Pony car crossovers

"Carbon Fiber Sasquatch" (turbopumpkin) 07/05/2017 at 16:51 • Filed to: None

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I’ve had a few discussions lately about the concept of using the pony car platforms (Mustang and Camaro) to make crossovers to allow fun cars to become a bit more mainstream while pumping money into the development of the actual pony car.

While wondering if it would sell, I realized that this concept had already been executed and successfully.

Yes, built on the E90 platform, this was essentially a raised 3 series wagon with a available I6 good for 300 hp. They sold over 100k of these a year.

Can you imagine the Chevy or Ford version built off their respective pony car platform with a V8? The Alpha platform even already has AWD capabilities!  Why aren’t they building these!?

awmaster10 > Carbon Fiber Sasquatch 07/05/2017 at 16:55

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That would actually be sweet. Would much prefer wagons but this makes sense because theyd actually sell. I wonder what the hell the styling would be like though.

404 - User No Longer Available > Carbon Fiber Sasquatch 07/05/2017 at 16:59

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Isn’t that what the Stelvio and F-Pace are? They’re based on the Giulia and XE respectively.

Cadillac used to do that with the SRX, it was based on Sigma before it was moved to Theta Premium.

BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather > Carbon Fiber Sasquatch 07/05/2017 at 17:02

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BTW, the first gen X1 xDrive35i is everything you think it is. It’s awesome to drive.

Textured Soy Protein > Carbon Fiber Sasquatch 07/05/2017 at 17:04

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The X1 35i was so successful that for the next generation X1, BMW switched to a fwd platform shared with the Mini Countryman, and dropped the 6-cylinder option entirely.

My bird IS the word > Carbon Fiber Sasquatch 07/05/2017 at 17:04

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I am still waiting for crossovers to have their “aha!” moment. Is the jeep wrangler really the only fun utility vehicle they can make?

I have another burner, try to guess it! > awmaster10 07/05/2017 at 17:07

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They’d only be a set of lowering springs away from a wagon! They could even make it an option, like on the Camaro.

I don’t know why people don’t do it already.

nermal > Textured Soy Protein 07/05/2017 at 17:09

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Also, the manual transmission option in the X5 and X3 was so successful, they stopped offering it. Sold too many I guess.

Carbon Fiber Sasquatch > Textured Soy Protein 07/05/2017 at 17:11

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They were trying to streamline platforms with mini, and hit European fuel efficiency goals. Ford would be crazy to get rid of the Mustang but another product that shares the platform would definitely help the bottom line. What sells the best? Crossovers

Carbon Fiber Sasquatch > My bird IS the word 07/05/2017 at 17:13

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I still say that GMC should be exclusively a Jeep competitor. Gives GMC a reason to be and someone who wants a jeep capable vehicle doesn’t have to get a FCA vehicle.

Carbon Fiber Sasquatch > 404 - User No Longer Available 07/05/2017 at 17:14

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Basically, it seems like a no brainer

Textured Soy Protein > Carbon Fiber Sasquatch 07/05/2017 at 17:15

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The original X1 has a crappy small back seat which doesn’t fit so well with the crossover’s mission of being good at hauling people and things.

Believe me, on paper I totally agree with the concept being a good one, and I was seriously tempted to find an M Sport one, but ultimately if I’m going to drive a crossover-type vehicle I want to be able to fit comfortably in the back for when my wife and I take my mother-in-law out to dinner. She uses a walker and rides up front.

The X1 35i failed the sit-behind-myself test, so it remains good only on paper for me.

PS9 > Carbon Fiber Sasquatch 07/05/2017 at 17:19

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For the pony cars, a crossover isn’t necessary. The Mustang, Camaro and Challenger are the number 1, 2, and 3 best selling sporty coupes in the united states. They don’t need crossover versions to buoy sales. Another reason this is not needed is your average crossover buyer wants something large like an SUV that can sip gas like a compact. That’s the draw. Making one RWD and sticking a yuge V8 in there kinda ruins that.

This exists at the mid range and high end already. It’s not a V8 and noooo you can’t have a manual, but the Edge and Explorer will let you have twin turbos and something north of 300hp if you really want. Too many buyers will look at those trim levels and say ‘good enough’ to make a crossover mustang viable. There’s also the Cheyenne, Cajun, the AMG crossovers and Audi’s Q RS lineup for the scant few remaining who want more.

404 - User No Longer Available > Carbon Fiber Sasquatch 07/05/2017 at 18:07

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Well that plan didn’t work out too well for Hummer.

404 - User No Longer Available > Carbon Fiber Sasquatch 07/05/2017 at 18:08

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Ford would be crazy to get rid of the Mustang

Probe.

The Crazy Kanuck; RIP Oppositelock > Carbon Fiber Sasquatch 07/05/2017 at 18:10

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Infinity does that with 370z platform.

Carbon Fiber Sasquatch > 404 - User No Longer Available 07/05/2017 at 18:12

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Hummer was another GM brand spread too thin and probably should have been integrated into GMC from the beginning. Pontiac was in a similar situation, great concept but the brand was just one more hungry mouth for GM to feed

Carbon Fiber Sasquatch > 404 - User No Longer Available 07/05/2017 at 18:13

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True, but in the end they didn’t

Carbon Fiber Sasquatch > The Crazy Kanuck; RIP Oppositelock 07/05/2017 at 18:15

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Yeah, I just don’t understand why the American brands seem against it

Carbon Fiber Sasquatch > Textured Soy Protein 07/05/2017 at 18:22

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I’m just thinking of the guy or girl like myself that would love a Mustang or Camaro but needs four doors and occasionally needs to put the kid(s) in the back seat. If marketed as a sport crossover to go alongside the Camaro and Mustang, it might be a sales hit

Textured Soy Protein > Carbon Fiber Sasquatch 07/05/2017 at 18:28

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Even in that scenario, a lot of parents would be looking for a back seat where you can put child seats in there without much hassle. The original X1 back seat is small . It could work for the period of time between when the kids are out of car seats but before growth spurts, but that’s about it. Adults don’t fit back there unless the people in front are short.

Believe me, I’m all about vehicles that are genuinely practical and also fun. Crossovers are very useful and I’d drive a fun one. But the reality of crossovers is that people buy them because of practicality first and (maybe) fun second. Ford and GM already have crossovers in all sizes based on fwd architectures that are more practical, and even saving money while using an existing platform like a Mustang or Camaro to make a crossover wouldn’t necessarily mean that enough people would buy the thing for it to make sense.

jasmits > 404 - User No Longer Available 07/05/2017 at 19:06

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Hummer was barking up the right tree, they just made it way too obnoxious.

Jeep’s success comes from making a product that can sell to anyone from any social class. Both the Wrangler and the Grand Cherokee can be a fit with anyone from a redneck to a CEO. Hummer was only a fit with assholes.