[June 15, 2020]

An advance copy of a book due out later this month entitled Nissan Z: 50 Years of Exhilarating Performance recently crossed my desk, and it made me think: Could an EV, PHEV, or hybrid match the legendary status of the Nissan 240Z? Surely yes. Right?

The question is actually largely unfair. Few cars become long-lasting legends the moment that oh-so-silky covering is whipped from the mysterious rotating silhouette at auto shows, and EVs and hybrids are all relatively new. The original Z car is a rare exception of wild fanfare from day one for any automobile. Case in point, who would have guessed that the 1984-’87 Toyota Corolla AE86 would eventually drink from a similar chalice as the Z car? And while the Mazda Miata was applauded in 1990, few foresaw its seemingly endless reign as the definition of what a driver’s car should be. The answer became “Miata” not instantly, but with time.

On the flip side, the FD Mazda RX-7 and fourth-generation Toyota Supra Turbo had legend written all over them – stunning bodywork and twin-turbo setups in an era of bland fuel economy will do that. But none of this is to say that modern classics don’t exist. Flip the calendar to the 2000s and you’ll find that ICE legends are still produced by way of Hell Cat variants of the Dodge Challenger SRT and Charger SRT. Dodge nailed visceral with this package. And let’s not forget Nissan’s very own Godzilla, the GT-R, which wowed from day one.

Because we live in a world of Barrett-Jackson auctions dictating desirability, any conversation about road-going legends isn’t complete without a trip to the 1960s. The Chevy Corvette and Camaro, Ford Mustang, and Pontiac Firebird and Trans Am are wonderful, but it’s easy to forget that some of those cars suffered false starts, like the C1 Corvette that was little more than a lukewarm cruiser few wanted. Of course, later iterations of the car redeemed the nameplate, even turning the underpowered C1 into a legend. Meanwhile, the Mustang and Firebird were instantaneous hits that were further written into the history books via the SCCA Pro Racing Trans Am series and Hollywood productions.

Indeed, the road to legendary status isn’t always a straight line. So let’s go back to electrified cars.

Some may argue that the first generation Tesla Roadster EV stands to become a legend, but I disagree. The Roadster was a technical proof of concept that accomplished its goal. It was amazing – but it was also a hodgepodge destined for obsolescence. Similarly, the Tesla Model S broke new ground, but the chance of those selling for hundreds of thousands of dollars at an auction in 30 years is slim. The Model S may be the first mainstream EV success, but legend it is not.

And yes, EVs are being sold at auction, but the most notable ones I’ve heard of are a century old.

Will the original Tesla Roadster become an automotive legend? Maybe…but probably not. (Image courtesy Tesla)

In my book, Tesla’s Model X is borderline for legend status. This otherwise average SUV followed a tried and true method of exotic-ifying via multi-hinged gullwing doors. The classic Mercedes-Benz 300SL and more modern SLS AMG, as well as the Lamborghini Countach and McLaren F1, are proof that weird doors make auto enthusiasts drool. But alas, the Model X didn’t buck the system enough to become a legend – and it is an SUV. I simply can’t imagine any kid hanging a poster of a Model X above their bed. In fact, of the vehicles that Tesla has produced – or announced that it will, at some point, eventually, probably produce – the one that stands out even more than the forthcoming Roadster redo is the Cybertruck. Mock this angular EV pickup’s styling if you will, but the body alone makes it a game changer (although, one could argue that the DMC DeLorean checked many of the same design boxes, yet that car is more lovingly mocked than beloved). It’s safe to say Ford and GM (or anyone) won’t mimic the Cybertruck’s style, making this vehicle ripe for infamy.

Of all of Tesla’s models, the Cybertruck’s controversial styling could catapult it to legendary status. (Image courtesy Tesla)

Meanwhile, an electrified legend already walking among us is the Acura NSX hybrid. It sauntered onto the automotive scene in 2016 to as much lackluster fanfare as its first generation predecessor did in 1990, but the first-generation NSX was eventually appreciated for its nimble performance, bucking the system with high performance achieved through engineering nuance and exquisite design. The second-gen NSX was equally panned on its release, this time for it being too heavy and numb, but Acura has since dialed the supercar in and it’s become a hybrid that automotive journalists love to pedal. Its production probably won’t last long, but mark my words, like with this first NSX, songs will be sung about this hybrid for decades.

Both the first-generation Acura NSX (left) and the second-gen hybrid NSX (right) will stand as automotive legends. (Image courtesy Acura)

The BMW i8 hybrid almost sits on the cusp of greatness (yes, you read that right). It was going to be awesome, but then it missed the mark, making its fate a Bavarian footnote. The i8’s design is an unadulterated winner. Its swooping taillight winglets are second only to the second-generation Ford GT’s ridiculously awesome flying buttress, and it sports upwardly-mobile doors. It’s the i8’s body design that allows enthusiasts to overlook awkward ingress and egress, not to mention oddball servicing issues that overly complicate things like, I don’t know, opening the hood. But with performance that doesn’t match the looks or price, the i8 is far from the M1 reincarnation it was poised to be. Instead, the i8 is little more than a modern Z1. It’s notable, but it’s also no legend. (Side note: the Z1 is a rare instance where funky doors did little for vehicle status. Perhaps it’s because those doors performed an introverted recess rather than an extroverted proud peacock.)

The BMW i8 hybrid has most of the makings of an automotive legend, but its shortcomings are too big and overshadow the fantastic design. (Image courtesy BMW)

If, like with the SCCA Trans Am series, racing elevates automotive stature then the Jaguar I-Pace currently stands the best shot at greatness. But, sadly, the Jaguar I-Pace eTrophy Championship will likely be as historically noteworthy as the SCCA RaceTruck Challenge of the late 1980s and early ’90s. Both are awesome, but not in a super cool way.

Electrified automotive legends will emerge, but it’s hard to say whether any will achieve the instantaneous fame the Nissan Z did, especially given the fact that we’re living in an age where the Hyundai Kona, Nissan Leaf, and Tesla Model Y are the electrified vehicles the world sloppily gobbles up. More electrified legends will emerge with time, however. In fact, maybe one already has in the unlikely grand touring rock star Polestar 1 hybrid with its turbo and supercharged I-4 engine, three electric motors, and trick adjustable Ohlins suspension. Time will tell on this one, but I could see this car being collectable.

With a turbocharger, a supercharger, three electric motors, and adjustable Ohlins dampers, the Polestar 1 hybrid is a winner. (Image courtesy Polestar)

Yes, lightweight performers like the 240Z may not be reproducible with current electrification technology, but as with the transformation from the portly muscle cars of the 1960s to the nimble sports cars of the 1970s-’90s, it just means we’re in the midst of new chapters in an entirely different book.

(Main image courtesy Acura)

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