The most influential cars of the last ten years stand out for their aesthetics, for being powered by electrical energy, or for their horsepower. So which one would you put in your garage?
During the last ten years, we have seen the arrival of numerous cars that by themselves have established new segments or have come to change the public's perception of technologies to which they were reluctant. As a result, we've narrowed the list down to four, which we think have been the most influential cars of the decade.
Each one, for its reasons, does not resemble the others at all, and they belong to very different segments. However, they all share one detail: they meant a before and after.
Nissan Juke
The Nissan Juke came to the market in 2010 in a risky bet by the Japanese manufacturer. You like it, or you hate it, and with the million-unit barrier passed in mid-2018, it is clear that you liked it a lot. The Nissan Juke left no choice to the manufacturers with such success: they had to create small SUVs with attractive aesthetics.
Thanks to the successful commercial career of the Juke, the B-SUV segment has been one of the most exploited in recent years, and it has experienced growth rarely seen in the industry. Now almost all automobile manufacturers have at least one member in this segment, two in some cases, such as Hyundai with the Kona and Venue.
Tesla Model S
Talking about electric cars always leads to talking about Tesla. Its second model to series production, the Tesla Model S, hit the market in 2012 and completely changed how electric cars were viewed. It was beautiful, practical, luxurious, powerful, and with much more autonomy than any other electric car.
Indeed, it is not the best-selling electric car. Instead, this title goes to the Nissan Leaf, which has achieved better sales thanks to a much lower price.
Even so, if there is one vehicle that changed the public's mentality about this type of car, it is the Tesla Model S. It also pioneered large screens and free software updates via WiFi.
It should be remembered that the success of the Tesla Model S has been slowed by the arrival of its little brother, the Tesla Model 3 . This has positioned itself as the manufacturer's bestseller, and it has reached 80% of the global sales of the Californian brand.
Mercedes A-Class.
It may seem strange that the third-generation Mercedes A-Class is on this list, and so does its performance version, the A45 AMG or AMG A 45, as it became known after the restyling. However, with the arrival in 2012 of this compact, something happened in Mercedes-Benz, and that is that their designs became more aggressive and youthful.
The objective of this strategy was to reduce the average age of the brand's buyers, something they have more than achieved. Its AMG version ended up offering up to 421 hp of the 'S' version, which established a war of powers that continues. Even Volkswagen flirted with the possibility of a Golf R with 400 hp.
Ford Mustang
Of all sports cars, the Ford Mustang has been one of the most influential cars of the decade. In its last generation, the pony car par excellence became a global car to reach many markets beyond the American one, including ours.
Ford showed that there was a market for this type of car in Europe, it led the sales list in its segment for a long time. However, in the USA, Ford Mustang opened the eyes of many since he technically incorporated solutions that are not at all typical of an American car.
In addition, it broke the stigma that a Mustang does not use its mythical V8 5.0. While the entry model was always a V6, a 2.3-liter Ecoboost four-cylinder block was used in this generation. Considered a blasphemy, it has ended up being a lifesaver that has opened the doors of many fans who do not want to carry a gas station with them.
Also, from Ford, we should mention the Ford Mustang Mach-E electric car. There are numerous advantages to driving an electric vehicle, and looking cool and having a good time aren't frequently on the list. Arguments concerning what the Mach-E isn't are less lasting than those about what it is. Whatever you think of the term, it is a watershed moment for automobile enthusiasts, electric vehicles, and automotive. It demonstrates that electric cars can have such characteristics and that optimizing for every kilometer of range does not have to be the end goal. It also illustrates how revolution may emerge from inside a legacy, no matter how historic or staid.
