Just like with the movie industry, the automotive industry is fond of remakes and reboots of past successes. However, like movies, not every attempt is Oscar-worthy or good enough to be remembered for long.
In reality, there are more failures than victories in this department, but the ones that work truly shine. There are a lot of carmakers out there and tons of classics, so it's best to narrow it down a bit. In pursuit of that, here are five car reboots that worked well (& five that flopped)...
10 Great: Corvette Stingray (C7)
Although the Chevrolet Corvette has seen many different iterations over the decades, the C7 is (so far) one of Chevy's best creations. Once again, the Corvette was an affordable car for the masses, but it also reestablished the Corvette as a supercar throughout the world.
With the returning 'Stingray' name and shark-like design and lines, the C7 became an instant hit after being released. Today, the fastest version is the ZR1: A bona fide 750+ horsepower track beast.
9 Bad: 2016 Dodge Dart
If you're going to remake a beloved muscle car and American classic, you'd think that it would hold true to its predecessor. Unfortunately, this wasn't what happened at all. Rather than a roaring V8 and boat-like body, we got an urban commuter.
In the modern age (2013 to 2016), there were no high-liter V8s to be found. The Dart would instead have a 1.4 to 2.4-liter four-cylinder and an appearance closer to a Ford Focus; not a monstrously quick dragster. It is no wonder, then, why the Dodge Dart reboot was unpopular.
8 Great: 2021 Ford Bronco
Even though the 2021 Ford Bronco, obviously, isn't available to the public, the hype has secured its place in the minds of countless consumers. So far, all signs point to a successful return for the Bronco.
The best we've seen of the Ford Bronco, so far, is its appearance in the Baja 1000 and other car shows. Because of its racing side, it's likely that the Bronco will (again) be a great off-roader while still maintaining the classic boxy-shape.
7 Bad: Hummer H2
What was once seen as a cool military-specific vehicle that could endure anything, the Hummer brand quickly fell into obscurity and was viewed as a laughing stock. The cause of this? The Hummer H2. The Hummer H2 is the epitome of a gas-guzzling, burger-eating, American-loving truck, but not in a good way.
The exterior is extremely ugly, consisting of nothing but a cube shape, and is very very slow (Over ten-seconds for 0 to 60). These days, Hummer has been relegated to helping make taxis and commercial vehicles (and still for the military). With any luck, we'll never see another production-level Hummer again.
6 Great: Nissan GT-R (R35)
Of course, Nissan's Skyline and GT-R series have ruled over the J.D.M. community alongside vehicles like the MK IV Supra and RX-7. Unlike most companies, though, Nissan didn't fail spectacularly when trying to recapture their former glory.
Their attempt to redo the GT-R was not in vain, as showcased by the R35 GT-R's (R35 being the body style) tendency to crush Lamborghini's and Bugatti's alike. The GT-R is so beloved, actually, that Nissan is now making 50 Special Edition GT-Rs that will sell for over $1 million per piece!
5 Bad: 2010 Ferrari California
Compared to a lot of other high-end carmakers, Ferrari is (easily) one of the world's best and most recognizable. Since the early-20th century, Ferrari has made great cars, like the 250 GT California: A multi-million dollar antique. To differentiate their lineup and revive the California title, Ferrari built the 2010 Ferrari California, a front-engine convertible sports car.
However, the only real similarity between the original California and the new one was the name and brand. The 2010 version was sluggish and strangely designed too. Fortunately for Ferrari and their fans, though, these issues would be fixed later on with the introduction of the turbocharged California T and the brand new Portofino.
4 Great: 2020 Land Rover Defender
Sometimes, the best things seem too far out of reach. For countless car enthusiasts, this is the daily struggle they go through when their dream car isn't legal in their country. The portion who fawned over the classic Land Rover Defender, however, will find some alleviation from that pain now.
Yes, Land Rover has brought back the great Defender series! This one's not going to be a stripped-down all-purpose off-road vehicle, though, but a luxury SUV rivaling the likes of Mercedes and BMW. Nevertheless, it will still tear up a dirt course if you ask it too.
3 Bad: 2020 Toyota Supra
In recent years, the new 2020 Toyota Supra is, perhaps, one of the greatest disappointments to befall the car community. Not only were hopes destroyed, but an entire fandom was divided as well. The new Supra has two groups of consumers: (1) Those that hate the 2020 and (2) those who aren't as upset as the rest of them.
There's no going around the fact that the 2020 Supra is hardly a Supra, particularly due to BMW's large influence on production and engineering. Because of that, a lot of enthusiasts remark that the Supra is just a re-skinned BMW Z4. Whatever your opinion is on the matter, it's hard to say that Toyota couldn't have done better.
2 Great: Ford GT
With the release and love for the movie Ford v Ferrari, a film built around the 1966 Le Man's 24 Hour race, now is a perfect time to discuss one of America's best vehicles in their history: The Ford GT.
The original Ford GT (as seen in the film) was, like the Corvette, a statement made to the rest of the world that the U.S. was here, and wasn't to be toyed with. The new Ford GT still maintains that same spirit, especially on-track where the Ford Performance team would have made Carroll Shelby and Ken Miles proud!
1 Bad: 2018 Volkswagen Beetle
For some carmakers, it's hard for them to determine when they've been beaten. This is evidenced by their continual issues with rules/regulations and repeating failing models, such as the Volkswagen Beetle.
In its heyday, the Beetle was the prime example of a reliable and affordable car. Now, though, they've become synonymous with a 'feminine' style and are decreasing in sales as the years go on. To add to that, the once well-built Beetle is now accident-prone and will likely cost a fortune to fix (especially at the dealer's).