If you’re skeptical that nostalgia is an effective marketing tool for selling automobiles, perhaps you’ve forgotten about the success of such neo-classics as the Volkswagen New Beetle and the Mini Cooper. Then there’s Ford’s upcoming new Mustang Bullitt, a handsome reincarnation of the 1968 original and a ponycar that pulls at Hollywood heartstrings.
BMW is banking on similar sentiments when it introduces the all-new 135i and 128i coupes to the U.S. this spring. A so-called “contemporary rendition of the 2002,” the 1 Series does a stellar job of incorporating the hallmarks of the 2002 Series-rear drive, powerful engine, and space for four-into a modern, attractive package.