Posted : November 2010
Author : Luis Quinteros
It's an automaker's job to improve on previous models, but
sometimes they get it so right that the previous generation is completely
overshadowed. Here we put together a list of the ten cars overshadowed by their
successor.
10.) BMW E34 M5
Why It's Overshadowed: Power for the E34 M5 came from a 3.6
liter straight-six producing 311 HP, which meant the car would reach sixty in a
respectable 6.4 seconds. The car was featured in Ronin, which is a testament
to the E34's awesomeness. The E39 M5, however, was miles ahead of the E34 in
performance and quality. Power came from a 400 HP 4.9 liter V8 and sixty came
at a much faster 4.5 seconds. The E39 M5's hoontastic power and refined comfort
make us forget an E34 even existed before the E39.
9.) First Gen Toyota
Prius
Why It's Overshadowed: The release of the Prius was super
sneaky, so sneaky, that I didn't know it existed until a full two years after the
second gen Prius was released. It was essentially a Toyota Echo/Platz with a hybrid
drivetrain much like the one in the second generation Prius. Fitting in a
completely new market, it was difficult for the Prius to gain the following
that the second generation Prius received.
8.) Cadillac CTS
Why It's Overshadowed: The CTS is the car that revived GM's
Cadillac brand. With stealth aircraft-inspired styling and the Corvette's
engine in the CTS-V, this car was more than enough to handle for pedal mashers.
Then the current generation CTS comes and blows it out of the water. Take a
supercharged LSA engine based on the Corvette ZR-1's LS9 and what do you get?
Enough power to forget that the previous generation CTS-V was cool, too.
7.) 1966/1967 Dodge Charger
Why It's Overshadowed: The first generation Charger is
called by many "a good-looking AMC Marlin" or "a Marlin on
steroids" but the Charger is just badass wrapped in a 440 Magnum,
individual bucketseat, fastback package. You may remember the 440 Magnum from
such masterpieces as Bullitt and that should be plenty. The second generation
Charger, produced from 1968 to 1970 seems to be the car of choice for Charger
enthusiasts. Maybe it has something to do with the second generation of Charger
having been the General Lee.
6.) Nissan R34 Skyline GT-R
Why It's Overshadowed: The R34 Skyline is one of the most
iconic vehicles to come from Nissan, yet we cannot get over the R35 GT-R, also
known as Godzilla. Why? Probably because we didn't get the Skyline stateside
without having to jump through hoops or risk vehicle seizure. Maybe it's
because of the R35 GT-R's massive power numbers or its 'Ring' times. Point is
that the Skyline GT-R was popularized by The Fast and the Furious while the R35
GT-R was popularized as a Porsche 911 Turbo killer.
5.) 2010 Ford Mustang
Why It's Overshadowed: In 2010, the choice between the
redesigned V6 Mustang and the Mustang GT was pretty obvious. Chances are you'd
pick the 315 HP 4.6 liter V8 Mustang GT. Then 2011 rolled around and like all
those iPhone 2G early adopters, you feel like an idiot. Now you can have a V6
Mustang with 305 HP and better fuel economy than the 2010 GT; or you could have
the 412 HP 5.0 liter V8 in the 2011 GT. 2010 Mustang who?
4.) Corvette C5 Z06
Why It's Overshadowed: 405 HP, 3.9 zero to sixty time, and a
suspension tuned on the Nürburgring are just a few things available from the C5
Z06. The following C6 Z06's LS7 produced a massive 505 HP and the new
Corvette's styling was race-inspired, designed for the American Le Mans series.
The growl of the C6 Z06's 7.0 liter engine and its good looks can make one
forget all about the C5 Z06.
3.) Bugatti EB110
Why It's Overshadowed: The EB110 was unveiled on Ettore
Bugatti's 110th birthday and was the first Bugatti product in 40 years. The
EB110 featured a 3.5 liter quad-turbo V12 engine that produced 553 HP. In 1998,
Volkswagen AG purchased the Bugatti rights and would produce cars under the
marque. VW got to work, managed to put together two V8 engines based on the VR6
engines, slapped four turbochargers to that, like on the EB110, and put it in a
car called the Veyron. The Veyron's quad-turbo 1001 HP W16 engine would make it
the fastest car on the earth, for a short time at least, and would erase any
memories we had of the EB110.
2.) Mark III Toyota Supra
Why It's Overshadowed: This was the first year that Celica
and Supra were dissociated. There was much to love about the Supra's 200 HP (or
Japan's
276 HP twin turbo model), it's rear-wheel drive rear end twitchiness, and it's
dual wishbone front and rear suspensions. However, there was much more to love
in the Mark IV Supra, including an inline twin turbo setup on the 2JZ,
producing 320 HP in later models with almost no lag. Enthusiasts are still
clamoring for the Mark IV Supra, while the Mark III can be had for cheap,
though quite priced.
1.) Ferrari 288 GTO
Why It's Overshadowed: This homologated special of the 308
GTB was meant to be a Group B beast and only 272 cars were produced. The 288
GTO's 2.85 liter V8 was twin turbocharged and produced 400 HP in 1984. In 1987
Ferrari produced F40, a 40th anniversary special, that became the halo car of
an era. Power came from a 471-HP twin turbo 2.9 liter v8 based on the GTO's
engine. The F40 was easily able to overshadow the 288 GTO with over 1,300 F40s
being produced from 1987 to 1992.
~Blog Admin~
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