Ten Car Trends That Should Have Happened But Didn't

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Once in a while a brilliant idea comes down the automotive pipeline that has every reason to become a trend, but inexplicably doesn't.


10.) Customizable Horns

Honk at other drivers and pedestrians with your own personality! Stand out from the crowd!

Suggested By: Jonee , Photo Credit: Cliff


9.) Hubless Wheels

The hubless wheels of Franco Sbarro offered light weight, great rigidity, and a host of other benefits. Plus they look so damn cool. Could you imagine a hubless donk?

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Suggested By: My X-type is too a real Jaguar , Photo Credit: Sbarro


8.) Rotary Engines

Fine, I'll admit that the Rotary isn't exactly the most practical replacement for the piston engine, but they're just so cool. The AMC Pacer, and the Citroen CX both were supposed to get them, but sadly, you can only find a Wankel in a Mazda or the odd NSU.

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Suggested By: Deskyx , Photo Credit: Alden Jewell


7.) Modular Cars

Convertible? You got it. Hard top? Yes, sir. Canopy top? I don't see why not. Nissan had the right idea with the EXA, which we got as the Pulsar NX.

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Suggested By: reverberocket is nipping the apex..and gently blowing in it's ear. , Photo Credit: Nissan


6.) Exhaust Whistle

The whistles go wooo woooooo!

Suggested By: jbh , Photo Credit: Ken Blair


5.) Convertible Mini-Vans

All the practicality of a mini-van, with the enjoyment of drop-top motoring! Talk about having your cake and eating it, too.

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Suggested By: willkinton247 , Photo Credit: Nissan


4.) Three Abreast Seating

This puts the driver right in the center and allows them to take two of their friends along for the ride. They did it in the sublime McLaren F1, the Matra Murena and one (just one) Ferrari, why not anything else?

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Suggested By: MentalJuggernaut , Photo Credit: Elliot Phillips


3.) Side Pipes

Yes, they have a propensity to immolate your legs, but they look so damn cool. Chevrolet made a huge mistake not putting these on the new Stingray.

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Suggested By: JayBe_III , Photo Credit: Chevrolet


2.) Off-Road Sports Car

BMW, Volkswagen, and Pontiac have all had concepts for off-road sports cars, and they've built none of them. I can't understand why, since it's the perfect marriage of sports car practicality and SUV dynamics.

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Suggested By: K5ING, Photo Credit: Pontiac


1.) Wagoning

Why not wagon-ize every car?

If anyone has any idea as to why no automakers jumped on this bandwagon (get it?) please let me know in the comments. At least you can always buy a BMW M Coupe or a Ferrari FF to get your shooting brake on.

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Suggested By: One Quick Turbo Brick , Photo Credit: Ed Callow

Welcome back to Answers of the Day - our daily Jalopnik feature where we take the best ten responses from the previous day's Question of the Day and shine it up to show off. It's by you and for you, the Jalopnik readers. Enjoy!

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Top Photo Credit: Sbarro