"Wobbles the Mind" (wobblesthemind)
07/26/2017 at 08:54 • Filed to: Speculations
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"Wobbles the Mind" (wobblesthemind)
07/26/2017 at 08:54 • Filed to: Speculations | 3
| 9 |
I speculated about an upcoming !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! segment coming very soon. As I’m glancing over GM’s FNR-X concept from this past April I realized that these Pony X cars would be great hybrid options too. It’s amazing how much these cars would connect the brand.
You gain entry level premium vehicles at a value within the regular brands. You could get an X3 sized vehicle with the same performance as the X3 for the price of the X1. Easy case to win, especially when you market a Camaro and a Corvette next to the Pony CUV versus any German luxury badge. They could even take over the market positioning fullsize sedans such as the Impala, Taurus, or Avalon hold since I can attest that a compact CUV can feel as premium and roomy inside as those large sedans.
They connect to the performance line up. Commodity crossovers are pretty boring and even a 350 hp Ford Escape or Chevy Equinox, while a fun thought, would be too much of a stretch for the nameplates. A performance focused vehicle priced at the top of the compact CUV range (but with less content and styling compromises than their popular siblings) would be a sweet way to connect the Equinox to the Camaro or Escape to the Mustang and Focus ST/RS.
They connect to the eco line up. Compact hybrid CUVs just aren’t sexy. The RAV4 hybrid is fine but that will never pair up marketing wise with a hybrid S-PR coupe. But a separate nameplate with a sporty focus would fill in that gap perfectly! A new 330 hp V6 hybrid CUV would look as good next to a Prius and RAV4 as it does by an 86 and larger sportscar. Hey, an all-electric Chevy Crossbow pony crossover would be ideal above the Chevy Bolt all while making that higher price tag seem like a bargain to every type of shopper.
All and all, the compact Pony Crossover could do all of the following:
Replace fullsize sedans.
Grab entry level premium buyers.
Connect CUVs to sport coupes and sportscars.
Connect hybrids and EVs to the performance lineup while justifying higher pricing.
Be an easy way to get people to accept AWD, hybrid/turbo-V6, premium, all-weather muscle cars.
Start around the current average transaction price of new cars ($35,000).
PROFITS!!!
A 450+ hp Mustang GT or Camaro SS for $40,000 makes people grown but a 350 hp Escape or Equinox for $40,000 would be the deal of the decade. Ford could be charging an MSRP of $45,000 by having the engine of Focus RS inside an Escape-sized vehicle and no one would complain over pricing.
The CUV profit plus the “sportscar” profit plus the premium profit could add up and surpass truck profits! All this while never stepping on any toes of the other members of the lineup. Gold mines don’t go as deep as this segment. You could run an entire brand on the synergy alone!
The segment makes so much sense that I’m surprised we haven’t heard rumors of anything coming yet. That said, I do think that the FNR-X concept presents exterior styling so perfect for production (though subcompact in actual size) that it must be a clue of things to come. Plus, I think that the front end is exactly what the Camaro needs.
I for one welcome the pony crossover. GM looks as if they could be first to the party and that segment starter must, absolutely MUST be named the Crossbow! It sounds cool, is a pun on Crossover and bowtie, plus it’s brought to you by the letter “C.” Corvette, Camaro, and Crossbow sounds like a great line up to me...too bad there isn’t a manual, V8 performance sedan in there.
random001
> Wobbles the Mind
07/26/2017 at 09:04 |
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I would drive something called a Crossbow. It would be awesome for road rage incidents.
TheRealBicycleBuck
> Wobbles the Mind
07/26/2017 at 09:06 |
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You are probably onto something here. I recall the surprise on my father-in-law’s face when he found out my wife’s SUV sports 300 hp. He was worried about it being able to pull a trailer. Hah! If it didn’t weigh 4,500 lbs, it might be somewhat sporty!
Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection
> Wobbles the Mind
07/26/2017 at 09:15 |
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Infiniti and its FX and QX70 were about 15 years before their time.
Jason Spears
> Wobbles the Mind
07/26/2017 at 09:18 |
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synergy
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Wobbles the Mind
> Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection
07/26/2017 at 09:22 |
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Big time! The FX50 is a forgotten monster. Ive been saying that Infiniti was a decade ahead 15 years ago. Everything we say about Caddy vs BMW was said about Infiniti vs BMW last decade. Most overlooked used cars on the market.
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Wobbles the Mind
> TheRealBicycleBuck
07/26/2017 at 09:42 |
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We are so desensitized to horsepower now that people see these 240 hp minimum luxury CUVs and assume they move like a CRV rather than a WRX. That Crosstrek WRX everyone wants is already sold under every luxury badge.
Carbon Fiber Sasquatch
> Wobbles the Mind
07/26/2017 at 09:47 |
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Yeah, the more I think about this hypothetical segment, the more I’m astonished that it doesn’t already exist. With the platform sharing alone, it makes it easier to develop the actual pony cars because crossovers sell like crazy.
Another thing to consider is the idea of a manly or butch crossover. Right now Jeep has that market all to themselves with their trailhawk models. Not every guy wants a large pickup truck but still want something cool that can haul the family.
Dollar for dollar, I’d buy a Crossbow over a Silverado or Colorado
Tapas
> Wobbles the Mind
07/26/2017 at 10:11 |
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I will be very disappointed if the Chevy Crossbow didn’t come standard with any crossbows.
Also, what will the full size SUV be called? The Chevy Bow?
xyzabc
> Wobbles the Mind
07/26/2017 at 13:04 |
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Can’t wait until the “transformer” design language has gone out of style. Too cartoonish and angry looking.