QOTD: This Year's Biggest Surprise?

Matthew Guy
by Matthew Guy

This time of year is rife with year-end lists and compilations ranging from music-inspired topics to the insidious Instagram Top Nine. It’s a great tradition, one I look forward to every year.

You know precisely what our topic is: cars. We’ll throw it out to you, dear reader — what was 2019’s biggest surprise in the automotive industry? As you’d expect, we have a few ideas to start off the proverbial tip jar.

The shack-up between FCA and PSA definitely registered on our automotive Richter scale, with the two companies finally realizing the late Sergio Marchionne’s desire to pair with another automaker for cost reasons. Much remains to be hashed out, including whether we’ll ever see a Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram Peugeot Citroen Opel Vauxhall dealer in downtown America (probably not).

Tesla’s Cybertruck certainly got tongues wagging in 2019, for a variety of reasons. Its bizarro-world styling decisions notwithstanding, questions remain about on-sale dates and assembly facilities. It is worth noting this is the third vehicle introduced by Musk & Co which has yet to see the light of production, with the Model Y and Roadster 2.0 also twisting in the wind. Four, actually, if you count the Semi.

Also ranking is the new mid-engined Corvette, unveiled this past summer in sunny California. After what seemed like eons of speculation, the GM engineering team finally moved the Vette’s engine behind the driver. There has been no shortage of digital ink spilled about the decision, not to mention carping about interior and exterior styling choices.

There were plenty more automotive stories in 2019 from which to choose. Which one caught your attention?

[Images: Tesla, PSA Group, General Motors]

Matthew Guy
Matthew Guy

Matthew buys, sells, fixes, & races cars. As a human index of auto & auction knowledge, he is fond of making money and offering loud opinions.

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  • HotPotato HotPotato on Dec 31, 2019

    1. Cybertruck. Literally designed as stainless-steel origami. 2. Mustang Mach E. Literally designed to steal Tesla Model Y sales now that Tesla has lost its tax credits (making the 'Stang effectively $7500 cheaper). 3. Run, Carlos, run.

  • Carrera Carrera on Dec 31, 2019

    Kia Telluride is a very pleasant surprise. Also that it impressed Motor Trend and Consumer Reports at the same time. It rarely happens, if ever.

  • MaintenanceCosts It's not a Benz or a Jag / it's a 5-0 with a rag /And I don't wanna brag / but I could never be stag
  • 3-On-The-Tree Son has a 2016 Mustang GT 5.0 and I have a 2009 C6 Corvette LS3 6spd. And on paper they are pretty close.
  • 3-On-The-Tree Same as the Land Cruiser, emissions. I have a 1985 FJ60 Land Cruiser and it’s a beast off-roading.
  • CanadaCraig I would like for this anniversary special to be a bare-bones Plain-Jane model offered in Dynasty Green and Vintage Burgundy.
  • ToolGuy Ford is good at drifting all right... 😉
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