Image: Peugeot Media
Way back in 1895 when the Lumière Brothers showcased their video of a train arriving in La Ciotat to a Parisian audience, they allegedly panicked and fled the cafe in which it was shown in - fearing they would get hit. It sounds crazy in today's world, but you have to remember these people would've been alienated when seeing recorded footage for the very first time. When issuing change to masses of people for the first time, it can often lead to initial fear and even oppression.
Off the back of that, it seems like trying to change the mindset of a hardcore petrolhead is about as difficult as trying to play a game of monopoly during an earthquake. There are many people out there who simply won't appreciate electric cars because of the fact they lack an engine and some gears to play with.
That's all very true: EVs are certainly stop-and-go machines which can travel faster without making any noise or stirring up any mechanical-induced emotion. But with an optimistic vision, I happen to think that EVs could be made appealing if they looked right rather than tried to induce the old-school emotion through a plethora of electronic wizardry.
But if you asked most people when the best era of automotive design was, they would probably respond with a bygone era when regulations and safety were somewhat of an afterthought to manufacturers. The 60s with gorgeous things like the Lancia Fulvia and the Renault Floride.
But what if the influences from those much-loved cars could be induced in modern designs and sold as EVs? Not only would it be a cool hark back to the manufacturers' history, but buyers would certainly feel cool driving them.
Peugeot showed us first that this sort of thing can be made possible with the E-Legend concept from 2018. It explicitly referenced one of Peugeot's most respected models: the Pininfarina-designed 504 Coupe. Being this mad concept that appeared to be controlled by thoughts and magic, could you imagine if this was made into a production car? It would just about be the most appealing car on sale, never mind the most appealing electric car.
Renault and Honda have realised that the retro chic direction is quite possibly the right one, as they have both brought out electric superminis which hark back to their popular classics. The Renault 5 is referencing... erm... the Renault 5, and the Honda E is referencing their old classic Kei cars like the N360 and the little Honda Z. And so far, they've been met with great support.
Image: Groupe Renault Newsroom
Now, you might be wondering why this proposition is even being mentioned. Because there are EVs out there which aren't ridiculously ugly with a range of 2 yards and have stupid names - such as the Tesla Model S or Porsche Taycan. But you have to remember that whilst the Teslas, Audi E-Trons etc. sell in very good numbers, they won't ever appeal to the wider community. There are people out there who still have a bad stigma against electric cars because their image has been greatly affected by those that first introduced it, such as the Nissan Leaf or Renault ZOE.
But a modern take on a MK1 Ford Capri or an Alfa Romeo GT Junior? Yes, please! Those are the sorts of cars that might make the EV industry exciting for once rather than a miserable alternative to a generic plastic mobile.
Image: Alfa Romeo
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