Fox News: 3 Things That Can Save Detroit
You just know they’re going to get it wrong. And so they do. Number One: Full-Size Pickup Trucks. Huh? If any market segment is likely NOT to restore The Big 2.8 to glowing good health, it’s the PU segment. But no. I mean yes! “The Dodge Ram is new for 2009, as is the top-selling Ford F-150, while the Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra twins combine to sell more than any of them. With the Toyota Tundra in retreat and Nissan ready to surrender the segment (they’ll be getting their next generation of Titans from Dodge), cheap gas should keep buyers putting their money into these profit centers.” And if the housing market stays in the toilet, the market remains saturated with trucks or the price of gas goes up? * crickets chirping * No wait! Number Two: American Muscle. Huh? Talk about carving-up smaller pieces a decreasing pie. Nope. Fox is saying halo to the new Camaro, Challenger and Mustang. “Forget for a moment all of the goody two-shoes environmentally conscious cars Washington wants the Detroit 3 to build: These are the ones that look best in the commercials and get shoppers into showrooms. They may not sell in huge numbers, but you can’t pay for the kind of pride they bring to a brand’s image.” Apparently, you– I mean “we” can. Number Three…
A stylish, high-quality, reliable, fuel-efficient Camry and Accord killer. Just kidding. “Powerful efficiency.” Huh? You mean hybrids? Nope, because, “the technology that goes into building them is still expensive, so while the vehicles are good for public relations, it will be years before they start putting any coin into the company coffers. Besides, they’re all still kind of wimpy. Enter direct injection, which is an effective way of getting fuel into engines that not only makes them more fuel efficient, but also more powerful, and it costs a lot less than a hybrid to produce.” Which leaves us with only one question: is this Motown’s plan? If so, you can kiss our $44.4b (and the rest) “investment” in Detroit good bye.
More by Robert Farago
Comments
Join the conversation
Once again, you react to a perfectly rational rebuke with "you are wrong, I am right, you are [insert series of favorite labels applied to anyone not in the nutbag left]." Facts are inconsequential if you cannot learn to form them into a coherent argument, or apply them in a manner which actually contradicts the statements of another.
mr_min: "My point is that Halo is important, how can you not think BMW are great because of the M3 or Nissan because of the Skyline/GTR and so on. There are going to be some buyers who think there is a little bit of Corvette DNA in their Aveo (Ok maybe a bit of a far stretch, but you get the point)" I doubt it. I test-drove a decade-old BMW not too long ago. It felt like a Bimmer, not like a Daewoo. If you're not in the market for a 'Vette, the 'Vette in the showroom is simply something to admire when you're not being actively hounded to buy the Aveo. Nothing in "Halo Theory" explains how Toyota and Honda make money. There was close to zero market awareness of the Supra and the Celica probably didn't get as much attention as the Camaro at any point in its life. Toyota cancelled the Celica altogether and life goes on. It's doubtful the Prius has an effect on Camry buyers, either, except as further proof that Toyota knows how to build supremely reliable cars.