What makes an iconic car? That was the concern posed by Mercedes manager Dieter Zetsche at the recent introduce of the new G-Wagen.
Mr Zetsche had his own views, as well as it was difficult to quibble with any type of of them. Firstly, he said, an icon had to offer “no compromises” in its performance. It should likewise be instantaneously recognisable, having defined a look. as well as finally, he mooted, there had to be what he referred to as “a built-in story”.
Advertisement – article continues below
• 2018 Mercedes G-Class revealed
Alongside the G-Class, four designs which he felt ticked the necessary boxes to be thought about icons were the Porsche 911, Jeep Wrangler, Ford Mustang as well as his own company’s 300 SL. A fair selection? I’d struggle to suggest with any type of of that quartet.
To that list, I would tentatively add the Fiat 500 as well as Mini/MINI, which continue to thrive in their own respective areas of the market, in spite of ever-changing fashions. However, one thing that all these cars and trucks highlight is just exactly how difficult it is for a manufacturer to move an icon on design-wise.
That’s the reason the mini hasn’t altered all that much since its 2001 rebirth, as well as why I’m sure the next Fiat 500 will be a extremely close copy of the present one.
Because make no mistake: while achieving iconic condition is incredibly difficult, losing it is relatively easy, a simple style mis-step away. As evidence, I’d point you towards the present Volkswagen Beetle, which to my eyes at least, is a cartoonish pastiche of the much liked original.
Of course, there’s one other cars and truck that’s impossible to ignore in a debate about motoring icons: Britain’s own Land Rover Defender. The traditional 4×4 ended production in January 2016.
The truth that two years later we are still waiting to see its successor suggests that Land Rover understands only as well well what a fine line it has to tread to create a style that lives as much as the legend.
Britain has developed lots of motoring icons, however which ones make the top 50? checked out our listing of the biggest ever British-built cars…