Consumer Reports Names 10 Most Influential Vehicles of Past 50 Years; CR Invites Readers to Voice Their Own Opinions
YONKERS, N.Y.--March 10, 2003--In the last five decades, thousands of car models have made the transition from the drawing board to the dealership. The vast majority are simply updated versions of what is already on the road. Every now and then, a new model sets in motion a trend or movement that has a ripple effect throughout the auto industry, changing how we think about or relate to our cars.To commemorate the 50th Anniversary of its Annual April Auto Issue, Consumer Reports has compiled a list of what its auto experts believe are the 10 Most Influential Vehicles from the last half-century. Far from a unanimous consensus, this list was the result of heated debate among CR's auto experts about the pros and cons of dozens of models.
To allow readers to voice their opinions and choices, Consumer Reports is opening a free reader forum at www.ConsumerReports.org in which everyone can debate the merits of the vehicles on our list and offer their own selections.
Here's the list, with models listed alphabetically:
| -- | BMW 2002: Introduced for 1968, the BMW 2002 laid the groundwork for the modern sports sedan. It offered nimble, sports-car-like handing and strong performance in a conventional two-door sedan. |
| -- | Chevrolet Corvette: Influential in styling, performance and longevity, the Corvette, first introduced in 1953, set the tone for future American sports cars. Its influence can be seen in a variety of models from the 1955 Ford Thunderbird to today's Dodge Viper. |
| -- | Dodge Caravan/Plymouth Voyager: Although some might argue that Volkswagen's microbus was the inspiration for today's minivan, it was Chrysler's 1984 models, the Caravan and Voyager, that gave the idea its modern shape, styling, and configuration. |
| -- | Ford F-Series: It's hard to argue against the F-Series as the most influential truck in the last fifty years. In 1982, it was one of the first trucks to outsell all passenger cars in the U.S. and it has been the highest selling vehicle ever since, as well as the best-selling truck for the last 26 years. |
| -- | Ford Taurus: The 1986 Taurus was a groundbreaking design for a mainstream family sedan. With its rounded, aerodynamic styling, it made other sedans look dated almost overnight and introduced a look that other automakers quickly followed. |
| -- | Ford Mustang: The original 1964 1/2 Mustang was a sleek, inexpensive sports coupe that gave birth to the "pony car" segment, which included such direct competitors as the long-lived Chevrolet Camaro and the Pontiac Firebird. |
| -- | Jeep Cherokee: The 1984 four-door Cherokee was one of the primary catalysts in the transformation of the sport-utility vehicle from a niche 4 x 4 to an everyday family vehicle. |
| -- | Toyota RAV4: As the first car-based sport-utility vehicle, the small Toyota initiated a new movement in SUV design that has since become the fastest growing segment in the auto market. |
| -- | Volkswagen Rabbit/GTI: The Rabbit popularized the small hatchback design in this country, which became prevalent in the `70s and has experienced a resurgence in the last couple of years. The GTI version also initiated the "hot hatch" niche of small, sporty cars. |
| -- | Volkswagen Beetle: The introduction of the Beetle to the U.S. in the 1950s was the humble beginning of the import invasion that later changed the face of America's auto market. It was a small, economical and easy-to-maintain car that offered buyers a distinct alternative to the large American cars of the era.. |
The 50th Anniversary April Auto Issue is on sale March 11 through June 11. The Auto Issue is generally available where magazines are sold and may also be ordered online at www.ConsumerReports.org.
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