Top 10 vehicle surprises of the decade
Cars that we never thought would make it big – but did
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Skeptics said BMW’s reinvention of the Mini would be nothing but a fashion accessory that quickly would go out of fashion. BMW proved them wrong.
Renault Scenic
No one could have predicted this people mover would transform the entire industry.
Ford Focus
Ford took a risk when it dumped the tried-and-true Escort name in favor of Focus. The design looked radical in 1998, but
consumers loved it. The Focus made Ford a real threat to VW in the lower-medium segment.
Dacia Logan
At about half the price of a typical family car, it is no surprise the E7,000 Logan has been a hit in central Europe for Renault’s Romanian subsidiary. What is surprising is the car’s appeal to western Europeans, particularly the French, who bought about 10,000 Logans in the car’s first six months on the market.
Volvo XC90
Against all logic, staid, old Volvo, an environmentalist’s brand if ever there was one, decides to make an SUV. What’s more
surprising is that the XC90 is a smash hit. It’s the SUV for people who hate SUVs.
Smart ForTwo
It is the only reason the Smart brand hasn’t collapsed already.
Lexus RX400h
Who would have believed a decade ago that someone would produce an SUV hybrid? Making this car took a lot of courage.
Bentley Continental GT
VW’s British subsidiary is having so much trouble meeting demand for the Continental GT that it has had to build Bentleys at VW’s plant in Dresden, Germany.
VW Touran
It has been a strong seller despite its late arrival to the medium minivan segment dominated by the Renault Scenic.
Porsche Cayenne
Sure, some people call it ugly, but there is no arguing with the car’s sales success.
