

GEnX, lost interest in any new or late model vehicle. Too many electonics taht fail, paper thin sheetmetal and retros are bloated huge heavy boats that feel like a coffin . 50k is not affordable no way. 18-30 possibly

[@soundseeker63]

Wrong demographic in the case of Gen Y, most of whom can barely afford to survive never mind take out finance of a car costing 30-50k.

[@pyeltd.5457]

@@kanaricnot a single SUV has had rectangular headlights but more aggressive wannabe Lamborghini/Ferrari headlights in the past 20 years.

[@marcox43]

Also depending where you look, most of 90's generation grew with their parents late 80's tech, and through the 90's-2000's transicion, so even if I was born in late 90's, I did experience quite a bit of analog tech. Disquettes, VHS, cassetes, Vinyl players, grew up with all of that. I first used a PC with MS-2, later on it was Win 98 and then XP. I grew up with a boxy jeep and can't stand 2003 vibe of everything curved like a baloon.

[@SouthshoreVice]

I think it started in the 70s. Cars like the Cordoba and Stutz Blackhawk had a very baroque look inspired by cars from the 20s and 30s

[@emjayay]

Well, the Stutz wasn't exactly a mass production car.

[@FastCarsNoRules220]

@@SouthshoreVice There's also cars like the Excalibur, the Zimmer, and the Panther De Ville.

[@Tigerfire75]

Quiet he thinks he is new and edgy with and doesn't know it has been happening all along.

[@Ryadovoy_Borodin]

⁠@@FastCarsNoRules220Yes, but none of these are mass production vehicles. There was almost 4 times as many Plymouth Prowlers as there were Chrysler Excaliburs, not to mention many Zimmers were based on other cars, the Golden Spirit was a Mustang, and the Quicksilver was a Fiero. This video is talking specifically about mass-production vehicles.

[@thezombie7839]

The Cordoba didn't look any further than the Monte Carlo for its inspiration.

[@teamtetris1]

None of these modern cars look good but the old cars they're meant to look like look good

[@SurnaturalM]

I drove in the 80s, and the cars were more utilitarian than today. Most cars were way smaller, too.

[@nk53nxg]

🤣 you were lucky to get electric windows unless it was near top spec in the 80's. At least you could fix it yourself, most 80's cars did rust far quicker than todays cars.

[@kanaric]

NHTSA regulations, you can't make cars like that today legally

[@michaelclark3192]

I see it a bit differently, I drove an 80s Japanese luxury coupe in the 00s as my first car so I've never had wind up windows. My parents though, always bought base models for our family cars growing up. But yes they were smaller and lighter.

[@jamesbosworth4191]

We still had nice big cars as well, but big cars are not as big as huge 4 door pickups and huge SUVs. Lighter as well.

[@jamesbosworth4191]

@@nk53nxg You could get power windows, but they were optional on lower priced and medium priced cars. You could also get rust-proofing, but few did.

[@mikesbo1]

Regarding 12:06 comments, Japanese nostalgia for the 90's, how about the GR Supra and the AE, er GT 86 (name only, I guess), back to 90's/basics Miata?

[@kleanovodust-bin69]

Integra too is going back.

[@michaelclark3192]

Also Japanese motorcycle manufacturers are doing great retro futuristic designs the last few years.

[@Xearnx_Content]

Ferrari f40 would be dope

[@joecool9739]

None of those look even remotely 80s or 90s The new Supra looks nothing like the 90s Supra unless you got your eyes poked out

[@michaelkevinmirasol8256]

Especially the engine. 2JZ were legendary 6-cyl Toyota engines that can never be replaced by a BMW engine@@joecool9739

[@bcbikerace]

I would love to see Volvo reimagine the 240 series.

[@KennyNash-sb9sh]

My sister & brother in law had a 1979 264 GL. This was absolutely a beautiful & luxurious automobile!🎉🎉🎉

[@Trypticon1]

This x1000!!

[@skymuffn]

…would definitely buy it. I inherited my great Aunt’s ‘90 245 Wagon and she still drives and looks like new.

[@stevejordan7275]

Wait, we can do that TODAY! Buy a used refrigerator, cut some holes for the windows, and nail some wheels on the sides. Presto! Volvo 240! (HeeHeeHeeSnort)) Remember "They're boxy, but they're good."

[@bcbikerace]

@@stevejordan7275 That’s “Crazy People” talk.

[@connorlearmonth665]

I love the way you describe how suvs look. It’s so accurate and I don’t get why people all want to buy the same looking car now. Feels like the ultimate sheep mobile as you just look exactly like everyone else on the road.

[@SeeSawMassacre]

It seems to me that almost every car you can buy new fits that description. And they're all grey or some other non-color.

[@mystisith3984]

SUV architecture: "I have ground clearance for pot holes & speed bumps that I refuse to negotiate, volume that I don't need & false sense of security because I'm big & heavy." And then I'm bad at all kinds of driving (city or highway or real off roading) because compromise doesn't work: You need to pick a program & stick to it. I'll be glad when that nonsensical trend is dead.

[@connorlearmonth665]

@@mystisith3984 marketing is a powerful thing

[@connorlearmonth665]

@@mystisith3984 marketing is a powerful thing

[@tomnwmi]

Wish I still had that 460ci Country Squire 8 mpg! Maybe they'll come back. Our the Vista Cruiser. LOL

[@TotallyNotASpy1]

I'd love to see a modern version of several concept cars like all the wedges from the 70's and 80's, as well as a modernization of the old Toyota AE86 shape. I also desperately wish to see the end of the SUV era. Bring back hatches and wagons, you don't need that much metal and ground clearance to take your shitty kids to school!

[@rob_does_stuff]

Love that wedge design! Countach, Delorean, etc.

[@rafapenson]

"To take your shitty kids to school". The most people that got this cars dont have kids..

[@toshitanaka1550]

You have the modern GR Corolla. Even though the GR86 took its place as they are different model cars.

[@gordocarbo]

Feral patch kids!

[@chrxx4327]

Cars are just another form of fashion, and fashion is cyclical.

[@fortimusprime]

Gives me hope we’ll see another Beetle or Beetle-like design.

[@gabrieleserini895]

If the 80s are back, then why is the music still crap?

[@rob_does_stuff]

I blame Taylor Swift!😂

[@Jamie-zs8ok]

Yeah.. we need more glam meta,l

[@Duraputer]

Listen to dark/new wave, 80s stuff is returning with several non-mainstream bands. Harsh symmetry, boy harsher, male tears and so many more.

[@SeeSawMassacre]

The 80's are not back at all. The prevailing pessimism and lack of humanity and originality make that impossible. That and the fact that humanity never goes backward in that way.

[@BobbyCarillo]

We have Synthwave

[@mrburgess1698]

You missed out the reboot of the Fiat 500 when talking about the 2000’s retro revival. It was a huge seller in both the U.K. and all of Europe and is still being made today.

[@symmetry08]

80's design was about simplicity and clean lines, which is easier for manifacturing and quality control as well, that percieved faster to the brain logic than complicated extra lines meshing together unnecessarily. Also, it gives good parameter of where vehicle's corner ends that which helps with driving in tighter urban area.

[@road8662]

I just saw a Plymouth Prowler in the flesh (or shall I say, metal and plastic) a few days ago. It was a real eye-catcher, but sadly quite forgotten today.

[@jamesbosworth4191]

I loved the looks of that car from day one. I only wished, then and now, that it had a longer hood, rear drive, and a V8 engine. I would have been dynamite, as it looked something like a customized 37 Ford.

[@Pandamasque]

2:47 You can't do this without mentioning the '89 Mazda Miata (Lotus Elan), '91 Dodge Viper (Shelby Cobra), '97 Plymouth Prowler (misc. hot rods) and even the pre-facelift '97 Porsche 996 which subtly references various features of the '64 911, from the narrow elongated body shape and the return of separated tail lights, down to the placement of reverse lights within the rear clusters and the front clusters integrating the "fog lamps" to the inside of the main headlight and long flat turn signals just underneath, like in the 1964-1972 models.

[@shugertits]

I think you are absolutely right about the Prowler. Can't believe he didn't mention it. The others you mention, ehh, not really.

[@Pandamasque]

@@shugertits Even the Viper? The hint is both in the name and in the shape of the original roadster model, before the spoiler. Look up some early press photos, the gray haired man leaning against the car is Carroll Shelby, who intended the Viper to be the spiritual successor to Shelby Cobra. I think the only reason most don't think of the Viper that way anymore is that it became so successful in its own right and morphed into something else. But there are plenty of pictures of the mk1 side by side with a Cobra.

[@shugertits]

@Pandamasque I have never been reminded of a Cobra when I look at a Viper. In 1993 or whatever, I definitely saw no nostalgia and thought the design was very modern. I do see it, now, a little. As a roadster. You've convinced me. The Lotus Elan. I gotta be honest, I'm American--I've never seen one in my life. There are VERY few Lotuses in Texas. I looked it up. I don't know a thing about them. But it definitely resembles a Miata. Looks like a miata mated with an Opel GT. I'll give you that the Miata did take some inspiration from the Elan. I will not concede the Porsche. That was modern forward design at the time. Even getting away from the past a bit. Obviously, Porsche is great at keeping it Porsche. They are never going to get too far away from that iconic 911 shape, thankfully. But that was their biggest step away from earlier models, not toward.

[@Pandamasque]

@@shugertits I was a clear step away from 1974-1996 911s and towards the 1964. But I agree that the cues were very subtle compared to what other companies did at the time.

[@toshitanaka1550]

In certain ways yes for the Miata, but now they have very much a different design rhetoric, but kept the same formula for small light sports cars.

[@ilovetacos210]

IMO this works a lot better than making 40s-60s styled 2000s cars. 40s-60s were peak craftsmanship and style and didn't translate to the consumer grade crap of a modern car, the 80s were the decade of the full transition into cost cutting measures and spitting cars out as fast as you could build them. I think it translates fine into the modern era because the materials and workmanship is about the same.

[@garagefabroart]

Dont forget the 2010s retro inspired cars... Alpine A110 , 2010+ Camaro , 2008+ Challenge , 2012+ Fiat 500...not as many but still worth a mention. The New Beetle was a great little car (as long as its not automatic) especially the Diesel ones! My wife bought one back in the day and I loved driving it. Lastly , what makes futuristic EVs fit the 80s vibe so much is because in the 80s there was a lot of sci-fi and futuristic concepts that envisioned the future. Goes hand in hand.

[@eduardsavchuk7566]

I'll be honest, this modern "nostalgia" design is ugly asf. I feel it wants to disrespect original versions of cars.

[@UncleTony2]

Yes exactly the new headlights look like Minecraft

[@jamesbosworth4191]

I don't think the younger folks are trying to disrespect the real thing, it is because today's cars are just so damn ugly.

[@TheLifeOfJavi]

The Hyundai Vision74, and Rivian R3 are the first electric cars that seriously have me thinking, “I’d get one.”

[@Adriethyl]

The N74 was designed by the same guy that did the Delorean and a bunch of other iconic designs, and that's why it looks good

[@greg_1492]

I was a mid teen in the mid 80's I hated the boxy styles of that decade. I was in love with the Monte Carlo SS its 'boxyness' was broken with some subtle and sensual curves and that's all i have to say about that.

[@Pandamasque]

How come we skipped the '70s revival? Where are all the wedges?! I want a modern-day Carabo or a Marzal.

[@trashyspeeds266]

Or the cars of the 50s/60s

[@86coupedeville]

At least in the United States, European and Japanese imports still hadn't hit their stride in terms of population in our domestic market so there isn't much nostalgia in our culture for them and the American design of the 70s was big malaise boxes which just don't jive with modern taste and fuel economy standards. It is a multi-variant land of reasons why we didn't have the kind of revival that you are dreaming of.

[@mattpipes5106]

Cyber truck… I don’t know if Marcello Gandini is laughing in wherever or turning in his grave but shablam, you want a wedge, there you go.

[@ItsDaJax]

The 2012-13 Mustang is more inspired by the 1970 than the 64-9. The Silverado after the cat eye years, seem to be a callback to the 73-87 C/K

[@ItsDaJax]

The 2012-13 Mustang looks more like a 70, than a 64-69. And the gen of Silverado after the cat eye gen seems to be a call back to the 73-87 C/K

[@michaeldeloach838]

There actually was a slight 70s revival of sorts in the early 2000s with the Dodge van. I had a 2005 Dodge hi-top conversion that had a profile that clearly took styling cues from the custom vans of the 70s. Even the factory wheels were styled after the 5 slot wheels of that era.

[@wigenite]

I really wished that vision 74 was a competitor to BRZ/86/Miata level car instead of some experimental super car.

[@BRZguy]

That's what we all wish for. Affordable cars that look nice and are fun to drive. There's barely any left nowadays, so the ones that do come out, people expect to have supercar performance because they look so much better than many other cars on the road, and then bitch about them when they're not super quick.

[@JeredtheShy]

My first thought was, "no they don't?". 80s cars had a weird, distinct but nondescript look that was made possible by the prevailing federal laws of the times, you can't really make them look like that again, the hoodlines and such wouldn't fly. I don't think a millennial has any memory of how small many 80s cars were, which also doesn't fly now, never mind the HUGE ones. Then he handwaves away 90% of current cars (SUV crossovers) to force his argument. Oh, okay. Bye. Gloat over your engagement and don't come back again.

[@ChaldishBambino]

Hmmm, I wonder why Ford might not want people associating the new Bronco with the Bronco of the 90s? Can’t think of one…

[@mikefelty2625]

Not one white reason 😂

[@Revolver-Ocelot]

I much prefer the OJ.... I mean OG Bronco.

[@ChaldishBambino]

@@Revolver-Ocelot 🤣🤣

[@ChaldishBambino]

@@mikefelty2625 🤣

[@Drewcardello]

The new generation of bronco resembles the 1960's bronco, not the 1990's truck-based ones.

[@garrettlowell7637]

2:32 also, the new beetle didn’t have a tendency to catch on fire, had real heat, a/c, and some crash worthiness.

[@fortimusprime]

People overlook the problems the old ones had that the new ones solved. But I think that is because the new ones brought a lot of other troubles that weren’t there on the previous gens. I still love the 3 generations anyways.

[@FastCarsNoRules220]

There are a some '70s inspired cars. The 2008-2023 Dodge Challenger was inspired by the early '70s Challenger, the current Nissan Z is inspired by the '70s Fairlady Z, and the 2022 Lamborghini Countach LPI 800-4 was inspired by the 1971 Countach prototype.

[@Plate_Productions]

The 70s challenger started in 1969 The fairlady Z is also from 1969

[@jerbear1204]

On top of the comment above, the 70s is being used as a blanket term, but the problems for the auto industry started with the oil embargo of 1973.

[@istp1967]

The original Beetle, Mustang and the Series 40 Landcruiser still looks good!

[@fortimusprime]

I think the latest gens of each make a great tribute. They look great. And for the Beetle, I’m not talking about the “New Beetle”, I’m talking about The Beetle A5.

[@dervwfahrer]

And then there are these Companies whom DGAF about Nostalgia, building a Ugly AF SUV and call it Eclipse.. or Blazer

[@Sithhy]

or Capri...

[@-j1-_]

I really wish the '60s big a-- American LAND BOATS came back, like who doesn't like the looks of either the Chevy Impala, Caddilac Eldorado, even the Chevy El Camino... Chrysler Imperial... I want that era brought back WITH THE CAMERA FILTERS that make those early colored video vibes. Or just any RWD car with a 4-5 speed manual basically would make me happy, but the 60's boats I want the most

[@DanDaFreakinMan]

0:53 YES. YES. YES! If I ever buy a brand new car it will be one of these retro futuristic bois. No more crumpled paper and kitchen appliance wannabe car. Something with actual soul within the design instead of the palette swap SUVs that flooded the market.

[@philpots48]

I bought a used 1988 Dodge Aires, from a retired doctor, I have issues with vision and found its boxy shape made it easier for me to parallel park. Also, the heater, vent and temp I could control without taking my eyes off the road, just by finger feel.

[@jamesbosworth4191]

That's what definitely needs to come back - real controls that you don't have to stare at. Screens should be banned.

[@kj475]

Dude, how could you have possibly overlooked the 2008 Challenger?

[@yourfriend9048]

mopars are junk. always have been and always will. they are a minority out of the big 3. MOPAR = Might Only Perform At Random RAM = Sheep Truck (literally, they are for sheep. a ram is a male sheep) JEEP = spelled j-e-e-p but pronounced junk.

[@FordHoard]

And the 2010-2024 Camaro. I know those are 5th and 6th gen. The 5th gen being inspired by the 1969 Camaro.

[@coomercommander2554]

slow ugly car, handles like a boat, less reliable than giving a needy crackhead a gun and your wallet, all that displacement and turd noise for 107 horsepower and a shitty automatic, not even AWD 🤡

[@mwolfe1486]

4:41 I beg to differ. Minis are starting to rival most SUV's nowadays, at least in america. They aren't "mini" anymore

[@tezcanaslan2877]

I still see “mini” cars. Countryman is their only SUV offering

[@ThaKidChillz]

Agreed

[@justinfabricius1597]

Counter point: there are only 2 kinds of shapes. Round/circles/egg(30s-50s) and pointy/rectangle/boxy(70's and 80's). We are going to flip flop between these. I'm a firm believer in a 30 year cycle for golden age vehicles. 30's 60's and 90's fall inbetween these styling peaks and we can get the best of both worlds. We are 30 years past the 90's and we are getting the blend. This decade is as good as we are going to get for a while.

[@Darkel45]

1:52 mexican here, my grandpa owned like 3 VW beetles, and before 2019 them silly goobers were common as heck, sad they retired them.

[@paulobeckerrb26dett]

Ooh I'd like to see what a retrofuturist R32 or R34 Skyline would look like.

[@thenthson]

With how things are going probably a cvt 3 row suv with a not even 2 liter engine.

[@JohnSmith-rw8uh]

god pleaae no, no more ricelines

[@chathamcrescent]

I'm surprised you didn't mention one of the most obvious retro-styled vehicles from the 00s, the Dodge Challenger

[@joecool9739]

Because that wasnt 80s retro That was 60s-70s retro Coke-bottle styling *IS NOT* what the 80s were about...they were about sharp, angular, square brutalist looking cars...80s cars were just a bunch of rectangular panels glued together

[@WaveManMike]

Fingers crossed that in 20 years 2000s designs will get done right this time around 😂

[@davestvwatching2408]

Regardless of their appearance 2000s cars are probably the longest lasting, most reliable cars around.

[@WaveManMike]

@@davestvwatching2408 very true. 2000s Chevy Suburban, Toyota Camry and Corolla and pretty much any Honda are still everywhere on the road after all these years

[@UncleTony2]

I hope they bring back all 2000s cars, no bullshit. Just simple and good quality cars

[@Taina-t5q]

tunedbyai AI fixes this. New cars resemble 1980s designs.

[@AliasHSW]

The Hyundai Vision N74 needs to be a mass produced reality!!!

[@megan_alnico]

If you want a prime example of an industry inundated and this, just look at electric guitars. Anything 'new' does not sell and the peak of the art is some magical 50s 60s era that everyone is trying to recapture.

[@jamesbosworth4191]

People yearn for that look because the 50s and 60s cars were the koolest ever from the koolest era ever.

[@davedelarosa319]

What 80s designs do I want to see on a throwback? Hot Hatches (we all know which ones). Slant back coupes based on economy cars (Celica, Impulse, Scirocco, Starion). Mini Trucks (again, we all know). AWD 4 door mini Wagons (Wagovan, Tercel SR5). All could be done in the 200ish HP range and EV, but with additional range instead of power.

[@Dalton4D2]

is it just me are do these inspired cars still look nothing like what they are inspired by? they are still too round and bubbly and still just looks like every light truck SUV you see on the roads but some of the vector lines were deleted.

[@mikefelty2625]

An 80s styling throwback that would be awesome would be a faux cassette player in the dash as a phone holder, and a bunch of digital eq style lighting.

[@sambrien1020]

That would be amazing. Especially if it did wireless charging/carplay. And a statisfying eject button.

[@Szpagin]

A functional CD player would have been nice, it's one piece of tech I really miss from recent cars.

[@pyeltd.5457]

How about a functional 8 track

[@stewpacalypse7104]

I was really disappointed that Nissan never put the IDx Nismo into production. They made the wrong decision on that one, in my opinion.

[@kanaric]

They would have entered a field with the Miata and FRS in a time when people are hardly buying small cars and many companies are pulling out of that market because of it. Nissan has financial problems as it is they didn't need another potential red mark.

[@bc9477]

Love the fact they are doing it. I think most of us hated electric cars because they all looked like a jelly bean, no shape or any distincitve lines. Now that manufacturers are redoing these classic designs it makes them much more pleasant looking.

[@stephenlayland2889]

You mentioned forced induction, VVT and fuel injection as the drivers of change after the malaise era. I argue that truly sophisticated engine controls facilitated by the O2 sensor made more of a difference than any of the three you named.

[@tomnwmi]

That and catalytic convertors.

[@soundseeker63]

80s retro styling seems to be catching on with Eurpean manufacturers too. What's missing is 1980s style simplicity and functionality! Even standard-issue small cars of today have to be stuffed with silly tech like touchscreen everything, cameras and radars everywhere and unnecessary electronics in parts like the door handles, parking brakes etc. Most people don't actually want or need any of that stuff. Cars of the late 90s and early 2000s came with everything most people actually NEED and use, and were cheaper, simpler, more reliable and easier to maintain as a result. They were also more compact and lighter than today's increasingly bloated offering. So I agree we need to look back to the 80s more, but not for the styling! Cars as a whole need to drop the silly tech gimmics and get back to basics of just being good CARS.

[@OathTaker3]

They'll always be a market for retro cars because the new cars that young people loved, they couldn't afford so when they get older & can afford them there needs to be a new car that makes them feel like they obtained the car they always dreamed of, so retro brings them back to their youth and happier times or just for when they dreamed of happier times. Maybe the clientele from the early eras won't last but nostalgia will.

[@firstNamelastName-ho6lv]

Interesting how everyone I know who actually goes out of there way to buy an old, retro car is 25 years old or younger. They weren't even born yet 😂

[@bludclone]

People honestly still think EV's are the future 🤦‍♂. I'm over this

[@SteveLomas-k6k]

EV market share peaked in about 1910- I doubt they'll ever get as far as that again.

[@AllSpeed]

The Vision '74 looks like the Delorean DMC12 because the '74 Pony and Delorean where both designed by famous designer Giorgetto Giugiaro.

[@questioner1596]

The 2022+ Civic Hatch styling makes me nostalgic for the early 90s Accords and late 80s Integras without looking over the top like a PT Cruiser.

[@glubb23]

I would love to see modern versions of Lancia Integral and Saab 900

[@users4007]

saab won't return any time soon, but lancia has launched a new car recently and i think theres going to be a hf version, decent pwoer from electric motor but unfortunately it will be fwd

[@jamesbosworth4191]

People might be finally getting sick of driving blobs of clay with windshields so far raked that the car is a solarium on wheels.

[@jamesbosworth4191]

And I can't stand that. It is getting hotter by the year, we don't need cars that will cook us.

[@DJBLUEPHOENIX]

That's why we are getting a new Honda Prelude soon!!!

[@liqwidmediaworkztv]

Quick side note, the new Land Cruiser is a nod to the 80 series… and as an 80 series enthusiast allow me to say that thing almost had me in tears of joy! It’s absolutely stunning

[@HiFiInsider]

I drive a 95 Honda Civic. Love the basic feel of the car.

[@emjayay]

Try not to crash and die.

[@Hazehellivo]

@@emjayay The likelyhood of crashing a 30 year old Honda is much slimer than you making stupid comment.

[@fortimusprime]

I really want another Beetle attempt. I have the last generation 2012-2019 and it’s the machine that made me fall in love with cars as a whole. No other car like it in the market. It’s like a Poor Man’s Porsche. I’D LOVE a new Beetle iteration and see what they could pull off.

[@WaveManMike]

I really hope they bring back sedans with the HUGE trunks. 😅 I feel like it would solve a lot of problems for the people who like sedans but need more storage space.

[@JohnSmith-rw8uh]

they bought the holden commedore to the USA as the pontiac G8 and chevy ss. should have bought one

[@jamesbosworth4191]

@@JohnSmith-rw8uh But they never advertised them.

[@JohnSmith-rw8uh]

@@jamesbosworth4191 the G8 they did

[@jamesbosworth4191]

@@JohnSmith-rw8uh I should have said the Chevy SS. I never saw any advertisements for it. I bet most people didn't even know it existed.

[@MaticTheProto]

Hyundais concepts are too beautiful to not be built en masse

[@BernardSamson-hf6fc]

The new Beetle had the Boot seal from an original beetle. door. The New Mini was designed by ROVER, it was the R50, BMW had purchased Rover, so got the new car as part of deal.

[@MontegoReviews]

The design of the R50 was done by Frank Stephenson who worked at BMW at the time. Rover had three design proposals going all the way back to 1996 which were all rejected.

[@fortimusprime]

I’m thinking BMW should buy VW or The Beetle name and revive it. They’re doing great with the Mini.

[@Trainator33860]

You'll love the Suzuki Vitara, mine is from 2016, has manual transmission and a handbrake lever. The new one still has those two.

[@DougFregia]

I wanna see some new cars with tail fins and chrome like the mid to late 50s.

[@gruntherblendin388]

Yes. The 1957 DeSoto Adventurer is exactly perfect as it is. I wouldn't care if it's powered by flea farts, I would like to buy a 2025 e-cloned Adventurer please.

[@fortimusprime]

Heck yeah! I would love to see that too!

[@DougFregia]

@@fortimusprime I'm a bit of a car artist. I can draw cars , I've won awards in school. I can do some designing. It will never happen though now days sadly.

[@jamesbosworth4191]

I would love that, providing they didn't have those damn computers.

[@lukeclifton4392]

If any company has “rebooted” 1980’s/1990’s design, into an avant-garde masterpiece of elegance and futurism… it’s Hyundai!! MB are trying so hard, and getting this so terribly wrong at the same time.

[@MentallyUnstableGaming1]

I really wanna see toyota make something styled on the AE86 and God please not electric and maybe make it affordable

[@streamingvideo6654]

Bring back the 50s car style like the Cadillacs and Chevys.

[@PontiacBonniville]

1958 was the best year when too much chrome wasn't enough.

[@jamesbosworth4191]

@@PontiacBonniville I love the 1958 cars. Did even as a kid when they were new cars.

[@danieljones7843]

10:22 the Australian ford falcon XB coupe (mad max) has entered the chat…

[@JohnSmith-rw8uh]

They didnt sell when new.... had to make special edition to move stock

[@ryanmclellan8740]

My mom had a PT Cruiser, my Dad had a Thunderbird, and my ex-wife had a VW Beetle turbo... This video is hitting all the parts of my past...

[@stewartsmith1947]

Designers lack imagination . New cars cannot compete with older cars . New cars are just aerodynamic jelly beans . They look like home appliances at a store !

[@SeeSawMassacre]

I agree entirely. I'd say that people in general have been stripped of their imagination. Everyone is living in the same virtual world and is saying the same things in the same way indefinitely.

[@jamesbosworth4191]

Aerodynamics were a big mistake. Cars are not airplanes. Chrysler found that out with the 1934 Airflow. It was a great car, but it was ugly. People want great styling, not aerodynamics.

[@owilliams1031]

@@jamesbosworth4191Nonsense! The drag coefficient is a major factor in fuel consumption, as is the overall mass. We need Art Deco back!

[@jamesbosworth4191]

@@owilliams1031 Most people choose a car based on styling, not fuel economy. As for Art Deco, that would be nice, but today's aerodynamics are taking it too far. We don't want a car that is so low we seniors can't get in or out of it, we don't want a car so low that we can't see down the road, we don't want those severely raked windshields and back windows that are almost horizontal and make the interior an oven, we don't like that droop-snooted look.

[@owilliams1031]

@@jamesbosworth4191 Today’s aerodynamics aren’t really descended from Art Deco whatsoever. A lot of 1930s and 1940s cars had their occupants sitting upright, with more slopes from the center to the sides than from top to bottom. The only cars from that era I can think of with the stature issues of which you speak are Grand Prix (later Formula 1) and Indianapolis 500 cars.

[@9852323]

They don’t look 80s to me.

[@-DC-]

Original Mini was launched in 1959 not 61 as stated.

[@dj_dazzy]

1960 in the states - remember nothing exists outside 'Merica. It even says 1959 on the video.😂

[@jesperbc]

I want to see a retro-futuristic take on the VW Golf I.

[@ultraviolettp3446]

Considering how awful most Honduhs and Toyoduhs look, it is wonderful that someone is going back to an era of clean design that actually had style and not vomit inducing hideous Lexus barf front ends.

[@rob_does_stuff]

Thankfully Lexus is starting to trend away from that horrible design mistake.

[@users4007]

the new toyota design language is pretty good, especially on the prius and japan market crown

[@catjudo1]

I wish this trend would go to BMW. They used to make such understated, classy cars that performed as well as they looked. Today's BMW's show that the company never got past the ignominy that was Chris Bangle. I would like a modern 2002, 3.0 CS or shark nosed 6 series.

[@handthing9709]

80s Toyota was peak car design so i hope they go back

[@toneographystudios3591]

Personally I would love to see a 50’s inspired American coupe done right, with chrome and tail fins

[@AndreS_-df2nw]

Can we get the mini trucks of the 70s again?

[@kennethmiller2333]

I think the thing to understand is that consumers weren't done with those designs, and that the manufacturers moved away form them without the public agreeing.

[@MrZenapher]

We need a modern fiero

[@Jag-leaper]

Lotus evora

[@ItsDaJax]

You mean the C8? lol

[@users4007]

@@ItsDaJax that's a modern corvette, not a cheap grocery getter for young people

[@ItsDaJax]

@@users4007 It's called a joke, son. A joke, that is.

[@MrZenapher]

@@ItsDaJax fiero was an affordable alternative, corvette is a boomer mobile designed to rob their children of inheritance

[@connectionfailure86]

This is called 40-years cycle, which corresponds to generation change. Such cycle does not only concern the design, music, fashion, but also economy and politics.

[@andypostema4269]

I recently put my 1983 Olds back on the road and everywhere I go, people tell me they would rather have something like my car than these new plastic, spaceship looking touchscreen covered abominations. No amount of modern day gizmos and gadgets can compare to floating down the road on a chrome covered couch on wheels, no matter how bad the gas mileage and lack of safety features may actually be.

[@jamesbosworth4191]

AMEN AMEN AMEN! Is your Olds an 88 or a 98?

[@CosminNeagu]

Strange how arguably the 70s were some of the best design years but got skipped.

[@jamesbosworth4191]

Many 70s cars were really great looking. They just weren't very fast, not much faster than cars from 25 years before, and they didn't run well either unless you ignored the emissions sticker under the hood and tuned it like a late 60s version.

[@dutchyjhome]

A modern version of the 3rd gen Camaro would be nice

[@rob_does_stuff]

I agree. I know Pontiac is gone, but man, I really loved the look of the 3rd gen firebirds the most! I'd take an 80's inspired Camaro, though, just without the 80's build quality!😂