They’re back. The cars you rode in as a kid, dreamt of owning one day, or marvelled at as they drove past your school’s front gates – they are back. But they’re not the same.
Re-born, re-imagined, and re-invigorated for the 2020s, they’ve swapped their grimy, rattly internal combustion engines for the serenity of silent motors that endow them not just with eco-friendly, clean motoring, but also better performance and the latest tech and features. The retro-revival has gone electric!
When Retro First Revived
To be fair, the retro revival in the sphere of new car production is not a new concept. As far back as 1990, Nissan introduced the Figaro – while technically not a revival of any previous model, it nonetheless referenced the style of 1950s cars. Despite being based on the humble Micra, the intended limited production run of 8,000 quickly sold out, and eventually over 20,000 were made to meet demand. It proved that buyers had a big appetite for retro cars.
This was further cemented by the incredible success of the 1991 Mazda MX-5 Miata (still the world’s best-selling sports car), which unashamedly used the 1960s Lotus Elan as a template for its design and driving dynamics.
Later in the 1990s, Chrysler exploited this trend by launching the Dodge Viper (inspired by the 1960s Shelby Cobra), the Plymouth Prowler (a modern-day classic hot rod), and the PT Cruiser, which harked back to 1940s car design.
Volkswagen arguably did it properly first, bringing back the Beetle with the nostalgic silhouette of its iconic best-seller in 1998. Then, in 2001, BMW, having bought Mini, relaunched the little legend but infused it with German quality while retaining its cheeky spirit.
Ford took a tracing paper sheet to the original Mustang when it relaunched the storied muscle car in 2005 to huge acclaim, and Fiat jumped on the retro bandwagon with the cuddly 500 launched in 2007.
The VW ID Buzz continues the camper van legacy.
The Electric Opportunity
Electric cars present a unique opportunity to go wild with design. With the running gear and batteries embedded directly into the platform, designers have a free hand to build any style of body atop it, unhindered by the requirements of fitting a big petrol-gulping engine and a tank to hold the fuel.
Sadly, most modern EVs remain conventional in design. But thankfully, not all of them.
Mini, Fiat 500, and the Mustang
Three of the aforementioned have already made the switch – kind of… Mini first introduced a fully electric model for the third generation of the reborn city car in 2020. However, with the latest generation, introduced in 2023, the company made a significant statement by launching the electric version first. It has been developed in a joint venture with China’s Great Wall Motors.
Mini has had an electric makeover.
While Mini still comes in a petrol flavour, Fiat ensured that the second generation of its revived 500 (in 2020) was EV-only.
Meanwhile, Ford has pledged to continue building petrol V8 Mustangs for as long as they’re legally allowed but has also given us the Mustang Mach-E (2021). This is an electric family SUV, ideally intended as a household complement to the V8. With minimal Mustang references, it gets away with it because the “proper” Mustang still exists.
Ford Capri
The reception for the electric Capri (2024), which brings back the much-loved nameplate for what was essentially Europe’s Mustang in the ’70s and ’80s, has been met with a much colder reaction. It’s alleged that production volumes have already been scaled back. They should have made it a coupé!
The new Renault 5 makes a design nod to its petrol predecessor, but with more edgy modern styling.
Volkswagen ID.Buzz
The Volkswagen ID.Buzz (2022) reimagines the iconic Type 2, also known as the much-loved VW Campervan, from the 1950s and ’60s. It’s available as a people mover or a van and has an electric range of just over 470km. Its bold design and practical strengths indicate it might well succeed where the Beetle revival failed.
Honda E
There wasn’t a Honda E before, but of course, one glance at this adorable little Japanese city car, and you’re instantly reminded of the game-changing original Civic introduced in the early 1970s. The Honda E (2020) blends retro aesthetics with advanced technology, including side-view cameras instead of mirrors and a full-width digital dashboard featuring an artificial aquarium – no, really!
Renault 5 and Renault 4
Renault has just launched the enticing Renault 5 E-Tech (2024), with the model clearly aping the beloved classic 5’s overall shape. More recently, the company has revealed the forthcoming Renault 4 E-Tech (2024), based on the same platform but larger and more practical, which of course mirrors the mass-appeal rugged functionality of the 1960s original. Both of these play heavily on nostalgia for classic French cars.
The Ora Ballet Cat has raised eyebrows over its extreme similarity to the VW Beetle.
Renault Twingo
And Renault is not quite done yet! Revealed in concept guise in 2024, the Renault Twingo E-Tech is confirmed for production in 2026. With styling inspired by the quirky 1992 original, it aims to be a city dweller’s delight in an affordable and efficient package.
Ora Ballet Cat
The Ora Ballet Cat (2022) is not made by Volkswagen (it’s from Great Wall Motors) and is technically not a Beetle but, c’mon, that is clearly based on the epochal classic Type 1 built from 1938 to 2003 – nothing less than “The Love Bug” itself. Okay, this one has four doors instead of two, and there’s no engine in the boot because, of course, it’s electric. Unfortunately, it’s not sold outside of China, which is a shame.
The Mini Moke, a favourite seaside runaround is now electric.
Boutique Revivalists
While mainstream manufacturers dominate the retro EV trend, boutique car companies are also playing their part in bringing classics back to life:
- AC Ace RS Electric: AC Cars has electrified its legendary 1960s sports car, the Ace. The RS Electric maintains the sleek styling of the original but retains its mind-bending performance thanks to over 300bhp from its modern electric powertrain.
- Morris JE Van: A nod to the 1950s Morris J-Type van, the electric Morris JE features a lightweight carbon-fibre body, a 400km range, and simply charming style.
- Mini Moke: Born in 1964, it ripped the body off a regular Mini and turned it into a nippy little front-wheel-drive alternative to the Jeep. Huge fun, it’s now back as an EV, but with a modest 125km range, it’s more a glorified golf cart than a War Machine!
A New Era of Nostalgia
We won’t go into the multitude of specialists working to convert classic cars to EVs, but the return of these classics in electric form is proof that the future of motoring doesn’t have to be soulless or uninspiring. Nostalgic designs fused with cutting-edge technology are bringing back the cars we love, making them green as well as groovy! It’s a thrilling new chapter where eco-friendly doesn’t mean dull, and timeless style makes a triumphant comeback.
