Filed under: Car Buying, Detroit Auto Show, Time Warp, Trends
Macleans 2006 Top Ten picks
Canadian Maclean magazine has lists its ten vehicles that will have an impact
this year, some of which are surprising.
The ten vehicles include:
TOYOTA
CAMRY
Already the bestselling car in the U.S., the updated Camry, now available in a hybrid model,
seems destined for further dominance.
SATURN VUE
The new VUE should give GM
the all-important stamp of environmental approval on a family SUV.
GEELY CD
Big Three auto workers on both sides of the border -- are you listening Buzz Hargrove? -- should be very
worried about this made-in-China entry.
CHEVROLET CAMARO (Pictured)
Nostalgia sells.
FORD EDGE
The Edge targets the growing
crossover segment that promises the best of a car and an SUV in one package.
DODGE
CALIBER
It's proof DaimlerChrysler can play with the Japanese in the small car
market.
TOYOTA TUNDRA
The new Tundra boasts the huge engine, towing
capacity and sleek looks that good old boys crave.
CADILLAC ESCALADE
For those who value luxury over subtlety.
CHEVROLET TAHOE
There's a
huge amount riding on this totally redesigned model.
HONDA FIT
Who
says you need a hybrid engine for fuel efficiency?
(Thanks, Binford!)
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Misty 7:47PM (2/28/2006)
Hello? The Escalade having an impact this year? TAHOE...The shitbox Geely? And now VUE is suddenly going to become significant?
This magazine needs an automotive writer. Picking the Camry is really going out on a limb. Do these folks know that Nissan is unveiling a new Altima later this year that is 3 times better looking? Camry's sales were flat last year - the aging Altimas were up sharply. While the Edge and the Caliber should no doubt have a real impact, where are Mazda and Hyundai in this picture? Lexus, BMW?
C'mon - this list is a joke.
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Joel 8:18PM (2/28/2006)
I guess it depends on how you look at "impact." The Tahoe and Escalade could certainly have an impact on the future of GM. If buyers continue to move away from the big SUVs, the Tahoe and Escalade not selling well could further cripple GM's finances. And whether you think the Geely is a "shitbox" or not, Chinese cars maunfacturers are clearly ones to watch. And Mazda and Hyundai? What products coming from either of them would have an impact on the market as a whole? With that in mind, I'm not sure that the selection of this top 10 list is completely out of line.
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Lurk 10:26PM (2/28/2006)
Doesn't saying that a vehicle has an "impact" generally imply that it shifts the market as a whole around?
Really, the only cars that could do that are the Fit (and the Yaris, which didn't make the list) and the Geely model. The Fit and the Yaris deserve to be there because if subcompacts sell big it will make everyone re-evaluate their lineups. The Geely has huge potential to shift the market because its Chinese, and if they can make a decent car at typical Chinese prices then anyone in the econobox market is in trouble.
All the other vehicles listed already exist in the US market in some form or another, and newer models are unlikely going to cause any sort of "impact."
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Brocktoon 10:42PM (2/28/2006)
I kinda agree with the list. Don't forget it's a Cnadian Magazine, and we have a far differnt automotive landscape here. No Yaris? it's old news here, we had the previous generation as well. Camry? never as big of a seller up here, what are we missing?
The Vue is somewhat questionable in impact, but who knows?
As for Lexus an BMW, I don't see any major innovations or market repositionig there that will make any impact on the dismal 1-2% luxury brands make as a percentage of sales up here, sorry.
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narsy 11:57PM (2/28/2006)
Honest, I don't like the pics from the link from the picture that is up.
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Gunnar Heinrich 1:07AM (3/01/2006)
Where's Honda's trusty Accord on the list? And the Geely CD? This will be interesting... The tables are turning all 'round.
http://www.automobilesdeluxe.blogspot.com
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Matt Keegan 8:39AM (3/01/2006)
The Canadian market isn't all that different from the U.S. They jumped the gun regarding the Chinese cars as both Geely and Chery are not able to pass stringent emissions and crash tests:
http://thearticlewriter.com/autowriter/chinese-cars-delayed/
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tony belligerent 9:12AM (3/01/2006)
Camaro?
In what way can the Camaro CONCEPT make an impact in 2006? "Nostalgia sells", states the article.
Sells what? Impalas? Give me a break. If the average dunce who doesn't understand that the Camaro is a concept and won't be out til -- perhaps -- the start of the next DECADE walks into a dealership hoping to buy it, and is instead offered a boring FWD box full of 90s engineering like the Impala, he'll walk across the street to the Dodge dealership where he can actually BUY some modern muscle.
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max 10:39AM (3/01/2006)
"the start of the next DECADE walks into a dealership hoping to buy it, and is instead offered a boring FWD box full of 90s engineering like the Impala, he'll walk across the street to the Dodge dealership where he can actually BUY some modern muscle"
You mean he's going to be a used Impala right?!?
Because the new one doesn't have 90's tech.
Someone's more likely to buy the Impala if he wants the same performance with better mileage, lower purchase price, better interior room and most importantly rock solid construction from the Oshawa plant. GM cars are better built then Daimler Chrysler cars according to JD Power and Consumer Reports.
As for the Camaro-great design, but we really have no clue when it's getting here.
The Fit is neat-but isn't the Yaris, Aveo and about a dozen other TDIs getting comparable mileage?!?
I think this article is an example of why Maclean's ISN'T a car magazine.
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Realist 11:45AM (3/01/2006)
I just noticed that not one single European car made the list.
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Source1 11:46AM (3/01/2006)
They jumped the gun regarding the Chinese cars as both Geely and Chery are not able to pass stringent emissions and crash tests:
You right but they more than 'jumped the gun'. How many people believe that the Chinese bought a place on this list since noone at McCleans (probably) drove this car and we know the Chinese will do anything (including run over people in public with tanks) to get what they want. I don't care what anyone writes or says, the Chinese have a huge uphill climb to get into the North American market. It's not as easy as putting a sub $10k car up for sale and then watching them fly off the needed 500+ dealership lots.
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Adrian 5:44PM (3/01/2006)
The Dodge Caliber shows DC can "play with the imports" ... yeah -- that's what they said about hte Neon. Boy were they wrong.
The Caliber _might_ be good (I haven't seen one) -- but it sounds like the same song and dance the auto journalists do every time.
The LH platform cars also come to mind -- lots of promise, but ultimatly cr#@.
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Philip Capeheart 1:07PM (3/07/2006)
I think the Vue will be a real test for the US market, until now consumers had to make a signifigant additional investment to own a hybrid. The greenline Vue takes advantage of much simpler technology that upon early reports outperforms similar hybrid powerplants and the efficency gains are still competitive. Saturn stills has the name recognition for quality and service that gives them the chance to pull it off, 75% of Saturn owners report they would not have considered purchasing another domestic, thus all the GM investment
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Dave 12:03PM (3/10/2006)
Be careful knocking Geely. Their stock is up around 100% from where it started this year. Still a penny stock to be sure, but I wouldn't bet against it continuing to go up until their North America/international debut. At least if you are going to call it crap, be smart enough to own the stock anyway. Hey Toyota started somewhere too.
GELYF is the symbol. (Of course, you should do your homework before buying stocks and stuff and don't remortgage your house for any stock. You know.)
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Paul 12:32AM (3/24/2006)
Hi guys, I know Geely's stock symbol is GELYF.PK but what stock exchange is that on, anyone know? Also, does anyone know the stock symbol for Chery (the Chinese car that is entering the North American market in summer of 2007)Automotive, and what stock market it might be on? Please and Thanks in advance! :)
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WAYNE HERR 2:06AM (3/30/2006)
WOULD LIKE DETAILED INFORMATION AND PICTURES OF THE NEW DODGE CHALLENGER CONCEPT CAR. CAN YOU HELP?
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Jason H 7:38PM (6/19/2006)
GELYF.PK is not on any major exchange (hence the period in the symbol). It's on the "Pink Sheets". If you've never heard of OTC stocks or the "Pink Sheets", I would consider that a strong indication that you should stay away for now (until you do some more research). That being said, this looks like a great investment opportunity, and I've already picked up 200,000 shares.
The "Pink Sheets" is an electronic quotation system that displays quotes from broker dealers for many over-the-counter (OTC) securities. "Market makers" and other brokers who buy and sell OTC securities, can use the Pink Sheets to publish their bid and ask quotation prices. The name "Pink Sheets" comes from the color of paper they were historically printed on. They are published today by Pink Sheets LLC, a privately owned company. Pink Sheets LLC is not registered with the SEC in any way and it is not an NASD Broker-Dealer.
The Pink Sheets does not require companies whose securities are quoted upon its systems to meet any listing requirements. With the exception of a few foreign issuers, the companies quoted in the Pink Sheets tend to be closely held, extremely small and/or thinly traded. Most do not meet the minimum listing requirements for trading on a national securities exchange, such as the New York Stock Exchange or the Nasdaq Stock Market. Many of these companies do not file periodic reports or audited financial statements with the SEC, making it very difficult for investors to find reliable, unbiased information about those companies. For all of these reasons, companies quoted in the Pink Sheets can be among the most risky investments. That's why you should take extra care to thoroughly research any company quoted exclusively in the Pink Sheets. Be aware that some broker-dealers are required by Rule 15c2-11 under the 1934 Act to have some information about the issuer. Ask your broker-dealer whether it has any Rule 15c2-11 information before you invest.
-- http://www.sec.gov/answers/pink.htm
Cheers,
Jason
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