The car you knew Ford could build....
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From: Soldotna Alaska
Heck, will someone donate some $$$ so I can buy the new Ford GT! A handmade american race car thats streetable! SWEET! Would have to move to Montana just to drive it though, but talk about a chick magnet! 
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From: The LBC (Long Beach, CA)
Car companies focus-group everything to death for the American market. Which is why most of the products for sale here are boring - so as not to offend anyone.
Good designs/cars SHOULD be polarizing, I think. A decent design like the Chrysler 300 comes along, and folks either REALLY love it, or they hate it. But the folks who love it will buy it...
As an example...Not to kick a dead horse, but the Ford 500 will never inspire the passion - love or hate - that the 300 or Charger will.
GM took a chance on the GTO, as it is basically a rebadged Holden. First year, they still focus-grouped it to death, and it didn't sell. It had looks watered-down so as to not offend.
Second year (now), they let loose just a bit with more extrovert styling and more power. And guess what? Sales are up like 80%.
But with polarizing styling, you do run the risk of nobody liking it.
Good designs/cars SHOULD be polarizing, I think. A decent design like the Chrysler 300 comes along, and folks either REALLY love it, or they hate it. But the folks who love it will buy it...
As an example...Not to kick a dead horse, but the Ford 500 will never inspire the passion - love or hate - that the 300 or Charger will.
GM took a chance on the GTO, as it is basically a rebadged Holden. First year, they still focus-grouped it to death, and it didn't sell. It had looks watered-down so as to not offend.
Second year (now), they let loose just a bit with more extrovert styling and more power. And guess what? Sales are up like 80%.
But with polarizing styling, you do run the risk of nobody liking it.
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Joined: Jul 2004
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From: The LBC (Long Beach, CA)
If they think it'll sell then the car comanies will pay for emissions compliance. While it is true that some older engines may not make the cut here, European emissions regs are just as stringent (though slightly different) than ours, so if a car can be sold in the EU, then it is likely that the engine can be made to pass US emissions.
US crash testing is also a little different, so a car engineered for another market may be pricey to certify for this country. Though many so-called "world cars" are designed to be certified in different markets. As an example, the Land Rover Defender 90, a Jeep-like 4x4, was pulled from this market because it could not meet US crash standards (it is an ageing design).
But again, if there's a good business case then the money will be spent.
And insurance...well, that doesn't stop Ford for selling every single Mustang GT that it can produce.
US crash testing is also a little different, so a car engineered for another market may be pricey to certify for this country. Though many so-called "world cars" are designed to be certified in different markets. As an example, the Land Rover Defender 90, a Jeep-like 4x4, was pulled from this market because it could not meet US crash standards (it is an ageing design).
But again, if there's a good business case then the money will be spent.
And insurance...well, that doesn't stop Ford for selling every single Mustang GT that it can produce.
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Joined: Mar 2001
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Originally Posted by Jordan not Mike
Car companies focus-group everything to death for the American market. Which is why most of the products for sale here are boring - so as not to offend anyone.
Good designs/cars SHOULD be polarizing, I think. A decent design like the Chrysler 300 comes along, and folks either REALLY love it, or they hate it. But the folks who love it will buy it...
As an example...Not to kick a dead horse, but the Ford 500 will never inspire the passion - love or hate - that the 300 or Charger will.
GM took a chance on the GTO, as it is basically a rebadged Holden. First year, they still focus-grouped it to death, and it didn't sell. It had looks watered-down so as to not offend.
Second year (now), they let loose just a bit with more extrovert styling and more power. And guess what? Sales are up like 80%.
But with polarizing styling, you do run the risk of nobody liking it.
Good designs/cars SHOULD be polarizing, I think. A decent design like the Chrysler 300 comes along, and folks either REALLY love it, or they hate it. But the folks who love it will buy it...
As an example...Not to kick a dead horse, but the Ford 500 will never inspire the passion - love or hate - that the 300 or Charger will.
GM took a chance on the GTO, as it is basically a rebadged Holden. First year, they still focus-grouped it to death, and it didn't sell. It had looks watered-down so as to not offend.
Second year (now), they let loose just a bit with more extrovert styling and more power. And guess what? Sales are up like 80%.
But with polarizing styling, you do run the risk of nobody liking it.
I disagree. While as a consumer I would like to see bold design, I'm also well aware that most of the top selling vehicles are bland or at minimum the least daring in the segment (Civic, Accord, Camry, DCX minivans, F150, etc)
Daring cars are popular, to a small group. Same with colours. Yellow is sweet, but not for everyone.
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From: The LBC (Long Beach, CA)
J-150, I'm not sure what part you don't agree with.
I never said bold designs would sell to the mainstream.
I said bold designs inspire passion and are polarizing.
A catagory like the GTO example - performance coupe - needs bold design.
Mid-size sedans do not.
But note that Dodge never sold any trucks in huge quantities (Chevy/GM and Ford numbers) until they came out the their "big-truck" styling with the Ram.
And Ford took a beating when the last-generation F-150s came out - folks said they were too stylistic when they appeared in 1997. There were tons of folks who were up in arms when it came out. But it still sold well.
The problem with bold design is that it's a bit like fashion trends. It's hot for a while, then it's suddenly not. So you don't get the same long-term appeal - you need to constantly update it to remain fresh.
I never said bold designs would sell to the mainstream.
I said bold designs inspire passion and are polarizing.
A catagory like the GTO example - performance coupe - needs bold design.
Mid-size sedans do not.
But note that Dodge never sold any trucks in huge quantities (Chevy/GM and Ford numbers) until they came out the their "big-truck" styling with the Ram.
And Ford took a beating when the last-generation F-150s came out - folks said they were too stylistic when they appeared in 1997. There were tons of folks who were up in arms when it came out. But it still sold well.
The problem with bold design is that it's a bit like fashion trends. It's hot for a while, then it's suddenly not. So you don't get the same long-term appeal - you need to constantly update it to remain fresh.
Last edited by Jordan not Mike; Jun 27, 2005 at 04:28 PM.
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,079
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From: Pikesville, MD
Originally Posted by lifeguardjoe
Are you thinking about the Probe GT? That car was supposed to replace the Mustang, but decided to keep the stang and kill the GT.
Cyclone was right the probe was a mazda.
Ford did make a SHO Tauras. Buddy had a 93 and it would run with a stock 5.0 no problem.
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Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 4,316
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Originally Posted by Jordan not Mike
J-150, I'm not sure what part you don't agree with.
I never said bold designs would sell to the mainstream.
I said bold designs inspire passion and are polarizing.
A catagory like the GTO example - performance coupe - needs bold design.
Mid-size sedans do not.
But note that Dodge never sold any trucks in huge quantities (Chevy/GM and Ford numbers) until they came out the their "big-truck" styling with the Ram.
And Ford took a beating when the last-generation F-150s came out - folks said they were too stylistic when they appeared in 1997. There were tons of folks who were up in arms when it came out. But it still sold well.
The problem with bold design is that it's a bit like fashion trends. It's hot for a while, then it's suddenly not. So you don't get the same long-term appeal - you need to constantly update it to remain fresh.
I never said bold designs would sell to the mainstream.
I said bold designs inspire passion and are polarizing.
A catagory like the GTO example - performance coupe - needs bold design.
Mid-size sedans do not.
But note that Dodge never sold any trucks in huge quantities (Chevy/GM and Ford numbers) until they came out the their "big-truck" styling with the Ram.
And Ford took a beating when the last-generation F-150s came out - folks said they were too stylistic when they appeared in 1997. There were tons of folks who were up in arms when it came out. But it still sold well.
The problem with bold design is that it's a bit like fashion trends. It's hot for a while, then it's suddenly not. So you don't get the same long-term appeal - you need to constantly update it to remain fresh.
Bold design I agree with, but the reality is it works for niche vehicles, not category leaders.
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Bighersh Alter-Ego
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 178
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From: 33.02N / 96.66W
Originally Posted by J-150
I disagree. While as a consumer I would like to see bold design, I'm also well aware that most of the top selling vehicles are bland or at minimum the least daring in the segment (Civic, Accord, Camry, DCX minivans, F150, etc)
Daring cars are popular, to a small group. Same with colours. Yellow is sweet, but not for everyone.
Daring cars are popular, to a small group. Same with colours. Yellow is sweet, but not for everyone.
What you have to be is damn-good, and the cars you listed (Civic, Accord, Camry, Daimler Minivans, F-150) and some you didn't mention (Corolla, Odyssey, etc..) sell well because they are the best you can have in their segments. This is due to repeat buyers and owner/family loyalty. If Dad drives a F-150, you can bet that Jr. will probably drive an F-150 too. Same goes for Honda- especially if they turn out to be good vehicles...
The Falcon GT can be toned down to appeal to Camry buyers, and toned up to appeal to the Maxima, 530i, 300C crowd. It's American made, with the looks and seemingly with the build quality of a Japanese car...
Sounds like a home-run to me...