- Mitsubishi is killing the Galant, Endeavor, and the Eclipse...finally! Mitsubishi has been struggling in the auto market due to old cars and are now trying to right the ship that is being barely kept afloat by sales of the sharp, yet unspectacular Lancer. Now, I am not saying the Lancer is a bad car, but in a segment where fuel economy is king and Mazda dominates in the realm of excitement, yo need something better than being like Mazda, but cheaper inside and out.
I always liked the Galant. I thought it had a very muscular, yet bland look from the rear and with some nice refreshes it could have been made relevant. But being slow, old, and thirsty doesn't win you anything these days.
The Eclipse was a car that no one really wanted and a segment that even Hyundai doesn't play in since they removed their Tiberon from market: the FWD, semi-performance coupe. It didn't really have any go power and went from edgy styling to soft and bland and was left to rot on the vine. Here's to hoping Mitsu can pull off a miracle, cause otherwise they've got no reason being here and should get while the goings good. As should Suzuki.
- Aston Martin Cygnet. A $50K re-badge of a Toyota city car. This car will really push the limits of "compact luxury" because until now no other luxury auto maker has ventured into the ultra compact segment. Sure, BMW have their city car coming out soon, Benz had its hand in Smart and have their A and B Class cars, but all of those vehicles scaled down price with size. If Aston can really pull off charging that much for leather and a badge, this might signal a real change in the way the rich spend their money...on expensive things they don't need, regardless of size!
Ultimately, the car is ridiculous, unnecessary, and taps onto a market that may or may not exist.
- Honda. Autoblog, usually known for playing nice, showed some really stomach with its editorial about whether Honda has lost its way as of late. This is something that I've been hearing and thinking and now finally even the tame Autobloggers have taken up the mantle. So what of Honda?
They recently unveiled their new Civic concept, which at this point is industry speak for "near production model" and it is...the same as what's on the road. It is so similar I am going to have to wait until photos are released to see how different it really is from the current model. Ford went from middle of the pack to top of the class with it's refreshes of the Fusion and Edge, so the ability for an automaker to win big on something as benign as a refresh is out there, but this isn't supposed to be a refresh. This is supposed to be a "new" and "redesigned" car. Though Porsche is the spokesman for the "evolution" of a model through it's years of constant, mild updates to the 911, the Civic is not a 911. The current model isn't even that special...though it was hip years ago when it came out, the public is ready for something new from Honda. Especially in a segment where there is new competition from a strong Ford (Focus) and Chevy (Cruze), not to mention the Hyundai Elantra (now featured in two new Super Bowl ads).
But the trouble doesn't stop there. Honda hasn't had a hit for years. Its hybrid cars never really lit up the charts, to the point of being removed from the market (Accord Hybrid), and the current Insight was supposed to push over the Prius, but never really managed to make a dent.
And then we have the Crosstour. My mother was smitten with this car, until she did the important right shoulder test and left the dealer faster than I could! In addition to the poor visibility, it is the cure for which there was no disease. Saddled with only a V6 and no real improvements in interior volume over the Accord or its own SUVs, the Crosstour was truly an example of a niche too far.
Then the CR-Z with its sport-hybrid ideal has come and already we are about to get a turbo'd four model with the heavy hybrid bits removed. Excellent fuel economy and sports car. The two don't yet go hand in hand. Porsche has shocked the world with its 918 concept, but Porsche made it fast. The CR-Z is slow, handles great, and doesn't get noticeably better mileage than any comparable car, especially with the 40 mpg Hyundai Elantra around the corner.
Honda needs a shot in the arm.
The innovation leader is now playing catch up on several fronts, most embarrassingly is engine design. The house of VTEC needs to get its act together and remind the world why kids ride around in riced up Civics and Integras.
How should it do this? A new engine or transmission would be a start. A return of the affordable sports car wouldn't hurt either, since the loss of the RX-8 and S2000.
Bring it back Honda, cause the CR-V and Accord won't be sell forever.
I have a... white... car. Is that a good one? 8)
ReplyDeleteWell, it gets less heat by being white so you wouldn't have to use the a/c as much in the summer...so by that metric yes?
ReplyDeleteTell me more and I can give you the full pro/con break down!
:-)