Dodge
As the rather oversimplified adage goes, your reputation is all you have. Though I don't believe this applies well to people, it's very relevant when discussing businesses, and especially car companies. Car buyers want reassurance that they're making a good purchase decision, since buying a car is one of the biggest purchases most people make in their lifetime, so reputations matter. Automakers often have to pivot their strategy in order to keep up with an ever-changing world, so sometimes that requires breaking into uncharted territory, which is what I want to touch on here today: what car do you think was the biggest departure for its maker?
Mercedes-Benz is known in the U.S. for being a luxury automaker, Mini makes small cars, Toyota makes sensible and dependable cars and trucks, Mazda makes cars that are fun to drive, and Subaru makes quirky all-wheel-drive outdoorsmobiles, just to name a few examples. But all of those companies have released cars that seem to be a total 180 from the rest of their fleet. Those are the types cars we're talking about here today. Submit your answer in the comments section below.
I think the Dodge Viper was the biggest departure for its maker
Dodge
Dodge has a long and storied history of making massive muscle cars with even more massive V8s under their long hoods, but releasing a dedicated V10-powered, two-seat supercar was a very different undertaking. The company was still riding high on the raging success of its groundbreaking minivan and its K-Car era, and Dodge dove head first into the supercar world with the Viper, taking it to the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans just two years after its 1992 introduction.
Though the Viper still had a heaping helping of Mopar muscle under its hood, its purpose was a big digression for the mainstream American brand. It soldiered on through a handful of successive generations, but it never strayed far from that first Viper's ethos, and it became quite the legend for it.
As much as I hate to admit it, I think Dodge killed the Viper at the right time since the changing automotive landscape as well as changing legislation would have likely resulted in a very different snake. As it stands, the Viper went out as the raw, maniacal, V10-laden supercar that it came into the world as, and I think there's something to be said for that. I think it was the biggest departure for its maker, but what say you?
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