Filed under: Audi, Chevrolet, Dodge, Ford, Honda, Lincoln, Mazda, Toyota
Freep names 10 cars that will redefine the industry... like the Camaro
The Detroit Free Press laid out ten industry-redefining cars, and we're, well, a little perplexed. This is the definition, in the paper's own words: "a handful of new vehicles that debut over the next 12 months may shape the future of automakers around the world. They come in all shapes and sizes. Some break new ground for their manufacturers. Others aim to reassert companies' dominance in market segments they created."
We don't believe they are ranked in any order, but first up is the Audi A4, with a "beautifully balanced chassis" and bargain price that could put the shakes into everyone from BMW to Acura. The Chevy Traverse might outsell the GMC Acadia, Saturn Outlook, and Buick Enclave combined. The new Dodge Ram will be ultra smooth, the new Ford F-150 will be more frugal. And so on...
While all of these are worthy accomplishments, none of them -- not even the 2010 Prius nor the 2010 Lincoln MKT -- appears to have any claim to redefining the industry. But follow the link and see for yourself. Maybe we missed something.
[Source: Detroit Free Press via Chevy Traverse Forum]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
0mega 9:11AM (9/13/2008)
The only thing the camaro is going to redefine is how much industry hype we'll believe before hand. It's a beautiful car, too bad it's only good at being beautiful.
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AngeloD 10:41AM (9/13/2008)
And you know this based on...what now?
Your experience with the new Camaro is zilch.
On paper, and according to the limited number of tests published, the new Camaro has class leading performance in nearly all respects.
CarlosMC 6:06PM (9/13/2008)
"10 vehicles that will redefine the auto industry IN THE NEXT YEAR" is the original article's title.
Thanks Autoblog, for omiting that from us...
With that, right or wrong, opinions exist so that they can be aired...
CarlosMC 2:28PM (9/14/2008)
Let me warn you about Brad's link:
Chrome says it contains malware from metavideotube.com (activex codec to watch youtube video? Please...).
Richard 9:38AM (9/13/2008)
There was an article in the WSJ this week about the models GM can't move off of lots. The G8 was the "poster child" of the group. The Camaro will join it.
This list is idiotic: over-titled and totally under delivered.
Hey Detroit Free Press, is it dark with your head up there? Do you see Chris Mathews or anyone else from MSNBC?
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Matty 9:47AM (9/13/2008)
I read the WSJ article. I was soooo right about the G8. Look at my comments history and tremble!
On another note, A4 FTW.
Bob-omb 10:16AM (9/13/2008)
From the G8 to Chris Matthews. Was that trying to be clever or something?
And yes, the Mazda6 isn't going to redefine anything. What a pointless list.
Richard 10:28AM (9/13/2008)
No, Bob, It was a generalization about the media. You know, this was a post about what the Detroit Free Press wrote.
Pokey 1:45PM (9/13/2008)
Things must be different here in Indiana (we Hoosiers are kinda backwards I guess). I have been trying to test-drive a G8 for the past couple of months, but all of the Pontiac dealerships in my area do not have any, they cannot keep them on the lots. I also see ALOT of them on the roads around here.
Like I said, could just be a Hoosier thing. Around my area, GM cars are pretty much all you see, and Japanese nameplates are rare.
mr.ed 3:23PM (9/13/2008)
It's a dying paper in a dying town, where everybody holds on to a dying dream of industrial resurrection. You will not read many derogatory or realistic articles about the local product, thus the story here. The Dee-troit area's one of the best to beat up an import dealer for a vehicle. I even got hassled for driving a locally (Flat Rock, on I-75) made Mazda6. My son got a deal on the new Audi TT roadster, when everybody else was paying sticker plus.
BOB 3:52AM (9/14/2008)
LUNKHEADED -- the Camaro will sell, but not as well as if they had used a crystal ball and made it smaller.
Performance cars need a "name" -- this G8 might sell as well as the prior G8s (ooops, there weren't any)
Does anyone who went on and on and on about the G8, while I was writing that it was ordinary, want to reconsider?
tekdemon 5:40AM (9/14/2008)
I definitely agree about the G8 getting way too much hype before it's release. After hearing all that hype I went and took a look at the car at an auto-show and just couldn't see this thing stealing market share from anyone. It might have a ton of horsepower but the exterior was so horribly dull and generic Pontiac that it was doomed (seriously, when the G6 looks so nice it just makes the G8 look that much worse in the showroom). I'm sure the timing of a high horsepower V8 car with the spike in gas really put the death knell on it.
Anyways, I think the Camaro won't be another G8. For one thing, it actually looks good, and people buying sports cars (or at least want to look like they own a sports car) care a lot more about styling than your average family sedan buyer. Plus GM will actually offer engines other than a V8, so the fuel economy thing isn't going to slaughter it like the G8. I'm not saying the new Camaro is going to outsell the Camry or anything, but I think it'll actually do fairly well in the market.
That said, I have no f'ing idea what GM was thinking when they introduced the G3. Why the f*ck they thought it would be a genius idea to introduced a rebadged Aveo to a brand they've spent billions trying to return a performance image to is beyond me. Not to mention the retarded waste of money in advertising both the Aveo and the G3 (plus, the sheer idiocy of trying to confuse your customers even further). What Pontiac really needs is a turbo-4 G6 based sportwagon that'll get good mileage and be able to transport a bit more stuff than the sedan. You know, like a car people would actually friggin buy. Especially since there's no longer a wagon in your domestic lineup since the demise of the old Malibu Maxx. But no, we have to have more rebadges of your crossover, right? I mean, clearly people don't have enough choice with only the Acadia and Enclave and Outlook to choose from. Whatever would people buy if you didn't introduce a Traverse? I don't know what drugs Motor Trend was on when they decided that the Traverse would "redefine" the industry, unless they meant that it would redefine the limits of how many times a car company can manage to rebadge the exact same vehicle and have it compete against itself while wasting untold advertising dollars. The worst part is that only the Enclave even has the slightest chance of competing for different customers, seeing as how the other 3 are all family/economy oriented CUVs, which means people are just going to choose between them based on how close their nearest dealership is or what car they happen to own right now.
Seriously, how the hell are Wagoner and Lutz still running this company...they seem hell-bent on imploding GM. And no, betting all your chips on the Volt is not a sound strategy guys. Even if it miraculously managed to sell in Prius volumes (something hard to imagine considering it's rumored price tag) it wouldn't be enough to save GM. And the Camaro isn't enough to save your butts either.
tekdemon 5:56AM (9/14/2008)
You know, after typing up my previous post I've come to realize just how much GM really needs top notch new management and an obsessively dedicated head engineer (someone like Soichiro Honda who loved performance but could easily design small, fuel-efficient cars that would sell in world beater volume). Because quite frankly the current leaders at GM just aren't good enough to save GM. Don't get me wrong, the current engineering is a lot better than it used to be and I'm sure they work very hard, but it's just not the insane sort of leap that they need to make to save themselves.
spw 9:49AM (9/13/2008)
How is Prius not redefining the industry? Next year Toyota will start producing 1,000,000 hybrids per year. Thats not industry redefining? :-).
p.s. they are ranked in Alphabetical order, quite obvious.
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Red 10:31AM (9/13/2008)
I predict there will be a debut in the next 6 months that could very possibly leapfrog not only the next gen. Prius, but also any next gen. EVs. I dunno if you'd call it "revolutionary" or "industry redefining", but it could be interesting, nonetheless.
First glimpse comes in November. ;)
The Luigiian 8:08PM (9/13/2008)
@Red:
Toyota A-BAT?
Eddie 9:54AM (9/13/2008)
I really like the new A4 (especially the S-Line), the Mazda 6 is very nice too.
Is it me, or does the Venza look like a lot like the Enclave?
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Torrent 12:57PM (9/13/2008)
I think it looks a lot like the Edge: same headlights, 3 bar grille, same basic shape....
I agree. The A4 looks like a finely creased suit.
Rboyett 10:02AM (9/13/2008)
Calling the 300hp V6 Camaro (a car that weighs 300lbs more than a Mustang) a "true sports car" shows that the author is a moron.
The entire article reads like an april fools joke. They don't even bother mentioning the Chevy Volt which MIGHT be an actual game changer in the Hybrid wars.
The cars on this list may end up being good (or even great) sellers but selling a lot of cars doesn't equate to changing an industry. The article is like the last episode of Seinfeld. A lot of hype with a big bucket of nuthin'
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Flashpoint 10:05AM (9/13/2008)
Industry redefining?
How about the S-class which is basically a test bed for the future of all automobiles.
How about the Prius which proved that an ultra-econo car could be successful and trendy
Lincoln Town Car - provided an unmatched fleet car (not even the S-class can match its reliability)
Ford Explorer which basically defined the SUV in America and was copied worldwide.
How about the Navigator which began a trend in automotives where trucks could be luxurious?
HUMMER H2. Officialy killed the large, underperforming SUV market.
The Chevy Volt is going to officialy begin the trend of plug-in consumer cars in America (the Tesla is a novelty sports car)
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