As of now, we are in the 2020s and the motor industry has changed a lot in the previous decade. Yes, the cars you buy at the current time are a lot different from the previous ones. Also, some cars have completed their road time and now they are going for scrap. The motor industry is now having electric vehicles, semi-autonomous vehicles, and tons of powerful vehicles. The design, shape, performance, technology, etc. have changed in the past decade.
The iconic cars from the 2010s are now the base of the upcoming cars in this current decade and so on. These iconic cars are Hatchbacks, Sedans, SUVs, Crossovers, Trucks, Sports Car, etc.
Iconic Cars From the 2010s
Alpine A110
The social acceptance of 200 mph or above speeds and the relevance performance have increased in the 2010s. It has increased excessively that it has become hard to justify. As a revival moment of Alpine, the sports brand having traditional ties with Renault has brought up the iconic A110 from the 1960s in the previous decade. It is a clever reimagining by Alpine. Alpine, focusing on lightness rejects the sports car standards.
Alpine A110 is a combination of refinement and comfort. It is having a super sharp and driver-focused response. In the last decade, the German brands have dominated in the battle of technology and ever-increasing horsepower. A major shift in focus can be represented in the present decade by the French revolution in terms of feel and feedback, especially sports cars.
Toyota Prius
Whether you buy the virtue signage or not but it is impossible to ignore the success of Toyota in putting the hybrids at the forefront around the globe. The original Prius of the late 1990s was the revolutionary tech that brought forward a distinctive-looking vehicle in the hybrid motor industry. It has not become the ubiquitous feature of the city streets across the globe.
After the emission regulation passed, the regulations and legislators have gifted a free pass to the Prius and its drivers from being demonized and penalized. Over the last few years, Toyota Prius is having a gig economy in the Uber age. Also, it is having a broader influence on transportation and work.
Koenigsegg Agera RS
There was a time when Bugatti Veyron was holding the title for the fastest land speed record. Back in 2017, Koenigsegg took the title in Nevada. This sports car going down on the public road back and forth was having an average speed of 277.87 mph. In one of these runs, the Koenigsegg Agera RS was able to set a new top speed record of 284.55 mph.
The particular Koenigsegg owned by a customer was having 1,360 horsepower. E85 race fuel was used to run the car. There were other records that Agera RS broke but this one was significant. Also, it showed that the motor industry is quite close to the 300-mph barrier. Let’s see if this barrier is crossed in the current decade.
Tesla Model S
Tesla is the first and widely known motor company that produces nothing but only electric cars to obey the zero-emission regulation. Elon Musk introduced Mosel S in 2012. This model has been iconic since the 2010s. It is because the future of the motor industry is dependent on electric vehicles to save the world from global warming.
Model S, the first and all-electric vehicle by Tesla is having a charge range of 300 to 400 miles. The best thing about Tesla is its performance. Under 2.5 seconds, Model S can go 0 to 60 mph. If you are in a drag race using Model S, you might leave some known sports cars in the dust. Over time, Tesla introduced other models too but Model S remains the iconic car of the 2010s.
Dodge Challenger Demon
Nothing screams more than a Dodge Challenger Demon. You can hear a roaring sound on the road and you will know that it is a Dodge Challenger Demon and why not. It is having an American muscular horsepower of 840 and runs on 100 octane racing fuel. The 6.2L Hemi engine makes it the best challenger to beat any other sports car in a quarter-mile drag race.
It was banned by NHRA tracks because it is too fast on a drag strip and needs a roll-cage before it unleashes on the sorry souls to crush. The 6.2L Hemi engine could take the Demon from o to 60 in just 2.3 seconds. It reaches 0 to 100 in 5.1 seconds and on a quarter-mile, it reaches 140 mph in just 9.65 seconds. It is one of the iconic sports cars in the 2010s.
Mercedes S-Class
One of the biggest leaps in interior design represented by the 2014 Mercedes S-Class still looks classic and modern. It is ahead of the competition in terms of interior. Talking about the technology used in S-Class is having a semi-autonomous driving system. On highways or long road trips, the driver can relax for a while with little concentration on the road.
The camera system installed in S-Class not only controls the adaptive cruise control but also looks for the bumps. As a result, it prepares the suspension to absorb the bump without a fuss. A perfuming cabin makes it comfortable and luxurious for the people inside the car.
BMW i8
A plug-in hybrid sports car introduced by BMW in 2014 was marketed under the sub-brand known as BMW i. BMW i8 was part of an electrified fleet. A 1.5 liter 3-cylinder engine with a 7.2kWh lithium-ion battery back gave a range of 22 miles on all-electric mode. To enhance the dynamics, the location of the battery pack gave the vehicle a low center of gravity.
The top speed of the BMW i8 was electronically limited to 155mph. The 1.5L engine with 220 horsepower was able to take the car from 0 to 60 in 4.4 seconds. Later on, BMW i8 Roadster and i8 Coupe were introduced in 2018 with an increased all-electric range of 34 miles and 33 miles respectively. BMW i8 still stands for the iconic cars from the 2010s.
Ford F-150 Raptor
Talking about the truck segment, the lightweight and downsizing of the engine has improved the max towing and fuel economy. The added technology in the trucks like the 2010 Ford F-150 Raptor has boosted the prices, making them luxurious trucks. Talking about F-150 Raptor, the company added big tires, bulged fenders, and beefed-up suspension. It made it exciting for the off-roaders to take their F-150 Raptors to test their limits.
Talking about the 2015 Ford F-150, the aluminum body construction made it the best-selling truck in America. People who wanted to have a truck but with an economical fuel average were given an opportunity with an EcoBoost V-6 engine. It was to compete with the V-8 version of trucks.
Chevrolet Bolt EV
After the launching of the Tesla Model S, the public got the perception of all-electric vehicles. Also, they were ready to use all-electric vehicles but the Tesla Model S was not an affordable option. As result, General Motors came up with an all-electric hatchback series named Chevrolet Bolt EV. It is an affordable hatchback with a legitimate charge range of 230 miles or more.
Chevrolet Bolt EV launched in 2017 stands as an iconic car of the 2010s. It was named the 2017 Motor Trend Car of The Year. Time Magazine listed it in the 25 inventions of 2016. In less than 7 seconds it goes from 0 to 60 mph. the top speed of the Chevrolet Bolt is 91 mph making it a fast hatchback all-electric car.
Toyota Rav4
A compact crossover SUV launched in 2012 at Los Angeles Auto Show. It was a fourth-generation RAV4 with a rear liftgate rather than side-opening. Also, the spare tire was not mounted on the rear door. The sales jumped when the fourth-generation RAV4 was launched in 2013. It has been the bestselling vehicle in America because of its compact size.
RAV4, the fourth generation, was all hybrid with a 2.5L Atkinson cycle gasoline engine. The RAV4 hybrids were available in both the all-wheel drive and front-wheel drive variants. The all-wheel-drive variant was having an extra 50kW high-voltage battery for increased towing capacity and traction. The extra battery was mounted in the rear and it was only for the rear wheels. The hybrid system was controlled by the front electric motor.
Iconic Cars From the 2010s – Power, Performance and Mostly All-Electric
When Tesla launched the Model S as an all-electric vehicle, the whole motor industry was changed. Instead of gas guzzlers, the companies launched affordable and economical cars to the public. If we compare the iconic cars of the 50s with iconic cars of the 2010s, then there is a huge difference. They were based on fashion and music, but now they are based on performance and eco-friendly features.
Even the truck segment like Ford F-150 launched a variant with a light body and V-6 engine to provide its customers with a fuel-economical truck. On the other hand, BMW launched a sports car with a plug-in hybrid variant.