The auto industry is ever expanding with manufacturers around the world continuously coming out with new models every year. However, there are a few rare cases when automakers manage to create something truly special that managed to have a long-lasting impact on the entire automotive industry.
The auto industry is divided into a wide range of segments. This includes sedans, hatchbacks, coupes, trucks, and even supercars. In some cases, car manufacturers managed to release something so special that it broke away to create a completely new segment.
Want to learn more about these special vehicles that managed to have a massive impact on the auto industry? Here are 10 awesome vehicles that every gearhead should know about.
10 Bentley Bentayga
The Bentley Bentayga was launched in 2015 as a luxury SUV from Bentley. Known for its luxury vehicles, the Bentayga was an instant hit among the ultra-wealthy around the world. While there were many premium SUVs on the market at the time, this saw the birth of a unique segment designed specifically for those wanting both luxury and performance.
The Bentayga came with Bentley’s 6-liter, W12 powertrain. The luxury SUV formed part of Volkswagen’s MLB platform. This platform is responsible for several premium and luxury SUVs such as the Audi Q7, Porsche Cayenne, the Audi Q8, and even the Lamborghini Urus. This showcased Volkswagen’s dominance within the luxury SUV segment of the market.
9 Range Rover Sport
While the Bentley Bentayga helped form the luxury SUV market, the Range Rover was instrumental in making that possible in the first place. Land Rover is a British brand that is dedicated to creating powerful SUVs for off-road driving. Range Rover is their luxury division, creating unique SUVs that offer both comfort and practicality.
The Range Rover Sport was launched in 2004 with a 4.2-liter V8 powertrain. The Range Rover Sport has gone through a few upgrades over the years, making it one of the most modern and powerful luxury SUVs on the market today. Despite the SUV’s modern and luxurious finishes, the Range Rover Sport still comes with impressive off-road performance. This makes it perfect for gearheads who want the best of both worlds.
8th Tesla Roadster
Electric cars are always a touchy subject when it comes to gearheads. When Elon Musk took over Tesla, he went in with the idea to try to showcase the power and potential of an all-electric powertrain. To do this, Tesla released its first-ever sports car, the Tesla Roadster.
This impressive two-door sports car was a battery electric sports car that was based on the Lotus Elise chassis. This helped save Tesla a bit of money during the design process as they could focus on building the best powertrain possible. The Roadster came with a 248 HP powertrain that could also produce around 270 lb-ft of torque. Tesla then followed up on the Roadster with a Sport model in 2009 that improved the performance to 288 HP.
7 VW Golf
Hatchbacks are some of the most practical and useful cars for most people. These cars offer both efficiency and affordability, making them the perfect first car for almost everyone. When it comes to the hatchback segment of the market, one vehicle stands out as a true game-changer. This is the VW Golf.
Designed by Volkswagen in the early 1970s, the VW Golf became one of the most popular brands in the world. Listed as the Volkswagen Rabbit in the United States and Canada, this unique hatchback has evolved to include all the premium options you could ever imagine. This iconic hatchback is also available with an electric powertrain, making it perfect for city driving.
6 BMW M5
The BMW M5 is the ultimate performance sedan that money can buy. Despite other four-door sedans having more power on paper, the BMW M5 offers a holistic performance package that others simply can’t compete with. The M5 is the most powerful car that BMW makes with a total power output of 627 HP for the CS model.
The M5 CS is the most powerful version of the sedan, but it does not lack the luxury you need for everyday driving. The M5 CS includes a plush, leather dashboard, the latest iDrive system, and intelligent drive modes that allow you to set the car up for both performance and economical driving with just the tap of a button.
5 Lamborghini Urus
Built on Volkswagen’s MLB platform, the Urus shares a ton of DNA with other performance and luxury SUVs on the market. However, the Urus is undeniably a Lamborghini in both design and performance. This impressive SUV expanded on the premium SUV segment and saw the birth of a new range of high-performance SUVs.
Commonly referred to as a super-SUV, the Urus comes with a monster, 641 HP engine that can also produce around 627 lb-ft of torque. Lamborghini did not stop there as they recently released a performance version of the Urus, the Urus Performante. This performance model extends its lead on the competition with a 657 HP powertrain and a more aggressive body kit.
4 McLaren F1
The McLaren F1 is a limited-edition supercar developed and built by McLaren in the United Kingdom. This unique supercar took inspiration directly from McLaren’s F1 team and managed to break the record as the world’s fastest production car in 1993.
Designed by Gordon Murray, the McLaren F1 featured a V12 engine that could produce 618 HP and 479 lb-ft of torque. This limited-edition supercar came with the performance, technology, and price tag to redefine the supercar segment, with many suggesting that the McLaren F1 was the first-ever hypercar.
3 Lamborghini Sian
Lamborghini has always been the loud and proud supercar. While Ferrari and McLaren have developed classy, modern performance coupes, Lamborghini has consistently gone all out to create the most powerful and aggressive-looking supercars on the market. However, the Lamborghini Sian is making a slight shift for the brand by being the first Lamborghini to feature a hybrid powertrain.
This limited-edition supercar comes with a V12 engine but includes an electric motor as well. This creates a combined power output of over 800 HP. The impressive powertrain effortlessly accelerates the supercar to a top speed of around 220 miles per hour, with a 0 to 60 time of under 2.8 seconds.
2 Porsche 911
The Porsche 911 is arguably the most famous vehicle in the world. From its iconic headlights to its signature interior, the 911 is the definition of a two-door sports car. The entire design of the car has evolved subtly over the years while still staying true to what makes this sports car so impressive in the first place.
While the first models were released in the 1960s, the modern 911 comes with the very latest Porsche has to offer. This includes efficient powertrains and luxurious interiors that make daily driving an absolute pleasure. The 911 helped define the sports car segment and remains one of the best two-door sports cars you can get your hands on today.
1 Rimac Concept One
While more supercars are embracing hybrid powertrain options, the Rimac Concept One was the first-ever all-electric supercar. This unique supercar is one of the rarest cars in the world with only 10 units being produced. The Rimac Concept One came with a 1,224 HP powertrain that could accelerate from 0 to 62 in just 2.5 seconds.
This made it one of the fastest supercars in the world. The Rimac Concept One also came with individual wheel drive, a carbon fiber body, and a range of around 200 miles on a single charge. Rimac upgraded the Concept One with the Concept S, a lighter and more powerful version of the electric supercar.
