Performance Communications | October 31, 2024
If you didn’t know it already, the retro resurgence is in full swing. In recent years, cars like the Volkswagen ID. Buzz, Alpine A110 and reborn Renault 5 have all ridden the retro wave.
At the Paris Motor Show last week, Renault was at it again, with a stand that included EV reinterpretations of the Renault 4, Twingo and 17. It makes sense, really. Why go to the bother of establishing a new name in the public consciousness when you already have a much-loved badge sitting on the shelf. In an automotive landscape that is becoming increasingly competitive with the arrival of Chinese brands, it’s a shortcut to brand awareness that’s too good for some to ignore.
You don’t even have to turn your heritage-based dreams into a fully-fledged production car. Revisiting a past hero with a beautifully executed one-off is a great way to shine a spotlight on your entire brand – and the EV transition provides the perfect excuse to look back at the history books.
In recent weeks we’ve seen everything from a one-off Kia Pride EV restomod (no, really) built to celebrate the company’s 80th anniversary to a group of Audi apprentices that have turned the pioneering A2 into an A2 e-tron concept, to showcase their skills and celebrate the model’s 25th anniversary.
All of which got us thinking. Which much-loved models from the Seventies, Eighties and Nineties would we like to see reborn? We’ve constrained our thinking to brands that are still going strong – so you won’t find a Jensen Interceptor or Triumph Stag in our top five.
In no particular order, here goes…
Alfa Romeo Alfasud
The Alfasud was a brilliant-handling compact family car that combined a charismatic flat-four engine with styling penned by none other than Giorgetto Giugiaro of ItalDesign. Giugiaro recently oversaw the restoration of his 1974 Pony Coupe Concept for key exponents of the retro-futuristic art – Hyundai. Like that car, the original Alfasud Ti model was ahead of its time, with its sporty two-door body, delicate chrome bumpers and distinctive twin headlamps all now ripe for an EV remix.
Ford Capri
Yes, we know the Capri has already hit the comeback trail, but the design of the recently revealed all-electric 2025 Ford Capri owes more to a Polestar 2 than the sporty Seventies coupe. The original Capri actually made its debut 55 years ago, at the 1969 Brussels Motor Show, and a faithful reinterpretation following the old formula would be great to see – complete with quad headlights, a long bonnet and twin rear seats.
Subaru SVX
Cult cars are a surefire hit when it comes to the retro resurgence. With its Giugiaro styling, advanced technologies and powerful performance, the SVX is a car for the automotive cognoscenti – and one that now lends itself to a 2030s reboot. With its four-wheel drive set-up, it could even be pitched as the obligatory crossover SUV.
Lancia Montecarlo
A two-seater, mid-engined sports car that served as the inspiration for the legendary Group B Lancia 037 rally car. Credentials don’t come much stronger, really. Penned by Pininfarina, the ‘Monte’ was recently made famous again for being driven across Zimbabwe by Jeremy Clarkson in the finale of The Grand Tour, One for the Road. The £400,000 Kimera EVO37is a modern interpretation of the rally icon, but a more accessible model inspired by the Montecarlo would be ace.
Lotus Carlton
The recipe is simple. Take one sensible saloon, stir in ridiculous performance and garnish with head-turning body styling. Okay, okay, so Vauxhall doesn’t make the Carlton anymore and Lotus is owned by Geely Automotive, so this will never happen, but the idea of Vauxhall collaborating with Lotus on one of its regular models to create the spiritual successor to the iconic super saloon is pretty tantalising, isn’t it? Lotus Astra anyone?
Ross Pinnock, Director
