slownrusty Posted January 26, 2010 Share Posted January 26, 2010 Guys I was thinking about cars or car companies that started a trend that then caused a massive trend with other cars companies and the aftermarket industry...I am going to start off the top of my head...please add your list too 1) Lamborghini doors 2) BMW's angel eyes 3) Audi LED front lights 4) Porsche red painted brake calipers 5) Toyota Lexus Altezza tail lights 6) BMW and Mercedes HID headlights 7) Porsche successfully commercializing Turbo technology (Corvair and BMW 2002 Turbo not incl.) 8) Mercedes successfully commercializing Diesel technology 9) Audi and Subaru successfully commercializing AWD technology 10) Mazda successfully commercializing rotary engine technology your turn! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MAG58 Posted January 26, 2010 Share Posted January 26, 2010 Ferrari and the flappy-paddle gearbox Mercedes and crumple zones The Mini and transverse FWD (though there were some before it, none caught on) Benz and the car (Had to) Caddy and the cross plane V8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Rolling Parts Posted January 26, 2010 Share Posted January 26, 2010 Wow, no American cars? 1) American Pick up designs and SUV's now used by Toyota & even Porsche 2) American V8's making V8's for the masses 3) Pontiac Trans-Am (making it OK for huge decals on cars instead of painted trim) 4) Ford 32 Coupe , 'nuf said. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kennysgreen280zt Posted January 26, 2010 Share Posted January 26, 2010 Ford Model T - Assembly line Production Thats all I got for now.... Im thinking of more Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kennysgreen280zt Posted January 26, 2010 Share Posted January 26, 2010 Honda - Variable Valve timing Toyota - Gas/Electric Hybrid Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiwi303 Posted January 26, 2010 Share Posted January 26, 2010 Land Rover and 4wd becoming synonymous outside the US, and Wileys Jeep inside the US, now theres a pleathora of 4wds in almost every car makers repertoire Hilux for being so damn tough Top Gear couldn't kill one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
capt_furious Posted January 26, 2010 Share Posted January 26, 2010 Alfa Romeo; hemispherical combustion chambers and overhead cams. Nash; first practical and inexpensive production air conditioning on the '54 Ambassador - Packard did it in 1939, but it was cumbersome and expensive. Chrysler; First modern solenoid cruise control in 1958 on the Imperial. British Motor Corporation: Transverse front engine, front wheel drive in the 1959 Mini. - whoops, MAG58 got me on this one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kennysgreen280zt Posted January 26, 2010 Share Posted January 26, 2010 Corvette for EFI and american sportscars I'd disagree (slightly) with the alfa making hemi chambers and OHC popular. Aftermarket and OE's used Hemi chambers and DOHC back into the 20's. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnc Posted January 26, 2010 Share Posted January 26, 2010 Gabriel Hi-Jacker air shocks: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cygnusx1 Posted January 26, 2010 Share Posted January 26, 2010 VW Beetle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PanzerAce Posted January 26, 2010 Share Posted January 26, 2010 Mercedes for gasoline direct injection. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hoov100 Posted January 26, 2010 Share Posted January 26, 2010 Honda - Variable Valve timing (nissan and alfa romeo where the first manufactures to use VVT in productions models) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
capt_furious Posted January 26, 2010 Share Posted January 26, 2010 I'd disagree (slightly) with the alfa making hemi chambers and OHC popular. Aftermarket and OE's used Hemi chambers and DOHC back into the 20's. Alfa was using them prior to the '20s. By 1925 they had standardized on DOHC and hemi heads across the product line. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cygnusx1 Posted January 26, 2010 Share Posted January 26, 2010 I miss my Alfa... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kennysgreen280zt Posted January 26, 2010 Share Posted January 26, 2010 I sometimes forget about alfa being a big company that far back. I stand corrected Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Globerunner513 Posted January 26, 2010 Share Posted January 26, 2010 hmmm....who introduced the cup-holder? otherwise F1 and KERS. I know it wasn't the latest and greatest idea, but I believe the funding and research that is possible through F1 will show through production cars in the future, as is common with F1 trickle down technology. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
260DET Posted January 26, 2010 Share Posted January 26, 2010 Suspension Ford - invented strut suspension VW beatle - first mass produced car with independant suspension all round? Triumph - first mass produced double wishbone front independant suspension? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.