Iconic IGNITION

Business Traveller India’s curated selection of 21st-century modern classic collectables

- ABHINAV SURI

In an era dominated by technological progression, today's cars have reached unprecedented levels of performance, efficiency, and safety.

The marriage of cutting-edge innovation with new-age materials has undoubtedly elevated the driving experience of modern cars to a whole new level. However, amidst the strides of progress, there is a challenge that cars of yesteryears did not have to face. While great design is timeless, technology ages very rapidly. The more screens we add inside our cars, the faster they exhibit their age, as the technology behind it slows down or becomes obsolete in just a couple of years. Add to that the higher failure rate of complex electrical systems inside a car, and you are looking at vehicles that may not stand the unforgiving test of time. There is hence an argument that echoes through the purists and enthusiasts-the concern that as cars become more technologically advanced, they may be losing some of the distinctive character and soul that defined the classics of yesteryear. How the very technology that propels the automotive industry forward today may be contributing to a subtle loss of the soulful, eccentric charm that once defined the world of motoring. It makes the cars of today difficult to form a bond with as they lack personality. In the realm of classic cars, a truly timeless collectable extends beyond its performance figures and aesthetic charm-it possesses an intangible quality that transcends the metal and machinery. The soul of a car is the heartbeat beneath the hood.

Its character manifests in the idiosyncrasies and quirks that render each vehicle unique, turning a mere metal object into a personality.