Future Performance Levels for Compact Sports Sedans

Kinja'd!!! "Wobbles the Mind" (wobblesthemind)
04/23/2017 at 17:40 • Filed to: Branding

Kinja'd!!!0 Kinja'd!!! 14
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Back again with some speculations of US market performance levels, this time for premium compact sedans. A lot of branding needs but I think this segment is the future of consumer sportscars to be honest. Understand that I’m attempting to predict the future of a segment while using today’s terms and products. But the $100,000 compact supersports sedan isnt far away.

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Level 1 - Commodity Compact Sports Sedan

Benchmark: ($22,000, 140 hp)

[C100] - [310i] - [A4 1.5t] - [IS100] - [Q50 1.5t] - [ATS 1.4] - [XE 10t] - [Giulia 1.4t] - [G70 1.6t] - [S60 T3 base] - ILX 2.0L].

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Level 2 - Upmarket Compact Sports Sedan

Benchmark: ($27,000, 170 hp)

[C150] - [315i] - [A4 1.8t] - [IS150] - [Q50 1.5t Sport] - [ATS 2.5] - [XE 15t] - [Giulia 1.4t Sport] - [G70 1.6t Premium] - [S60 T3] - ILX 2.4 Base (ILX 1.5t base)

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Level 3 - Premium Compact Sports Sedans

Benchmark: ($32,000, 200 hp)

[C200] - 320i - A4 ultra 2.0t - [IS200] - Q50 2.0t - [ATS 2.5 Luxury] - [XE 20t] - [Giulia Base] - [G70 2.0t Base] - [S60 T4] - ILX 2.4 A-Spec ( ILX 1.5t A-Spec )

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Level 4 - Super Premium Compact Sports Sedans

Benchmark: ($38,000, 250 hp)

C300 - 330i - A4 2.0t - IS200t (IS250) - Q50 3.0t (Q50 2.0t Sport) - ATS 2.0t Luxury - XE 25t - Giulia Ti - [G70 2.0t Premium] - S60 T5 - [ILX V6]

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Level 5 - Luxury Compact Sports Sedans

Benchmark: ($43,000, 300 hp)

[C400] - [340i] - [A4 ultra 3.0t] - IS350 - Q50 3.0t - ATS 3.6 Luxury - XE 35t ( XE 30t ) - [Giulia Veloce] - [G70 Sport 2.0t] - S60 T6 R-Design - [ILX 2.0t Type-S]

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Level 6 - High Luxury Compact Sports Sedans

Benchmark: ($51,000, 350 hp)

AMG C43 - M340i - S4 - [IS350 F-Sport] - [Q50 Blue Sport] - ATS 3.6 Performance - XE 35t R-Sport - [Giulia Veloce Turismo] - [G70 3.3t] - S60 Polestar - [ILX 2.0t Type-R]

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**[MARKET GAP]**

[This is IMPORTANT]

Benchmark: ($57,000, 400 hp)

[AMG C55] - [M340i Competition] - [S4 plus] - [IS F-Sport] - Q50 Red Sport - [ATS V-Sport] - [XE S] - [Giulia Superveloce] - [G70 Sport 3.3t] - [S60 Polestar Plus] - [ILX V6 Sport Hybrid]

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Level 7 - Prestige Compact Sports Sedans

($63,000, 450 hp)

AMG C63 - M3 - (RS4) - [IS F] - [Q50 Grey Sport] - ATS V - [XE R] - [Giulia Stradale] - [G70 N] - [PS60] - [ILX V6 Sport Hybrid A-Spec]

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Level 8 - Prestige Plus Compact Sedans

($72,000, 500 hp)

AMG C63 S - M3 Competition - [RS4 performance] - [IS F/G] - [Q50 Black Sport] - [ATS V Carbon] - [XE SVR] - Giulia Quadrifoglio - [G70 N Track Edition] - [PS60 R-Design] - [ILX V6 Sport Hybrid Type-S]

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Level 9 - Exotic

($84,000, 550 hp)

( AMG C63 R ) - ( M3 CS ) - [RS performance plus] - [IS F/GZ] - [Q50 Aeroglaze Sport] - [ATS V-R] - [XE SVR-S] - [Giulia QV Corsa] - [G70 NV] - [PS60 R] - [ILX Sport Hybrid Type-R]

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Level 10 - Prestige Exotic

($99,000, 600 hp)

[AMG C63 Black Series] - ( M3 GTS ) - [RS4 R] - [IS F/GZ Nurburgring Edition] - [Q50 Vantablack Sport] - [ATS V-RS] - [XE SVR-S Track Edition] - [Giulia Quadrifoglio Trofeo] - [G70 NV-S] - [PS60 R Ragnarok Edition] - [ILX Sport Hybrid Type-R GT]

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Some current sports sedans are precisely on target in their market segment, while others are great values. Still, there are a few vehicles being offered right now that aren’t priced too high or not hitting the power target simply due to the market not being there to increase the volume and lower the pricing. Plus branding stumbling around in the dark right now because many underestimated how wide this compact sports sedan market will end up becoming by 2020.

That “Market Gap” is extremely important because that’s where brands such as Porsche, Maserati, and even Aston Martin would be able to enter this segment. It’s also where that AMG-developed sedan concept Mercedes was toying with as well as other purely performance-brand compact sedans can enter the market.

Like I said at the start, people are going to begin migrating to these compact sports sedans rather than the fixed-roof 2-doors. Don’t be surprised when you start seeing every automaker offer a “4-door Fastback” without any “2-door Coupes” coming down the line. That is unless they are going to offer a softtop convertible bodystyle. We’ll see where the US market goes.


DISCUSSION (14)


Kinja'd!!! 404 - User No Longer Available > Wobbles the Mind
04/23/2017 at 17:44

Kinja'd!!!0

...dafuq is a 310i?

You mean 316d and 318i right?


Kinja'd!!! Wobbles the Mind > 404 - User No Longer Available
04/23/2017 at 17:56

Kinja'd!!!0

Nope. This is a speculation post to show how far this segment can stretch. That Level 1 segment is a pretty decent case for cheap 3-cyl models that can crack 50 mpg highway and be optioned into a near-autonomous vehicle for around $30,000. May not happen, but I wanted to put it out there.


Kinja'd!!! 404 - User No Longer Available > Wobbles the Mind
04/23/2017 at 17:57

Kinja'd!!!1

Yeah, but the 318i is already the 3-cyl model.


Kinja'd!!! interstate366, now In The Industry > Wobbles the Mind
04/23/2017 at 18:10

Kinja'd!!!0

I’d rock an ILX SH Type R GT. Although I’d probably be the only one.


Kinja'd!!! Vicente Esteve > Wobbles the Mind
04/23/2017 at 18:29

Kinja'd!!!0

Is there a C63 R??


Kinja'd!!! DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time > interstate366, now In The Industry
04/23/2017 at 20:02

Kinja'd!!!0

The Integra will rise again!


Kinja'd!!! BahamaTodd > Wobbles the Mind
04/23/2017 at 21:03

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From the Cadillac side of things, the CT4 (sedan) and CT5 (coupe/convertible) are expected sometime in 2019 to replace the ATS. Unless Cadillac plans to reenter Europe at a significant volume at that time, I don’t see them offering much less than the 2.0T. The 2.5 has already been discontinued.

This is also because a smaller CT3 is expected next year to go up against the CLA, A3, and 1 & 2 series. It will be RWD so that’s definitely something to look forward too.


Kinja'd!!! ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > Wobbles the Mind
04/23/2017 at 21:04

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Lexus won’t sell a sub 30k car like an IS100. Nor will they make a full-on F version of the IS.

The 5.0L V8 won’t fit in the current IS engine bay and they are just now introducing a V6TT on the next LS.


Kinja'd!!! Wobbles the Mind > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable)
04/23/2017 at 21:12

Kinja'd!!!1

I’m not saying these are all coming, I’m just illustrating how wide the segment could theoretically go in the US by 2020 while using the models and tech we already have around.

It’s extremely confusing since it’s a mix of past, present, future, and speculation in order to show where all these cars are in the US premium market. I was hoping it would also show why some models are skipped or under/overperforming as well as some of the branding issues that are arising.


Kinja'd!!! awmaster10 > BahamaTodd
04/23/2017 at 22:20

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That ct3 will be the one to have, just like the m2 was. Give me that with the turbo 6 and a stick and ill be very happy.


Kinja'd!!! Forrest > Wobbles the Mind
04/24/2017 at 01:26

Kinja'd!!!1

This makes sense to me.

It would be so much easier if they would just include the horsepower in the model number. So, the 500hp cars would be C500, ILX500, ATS500, etc.

Also, I imagine that some of these cars will offer more ADAS and semi-autonomous functionality, which could be pricey if you want the maximum amount of automation. So, the C300 with conditionally autonomous driving could be the same price as a C500 with no options.


Kinja'd!!! BahamaTodd > awmaster10
04/24/2017 at 10:38

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Considering the next CLA AMG is going to have a 400+hp turbo 4 and the RS3 already has 400hp, Cadillac will most likely follow suit with their similarly powered turbo V6. Exciting times.


Kinja'd!!! awmaster10 > BahamaTodd
04/24/2017 at 11:24

Kinja'd!!!0

Slight weight reduction is just about the only thing id change about an ATS-V (Other than switch to a small block) so I love the idea of the ct3


Kinja'd!!! Flyboy is FAA certified insane > Wobbles the Mind
05/26/2017 at 09:54

Kinja'd!!!0

I would totally buy a Giulia with the 1.4t, 8speed auto or 6 speed manual