The 2006 Commander is the newest entry into Jeep’s trail-rated arena, looking just like the squared-off, slab-sided Cherokees and Wagoneers of years past and named after an obscure sport model from the early 1970s. Touted as the first Jeep with seven-passenger capacity, the Jeep Commander is at once a step forward and a step backward. All the traditional styling cues are present – seven-slot grille, trapezoidal wheel arches, upright greenhouse, flat body panels – stacked atop a modern Grand Cherokee foundation, including a powerful Hemi V8 motor option. The Jeep Commander enters the retro-modern playing field with looks and functionality that are all “Jeep” in the most traditional sense.
Not since the Barnum & Bailey Circus had Americans seen as small a car as the original Mini Cooper. And though just a few trickled into the United States over the years, the Mini Cooper possessed a rabid and loyal following thanks to its ultra-small stature and go-cart handling characteristics. When BMW bought Rover and decided to develop an all-new Mini, big sales in the United States were part of the business plan. Wisely, BMW didn’t stray too far from the original design, and today’s thoroughly modern Mini Cooper is a huge hit. Although the new car is bigger than the original, the increase in size isn’t instantly noticeable because the car’s proportions are exactly right. BMW kept the original Mini’s cuteness factor, fun-to-drive handling characteristics, and design themes, and has been rewarded with increased sales every year. Add to that a price tag that starts well below $20,000, and you’ve got a car with mass appeal that just about anyone can afford to own.
Like the Ford Mustang, the Nissan Z (formerly Datsun in North America) has a long and storied history. But unlike the Ford, the Z was not continuously sold in the U.S., on a hiatus between 1996 and 2003. The original 1970 Datsun 240Z was a smash hit in the United States thanks to its beautiful body, torquey inline six-cylinder engine, and snug two-seater configuration. When Nissan set out to create this latest Z-car, the philosophy of the original was more important than its appearance, resulting on one of the loosest interpretations of what’s considered retro-modern design. Like the original 240Z, today’s 350Z is a lightweight two-seater with a hatchback, a torquey six-cylinder engine, and rear wheel drive. There are even hints of the original in the hood detailing, the headlamps, and the ancillary gauges. But today’s car is a thoroughly modern automobile, and enjoys the same level of sales success and owner fanaticism as the original.