When asked about their ultimate dream car, some Motor Trend editors had more to say than others; when the story was assembled for the magazine, some of their requests had to be trimmed. Here are their original wish lists, as presented to illustrator Mark Stehrenberger to interpret.
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Which vehicle would you like to see go in to production? Cast your vote!
Chrysler Hemi 'CudaChrysler's got the engine, and has teased us by putting it in a truck and a few concepts. Let's see that 5.7L/400-hp V-8, mated to a rear-drive six-speed manual, in a two-door, four-pass, fastback coupe, with 18-inch wheels up front and 19s in rear. Convertible in year two?
Ferrari 350 Dino The everyman's Ferrari. Let's see a $60,000-$80,000 mid-engined, steel-bodied alternative to a plain-Jane Porsche 911. Power it with the lower-output (read: "less expensive") version of the 3.6L V8 already in the Modena tuned to 320-350-hp and NO paddle shift. It might not be the quickest Ferrari, but it would be the most accessible and easiest one to push to its limit.
Ford Bronco III Forget the overweight, lumbering Explorers, Excursions, and Expeditions with three rows of seats, fake wood, and leather. The much more compact, lightweight Bronco III goes back to the Bronco's roots in 1966 with 2+2 ballistic nylon seating, big wheels and tires, hose-it-out interior, a small but torquey aluminum V-8, AWD, and pop-up rollbars. Adjustable air suspension is an option.
Porsche 914 STi Porsche reaches down to grab the Sony PlayStation crowd with this super looooow two-seater powered by the 300-hp turbocharged flat four from the Subaru STi instead of the old air-cooled VW. Priced under $30K, the 914 STi could introduce a whole new generation of buyers to the Porsche brand.
The Sportvan
In this burgeoning age of crossovers, let's explore an aggressively styled minivan designed to offer truly enjoyable, spirited driving experience. Intent is to appeal to active lifestyle (like everything else) and young families -- people who don't want a minivan but know it is the right tool for the job. These are people who typically commute alone or with a child on board, and who couldn't care less about seating for eight. Interior would feature easily removable captain's chairs that could be taken out and used at picnics, tailgating, beach, etc. Interior would have a Toyota Matrix-like rubberized surfaces for messy kids, dirty sports gear, and grungy dogs. Vehicle would be small, roughly Mazda MPV size, yet lower and maybe wider. (Think Japan-market Honda Odyssey.) The Sportvan be available in all-wheel drive. Drivetrain to be rally inspired, rather than a pure minivan transplant. Body to be sculpted, like Highlander (muscle arcing through fenders and doors), rather than slab sided. This size would permit the vehicle to be sold in Europe and Japan, making a stronger business case. Best companies to offer: Subaru or Mitsubishi. Both have the image, hardware, experience, and customer psychographic, yet have a hole in their product lines for a minivan or crossover. Optional engine to be a turbo, matched with paddle shifters, tauter suspension, larger wheels, etc. Could be derived from the Legacy GT with next year's turbo six, or the Endeavor with a turbo engine.