Predicting forever love is a tricky business – especially when it comes to cars. There are dozens of factors that influence whether a vehicle will be a highly sought-after collectible classic or just an old, used car. And although all new cars on sale today will be considered “classics” by the working definition of the term in 25 years, not all will be celebrated sufficiently to participate in the festivities surrounding the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. We think these 18 cars should make the cut in 2043, however.
Dodge Challenger SRT Demon
Since it was produced for just one model year and limited to 3,300 copies worldwide, there was never any doubt that the Dodge Challenger SRT Demon would attain instant collectible status. With its long list of drag racing-specific equipment and supercharged 6.2-liter V-8 that makes 840 hp on race gas, the Demon has left skid marks on the automotive world’s collective psyche, meaning you can expect interest to only go up in the next 25 years. Since the Demon is now sold out, the 797-hp Hellcat Redeye is the next best thing if you’re looking for a current-gen Challenger to take to Pebble in a quarter century.
Lexus LC
With its swoopy styling, inspiring performance, and impressive interior, the Lexus LC is a flagship coupe worthy of the title first held by the SC 400 of the early ’90s. The LC can be had with a naturally aspirated 5.0-liter V-8 making 471 hp and 398 lb-ft of torque, or a 3.5-liter V-6 hybrid setup making a combined 354 hp. The car wears the best interpretation of the brand’s controversial spindle grille to date, and although the design takes lots of other risks, we think the result is a beautiful car that will still be appreciated by Pebble Beach goers of the future.
Ford GT
Though its on-track performance so far hasn’t matched up with expectations, the Ford GT will be remembered for its extreme looks, high price, and close ties to the race car that won the GT class at Le Mans in its debut year. It will also be remembered as a car that was hard to get. If you recall, Ford required all interested GT customers to submit an application to purchase one. Each car costs more than $450,000, and because every Ford GT is hand-built by racing firm and Ford partner Multimatic, those lucky enough to get picked by Ford will have to wait to get one of the 1,000 cars of the planned production run. Ford has said it will build the GT through the 2020 model year.
Porsche 911 GT2 RS
Having just set the track record at Willow Springs International Raceway (and stay tuned for its run in the Best Driver’s Car shootout at Weathertech Raceway Laguna Seca), the 911 GT2 RS will go down in history as the most potent performer of the 991 generation. And with prices starting just under $300,000, it’s likely to be one of the rarer 911s of its generation, too.
McLaren 720S
McLaren outdid itself with the 720S. The current Super Series car lives up to that descriptor in every way possible. For example, it’s one of the quickest cars we’ve ever tested in the quarter mile, coming in at 10.1 seconds at 141.5 mph. That places the 720S behind only the hybrid hypercar trio of the LaFerrari, McLaren P1, and Porsche 918 Spyder, and means it’s quicker than a Bugatti Veyron. As for styling, the 720S’ design is dictated primarily by aerodynamics, but the result is a look we think will hold up for at least the next 25 years.
Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE
The regular Camaro ZL1 is extreme enough with it 650-hp supercharged 6.2-liter V-8, but the 1LE takes the pony car to even greater performance heights. The track package adds Multimatic spool-valve shocks, extra-wide Eagle F1 SuperCar R3 R-compound tires, a front splitter and dive planes, and a massive rear wing, helping the car achieve a 7:16.03 Nürburgring lap time as well as a fourth-place finish in our 2017 Best Driver’s Car Competition. If any modern Camaro is destined for Pebble Beach stardom, it’s this one.
Jaguar XE SV Project 8
With the Jaguar XE SV Project 8 limited to just 300 examples, rarity once again plays a big part for this entry on the list. But even if the Project 8 wasn’t so scarce, its 598-hp supercharged V-8, racing-derived aero package, and track-tuned continuously variable dampers make it one of the most memorable Jags in recent history.
Tesla Model 3
Given Tesla’s current financial challenges, no one knows where the company will be in a few years, let alone 25. But now that it has finally started churning out 5,000 Model 3 sedans a week, a few examples of its products should survive a quarter century. Whether history views it as a mass-production EV pioneer or this era’s version of a Tucker or Kaiser, the Model 3 will at the very least be a conversation-starter in 2043—especially if you show up in a 450-hp dual-motor Performance model.
Ford F-150 Raptor
Granted, today’s Monterey Car Week isn’t known for celebrating trucks, even high-performance ones like the F-150 Raptor. But the Pebble audience may be very different by the time the current-gen Raptor reaches classic status. We don’t think the Raptor’s 450-hp twin-turbo EcoBoost V-6, lifted Fox Racing suspension, and super-wide body would look too out of place cruising the streets of Monterey, either.
Aston Martin DBS Superleggera
We said the new Aston Martin DBS Superleggera is one of the most beautiful Astons of all time, and it also happens to be one of the best-driving Astons to come along in a while. With a twin-turbo 5.2-liter V-12 directing 715 hp and 664 lb-ft of torque to the rear wheels via an eight-speed transaxle, the DBS certainly has the makings of a proper flagship grand tourer. And with prices starting at more than $300,000, don’t expect to see too many on the road. Put together its rarity, good looks, and fantastic driving experience, and the DBS Superleggera’s future classic status is all but guaranteed.
Chevrolet Corvette ZR1
Whether or not the front-engine Corvette sticks around when the mid-engine C8 arrives, the 2019 ZR1 serves as a swan song for the C7—and it’s a raucous one. With a blustery 755 hp and 717 lb-ft of torque on tap, the supercharged ’Vette was able to hit 3.0 seconds flat with the optional high wing. And despite having its engine up front, the ZR1 was only a tenth of a second slower around the big track at Willow Springs than the Ford GT, making it the quickest front-engine car we’ve ever lapped there. So even if it’s not the last front-engine Corvette, it is the last and most powerful C7.
Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT Trackhawk
It’s debatable whether you’ll ever see a current-era SUV on the lawn at Pebble Beach, but just like the Raptor on this list, the SRT Trackhawk variant should have enough performance cred to mingle with the other posh rides in Monterey. Its 707-hp supercharged V-8 plucked from the Charger and Challenger Hellcat make it one of the quickest SUVs we’ve ever tested, accelerating from 0 to 60 mph in 3.3 seconds. Add to that a trick performance-tuned all-wheel-drive system and a set of adaptive Bilstein dampers, and you have the makings of one potent sport ute.
Honda Civic Type R
The Civic Type R’s wing- and vent-happy look is polarizing today, and we have no idea how it will age over the next two and a half decades. But one thing that’s almost universally agreed upon is that the Type R is the best hot hatch to come along in years. Just as millennials today are nostalgic for cars from the 1980s and ’90s, the enthusiasts of tomorrow will likely look back fondly at cars like the Type R. That doesn’t necessarily mean it will be accepted by everyone in the Pebble crowd, but if the Japanese Automotive Invitational—the all-Japanese car show presented by Infiniti and Motor Trend Group—lives to see 2043, you can expect a Type R to be there.
Jaguar I-Pace
The Jaguar I-Pace is just rolling out to dealers now, so it remains to be seen how the all-electric crossover will resonate with customers. But based on our experience so far, we think Jag’s new EV is the first true rival to the Tesla Model S and Model X—and it comes from a mainstream automaker with a proper dealer network. That fact alone doesn’t guarantee success, but the low-slung crossover’s sharp design, 394 hp, 512 lb-ft of torque, and standard 90-kW-hr battery pack that grants a claimed 240 miles of range should help.
Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio
Alfa Romeo came out swinging with its first mainstream product for the U.S., the Giulia sedan. Though the 4C sports car arrived four years prior, it’s the Giulia that will be remembered as the car that really kicked off Alfa’s relaunch in this market. With driving dynamics that vastly outgun the competition, the Giulia sets a new benchmark in a class that used to belong to BMW, Mercedes, and Audi. Things get even better when you upgrade to the 505-hp Quadrifoglio variant, a car that previously held the production sedan lap record around the Nürburgring. All these things make a strong case for the Giulia becoming a future classic. Being named the Motor Trend 2018 Car of the Year doesn’t hurt, either.
Kia Stinger
By 2043, maybe the thought of a quick, sexy Kia won’t be such a foreign concept, or too the idea of a Korean car on the 18th fairway at Pebble. But in 2018, we’re still getting used to the idea, and we have the Kia Stinger to thank for incepting it into our brains. With a seductive fastback design penned by Peter Schreyer, an upscale interior, and a 365-hp twin-turbo 3.3-liter V-6 available in the GT model, the Stinger is a praiseworthy first effort from a brand known mostly for low-cost economy cars. We don’t think that significance will be lost on the Pebble audience of the future.
Lamborghini Huracan Performante
Lamborghini hit it out of the park with the regular Huracan, and the track-oriented follow-up happens to be even better. With its naturally aspirated 5.2-liter V-10 tuned to produce 630 hp and 443 lb-ft of torque, the Huracan Performante hit 60 mph in just 2.6 seconds and is the third quickest car we’ve lapped around Willow Springs. A new active aero system dubbed ALA (which stands for Aerodynamica Lamborghini Attiva) is partially to thank for its track performance, as it can quickly open flaps in the wing and front lip to alter drag and downforce with every turn of the wheel. But forget all that fancy aero tech—just look at it.
Ferrari 488 Pista
The Ferrari 488 Pista takes everything we loved about the 488 GTB, our 2017 Best Driver’s Car winner, and makes it better. If by 2043 the Pista is still too contemporary to make the lawn at Pebble Beach, its 710-hp twin-turbo 3.9-liter V-8—the most powerful production Ferrari V-8 yet—should be all the credentials needed to gain access to the supercar party that is Exotics on Cannery Row.
The post 18 Future Classics You’ll See at Monterey Car Week in 2043 appeared first on Motor Trend.
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