Whats due out in 2001?

[ivo]

IMO,In terms of new Models,there were few highlights in 2000-Plenty of makeovers&facelits but a lack of new Models.

Audi made a light car and then charged a hefty price.
Alfa made another car for the smooth winding roads of Italy, while the new Mini was scoffed by the British.(this was always bound to happen when BMW held onto it!?)

Is there anything on the Horizon in 2001 to get excited about?...

Will SMART come to Ireland?...
Is there another VW Polo on the way?



[Edited by ivo on 18th December 2000 at 12:22]

[Anders]

Audi A4
BMW Compact
Merc Sports Coupe'
Ford Fiesta
Honda Civic
Jaguar X400
Lexus Coupe'
Lotus M250
Maybach
Mitsubishi Evo VII
Pug 307
Renault Avantime

[Junior]

The Nissan Z Car .. some more SUV's by both VW nd Porsche
emm thats all I know of ..

[ivo]

Would you lads agree that the Golbalisation of the car industry has meant a reduction in the number of new Models we are seeing from year to year?.
If would be almost impossible for a Fledgling company to bring a new car to the market in the family car sector - for instance.

[Junior]

Also with mass market platform sharing it is sooo much easier for "associations" to be built up which again closes up shop even further.

With Globalisation as well it's not as important where the car or model is launched once it is out there. For example the way that the manufacturers are now targetting certain shows in rotation, where in past years it was to have something for each show or some new devlopment.

The "small" <read new> manufacturer is normally restricted to niche markets such as sports cars etc. So I would agree that it would be virtually impossible for a fledgling company to start in the family market.

[Anders]

I read in Car that VAG are gonna stop their current platform sharing strategy as it inevitably means that people pick the cheaper product which has essentially the same components as the most expensive product, bar perhaps nice touch grab handles or solid sounding doors, both of which I can live without. They are instead moving to a different platform sharing strategy that escapes my memory, but is apparently more cost effective and allows them to limit certain technology to the more expensive brands and allows for greater handling differences between the different clones.

I'm not sure I agree with the assertion that there are less models coming out, at least not from each individual company. Better design and production processes allow for more component sharing which makes it cheaper to bring products to the market, particularly niche products. The Audi TT being an obvious example.

The car market is not all that global either. There's a whole bunch of cars that are unique to the individual markets in Europe, North America, and Japan.

[ivo]

I dont know if Globalisation was quite the phrase I was looking for.

I was referring to the way in companies have to form alliances to allow them to compete in a Global market.
Cross-platforming and sharing of development and design costs makes sense for these companies.However, in the long run it will limit choice and throw up such stange and frightening anomalies like "Ford Focus components turning up in the Aston Martin Vanquish".

I agree that there will always be European cars built for the European market and particuarly American cars built for the American market which size matters in the average US motorists eyes.

[ivo]

Anders,

I read a copy of CAR (jan 2001 issue) this morning and saw that article you were referring to on a change in platform strategy at VAG.

From what I can see , it is designed to take the VW and Audi even more up market without impacting costs. apparently, they are replacing their four basic platforms with 11 which more flexible e.g in terms of length and wheelbase.

I also read about the new A4. Any review of this car has been highly complimentary. The only criticism I have seen is that the looks havent changed much. I think the shapes borrowed from the A6 seem to suit the shorter A4 better.
If what were told is true, Handling and ride has been brought light years forward and will threaten the ultimate drving machines dominance in that regard.