In less than three weeks, 2018 ends with a bang for the auto industry. Overall, it was a good year for auto companies, devoid of any major financial problems and sprinkled with sales increases perhaps even greater than the ones of last year.
In 2018 we witness the launch of numerous cars, in the form of new generations of existing models, facelifts and reborn or entirely new entries to the market. This week, we’ll take a look back at the cars that were either created from scratch in 2018 or were brought back from the dead, decades from the time they were originally launched or discontinued.
As of this December, the GT lineup includes the entry-level GT, the mid-range GT S and GT C, and on top of the food chain the GT R and the recently introduced GT R PRO.
But all of these cars are equipped with only two doors and two seats, and Mercedes wanted a sports car for those who like to drive with more passengers. So at the Geneva Motor Show in March the oddly-named GT 4-Door Coupe was born, offering the same thrills as before, only this time for four people.
Unfortunately for them, it wasn’t meant to be and, despite its good performance and funky looks resulting from the use, among other things, of pop-up headlights, the model had to be discontinued about ten years later. And it didn’t even get the planned convertible version.
Fast forward to 2018, BMW dropped the use of pop-up headlights and chose to launch both the convertible and regular version of a brand new 8 Series.
As of this year, McLaren has big plans and intends on becoming an auto builder that rolls out new cars on a regular basis. And what better way to start the new company policy than by paying respect to the past.
One of McLaren’s most successful models was the F1, a vehcile that in 1998 became the fastest production car, topping at 240.1 mph (386.4 km/h).
As a means to honor it, the Brits launched this year the brand new Speedtail, which will be produced in exactly the same numbers as the F1, 106, and will sell for £1.75million plus taxes each.
What BMW lacked until this year was a flagship for the SUVs, a car big enough to satisfy full-size lovers in the U.S. and elsewhere.
Back in October, the big BMW X models were joined by an even bigger SUV, in fact, the largest of them all: the BMW X7. The over 5 meters long seven-seater wants to be a lounge on wheels, packed with so much technology it's very likely it would take X7 owners probably weeks to discover it all.
The magic didn't last long and only three years after its introduction the model was scrapped due to, of course, poor sales.
At the Los Angeles Auto Show in November, the revived Aviator was shown, this time not as a reinterpretation of something else, but a brand new model meant to redefine premium SUVs.
It was called Gladiator, and for 26 years it kept on being assembled by the various companies that succeeded Willys. That's until the name was dropped at the beginning of the 1970s.
Come 2018, the Jeep Gladiator is reborn to show once again what built in America means. And it comes complete with a huge list of Mopar parts that will make it one of the toughest machines out there.
The revived Monza family was detailed by Ferrari in September 2018 as one of the most powerful V12 powered Ferrari's ever. Of course, the price for one was set to match the stunning looks and impressive power.
All of the above are the most exciting new names that have joined the auto industry this year.
There were, of course, others, like the Volkswagen T-Cross, Audi e-tron SUV or Skoda Scala.
MERCEDES-AMG GT 4-Door Coupe
Perhaps the biggest surprise in the AMG offering in the past few years is the success of the GT line. The two-door sports car has been in production since 2014 and in the four years that have passed since it has grown to comprise a great deal of variants.But all of these cars are equipped with only two doors and two seats, and Mercedes wanted a sports car for those who like to drive with more passengers. So at the Geneva Motor Show in March the oddly-named GT 4-Door Coupe was born, offering the same thrills as before, only this time for four people.
BMW 8 SERIES
In 1989, BMW’s grand tourer was born as the first road car fitted with a V12 working in conjunction with a 6-speed manual transmission. It was to be called the 8 Series, and the Germans had big hopes for it.Fast forward to 2018, BMW dropped the use of pop-up headlights and chose to launch both the convertible and regular version of a brand new 8 Series.
MCLAREN SPEEDTAIL
McLaren is not in the market of making cars for the masses. Until recently, it wasn’t even in the market of making that many new car models, as the company addresses a very specific customer profile.One of McLaren’s most successful models was the F1, a vehcile that in 1998 became the fastest production car, topping at 240.1 mph (386.4 km/h).
As a means to honor it, the Brits launched this year the brand new Speedtail, which will be produced in exactly the same numbers as the F1, 106, and will sell for £1.75million plus taxes each.
BMW X7
For years now, the X range of SUVs from BMW has tried to set new standards of performance in this segment of the market. Some have succeeded, some have not, but BMW has slowly established itself as a premium maker of such cars.Back in October, the big BMW X models were joined by an even bigger SUV, in fact, the largest of them all: the BMW X7. The over 5 meters long seven-seater wants to be a lounge on wheels, packed with so much technology it's very likely it would take X7 owners probably weeks to discover it all.
LINCOLN AVIATOR
Back in the early 2000s, Ford launched the second generation Mercury Mountaineer. Because they liked it so much, they decided to rebadge the car, with minor tweaks, and sell it as a Lincoln too. This model became known as the Lincoln Aviator, and it was at the time the shortest vehicle in the brand's stables.At the Los Angeles Auto Show in November, the revived Aviator was shown, this time not as a reinterpretation of something else, but a brand new model meant to redefine premium SUVs.
JEEP GLADIATOR
The Gladiator name is, just like the Aviator, a recycled one. Way back at the middle of last century, a line of pickup trucks made by Willys Motors and based on the SJ Wagoneer was launched.Come 2018, the Jeep Gladiator is reborn to show once again what built in America means. And it comes complete with a huge list of Mopar parts that will make it one of the toughest machines out there.
FERRARI MONZA
Back in the early 1950s, Ferrari started building the Monza line of vehicles sports racers powered by V12 engines. Production of this family continued until 1957.All of the above are the most exciting new names that have joined the auto industry this year.
There were, of course, others, like the Volkswagen T-Cross, Audi e-tron SUV or Skoda Scala.