QOTD: When Will the Crossover Call It Quits?

by Corey Lewis

December 7th, 2016 10:12 AM

qotd when will the crossover call it quits

As we bring you one Question of the Day each weekday, we figured getting someone from TTAC’s commentariat to ask questions of the same commentariat above the fold would add a dose of flavor. That flavor comes from Ohio, and its name is CoreyDL. Welcome him to the headlines and bylines.

It’s entirely likely in 2016 that you or someone you’re very close to own one or more crossovers. The CUV is as prevalent in the North American landscape these days as the midsize sedan was in about 1988. But as with the body-on-frame SUV which came before, and the all-American wood-sided family wagon before that, the party can’t last forever.

Safety groups want pedestrians to giggle like the Pillsbury Dough Boy when struck by two-ton metallic death machines, necessitating ever softer edges. Stricter fuel regulations push the roofs lower for the sake of aerodynamics, shrinking space for people and cargo. Designers who don’t shower very often show us shapes inspired by used bars of soap.

How long can this go on before the party’s over, and the CUV isn’t the cool kid any more?

When the day comes in 20## and I’m proven right, I’ll walk outside and slip into my personal pick for the Next Big Thing — an all-wheel-drive, all-weather-coupe (or AWD-AWC).

Aston Martin has shown us the slick DBX, and Nissan revealed the Gripz a while ago — hinting at a potential replacement for the perennial Z car. Even Giugiaro got in ahead of the game with the Parcour Concept in 2013.

You can come up with your own speculation and figures in the comments. Go ahead and tell me I’m wrong — that the CUV will reign supreme for the next 50 years, an icon only seen before in the likes of individual models like the Ford F-Series and the Corvette. Then let me know when you’ll be ready for your lifted AWD coupe.

How long will the crossover madness last?

#AstonMartin #Crossovers #Cuv #Giugiaro #Nissan #QuestionOfTheDay

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5 of 147 comments

Toxicroach on Dec 07, 2016

The station wagon has always reigned supreme. It just gets plastic surgery every few years. Sometimes it wears heels. Sometimes it doesn't. Sometimes it has a truck bed. I assume the AWD coupe was a joke.

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Koreancowboy on Dec 12, 2016

I often think about this. As a two-CUV owner (RAV and CRV), I think that it would have to do all of the things that a CUV does now, but much better...and cooler. I don't know what that looks like, so automakers will continue to CUV all the things in the meantime.

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- See 2 previous
- Corey Lewis on Dec 12, 2016
  
  I think they will indeed CUV all the things, until the regulators say otherwise.
  
  Like
- OldManPants on Dec 12, 2016
  
  @Corey Lewis "until the regulators say otherwise" Dey awready is. One syllable per refresh. Frog happy; frog don't know being boiled.
  
  Like
- Corey Lewis on Dec 12, 2016
  
  @OldManPants That's how you keep em extra tender.
  
  Like

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