A few months ago, we released an article with our list of vehicles that should be made that aren’t currently. Many of those were just types of vehicles that fill a niche that doesn’t yet exist in the current lineups of several manufacturers.
This list will be a little bit different. With this list, we are going to talk about specific models that need to be manufactured for any number of reasons. There are not going to be very many – if any – SUVs on this list as new ones are popping up every day, and it’s just so hard to have one that hits a whole new niche.
Let’s get right into it!
Honda S2000 Evo. II:
What do you get when you take Honda’s iconic S2000 from two decades ago and transport it through time to now? The S2000 Evo. II! Honda makes some great engines, and even though everything is turbocharged now, they are more than capable of making a modern, free-revving, naturally-aspirated, four-cylinder engine with about 280 to 300 horsepower. Pair that with a lightweight chassis, and you have a winner to go head to head with the new Supra, Miata, and BRZ.
Volkswagen Baja Trek:
Everybody is into SUVs now. Volkswagen has the Atlas and Tiguan, which are fine, but the Jeep Wrangler still stands very much alone as one of the few, if not the only SUVs that are built specifically for serious off-road fun. Sure the 4Runner and Nissan Pro-4X models can hang, but the door is wide open for someone else to make a competitor at a reasonable price. Make Volkswagen’s Baja Bug a street legal off-road SUV, and you have instant competition which could continue to help the VW name make a comeback after the deiselgate scandal.
Chevrolet Corvette Mini:
With the introduction of the first ever mid-engine Corvette comes the opportunity to make a low-production mid-engine sports car that slots just below the Camaro. It would never be a huge seller, but the appropriate marketing could make it a serious competitor with the Miata and BRZ. Slap a low price tag on it and you might even have some new millennial sales to go with the continued success of the Corvette. The “Corvette Mini” name is also flexible, so suggestions are welcome.
Mazda RX-3:
Mazda used to make the RX-3 back in the 1970s. It was a small coupe – with even a limited run of station wagons – powered by their famous Wenkel rotary engine. The last car Mazda made that used the rotary was the RX-8. It was very good, well-balanced, and a hoot to drive. The RX-3 could very well make use of the rotary once again, but in a smaller package closer to that of the Miata than the RX-8. The rotary’s inefficiency and poor reputation for reliability are ultimately what killed it. Still, it’s fun to dream and Mazda has teased a rotary engine comeback at various times in recent history.
Dodge Neon Next Gen:
The Dodge Dart failed to remain on the market as a failed product. It just couldn’t compete with the Corolla, Civic, and Mazda3. The Neon used to be Dodge’s offering for a fairly reliable, cheap means of transportation for many. Despite that car being rough around the edges and unrefined, there were plenty around, and Dodge even made a sporty SRT-4 version. They specialize in big brawny muscle cars and SUVs, but they could get back into the small car game if they started from scratch and played their cards right.
Ford FlexStar:
With Ford pulling all of their cars out of the market to focus on SUVs, they do have room in their lineup for something a little different. In the past, they have produced the Aerostar, Windstar, and Freestar minivans, but minivans have also fallen out of favor with the consumer over the past decade. Still, the only widely available minivan with all-wheel-drive is the Toyota Sienna. Ford could very well offer another all-wheel-drive option for those who want the choice and who still value a minivan over an SUV. It’s just a thought, but they do have the flexibility, existing lineup, and experience to do it.
