Big 3 face Japanese model blitz

[NFS4]

http://www.detnews.com/2005/autosinsider/0502/21/A01-96073.htm

 

[Mr.IncrediblyBored]

If your new models are uncompetitive as well, then all the freshening in the world won't save your market share. The Japanese continue to eat away at their car market while starting to build highly competent SUVs and trucks. The domestics are finally starting to revamp their car lines, but even some of the new models are inferior to Japanese sedans that have been out for years. Hello, Chevy Malibu and Satur ION?!

Ford is finally replacing their car lineup with decent vehicles. The Fusion and Milan will be important for Ford's car market here in the States. The 500 and Montego haven't been selling that well, but are solid enough commuter cars.

Dodge has some niche vehicles in the Magnum and Charger, but they won't have the volume to gain back share from Honda and Toyota. The Neon will be helpful if it doesn't look ugly as hell with a cheap interior. Chrysler has the 300C and... nope that's it. Their car presence is virtually nill.

I haven't a clue what GM is trying to do. The Malibu and ION were failures. The Grand Prix and G6 while OK vehicles with shoddy interiors and driving charactersitcs unappealing to the masses. The Buick La Crosse is floundering, but the Lucerne might help keep the 60 year old crowd alive for another few years. About the only thing GM has going for it right now is Cadillac and the kappa platform twins the Soltice and Sky. The CTS, SRX, STS, and XLR are all excellent vehicles. The future BLS has the best interior of the bunch (save for maybe the XLR) but it won't be coming to the States.

 

[dethman]

damn i thought there'd be japanese models in this thread. i knew it was too good to be true for an NFS4 thread.