Motortrend.com and other sites have started to update their sites on the showings at TMS2003. Here's some thoughts on the cars being shown.

Ford Fiesta: Why can't the US market ever get a break from Ford, who refuses to bring their highly tauted euro models across the pond?

Alfa 8C: Does Alfa Romero always steal the show with jaw dropping designs?

Honda HSC/NSX: The NSX look is kept intact (we had talked about it in another thread), and the power seems to be fair... but a wait till 2006/7?!

Lexus LF-S/LF-X: Hopefully, these are just concept themes and won't be translated directly into their designs. The sedan looks fair and so does the SUV, but is it just me or do they look like the Mazda6 and the FX, respectively.

Mazda Ibuki: Looks neat. Plus the technology in the electronic assist seems to be in the future of every Japanese manufacturer.

Mitsu Se-Ro: How neat does this thing look? I would love to see something that looks like that on the road.

Nissan C-Note: Does Renault intend to turn Nissan into Renault? Everyone of their new models are looking more and more Franchie.

Infiniti M45/Fuga: We debated the look, but the technology in the car might make it a standout. AWD, VDC, brake assist, ACC, Super HICAS(rear wheel steering) and a true V8. And if the rumor holds true, then this might become their flagship sedan. A Skyline in 2007 as an Infiniti? The wait time is lengthy, but it would be worth the wait to see the most prestigious car in Japanese autos.

Suzuki S2: Wow, a great looking car from Suzuki? Who knew? If it goes into production, it would have to fight with other cuties though (new beatle, mini cooper).

Toyota SU-HV1: How impressive is the power and tech in this thing? To truely achieve V8 power via electro assist, Toyota has once again raised the bar.

That's my rant, now let's start arguing with each other...

Junkster, who is disappointed with 'no RL' in the show.

 

Actually, they have tried that over and over again. Most recently, Ford marketed a car in the USA based on the European Ford Mondeo. I forgot the name already, Ford Contour??

As I recall, it got respectable reviews, but it didn't sell for any number of reasons.

The Ford Fiesta was available here for a while, but it became an orphan. Or was that when Ford switched to the more cheaply produced Korean-sourced Kia-made Aspire, which aspired to be recognized as a car?

And remember the Ford/Mercury Capri of the Seventies? After a run, it became orphaned here.

Orphans often have poor resale value, poor support for parts down the road, etc.

And in the Fifties and Sixties there were a few other models that Ford imported, but became orphans in short order. This was before my time, but the Anglia was here (aka Harry Potter car) and maybe the Ford Prefect/Perfect.

Ford's reputation from importing short-term models and designs from Europe is haphazard at best, regardless of the car's merits.

If Acura/Honda want to establish confidence in their model line-up, they will not add and drop car lines every few years. They have established the Accord and Civic as long-term "legendary" model lines, but they have waffled all over the place with the purely marketing enigma called Acura by renaming good model line names to hard-to-remember initialisms, which people can only guess what they mean. Hah, some people think that the Legend doesn't exist anymore! Is that clever marketing or dumbfoolery?

 

They did well by bringing the Focus over from Europe.

Which begs the question: Ford has had pretty good success in the European market compared to other non-european makers. The Mondeo is still a respected model there, the new Fiesta is a hit as well as the Ka, and the Focus is selling in good volume. CAR magazine from England says pretty nice things about the cars, which is a great sign since they are usually super critical about everything. So why can't they get it right in the US?

Junkster, who really can't find a Ford he would actually like to drive.

 

Ah, yes. The Focus might have a chance for some degree for a lifespan here. But it's also made here, in US, Mexico, or Canada. I think it's been here for at least 3 or 4 years. Ford tends to keep producing their same style econo-box cars for 8-12 years, such as what they have done with the Escort. I don't think that the Focus will be a European or Asian orphan, per se.

This notion of so-called "American tastes" seems to behoove some manufacturers who bring in cars from Europe, but on the other hand, European-style cars serve other manufacturers who import European-style cars extremely well. How can Ford argue that the European tastes for the Mondeo do not suit American tastes just because the Mondeo-derived Contour didn't sell well? And yet, look at all the European marquees that are doing OK--Volvo, BMW, SAAB, Mercedes, Audi, etc. Their suspensions might be tuned to be a bit softer for so-called American tastes, but by and large the cars are European cars, European designs, European engineering, etc.

 

Junkster,
I agree with most everything you said but the above. I like both the Lexus show cars, especially the sedan. Personally, I don't think the sedan looks much like a Mazda 6 but I wouldn't be concerned if it did (a little). And the LF-X looks much better than the FX to these eyes, though it has some similar questionable touches (D pillar wider at the top than bottom, for example, a little retro but the new RX has the same thing). There are lots of cars on the market that share similarities or styling cues. The Altima and Passat are prime examples. And there are plenty of others. "Different" does not always equate to "good."
We're fortunate virtually everyone imitated the curvy, breakthrough Cisitalia 202 that came out in the late 1940's. As a result, there were lots of progressively prettier cars for the next 25 years or so.

 

Ooh, don't forget about the Jaguar E Type either. The curves on that baby influenced generations of designers, including a near copy made of it by Datsun/Nissan (The Fairlady/240ZX).
And the Cisitalia 202 GT, man you know your cars, man. That's another Pinin design (Pininfarina for all those who might not know). You also can't forget the Alfa Guilietta, which I still think is one of the top ten most beautiful convertibles in the world.

To go totally off the subject, we can't talk about the influence on car design without mentioning Giorgio Giugiaro. Pinin designed cars of dreams, but Giorgio actually made production ready cars, with functionality and beauty. Just think of cars such as the VW Rabbit,VW Passat, VW Scirocco, VW Polo, Lotus Esprit, Fiat Panda (not pretty, but practical),Hyundai Pony(not pretty, again, but totally opened up the Korean auto market), nameless amounts of Alfas, the DeLorean, Guilia GT, BMW M8, Audi 80, Subaru SVX, Lexus GS300, and even had influence on a Daewoo Laganza.
This guy single-handedly wrote the history of car design from the 60's on, going through 2 design houses before Italdesign (2 being Bertone, famous as hell, and Ghia, you know Karmann Ghia).

Damn, MDXman, you and I need to talk about cars. To know the Cisitalia means you really know cars. I guess I'll let you slide for liking the Lexus concept designs... jk.

Junkster, who thinks maybe Honda/Acura would let one of the Italian studios do a design.

 

why did GM continue to sell a 10-15 yr old sunbird/sunfire here when the Euros has some really nice Opels?

 

Opel is nice!? are you kidding me? Opels are rejects in Europe that only stay aflout because of their parent company.

The only standout car in their lineup is the Speedster and the Vauxhaul VX220 looks better.

Junkster, who liked the design of the Opel Speedster, but would never own one since there's the Vauxhaul VX220.