They claim they can't sell "sedans", but look at the mix of "sedans" from the USA makers. On the GM side, Cruze replaced the Cobalt, but with a significant price increase for a nicer car and "new tech". Current Impala uses a Cadillac architecture, with a significant price increase over the past models. The Taurus (originally "500") is a nice car, but unremarkable, but many would like to drive a Mustang with an F-series as its companion in the carport. Ford has traditionally, over the past decades, changed its smaller fwd cars out every so often, by observation. Ford's strength in their small fwd cars is their Euro associates and some of the great cars they race over there.
The smaller "sedans" typically have poor "stuff" carrying capacity for younger families. Enter the car-based utilities. Wonder how many of the smaller Jeep owners know there might be a Fiat hiding under there, somewhere?
So, several dynamics at play with the GM decision. Small cars are good for little else than transporting 1-2 people to work or on erands. 4-door pickups are the highest volume light truck vehicle. So the Chevy Equinox/GMC Terrain size of vehicle seems to be a nice fit/compromise for many who can't afford the $60k pickups or the $35K "sedans" of a size that might be too big for their needs.
By observation, whenever a USA car company abandons a particular market segment, the Asians/Oriental brands drive right into that void and then own that segment. Why can't the "money people" in MI understand that HISTORY? Product that might not sell should not be built.
Chrysler had some good selling vehicles in the Stratus/Cirrus cars. They were right-size and the 4cyls got really good fuel economy for back then. Then look what Daimler did to them! Poor market decisions killed that market segment for Chrysler, by observation. Kind of like going from the ForwardLook cars (with the cloud cars) and replacing them with a '54 Chrysler for the next model year!
Look who owns the midsize and smaller markets NOW. Oh well, maybe somebody with a memory can get to work in MI?
On the other hand, GM might be trying to be ahead of the curve for metro-area vehicles. But how well will those vehicles sell in Earth, TX? Driving more people into fwd utilities? Or 4-dr HD2500 diesel pickup trucks?
Enjoy!
CBODY67
The smaller "sedans" typically have poor "stuff" carrying capacity for younger families. Enter the car-based utilities. Wonder how many of the smaller Jeep owners know there might be a Fiat hiding under there, somewhere?
So, several dynamics at play with the GM decision. Small cars are good for little else than transporting 1-2 people to work or on erands. 4-door pickups are the highest volume light truck vehicle. So the Chevy Equinox/GMC Terrain size of vehicle seems to be a nice fit/compromise for many who can't afford the $60k pickups or the $35K "sedans" of a size that might be too big for their needs.
By observation, whenever a USA car company abandons a particular market segment, the Asians/Oriental brands drive right into that void and then own that segment. Why can't the "money people" in MI understand that HISTORY? Product that might not sell should not be built.
Chrysler had some good selling vehicles in the Stratus/Cirrus cars. They were right-size and the 4cyls got really good fuel economy for back then. Then look what Daimler did to them! Poor market decisions killed that market segment for Chrysler, by observation. Kind of like going from the ForwardLook cars (with the cloud cars) and replacing them with a '54 Chrysler for the next model year!
Look who owns the midsize and smaller markets NOW. Oh well, maybe somebody with a memory can get to work in MI?
On the other hand, GM might be trying to be ahead of the curve for metro-area vehicles. But how well will those vehicles sell in Earth, TX? Driving more people into fwd utilities? Or 4-dr HD2500 diesel pickup trucks?
Enjoy!
CBODY67
