5 DEAD CAR MODELS THAT COULD BE REVIVED,
It’s always interesting when an automaker decides to revive an old model name.
Sometimes it’s a play on nostalgia. Other times it’s taking the name in a whole new styling direction.
For instance, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles’ Dodge Challenger was a home run with fans of the muscle car from the 1960s and ’70s. The return of the Dodge Dart, however, never engendered that kind of warmth and has been discontinued.
Either way, it’s worth a look anytime an automaker decides to bring back a classic model name. Here are five that either are or could be revived in the next five years.
FORD BRONCO This one we know for sure.
The original Ford Bronco was a two-door sport-utility vehicle intended to compete with the forerunners to the Jeep Wrangler.
Though the new one may not be a two-door, Ford says the revived model will have the spirit of the original, a brawny off-roader that shares underpinnings with the upcoming new Ford Ranger pickup.
The all-new Bronco probably will appear late in 2019 as a 2020 model. It’ll be built alongside the new Ranger — a nameplate that also is being revived — at Ford’s Michigan Assembly Plant near Detroit.
CHEVROLET BLAZER General Motors has room between the compact Chevrolet Equinox and the bigger Traverse for a midsize crossover SUV, something about the size of Ford’s Edge. Word is, it’s coming soon, and it could wear the classic Chevrolet Blazer nameplate.
The original Blazer was similar to Ford’s Bronco, a two-door, 4wheel-drive beast aimed at Jeep. Don’t expect the new one to be quite the same. The new Blazer probably will be more of a civilized family hauler. Enthusiasts might be disappointed, but sales could be brisk.
BUICK RIVIERA This one is more speculative. The original Riviera, introduced in 1963, was an attractive upscale coupe, one that has since become a design icon. GM hasn’t said anything about reviving the “Riv” recently, but it has riffed on the classic Riveria’s styling in show cars over the years.
So why do I think GM could revive the Riviera soon? First, Buick is a huge-selling brand in China, and Buick could use a “halo” model, a dramatically styled vehicle that draws lots of attention.
Second, GM has more electric vehicles in development, and Rivera is a name that could be resurrected to challenge Tesla.
Could that sleek new electric Buick be a super-modern take on the Riviera — something that connects GM’s past to its future? We’ll find out.
BMW 8 SERIES BMW’s original 8 Series, built in the early 1990s, has been a collector’s favorite almost from the moment it was discontinued. It was a powerful, luxurious coupe with classic, beautiful styling — and BMW is saying an all-new version is in the works.
We don’t know much about the new 8 Series yet. We do know BMW will reveal a production version sometime in the next year or so, and we also know BMW already is working on a high-performance “M8” version of its new coupe. Expect pricing to start north of $80,000.
JEEP GRAND WAGONEER The original Jeep Grand Wagoneer is still popular with the preppy East Coast summerhouse crowd.
That fact hasn’t escaped the notice of Mike Manley, the executive in charge of the Jeep brand. He sees room for a couple of upscale Jeep models above the current flagship, the Grand Cherokee, and the Wagoneer is on its way back.
There will be two new upscale Jeep models, a Wagoneer and a Grand Wagoneer. They’ll likely be big body-on-frame SUVs that use some underpinnings from the upcoming all-new Ram pickup. Expect them to be added to Jeep’s lineup in 2019 or 2020.