At first glance, the letter O doesn‘t seem like it should have much clout in the automotive world. After all, it places near the middle to end of the alphabet. However, take a closer look and you‘ll discover some amazing cars – and even a few brands – that start with O and have made a significant impact.
From a controversial, high-speed sedan to a best-selling crossover paving the way for an automaker‘s comeback, O cars tell fascinating stories while pushing the boundaries of speed, design, technology and more. We‘ve compiled some of the most notable ones here – lesser-known gems and household names alike – along with key models from O-leading marques. Let‘s take a ride through O car history.
Fast as Lightning: The Tale of the Infamous Lotus Omega
When we speak of quick O cars, one notorious speed demon immediately comes to mind – the Lotus Omega. Born from a collaboration between the UK sports car maker Lotus and German brand Opel in the early 90s, it seemed like an unlikely pairing. Opel contributed their Omega A sedan while Lotus crammed in a bespoke twin-turbo six-cylinder from the fearsome Carlton GSi, mated to a rear-wheel drive train (Image below: ©Toby Parsons/Shutterstock.com).
The result? A family sedan capable of over 170 mph thanks to 377 horsepower under the hood, allowing it to outpace the supercars of its day. Many automotive journalists praised its blend of serious speed and everyday comfort – essentially a four-door supercar. However, the lack of any electronic top speed limiter landed the Lotus Omega in hot water.
In its British hometowns, the car became a theft target for joyriders and criminals alike, valued as the perfect getaway vehicle. One daring heist involved a gang of robbers utilizing a stolen Lotus Omega to stage a string of nighttime raids on various shops, making off with goods worth over £20,000! Police attempts to apprehend the vehicle proved fruitless, as the Omega outran anything in their fleet. By the end of its crime spree, the renegade sedan had disappeared without a trace.
While exceptional in engineering and performance, the ‘90s-era Lotus Omega left a complex legacy from its eye-popping top speed and lack of restrictions. And its life of crime ensured its status as an automotive legend for better or worse!
South Korea‘s Midsize Messiah: The Kia Optima
The story of the Kia Optima demonstrates an O car playing an pivotal role in transforming its parent brand‘s reputation from budget clunkers to legit contenders. First launched overseas as the Magentis in 2002 before hitting North America as the Optima, Kia entered the mainstream midsize segment to try regaining buyers‘ trust after years of subpar products.
And the Optima delivered – big time (Image below: ©rebinworkshop/Shutterstock.com). With sleek "fastback" styling conjuring premium European sedans, available V6 power up to 245 horsepower, and levels of comfort, tech and refinement unexpected from Kia, the Optima exceeded all expectations of the brand. It even won Motor Trend‘s prestigious Car of the Year award in 2011. Optima sales success proved instrumental in overhauling public perception of Kia from jokes to serious players.
Now in its fourth generation, the Optima helped transform Kia‘s entire lineup and rise in quality, paving the way for segment-leading SUVs like the Telluride. For an automaker once known for only cheap cars, the Optima midsize sedan served as the springboard for executing a remarkable brand reinvention – from the inside out.
The Electric Upstart: Fisker‘s Ocean SUV
When Henrik Fisker, famed automotive designer behind luxury legends like the Aston Martin DB9 and BMW Z8, launches a new automaker, the industry takes notice. His latest endeavor, California-based Fisker Inc., aims to rival Tesla with a sleek lineup of eco-conscious, electric vehicles. While his ill-fated luxury plug-in hybrid Karma sedan first time around drove Fisker Automotive to bankruptcy, the entrepreneur impressively rebounded to start fresh with optimized battery tech powering the more mainstream Ocean SUV (Image below: ©betto rodrigues/Shutterstock.com).
As a lower cost EV targeting young, adventurous families rather than just the elite, early demand for the Fisker Ocean proves strong with over 30,000 reservations already placed. The 2024 model year Ocean promises engaging driving dynamics, generous interior space in a compact-footprint design, and a minimum 300 miles of all-electric range – not to mention a solar roof to supplement charging! Fisker‘s innovative flexible lease model also opens access by allowing people to sublet their vehicles.
While Fisker must still deliver on production promises, the technology-packed Ocean makes a convincing case for this fledgling automaker to become a serious rival on Tesla’s turf. Savvy social media marketing and striking styling inside and out position the Ocean as a resonant, eco-friendly lifestyle SUV ready to make waves!
Morris‘ Namesake: The Oxford Through Ages
Turning our attention across the pond, England served as home turf for the Morris Oxford – one of Britain‘s most recognized automotive lines through multiple generations. The storied nameplate debuted in 1913 as the bullnose-styled Oxford bullnose following Morris Garages founder William Morris‘ purchase of the Oxford plant. Rebranding it as his own assembly works facility reflected a personal attachment, having grown up near the historic city of Oxford.
The first Oxfords set the template as affordable, family-oriented sedans and tourers reflecting postwar Britain (Image below: ©James Hime/Shutterstock.com). Engine and bodywork upgrades followed across the 20s and 30s, expanding the range to six-cylinder models. During its interwar peak, Morris dominated domestic production thanks to high demand for the value-driven Oxford and other accesible models from its Cowley factory.
Although the 1940s brought production pauses during World War II, the Oxford returned even stronger as Morris merged into the British Motor Corporation conglomerate. The spacious, utilitarian 50s-era III and mid-century Six models cemented its popularity through the Austin partnership. While BMC‘s questionable quality control eroded Morris‘ value reputation amid growing imports, the Oxford‘s sales consistency reflected its enduring status as a staple of British motoring – produced across a remarkable 58-year run before its 1971 conclusion!
An Off-Road Wild Child: Subaru‘s Outback Wilderness
Rugged adventures beyond the beaten path tend to call for a specific kind of car. Enter Subaru‘s Outback – historically a lifted, wagon-esque crossover injecting go-anywhere capability into the Japanese automaker‘s predominantly all-wheel drive fleet since its 1995 debut. As Subaru‘s best-selling model worldwide, the Outback delivers surefooted security for families and outdoor enthusiasts facing snow, mud and dirt in remote locales or rural retreats.
For 2022, Subaru injects extra off-road aggression into its Outback formula in the form of the new Wilderness model (Image below: ©tomas devera photo/Shutterstock.com). Built to devour bouldery trails and handle seriously gnarly terrain, the Outback Wilderness augments the familiar capable chassis with a bespoke suspension adding an extra inch of ground clearance, upgraded all-terrain tires mounted to tall 17-inch alloy wheels, chunky body cladding and underbody skid plates. A tuned turbo Boxer engine ensures robust power while special gearing adapts the transmission for low-range crawling ability.
Early reviews praise the Outback Wilderness for pushing Subaru’s outdoor-focused crossover further than ever off the pavement while retaining refined on-road manners in line with its premium price tag. For weekend-warrior families regularly embarking on big adventures beyond the neighborhood cul-de-sac, the Wilderness transforms Subaru’s beloved Outback template into a legit overland beast!
History of Automaker Opel
Shifting focus to a full-fledged European automaker, Opel has made an outsize impact over six generations in Germany and beyond. Founded in 1862 by sewing machine manufacturer Adam Opel initially to build bicycles and wagons, the Rüsselsheim-based company first entered car production by adapting imported vehicles with domestic engines. Before long, Opel developed its own pioneering models boasting strong reliability ideal for Germany’s fledgling roadways.
Early successes like the 4PS Laubfrosch, affordable for bourgeois families, cemented Opel’s reputation for value and quality (Image below: ©JuliusKielaitis/Shutterstock.com). Sensationally popular models followed; over 100,000 units of the prewar Regent subcompact delivered German mobility to the masses. During the 1930s, advanced aerodynamic styling likewise previewed future decades on vehicles like the Olympia and Kapitän. Over that period, innovative engineering milestones included debuted integrating car radios and autonomous transmission development through collaboration with industrial giant RCA.
The post-WWII era witnessed Opel’s manufacturing rebirth with the export-focused Kadett spearheading economic recovery a symbol of German reconstruction. As an accessible sedan for the working class, it became Opel’s first global car as exports worldwide boomed through the 50s. Continued influence followed under GM ownership (from 1929) with watershed innovations like pivoting hardtop doors, seatbelt pretensioning, direct fuel injection, and integrating assistive driving technologies.
Now under Stellantis, Opel continues asserting itself among Europe’s most impactful auto manufacturers – its illustrious history firmly intertwined with both Germany’s culture and technological advancements. Even through ownership changes, the core Opel ethos remains anchored in democratic designs geared towards ordinary people.
The Italian Artisans: O.S.C.A.‘s Racing Pedigree
Italy holds strong associations as a hotbed for speed and style – especially regarding sports cars from prestigious marques like Ferrari or Maserati. Yet, the Modena region also gave birth to a less-celebrated manufacturer that left an indelible racing legacy despite its small production footprint: O.S.C.A. The O.S.C.A. name derives from founders, the Maserati Brothers, when they established Officine Specializzate Costruzione Automobili upon leaving their namesake company in 1947.
The small-batch automaker immediately competed against giant Fiat, Ferrari and Alfa Romeo works teams by leveraging extensive racing expertise to run lightweight single-seaters and sports cars (Image below:). Chassis developed by the Maserati brothers soon dominated Italy’s postwar racing scene by combining race-honed suspension and strong yet simple pushrod engines beating larger displacements. O.S.C.A. claimed both the 11⁄2-liter and 2-liter GT championships in 1949 followed by eight Constructors’ Titles throughout the 50s including a giant-killing inaugural World Sportscar title against giant marques.
Alongside racing successes, O.S.C.A. hand-built exquisite alloy-chassied road cars showcasing the Maserati’s mechanical mastery through high-revving DOHC engines. Custom coachbuilt bodies shipped to buyers internationally for installation locally. By the 1960s economic downturns forced contraction but the brand left a lasting legacy through engineering and competition – its brilliance rooted in traditional Italian passion pursuing perfetta macchina.
Conclusion
Reviewing this lineup clearly demonstrates that the letter O has proudly produced some outstanding automobiles alongside some outright outrageous ones too – each leaving unique impacts on the car landscape. Ranging from rule-breaking (Lotus Omega) to record-breaking (Subaru Outback) and even dynasty-building (Kia Optima), O model origin stories reminds us that compelling cars can come from unexpected places.
Despite fewer selections than deeper into the alphabet, O still manages to furnish hidden heroes. So even if it‘s not an obvious automotive letter, keep your eyes peeled for intriguing new future O offerings!
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Opel originally from?
Opel is originally from Germany, where it was founded way back in 1862 specializing first in sewing machines, bicycles and wagons before entering car production. Based in Rüsselsheim, Opel is one of Germany‘s oldest and most impactful automotive brands.
Is the Outback a good car?
Yes – the Subaru Outback is an exceptionally capable all-weather crossover. Its unique flat ‘Boxer‘ engines deliver confidence through winter snow and its rugged suspension absorbs potholes or rural roads. Perfect for adventuresome families in snowy climates or intent on weekend trips ‘off the beaten path‘ to hiking trails or national parks, the Outback blends car-like comfort with SUV flexibility and security.
What was controversial about the Lotus Omega?
The infamously fast Lotus Omega sparked controversy in its homeland Britain for lacking any electronic top speed limiter. Without a govern on its 375 horsepower twin-turbo engine, the sedan could reach 180+ mph – faster than most supercars then available. joyriders and criminals exploited its extreme speed which let it easily outrun police vehicles, using stolen Lotus Omegas as getaway cars for bold theft raids.
What models helped reinvent the Kia brand?
The Optima sedan proved instrumental in overhauling public perception of Kia from budget jokes to serious contenders on par with Japanese and American brands. Lauded for distinctive European-inspired styling and unexpected refinement, the first-generation Optima of 2001 (sold globally under various nameplates through multiple generations since) demonstrated major leaps in quality that foreshadowed Kia‘s products to follow.
Which Italian automaker did the Maserati brothers start?
After leaving their eponymous car company, the racing-oriented Maserati brothers started O.S.C.A. (Officine Specializzate Costruzione Automobili). Though output was very limited, O.S.C.A.‘s lightweight, nimble sports cars and single-seaters became giantslayers that punched above their weight in contemporary racing – including scoring the giant-killing inaugural World Sportscar Championship in 1951 against Ferrari, Jaguar and Mercedes‘ might factory efforts.
