Buick offers some fine cars, but their marketing strategies suggest a combination of frustration and desperation. For most of their models Buick now offers: 1. A 1SV trim level 2. A “Sport Touring” trim level The 1SV model lacks only a few features than the next level up, but costs far less. To take the most extreme example, in terms… More →
Category: Car Product Stategy
Car Product Stategy
Can Lincoln sell “quiet luxury?”
Luxury cars are an odd market. Cadillac has been trying to out-BMW BMW by producing the fastest accelerating, best-handling, rear-wheel-drive-based luxury sedans. Mercedes-Benz also has been pushing performance and handling more than at any previous time in its storied history. A consensus has been emerging that the C63 AMG is the best among an increasingly large, increasingly capable crowd of… More →
Ford’s plan for survival?
I’ve been wondering for some time what Ford’s plan for survival, much less success, might be. Detroit has traditionally gotten by by hitting one out of the park from time to time–while striking out most times at bat. But Ford isn’t swinging for the fences the way GM is. Its cars aren’t dramatically styled. It doesn’t have a moonshot like… More →
What’s Mercedes thinking?
Every once in a while while checking the car pricing data I come across something that must be an error, except it isn’t. I came across such a case when going over the 2009 Mercedes ML350 today. On the ML350 you can get leather upholstery. And you can get a “Heating Package,” which includes heated seats in both rows and… More →
Amnesia, hindsight, and health insurance
Just a few months ago seemingly everyone was criticizing Detroit for failing to foresee $4.00 gas and develop fuel efficient cars accordingly. Even today we hear that these companies should refocus on alt fuels. But how many of those who claimed that Detroit should have spent billions of dollars to develop more fuel efficient vehicles predicted that fuel prices would… More →
Once again, GM’s overseas products don’t sell well in the U.S.
In one of Peanut’s classic gags, Lucy told Charlie Brown time and time again that she’d hold the football for him so he could kick it, only to pull it away at the last minute. American car buyers like to do this with GM. They say, “If only you offered the products you sell overseas in the U.S., we’d buy… More →
Jeep improves interiors
Well, now I know what Chrysler had been up to. Few if any new products are on the horizon–no surprise, since the company seems very unlikely to survive in anything resembling its present form. But every Jeep model except the Wrangler did receive an upgraded interior this year. Too bad they didn’t take this step back when Jeeps were still… More →
Behind the Ford Flex Flop
Back in April 2007 I heralded the 2009 Ford Flex as a sign of life at Ford. By applying cues from the cult-inspiring styling of the Scion xB and MINI Cooper to a much larger three-row vehicle, I predicted that Ford had the magic formula for people seeking a people mover with style. Well, the 2009 Ford Flex arrived at… More →
Where’s my car?
Back in 2001 the Toyota Altezza arrived in the U.S. as the Lexus with a price in the low 30s. The interior didn’t seem worthy of a Lexus, and the price was beyond the reach of many who would otherwise buy a small rear-drive sedan. Ever since then I’ve been waiting for a manufacture to fill an obvious hole in… More →
Why I hate half-years
March 2008 is just now ending, and already a number of 2009 models are available. Legally, a car can be a 2009 as soon as the 2008 calendar year begins. Some people will take exception with this. Why can’t the model years match the calendar years, or at least come close? Well, before make this request, consider the alternative. Some manufacturers… More →