Have car manufacturers ever backtracked?

[carseatsm5]

I’m thinking of the G80 grille or the 4-cylinder C63 AMG or the no-button dash. These were controversial choices that made a lot of people say, “That’s only gonna last until the facelift.”

Has a car manufacturer ever quickly changed back a major design choice in defeat? Have the “way it used to be” guys ever won?

[alex2364]

There’s been instances in the past where manufacturers realized they made a mistake with the design and tried to fix it with the refresh, but usually it’s not that successful when the original design was integrated into the car.

For example 9th gen 2012 Honda Civic had a lot of cost cutting due to being designed during the 2008 global financial crisis. There was a lot of criticism compared to the 8th gen Civic. Honda realized their mistake and did an emergency refresh for 2013. Some things were improved but you’re still putting lipstick on a cheap pig. Still wasn’t as good as the 8th gen until it was redesigned for the 10th gen.

[KevinC]

I was just gonna cite the Civic example, I remember it well. Amazingly fast reaction & fixes by Honda when customers went ape-sh1t.

VW has taken a ton of heat for their current infotainment/climate control setup, which eliminated virtually all knobs/buttons, and for their awful haptic controls on the steering wheels that came along at the same time. They are getting rid of the haptic steering wheel controls now, and have addressed a ton of complaints about the infotainment system, though returning knobs & buttons wasn't one of them.

[Chihuahua]

Originally Posted by carseatsm5

I’m thinking of the G80 grille or the 4-cylinder C63 AMG or the no-button dash. These were controversial choices that made a lot of people say, “That’s only gonna last until the facelift.”

Has a car manufacturer ever quickly changed back a major design choice in defeat? Have the “way it used to be” guys ever won?

E65

[MJBO]

Mercedes-Benz W212

[chassis]

Originally Posted by carseatsm5

I’m thinking of the G80 grille or the 4-cylinder C63 AMG or the no-button dash. These were controversial choices that made a lot of people say, “That’s only gonna last until the facelift.”

Has a car manufacturer ever quickly changed back a major design choice in defeat? Have the “way it used to be” guys ever won?

You are asking if a V8 will return to the C63, is this your question?

[Ohio Enthusiast]

A lot of manufacturers are backpaddling on user interface, going back to physical controls. Honda were probably the first with the volume slider instead of a knob, quickly returning to a knob in several of their cars. Many other manufacturers since jumped on the all-touch-screen bandwagon and then reverted to offering physical control, particularly volume and HVAC.
For exterior changes, the 6th gen Camaro has gotten several redesigns, the quickest one due to customer reaction to the 2019 redesign.

[carseatsm5]

Originally Posted by Ohio Enthusiast

A lot of manufacturers are backpaddling on user interface, going back to physical controls. Honda were probably the first with the volume slider instead of a knob, quickly returning to a knob in several of their cars. Many other manufacturers since jumped on the all-touch-screen bandwagon and then reverted to offering physical control, particularly volume and HVAC.
For exterior changes, the 6th gen Camaro has gotten several redesigns, the quickest one due to customer reaction to the 2019 redesign.

Love hearing that.

[ShapeShifter]

The early 80's Cadillac Variable Displacement Technology for its 8-6-4 Engines. It's lack of success then, was simply due to an idea that was ahead of its time. What they hoped to achieve in reduction fuel with the 8-6-4 routine then, is easily surpassed today by manufacturers adding the Auto Stop Function to engine operation.

[MADBMWX5MC]

Not directly related, but kinda, these are some of the biggest blunders...sad thing, I remember a few of these...

https://www.hotcars.com/biggest-blun...ers-ever-made/

[m630]

996 design debacle

[F32Fleet]

Originally Posted by carseatsm5

I’m thinking of the G80 grille or the 4-cylinder C63 AMG or the no-button dash. These were controversial choices that made a lot of people say, “That’s only gonna last until the facelift.”

Has a car manufacturer ever quickly changed back a major design choice in defeat? Have the “way it used to be” guys ever won?

People didn't really like the eyelids on the grill of the E90. BMW removed them with the LCI and the LCI looked more like an evolution of the E46.

[BlkGS]

Originally Posted by carseatsm5

I’m thinking of the G80 grille or the 4-cylinder C63 AMG or the no-button dash. These were controversial choices that made a lot of people say, “That’s only gonna last until the facelift.”

Has a car manufacturer ever quickly changed back a major design choice in defeat? Have the “way it used to be” guys ever won?

Many times. Not usually the next year due to supply chain time-frames, but many, many, many times.