The Fate of the GM EV1
The method with which GM released the EV1 was anything but traditional. The only way to get one was through a $399 monthly lease, and only on the West Coast. Production was extremely limited, with 660 built for 1997 and 457 more for 1999. The 1999 model also got a more advanced nickel-metal hydride battery, improving range.
After EV1 leases expired, General Motors' policy was to repossess the cars and have them unceremoniously crushed. A few examples were saved for various museums, and a few more have somehow survived the crusher's grasp and found their way into private hands.
The EV1's unorthodox release and short lifespan made it the subject of the 2006 documentary, "Who Killed the Electric Car"? The film posited that GM had sabotaged its own EV efforts to appease the oil industry. General Motors had, however, invested more than a billion dollars and nearly a decade of work into producing the EV1.
While this car wasn't much of a success, it clearly paved the way for mass-produced electric cars, like the Tesla Model S and GM's own Bolt. For that reason, the EV1 should always have a place in automotive history
1986-1990 Buick Riviera CRT
This Buick doesn't stand out in any way from a distance. It resembles every other front-wheel-drive vehicle produced by the company. However, if you look inside, you'll discover a technological anomaly that dates back to the future. An electronic touch screen controls the interior console of this vehicle. That is a feature that will be standard in 2022, but it was significant in 1986.
The "Graphical Control Center" was the name given to the touchscreen system, which displayed crucial metrics like the fuel level, climate control, the clock, and stereo settings in neon green. Due to the lack of availability of flat-panel LCDs in 1986, Buick had to incorporate a cathode ray tube monitor directly into the dashboard of the vehicle in order to allow the driver to change all settings with their fingertips on the screen. This resulted in an annoyingly loud beep each time a selection was made. In comparison to contemporary consoles, the resulting interface is far too straightforward and slow to respond, but the proof of concept existed decades before its time.
In 1989, Gateway Classic Cars reports that the touch screen display would also make its way into the ill-fated sports car known as the R-E A-T-A. The Graphic Control Center and the R-E A- T-A were both quietly discontinued the following year. Buick might have set design trends if this interface had received some updates in the 1990s
Mustang S V O
The Ford Mustang V8 has always been the most desirable model throughout its history. There are base models with smaller engines of four or six cylinders, but neither sound nor performance compare to the V8. The S V O attempted to alter that perception in 1984.
It was the responsibility of the Special Vehicle Operations team that designed it to extract muscle car power from a small four-cylinder engine. The team added a turbocharger and an intercooler to the 2-3L Pinto-derived engine that powers the base Fox Mustang. The S V O received upgraded suspension, stylized wheels, a hood vent for the intercooler, a distinctive "aero" front fascia, and a large spoiler at the back, making it comparable to the current 5 V8 with less than half the displacement.
The only gearbox available was the five-speed manual. From 1984 to 1986, less than 10,000 S V O were produced, making it one of the more collectible Mustang models. While this four-cylinder could perform as well as the V8, it was not as popular. That was probably because the S V O actually cost more to buy than the 5.0 models did. However, its DNA is still present in the current Mustang, whose base model's V6 engine has been replaced by another 2-3L turbo
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