Reporting for day crew

"BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather" (bugeyedacura)
11/30/2013 at 13:33 • Filed to: None

http://heresthethingauto.blogspot.com/2013/11/produc…

DISCUSSION (6)

SonorousSpeedJoe > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather
11/30/2013 at 14:05

Good to see that you're blogging again!

I've actually been drafting a piece to post here about my ideas for Lincolns that could make the most of One Ford and still be good; a Falcon-based luxury midsize sedan is one of the ideas that's crossed my mind.

About that Monaro concept - as I noted in Jalopnik 's article , it was a Zeta-based V8 RWD coupe, and we did get it as the Camaro.

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BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather > SonorousSpeedJoe
11/30/2013 at 14:56

Thanks man!

For Lincoln I did a piece similar to the one you just mentioned. It's called Lincoln Parked. You might like it. I tried to do the brand justice.

And I know we got the Zeta as the Camaro, but I believe the Monaro/Commodore version is a bit longer. And that would lower production costs through economy of scales.

SonorousSpeedJoe > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather
11/30/2013 at 16:00

IIRC, the Camaro and G8/Commodore are based off of the SWB Zeta; the LWB version of the Zeta platform underpins the Holden Caprice/Chevy Caprice PPV and SS. Chevy would be selling two versions of the same car with a Monaro Coupe-based Monte Carlo.

BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather > SonorousSpeedJoe
11/30/2013 at 16:07

Yeah, but the next Camaro will be shrinking down to the Alpha platform. Sounds like that space will be opening soon. :)

SonorousSpeedJoe > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather
11/30/2013 at 16:35

That's true. I know the Camaro's going to be Alpha-based soon, but I was thinking in terms of the current Camaro. I have doubts, though; a Zeta-based Monte Carlo could be marketed as a Challenger competitor, but selling another car based on 'Murican V8 RWD goodness under the same brand would be a tough pitch to GM. While I think the SS is a good car, people draw enough price/size comparisons to the Impala that GM's playing it close to the vest with production and available options; I feel like people would look at a Monte Carlo and say, "I could get a faster Camaro for cheaper."

I also read that Lincoln piece you wrote; I have a similar idea with a Lincoln version of the Focus, but I'm focusing more on diversifying the lineup to compete with the CLA250 and CLA Shooting Brake. There's the CLA45 AMG, too, but that's too pricey and not what Lincoln needs to focus on right now.

BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather > SonorousSpeedJoe
12/01/2013 at 00:39

They could differentiate it by being more modern. The Camaro hocks itself on good old apple pie Murica. Pushrod V8, retro looks. To me, the new Monte would be about progress and grace. Base model be the TTV6, and the SS be the next gen, small displacement forced induction V8 out of the Z07. And then they could leave the Camaro as the throwback and the Monte as the flagship coupe.