Ten Cars That Would Have Been Unthinkable 25 Years Ago

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If you went back to 1989 and told someone that these cars exist, they'd think you were out of your mind.


10.) Hyundai Equus

25 years ago, Hyundai was making generally terrible but cheap cars that no one really wanted to buy. Now they have a $60k full-sized luxury car that competes with the Mercedes S-Class. Kia has gone and done the same thing with the K900.

Suggested By: Yes I Drive a Hyundai, Photo Credit: Hyundai


9.) Porsche Cayenne

Back in 1989 SUVs were still a few years away from achieving the ubiquity they did in the mid-90s, so the idea that they'd be making one themselves was crazy. That it's offered with a diesel and as a hybrid is just wild.

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Suggested By: Steve Kuhn, Photo Credit: Porsche


8.) Honda Accord

Ok, so no one 25 years ago would be surprised that the Honda Accord would still exist in 2014, but what is surprising is the level of performance it offers. With a V6 and a manual transmission the Accord can do 0-60 in about 5.6 seconds which is on par with a '89 Ferrari 328.

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Suggested By: Thunder, Photo Credit: Raphael Orlove/Jalopnik


7.) 2015 Ford F-150 Ecoboost

No one in 1989 would have believed that a Ford F-150 would have used an aluminum intensive construction and would have a twin-turbo 2.7 Liter V6. Don't forget that the 911 Turbo was 6 years away from having a twin-turbo set up, and now you get one in a work truck.

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Suggested By: Ron, Photo Credit: Ford


6.) Ferrari FF

Yes, the people who made the F40 now make an AWD shooting brake that's only offered with an automatic and makes nearly 200 more horsepower than the F40.

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Suggested By: Biggus Dickus (RevsBro), Photo Credit: Axion23


5.) Jeep Renegade

The idea of an Italian built, Fiat based mini Jeep wasn't just unthinkable 25 years ago, it was unthinkable 10 years ago! Let me repeat: a Fiat based, Italian built, mini Jeep.

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Suggested By: ezeolla, Photo Credit: Jeep


4.) Dodge Challenger Hellcat

In this crazy world we live in Dodge will sell you a 707 HP Challenger with a factory warranty for $60k. 707 hp! In 1989 the things you could buy at Dodge dealers were mainly FWD and the Viper was just a concept car.

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Suggested By: ReverendDexter, Photo Credit: Dodge


3.) Toyota Prius

Back in 1989, as reader 505 - morphine not found points out, electronics were becoming increasingly prevalent in modern cars but no one would have seen a useable hybrid like the Prius coming.

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Suggested By: 505 - morphine not found, Photo Credit: Toyota


2.) Tesla Model S

The Tesla Model S is one of the most forward thinking cars to come down the pipeline in years and represents an absolutely stunning acheivement. No one in 1989 would have believed you if you told them an all-electric luxury car would exist and work.

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To top it all off, it's made by a company that didn't even exist in 1989.

Suggested By: PNW20v, Photo Credit: Tesla


1.) Porsche 918/LaFerrari/McLaren P1

In 2014 we have three hybrid supercars that are fuel efficient, ecologically friendly and produce around 900 horsepower. That's about double what a F40 or Countach made in '89, and they're much better on gas.

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Suggested By: Mike Librizzi, Photo Credit:McLaren

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: Tesla