The next model was the first commercial success of the brand: the Xavante (also named X-10): production started in 1973, being the first car of Gurgel developed using the Plasteel system, which was proved very resistant under corrosive environments and also very mechanically strong, deforming temporarily but not smashing under pressure or shocks.

Xavante also had a feature called Selectraction, a system where two individual hand-brakes were installed next to the driver, for each one of the rear wheels.

Still, in 1980 another electric vehicle was conceived, called Itaipu E400: it was a van, still designed for urban travels, but making a better autonomy and still a remarkable mileage.

The car presented a big step in the national technology development: the engine, named Gurgel Enertron, was entirely designed and developed by Gurgel, low cost : it was a bi-cylindrical engine, originally with 650 cc and 800 cc options, equipped with totally electronic ignition control, using a system with two coils and no distributor.

It had a good mileage, making 14 km/L on urban traffic, and could achieve 19 km/L on the road, on constant speed, even without any electronic fuel injection.

In 1992, in a response to the market, the Supermini model was created: it had a better finish, more power (36 PS), a lot of improvement in the body, including a more robust suspension, a better system for the windows and a real lid for the trunk.

Even considering the high import taxes, national industry from the time suffered from the new external competition, and things weren't different for Gurgel.

This project was intended to be cheaper than the BR-800, aimed at the lower economic classes, being produced in a new plant near the target market: the northeast.

By that time, Gurgel had already bought the ground of 650000 square meters, needed for the new factory facilities, and negotiated with Citroën the purchase of machinery used for 2CV production.

However, the state of Ceará did not confirm the funding in succeeding years, leading to the loss of support from São Paulo and BNDES.

This presentation resulted in a technical note from the (now extinct) MICT (Ministério de Indústria, Comércio e Turismo, or "Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Tourism" in English) saying that "immediate actions needed to be taken", treating the matter as of "national interest".

It is not uncommon to see X-12, Tocantins, Supermini or BR-800 models on the streets, despite the reduced number of specialized workshops and lack of specific parts for replacement.