It's crunch time in the auto industry, there's no doubt about that. The Detroit Free Press' Mark Phelan paints the picture in the simplest -- yet starkest -- terms possible when he lays out the seven models that can make or break the profits of the major automakers.
Chevrolet Silverado: Chevy's best-selling pick-up accounts for a HUGE amount of sales and market share for General Motors, and despite its class-leading fuel economy, gas prices and other factors are shifting buyers away from full-size pick-ups.
Toyota Tundra: This full-size pickup supplies jobs to thousands of people in Indiana and Texas, true, but its real significance is as a market share cannibal to the Dodge Ram, Ford F-150 and Chevrolet Silverado. The difference is that Toyota doesn't need the Tundra to make it, but the Big 3 need their trucks to do well in order to stabilize.
Ford Edge: It's one of just a few new Ford vehicles hitting the market this year, while other automakers like Toyota and Chrysler seem to have one vehicle after another hitting the streets and infiltrating consumers' consciousnesses. More importantly, the Edge's job is to pick up those customers leaving their Explorers and other larger trucks behind.
Honda Accord: With the new Camry out, it's easy to see that Honda must step it up with the Accord to keep its status as the better-designed, better-performing alternative to the Toyota Camry. The Koreans may not be hot on Honda's heels yet in terms of sales, but with the bold(er) design of the Camry and the less expensive Hyundai and Kia models to choose from, Honda has a tall order to fill with next year's Accord.
Nissan Altima: Nissan might have experienced a comeback thanks to risky design and impressive performance. The Altima? Not so much, at least as of late. Nissan's got a lot on its plate if it wants to put itself back on the import sedan map.
Chrysler Town and Country/Dodge Caravan: It survived the SUV craze, but can it survive crossovers? And more importantly, can it survive the import minivan craze? The Chrysler Town & Country is a pillar of strength for Chrysler, but it will be hard-pressed to stay there.
Buick Enclave/GMC Acadia/Saturn Outlook: They're GM's answer to the Honda Pilot, Toyota Highlander and Lexus RX330, and critics say they have the styling and fuel economy to be true contenders. Considering the importance of the segment, GM seems to be putting its best foot forward.
[Source: Detroit Free Press]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
dejal @ Sep 5th 2006 7:15AM
The Honda Accord. ...."next year's Accord". That's right, "NEXT YEAR". That's a 2008 model a year from now.
For the year:
http://www.vtec.net/news/news-item?news_item_id=607021
Accord sales are down around 8,000. Also, for the year, Accord Hybrids are down around 8,000 (the car now one asked for). Not too bad, with a 'old' model considering that the Sonata + Camry are new.
DarkKnight67 @ Sep 5th 2006 8:26AM
I wouldn't bet much on that new Tundra. From everything I've heard, it doesn't set any new standards for ride, hauling or style --- most especially! It's been delayed for unknown reasons, but most people believe it to be build problems.
Alec Munro @ Sep 5th 2006 8:37AM
Perhaps I am misinterpreting the time period, but the Altima, even about to be replaced as it, does very well, especially compared to the previous model. The Nissan comeback you mention is in fact entirely based on the current model Altima, which effectively lead Nissan's charge for marketshare.
That's not to say the next one doesn't look vastly improved, but the current one was a huge step for Nissan.
mr.ed @ Sep 5th 2006 8:59AM
Yo, Detroit- I ain't buyin' no more ugly rides with pushrod motors, four speed trannies or numb steering. Ain'tcher toolin' paid off yet? I mean, a V8 over 50 years old, a V6 only five years younger, another introduced in 1980. Ain'tcha gonna wake up afore your funeral? D'ya think we're stoopid? Why doya think ya hafta offer cheap financin' and big rebates on new models? Yer engineers are as good as any, right? I say drown the product planners and execs who approve stuff like the Malibu and badge switched Ford/Mercury/Lincoln Mazdas.
even keel @ Sep 5th 2006 9:06AM
DarkKnight
It sounds like wishful thinking on your part. I don't know where you get your info, but the New Tundra will be a huge step forward in the market for build quality and design. And it is right on the original schedule Toyota set for it. Sorry to break your bubble.
UGH! @ Sep 5th 2006 9:24AM
mr. ed, take your trash talk some where else. If you cannot speak English and spell it correctly, don't speak at all.
Drewboy @ Sep 5th 2006 9:49AM
I'm 25, and I consider that Buick picture to be very hot. It looks classy, and I don't see anything there to nitpick. I'd drive one!
Silver @ Sep 5th 2006 9:49AM
The Camry and Accord have had dowdy designs since day one - but the new Camry really is a looker (I credit the Mazda6 for starting the trend). Companies are finally realizing we may NEED family sedans, but we don't want them to LOOK like family sedans. Honda is going to have to be a little daring for once with their new Accord.
Buick Enclave/GMC Acadia/Saturn Outlook? Haven't we learned yet that rebadging really doesn't work??? Guess not.
Sebastian S. @ Sep 5th 2006 9:53AM
Yes, the Honda Accord is due to come out next year as an 2008 model. And they must produce a better car than the all new Camry and the new Altima that is being released this year. But if you consider the circumstances...the current Accord is still on par or even better than the current Camry/Sonata. So an all new Accord will have a better chance of annihilating the competition.
Tri-Bob @ Sep 5th 2006 10:25AM
Wow, I feel dumber just from reading mr.ed's comments. The buick looks really nice, I hope GM can apply that kind of style to more of their cars. It will be intersting to see if the Accord hybrid numbers change for August/September with the way gas prices have been fluxing. I know I saw 2.88 a gallon which is down from 3.14/gal 2 weeks ago.
XB Owner @ Sep 5th 2006 10:30AM
UGH,
Mr. Ed was just personifying the spoken verbiage of a typical blue oval buyer’s reprise to Ford’s product offerings. Really...he’s not really too off base with I his yokel riddled comment.
AnonymousInsights @ Sep 5th 2006 10:38AM
'And they must produce a better car than the all new Camry and the new Altima'
If people only knew, despite the lack of attention from the mainstream press, how poor the reliablility has been on the new Camry (see Edmunds 'Camry Woes' forums. They had serious problems with early Camry trannies and a host of other quality issues. And the Altima 4-banger....well, we all know that production was postponed to fix oil consumption and unknown 'fire' issues. I am sure Honda is readying a serious, serious party-crasher with the 08 Accord. If you view the Civics as indicators, Honda is going to take back some serious market share and take no prisoners. Toyota is selling but their issues are piling up. Nissan is doing all they can to hold off Hyundai/Kia who is readying their own product assault in North America.
Marc @ Sep 5th 2006 10:47AM
That Buick is Bangin'!
I'd take it over the Lexus anyday at any price.
Ryan @ Sep 5th 2006 11:01AM
I have to say I'm over my Mazda 3 fun to drive, but a 1988 Ford Escort with 300k miles has less rattles , now that I have had it almost 2 years the engine start to "ping" when going up hills on a hot day. I'm just over this car it truly is fun to drive, but other than that the quality is lacking, I reached this point over the weekend when we went camping and I purhcased a power inverter. I plugged it into the only 12v outlet in the mazda3 (on the dash). When I was finished using the power inverted I went to pull out the cord from the outlet, when then pull 1/2 the dash board out, then the ash tray got jammed somehow so I had to take even more of the dash board apart. I heard a loud plasticky "crack" from deep into the dash, hopefully everything is "ok".
So I can tell you if you want fun to drive but don't mind a "loud" freeway car with rattles (or risk it, mabye you wont) then get it, otherwise steer clear.
The moral of the story is, I think I might look at the new Ford Edge, or Saturn Outlook at least GM/Ford cars rattle on the outside where I can't hear them! :-)
Also, does anyone have any idea what the "domestic" Equivalent is to the Toyota Highlander? I like the "emergency" 3rd row seat, but at the same time it's not the size of a Tahoe.
Rob @ Sep 5th 2006 11:13AM
Ryan...
Weren't you the one saying how well-built Mazdas were? I'm a little confused now...
"..when Mazda markets on their website that the bumper panels are a constant 3mm apart from start to finish, it's like they were speaking directly to me!"
I hope your perfectly-put-together bumpers are a consolation for all that rattling/pinging.
cheezedog420 @ Sep 5th 2006 11:20AM
Ok, here is my predictions. The General Motors full sized truck and SUV serries will continue to loose some of its market share as people that don't need a full sized truck or SUV seek more fuel efficant alternatives.
The Toyota Tundra will bairly break even as the full sized SUV and Truck Craze is over. Any Buyers of this Beast from the east will not be traditional Full sized truck owners but younger buyers who happily enjoyed Toyota products in the past.
The Ford Edge will bairly break even in sales. It will definetly grab it's target audiance of customers leaving their Explorers and other larger trucks behind. But it will also grab a segnificate share of famialys trading in there boring Minivans for a styalish step down.
Honda's Accord when it finaly steps out from behind the curtain will either be ugly as sin, or a slight inprovement on the current design. Im betting on slight improvement. Either way, Loyal honda owners will line up, and trade up in the usual Zeliot fasion.
The Nissan Altima future is vary unclear to me... It really depends on what the model looks like with this one since Nissan is a middle of the pack brand.
Chrysler and Dodge minivan are going to have a decent first year, but after that, the sliding backwards will continue for anouther year. People just don't have the big famialys that these things where built to ferry around anymore... And if you just driving people for show, you buy something more styalish.
Buick Enclave/GMC Acadia/Saturn Outlook: I really think the the Buick and Saturn vertion of this Crossover will do well. I think I even saw a Outlook driving around Madison WI in the last week. They are bigger then the compation from the look of things, but they also have a bit of styal.
Again, the thing that will make all the diffrence here, is people want out of the minivan segment. They never need that third row seat.. They don't like the fuctional look of minivans.. And as great as minivans can be for gas mileage, its still not enough. But they still need 7/8 of the room a minivan can provide. Hence why cross overs will do well enough. They provide almost as much room, they are more styalish, and they get a little bit better gas milage.
cheezedog420 @ Sep 5th 2006 11:23AM
Opps... excuse my dislexic ways.... Should read...
The Ford Edge will break even in sales this year. It will definetly grab it's target audiance of customers leaving their Explorers and other larger trucks behind. But it will also grab a segnificate share of famialys trading in there boring Minivans for a styalish step down.
The reason for that is the same as the Buick Enclave and the Saturn Outlook. Its a crossover, and people definetly want to cross over to something with better fuel economy.
G. Snyder @ Sep 5th 2006 11:29AM
Ryan no do English good.
Ryan @ Sep 5th 2006 11:39AM
""..when Mazda markets on their website that the bumper panels are a constant 3mm apart from start to finish, it's like they were speaking directly to me!"
I hope your perfectly-put-together bumpers are a consolation for all that rattling/pinging.
Posted at 11:13AM on Sep 5th 2006 by Rob 0 stars"
Ron,
What do you want me to say and I will say it.
Please note: That is why I'm wanting to get rid of it, you can look back in previous posts my car was rear-ended on the freeway BADLY and the car has rattled ever since.
I was going to get a pre-owned BMW 5 series, but my other half thought the rear end was horrible looking. And after looking at it for a while I decided it was also.
I'm paying cash for the car (just as I did the Mazda) and have up to 40k to spend plus whatever a 2004 Mazda 3 "s" with 8,500 miles on it will fetch. That's why I thought the Outlook or Edge might be nice, as I will not touch the 40k mark.
Ron, I think you are just not as picky as I am, ergo you like your Honda CR-V
Ryan @ Sep 5th 2006 11:44AM
"18. Ryan no do English good."
-Yeah I posted that post then realized that it made no sense. But it's Autoblog, not exactly a career breaker.