The year 2003 was nineteen years ago, and it may just be the greatest year ever for cars. Many iconic cars during that year were released by car companies all over the world. From supercars to new groundbreaking luxury cars. It was a year that was packed full of excitement for car enthusiasts from every walk of life.
The early 2000s are argued to be the last years of the proper analog car. The years when the last proper driver’s cars with analog manual controls were launched. Fewer driver aids and bigger engines, etc. However, during this time period, the emergence of new technology mainly derived from Formula One took over with things like the flappy-paddle automatic gearbox coming into play, pushrod suspension, etc.
Today, we are going to look at some of the most iconic cars launched in that exciting year and also look into what technology they used and how it changed the car industry as a whole.
Some Of The Best Driver’s Cars Ever
The year 2003 included many old-school driver’s cars. You had the “holy trinity” consisting of the Ferrari Enzo, Porsche Carrera GT, and the Mercedes McLaren SLR. Three incredible hypercars, which were very different from each other.
Ferrari’s Enzo was made to celebrate Enzo Ferrari, who was the founder of Ferrari back in 1948. The Enzo succeeded the controversial but beautiful F50, and it did so in style. Whilst the Ferrari F50 was all about feeling like an F1 car, the Enzo was about showing off Ferrari’s technology and paving a new way for their future. It was somewhat the marque’s “halo car.”
The Carrera GT was a car that was completely different compared to the Enzo. It was a hardcore hypercar with an F1-derived V10, a manual gearbox, and fewer driver aids. It truly was a widowmaker, and you had to be careful when driving it as it could easily snap and you end up losing control.
Mercedes McLaren’s SLR was also very different. It was just as fast as its competitors yet it offered that speed in a different package. The engine was in front of the driver in oppose to the rear like the Enzo and Carrera GT. The SLR was also very luxurious with the interior mainly from the SL. Furthermore, the SLR used an automatic gearbox rather than some complex flappy-paddle system used in the Enzo or a simple manual used in the Carrera GT. Yet the whole body was carbon-fiber and the car produced well over 600hp. It was confusing, but nevertheless, the SLR was very fast and it received top reviews globally.
Then there were other cars too launched that year that excited the car enthusiast massively. There was the Porsche 996 911 GT3 RS and the Ferrari 360 Challange Stradale. Two cars that went head-to-head on an episode of Top Gear. These two cars just like their big brother hypercars at the time were very different from each other. The 996 GT3 was a manual no-nonsense lightweight track racer whilst the 360 included all the new technology from F1 cars.
Both the GT3 RS and 996 Challange Stradale are very desirable cars and they both were two of the best drivers cars during the 2000s. The BMW M3 CSL was also launched that year, and it seemed like a cheaper alternative between the two. It included a semi-automatic paddle-shift gearbox, a 3.2 liter 6 cylinder, and RWD. That car is the best M-car ever made as it just feels so pure and lively.
There were many new luxury cars launched in 2003. You had the new Bentley Continental GT which was very different from any other Bentley ever produced. You also had the Rolls Royce Phantom which completely changed Rolls Royce’s reputation as a whole, putting them back on par with some of the best.
Introduction Of New Money.
The early 2000s saw a wave of new money hitting the market. As such car companies responded to this by making their cars a bit more lavish and a bit more extraordinary. Cars like the Rolls Royce Phantom prove this well as it is just so large, that the Phantom would make other full-size sedans look small.
The Phantom was a sign of wealth and power. However, it quickly became a favorite amongst wedding companies to use as a wedding car. Unlike other luxury cars at the time, the Phantom did not include the latest and greatest technology. Instead, Rolls Royce did things the old school way by offering more luxurious interiors, more paint choices, more leather choices, etc. `true personalization of a car if you had the money.
The rear of the Phantom included bench-like seats that were very spacious and comfortable. A contrast to the reclining seats used in the Maybach models. Furthermore, the front seats were very square and very wide offering exceptional support. Under the hood was a 6.75 liter BMW V12 which was as silent as a mouse. It smoothly drove the car via a 6-speed automatic gearbox at first, which was later replaced by an 8-speed in the series two Phantom.
Another great luxury car produced at the same time was the all-new Bentley Continental GT which featured a brand new w12 6-liter twin-turbo engine from VW. It was a fast GT car that instantly became a hit amongst footballers and other celebrities. The Continental did receive mixed reactions though it did sell very well. People loved the build quality and the powerful engine.
To Conclude.
The year 2003 was a great year for cars. There were many luxury cars and supercars launched that year that changed the motor industry as a whole. It was a year that was full of excitement and a year that created many modern classics that we know of and love today. The best car launched that year was probably the Ferrari Enzo due to the fact it really did push Ferrari into the 21st century.
Lamborghini also launched the Gallardo during that year too, which later became their best-selling car ever until the Urus SUV came along. That car was the baby Lamborghini that the marque needed in order to compete with the Ferrari 360 and Porsche 911 Turbo.