For the time being. If you look over the future plans within the next couple years you'll see everyone is dropping retro. Some are already on their way out like the PT, HHR, and Mustang and some have already went like the Thunderbird and GT.

 

Yeah, but what comes around, goes around. Viscious cycle

 

I still don't see how the FJ Cruiser is a retro vehicle.

 

"Toyota has recently introduced the FJ Cruiser, a modern SUV styled after the original FJ40. The FJ Cruiser (FJC) went on sale in the spring of 2006."

Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyota_FJ40

 

Yeah but they look nothing alike. When you look at say the HHR and then the 49 Suburban or look at the current Mustang and then look at a late 60s model you can see the inspiration. Now when I look at this:

Vs. this:

The only similarities I really see are four wheels and the oval section where the lights are. Otherwise it's just a modern SUV claiming retro heritage.

 

How then, do you explain Camaro, due out next year as a distinctly retro model?

HHR on the way out? News to me... at dealerships 2008 models are arriving daily... Porsche has kept the 911 style continously...seems to have done okay. Is the highly successful Jeep Wrangler on the way out? Doubtful.

Retro works. It may move from model to model within a manufacturer, but it has become a proven formula.

 

Caramo = too late. They designed it to take away some of the thunder from the Mustang but they're probably not going to release it until the new model Mustang hits the lots. I'm sure it will still sell well but GM dropped the ball with that one. The HHR isn't going away but GM is ditching the retro styling and giving it a new modern look for the 2010 model if I'm not mistaken. The Wrangler isn't really a retro vehicle seeing as how they haven't really changed it that much over the years and the same applies to the 911. Both vehicle have sold well for their respective companies so they haven't really changed the styling that much. I'm sure BMW will probably drop the Mini now that the 1 series is hitting the lots. I've already said the Mustang is dropping it's retro cues and we all know the future of the PT. If you look over all the major auto manufacturers plans for the next few years you'll see most of them are ditching retro because it's ran it's course. If you look over the past few years at the launch of the retro trend vs. retro now you'll see a large demand reduction along with profit loss. The future of vehicles isn't the past. Like stick said it goes in cycles. While the retro trend seems to have run it's course for now as we see it dwindle within the next few years who knows....Maybe 20 years from now we'll start seeing everyone jumping on the retro bandwagon again.

 

Sure they do, they are both ugly as sin

 

Retro styling for the HHR is being dropped for the 2011 model year.

 

What I don't understand about automakers in general, why do they make what they want? Why not listen to the buying public and not their own whims? Each automaker makes their own certian number of cars, the way they want. Ford was going to drop the mustang, but enough people yelled that they resyled it. GM was going to drop the camaro, but enough people yelled and they dropped it anyway. If the public buys retro it will stay. If the public wants retro and the automakers change to something new styled the vehicle in question will fail if it's not wanted. The HHR being restyled in 2010 or 2011 should look like a HHR to anyone looking at it. IF they change to much why even call it a HHR. Look around at most of the vehicles on the road, big heavy gas guzzling trucks and suvs. I had one and didn't care really about gas mileage. I wanted a truck. I bought the HHR because I liked it and the retro styleing, not necessarily because of the gas mileage. If they update the HHR and put say the colorado front end on, what is the point?