Which Car Deserves a Bold New Generation Next?

The automotive industry is stuck in a rut. Automakers are playing it safe, refreshing tired models instead of rolling out bold new designs, thanks to shifting consumer tastes and regulatory hurdles. The result? A sea of familiar faces on the road, with few truly fresh options to get enthusiasts excited.

The Mazda MX-5 Miata, for instance, has been on sale in its current form since 2014—nearly a decade with minimal changes. That’s practically middle school for a sports car. And it’s not alone. The only two minivans still worth buying, the Chrysler Pacifica and Honda Odyssey, debuted in 2017 and still lack any sign of a next-generation replacement.

The call for something new is louder than ever. When a car strikes the right balance of sales success and cultural impact, automakers hesitate to tinker with the formula. But sometimes, a bold move is exactly what’s needed—like the 1948 Cadillac that introduced tailfins and forced rivals to scramble for their own innovations. The industry needs fresh blood, not just oil changes.

What car do you think is overdue for a full generational leap? Is it a decade-old model that’s lost its spark, or a design so outdated it’s time to send it packing? Mazda’s MX-5 Miata is a prime candidate, having barely evolved since its 2014 launch. Meanwhile, the Chrysler Pacifica and Honda Odyssey remain the only minivans worth considering, stuck in their 2017 incarnations with no replacements in sight.

The pressure is on for automakers to step up and deliver something truly transformative—before the roads get even more monotonous.