A NUMBER of long-forgotten car nameplates have returned to British roads in recent times – with many more coming over the horizon.
Earlier this week, it was revealed that Ford will be bringing back the legendary Capri model – some 38 years since it was discontinued.
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This came just days after Honda announced the return of the Prelude, while rumour has it Toyota want to revive the MR-2 and Celica sports cars.
Nostalgia sells, after all, with numerous brands showing new motors with throwback names in recent months.
Renault 5
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The tiny Renault 5, which was a staple of British roads in the 1980s and 1990s, returned earlier this year as a £25,000 EV supermini.
Retro cool with a modern clean and quiet powertrain, the little French motor certainly looks the part and it’s cheaper than a plethora of its electric rivals – including the Fiat 500e.
Its swollen wheel-arches are a nod to the old rocket-boot Renault 5 Turbo, and it still has classic upright rear lights.
Bizarrely, it even comes with a clip-on a baguette holder.
Vauxhall Frontera
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Back in May, Vauxhall unveiled a chunky new SUV with a rather familiar name.
To be radically overhauled as an EV, the much-loved Frontera – originally produced from 1991 to 2004 – is all set to replace the Crossland.
According to Sun Motors’ Rob Gill, it will come with two power types, a £21k petrol hybrid and £25k pure electric.
Better yet for gas-guzzlers, the petrol iteration will have a seven-seat option.
Land Rover Freelander
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The Freelander name was a popular range from Land Rover that ran from 1997 to 2015 – and now it’s set to be revived some eight years later.
Initially an instant success, the Mk1 Freelander sold some 540,000 units in the late 1990s to make it the best-selling four-wheel drive motor in Europe at the time.
But sales declined and by 2015 the model was axed, with much of its stylings absorbed into the Range Rover Evoque.
Now, though, parent company Jaguar Land Rover has confirmed that the model will return as an all new, electric SUV.
It won’t be built on these shores though, with Chery, a Chinese manufacturer owned by the provincial government, producing it at its base in Wuhu City.
Honda Prelude
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With an elegant new look, the sporty Honda Prelude was unveiled to much aplomb earlier this week.
The Prelude was last seen in showrooms back in 2001 – having run for five generations from 1978 – but after 23 years it appears to be back as a gorgeous-looking EV coupe.
The new Prelude is set to get its first public appearance at the upcoming Goodwood Festival of Speed following the concept model’s reveal at the Japan Mobility Show last year.
Tomoyuki Yamagami, the project leader on the Prelude, said the model “maintains its sporty DNA by perfectly blending the efficiency and environmental advantages of electrified driving with an exhilarating experience behind the wheel.”
Ford Capri
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On Wednesday, Ford unveiled the new Capri to the world, with the beloved model reborn as an all-electric SUV.
In a world exclusive, SunMotors has been given a peek inside the new motor, which launched officially this afternoon at an event hosted by Premier League icon Eric Cantona.
It’s a far cry from the original Capri – one of the most desirable cars of the ’70s and ’80s and the motoring star of shows like Minder and Only Fools and Horses.
The car is set to hit UK showrooms from November this year with a 286 bhp, rear-wheel drive version priced at around £48,000.
This comes as a car expert revealed five luxury cars that look like “they cost an absolute fortune” but can be found for up to 90% off.
Elsewhere, the UK’s most expensive petrol stations have been revealed with drivers paying £1,200 more to fill up – is your local overpriced?