Quote:
Originally Posted by ECHOKnight2000
Seems Europeans are more demanding in exciting cars than we are. Which seems logical. North America is generally a conservative bunch. Hence Toyota sales are good at least up until now, well for some segments.
Anyway maybe that's why Toyota is bringing back the Celica to Europe. I hope this encourages Toyota to have more balls. yes I know they are a conservative company and very cautious which isn't bad but don't want to go overboard that way or the competition will pass you, obviously depending on market demands. Maybe it will spawn more exciting cars for the U.S market but I don't think so.
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I would say that North Americans are not demanding enough, not conservative. North Americans may be conservative in politics, but not when it comes to cars. A conservative taste in cars would be a true appreciation of the Volkswagen Rabbit, Jetta and Passat; or the previous generation Mercedes-Benz C-Class and S-Class. (And, of course the Corolla and Camry.) These are cars with not much show, but plenty else to make them good cars, nonetheless.
How else do you explain the over-dressed rental car specials that GM has produced over the years? Those were cars with a lot to show (even if I really did not like that kind of show), but not much else to make them attractive as cars. How else do you explain the terrible Cavalier seemingly assembled by 3-year olds? How else do you explain the Grand Am which was made "sporty" by slathering it in rubbery-feeling plastic, both inside and out? Or all the Buicks and Cadillacs covered tastelessly in chrome?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lasse D
"class-leading VW Golf, Ford Focus and Opel Astra"
This might have been the case back in 2004. Peugeot 308, Honda Civic and Toyota Auris are the new guys in the segment, and thus the cars to beat, unless class-leading is found using the sales charts in Germany...
I don't see any huge problems with the European model mix:
City cars Aygo is still class leading with the iQ under way.
Supermini: Yaris is still one of the best all-rounders, and the price is high because the product can carry it.
Small city car: Auris. Not the revolution I expected. The article might be right here, but is confused about the cars in the segment
Large family car: Avensis. Sells because of reliability and low prices. Will soon be replaced
SUV: Rav4. It might not have the bulbous shape of some of the latest rivals, but get inside and you will find out why it is the segment leader.
Lost the "plot"?
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So you think the problem is not with Toyota's products in Europe, other than the Auris? Is the problem then merely a cyclical, recessionary one?
I am curious to know what you think Toyota could do to incrementally improve its products. What should be done about the Auris, for instance? What would you like to see in the new Avensis?
