You learn something new... - Cars you didn't know existed, until now!
- Thread starter Rue
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- Valongo
- Hcclipper
That Cue definitely seems to be some sort of concept that inspired the younger Leopard cars, or at least it gives that vibe. It's actually a rather nice design.
- 2,080
- Fionia
It could have been a Leopard if you look at the front, but if you hold up the rear shot of the CUE-X against this rear shot of a another large Nissan barge, it should be quite visible that this was the concept that eventually evolved into the Infiniti Q45 (or short-wheelbase President, i.e. the JS). The lines are identical, albeit heavily toned down for the production model, which is still exceptionally handsome for a shape that came out in 1989.
Also: CUE-X and Q45? I like to think it was a hint at the alphanumerical naming scheme for flagship Infinitis.
Fascinating, these old concepts.
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- GranTurismo0517
- RandomCarGuy17
Porsche 911 SC-RS, I knew about the SC, I just didn't know about its lighter counterpart.
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- ScottPuss20
- CheetahsMeow
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I'm not sure, the basic shape is very similar indeed, but the Pontiac looks a fair bit newer than the Cavalier.Suspect that shares more than a little with the Vauxhall Cavalier Mk1 coupe:
- 9,232
- Valongo
- Hcclipper
Actually, after a quick search, I've found that the early Sunbird's platform, the H-platform, wasn't tied to the Cavalier, but the second generation did gain the Cavalier's platform. So, in essence, the early Cavalier isn't the Sunbird's brother, but the latter versions are. The fact that you could spec a Sunbird with a V8 is actually surprising to me, I thought that the biggest engine available in its range was the V6.
Here's the 2nd-gen Sunbird in comparison with its Vauxhall counterpart at the time;
And as a side note, a car which gained the gauges used in the Sunbird Turbo;
Now that's what I call a blue-collar family inheritance...
- 40,822
The first generation was a straight Monza badge job, meaning it got the same engines (including the V8) that the Chevy Monza had. The second generation Sunbird was a J-Car, like the Chevy and Vauxhall Cavalier, Cadillac Cimarron and etc; but the Pontiac got turbo engines like the Buick Skyhawk instead of the V6 the Chevy/Cadillac/Oldsmobile got.
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- Valongo
- Hcclipper
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Pretty much.
Nothing encapsulates how 1980s GM had absolutely no idea what they were doing than the J-Body. Even the GM-10 disaster led to a bunch of cars that had clear (albeit badly decided) goals. For example, GM went through the trouble of allowing their subsidiaries to develop specific interiors for the Opel/Vauxhall:
and Holden:
And even Isuzu versions (that Holden also got):
But then adamantly refused to allow any of the North American models to deviate from the Oldsmobile interior (which isn't actually too bad for the time, but was only in the Oldsmobile and Buick):
Or the Chevrolet interior (which was always hideous):
Except when GM spent the money to give the Cavalier (and only the Cavalier) an all new dash in 1986 instead of just bringing one of those over:
So the Pontiac, with its turbo engines and gimmicky tech crap loading the brochures, always had to use the original Cavalier interior with the buttons haphazardly splayed over the steering wheel and center console instead of using the Holden interior with obvious Japanese influence:
And when they put together the Cimarron, a car with the stated intention of trying to conquest sales from the upcoming 3-series, instead of giving it the interior they already developed that was already similar to the one the 3-series had:
They gave it the one from the Cavalier instead, slapped some leather around and went so far as to cover the hole for the window crank with the power window switch:
Nothing encapsulates how 1980s GM had absolutely no idea what they were doing than the J-Body. Even the GM-10 disaster led to a bunch of cars that had clear (albeit badly decided) goals. For example, GM went through the trouble of allowing their subsidiaries to develop specific interiors for the Opel/Vauxhall:
and Holden:
And even Isuzu versions (that Holden also got):
But then adamantly refused to allow any of the North American models to deviate from the Oldsmobile interior (which isn't actually too bad for the time, but was only in the Oldsmobile and Buick):
Or the Chevrolet interior (which was always hideous):
Except when GM spent the money to give the Cavalier (and only the Cavalier) an all new dash in 1986 instead of just bringing one of those over:
So the Pontiac, with its turbo engines and gimmicky tech crap loading the brochures, always had to use the original Cavalier interior with the buttons haphazardly splayed over the steering wheel and center console instead of using the Holden interior with obvious Japanese influence:
And when they put together the Cimarron, a car with the stated intention of trying to conquest sales from the upcoming 3-series, instead of giving it the interior they already developed that was already similar to the one the 3-series had:
They gave it the one from the Cavalier instead, slapped some leather around and went so far as to cover the hole for the window crank with the power window switch:
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I drove a Mk2 Cavalier last year and was amazed how not-actually-crap the interior was. Does seem weird that GM used so many different designs when the Vauxhall version was decent enough in the first place.
- 9,232
- Valongo
- Hcclipper
Christ, that's some story... GM had far too many different influences to build their interiors, and not enough budget to make them all suitable for each car's brand image and class. It is insane to see an interior for a Caddilac take inspiration from an under-developed interior concept which was clunky and poorly laid out, and with such a bad cover up of "commoner's features" such as the window crank delete (so to speak).
And in the end, despite being an American car group, GM decided that only non-American market cars should have distinctive interiors without the limitations of American models... Talk about your budget mismanagement, right? And to think that all GM needed to do to give the J-car a decent interior for all models was rehashing the Vauxhall version and suit it to each specific brand...
Great comparison post, Tornado. You seem to know the J-car rather well, or at least you have some sort of disdain for it.
And in the end, despite being an American car group, GM decided that only non-American market cars should have distinctive interiors without the limitations of American models... Talk about your budget mismanagement, right? And to think that all GM needed to do to give the J-car a decent interior for all models was rehashing the Vauxhall version and suit it to each specific brand...
Great comparison post, Tornado. You seem to know the J-car rather well, or at least you have some sort of disdain for it.
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- CreamyNute11a
The GMC Sprint, built in 1971 through 1977. Renamed as the Caballero in 1978 and produced until 1987. Basically an El Camino
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I mostly just hate Roger Smith.
Incidentally:
And as a side note, a car which gained the gauges used in the Sunbird Turbo;
Now that's what I call a blue-collar family inheritance...
That was because the budget for the Syclone and the Typhoon was incredibly small (just like it had been with the Trans Am Turbo from a couple years prior), and most of the special stuff had to be assembled from modified off the shelf components GM already made for other cars. Most of its engineering was actually an internal exercise by some Buick engineers after the Grand National was discontinued. The full time AWD system was the one that GM had already designed for the Chevy Astro and Oldsmobile Bravada. The better breathing engine parts and fuel injection system were pulled off of the previous year Corvette. The transmission was a modified version of the four speed also in use in the Corvette. The interior is a somewhat eclectic mix of Jimmy and Bravada pieces. The extensive body kit was off of the Sonoma GT appearance package that debuted the same year (and amusingly bombed). It's all the more impressive that the SyTy twins (like the Trans Am Turbo from a couple years prior) were so great considering their development.
- 9,232
- Valongo
- Hcclipper
You mean the Roger Smith from my signature?
I jest, I know which Roger you are referring too. I do know my American cartoon series, after all, much like "American Dad" and all the well-known examples which live alongside it...
Speaking of cartoons, since you may have not noticed it, I asked you a question on your profile page. It's about your avatar; where does it come from, if you don't mind me asking?
Indeed, the Sy/Ty duo was a perfect example of how you can do a lot with a little; most components were not rare one-off parts which had been developed especifically for the cars, but yet the sum of its inherited parts was greater than the value of each part involved. An AWD system from a minivan which provided the Sy/Ty with grip which was unheard of for a 1991/1992-era car, an agressive-looking bodykit from a lesser version (which had no breathing space in terms of sales against a much more competent brother, silly GMC) and engine bits inherited from the top sports car in the form of the Corvette. In a way, the Syclone/Typhoon duo embodies the positive aspects of parts sharing in General Motors; while the J-car was a sucession of bad decisions and budget wasting measures, the Syclone and the Typhoon wrote their names in "performance SUVs and pickups 101" simply by taking advantage of what they had without breaking the bank. They were fine Q-cars, and ones which could easily surprise Ferrari owners (as it should be well-known if you read the infamous Car & Driver article featuring the Syclone)...
Yes, you could argue that not being able to tow most thing and having limited hauling capacity made these two GMCs spectacularly redundant in the grand scheme of things, but in the end they had done their job as performance cars from a brand that had zero experience in the area before their time.
And yes, I love them both. When it comes to American cars from the late 80's and early 90's, the Sy/Ty duo is ranked high in my "dream list". As I've said before, it's simply because they did a lot with relatively little things.
- 9,232
- Valongo
- Hcclipper
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- GranTurismo0517
- RandomCarGuy17
I learned of another concept car, but from Ford this time. The Taurus Sante Fe Concept, I"m guessing it would have been a Subaru Outback competitor if it went into production.
http://www.ford-taurus.org/taurusinfo/Concepts/SantaFe.php
Then, I learned of this; the Mercury Sable AIV. A rare Sable with an Aluminum body and equipped with the Yamaha V6 found in the Taurus SHO.
http://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/26/ultra-rare-sho-powered-aluminum-bodied-mercury-sable-aiv-spotted/
I only learned of these because I'm trying to figure out where I can find info on the Taurus SHO wagon in this Car and Driver cover:
http://www.ford-taurus.org/taurusinfo/Concepts/SantaFe.php
Then, I learned of this; the Mercury Sable AIV. A rare Sable with an Aluminum body and equipped with the Yamaha V6 found in the Taurus SHO.
http://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/26/ultra-rare-sho-powered-aluminum-bodied-mercury-sable-aiv-spotted/
I only learned of these because I'm trying to figure out where I can find info on the Taurus SHO wagon in this Car and Driver cover:
- 9,232
- Valongo
- Hcclipper
I learned of another concept car, but from Ford this time. The Taurus Sante Fe Concept, I"m guessing it would have been a Subaru Outback competitor if it went into production.
http://www.ford-taurus.org/taurusinfo/Concepts/SantaFe.php
It's an ironic thing that this Taurus is named "Santa Fe", because it certainly looks like a (Hyundai) Santa Fe. And to think that turning a sedan into a 4x4 would soon become a market trend...
I do have to question the random shovel put in the side of the car, what if you get t-boned in an accident by another car? Then the shovel would be bent and useless...
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- TexRex72
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- GranTurismo0517
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or that the Hyundai Santa Fe looks like the Taurus Santa Fe since the Taurus Santa Fe was shown before the Hyundai Santa Fe went into production.It's an ironic thing that this Taurus is named "Santa Fe", because it certainly looks like a (Hyundai) Santa Fe. And to think that turning a sedan into a 4x4 would soon become a market trend...
I do have to question the random shovel put in the side of the car, what if you get t-boned in an accident by another car? Then the shovel would be bent and useless...
Also, I didn't actually notice the shovel when I first posted this. It is in an odd spot on the car, I would honestly put it on the roof or something.
- 9,232
- Valongo
- Hcclipper
Well then, I stand corrected.
👍or that the Hyundai Santa Fe looks like the Taurus Santa Fe since the Taurus Santa Fe was shown before the Hyundai Santa Fe went into production.
Also, I didn't actually notice the shovel when I first posted this. It is in an odd spot on the car, I would honestly put it on the roof or something.
Yes, I did not take that into account, and it is a valid point. It's strange that Ford didn't follow up with the idea. And that they didn't sue Hyundai for copyright infrigement with the Santa Fe name...
See? It is a strange place to put a shovel in. I know that is little more than a concept, but still, if you want an adventure vehicle all the necessary equipment should be properly placed.
Cano
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- Cephiro
I'm trying to figure out where I can find info on the Taurus SHO wagon in this Car and Driver cover:
I have this. If you don't mind waiting about ten days or so until my dad gets back to work and I have access to his scanner, I'll scan the article and post it.
Even so, I clearly remember the wag was a one-off by Ford. I'll at least look for thw mag and go trough the article, they really did go to sniff around about Billy the kid.
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