
By the end of the production cycle of the air-cooled Volkswagen Beetle, the 1930s-designed car had achieved cult status, but on a practical level it was dated. Compared to modern alternatives from rival manufacturers, the Beetle was limited by its rear-engine platform, as the front-wheel-drive, front-engine setup became de rigueur in the 1970s. While the industry shift…

Jaguar ended production of the immortal E-type in 1974. Its immediate successor, the 1975–95 XJS, was neither as pretty nor as fun to drive. When the XK8 coupe debuted in 1996, it had styling that once again evoked Jaguar’s sporting heritage. But arguably, it wasn’t until 2005 when a truly worthy E-type successor arrived. The…

As the world nervously prepared for the click over to the year 2000, Audi was staging a comeback. A rough patch in the 1980s after the “60 Minutes” unintended-acceleration exposé had seen it nearly pack up in the U.S. and head back to Ingolstadt. The early 1990s saw a complete revamp of Audi’s lineup but…

One constant at Volkswagen has been the desire to move upmarket. The manufacturer whose name literally means “The People’s Car” has always set its sights on grander horizons. The Corrado is just one in a string of cars with driving performance that was overshadowed by its lack of showroom performance. Run like the wind Volkswagen…