Fgts Posted June 23, 2015 Share Posted June 23, 2015 http://www.autoblog.com/2015/06/22/chevy-cruze-hatchback-us-report/ The US is finally getting the hb Cruze. GM heads admitted not offering a hb Cruze was a "mistake". A diesel hb Cruze could find some VW buyers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpd80 Posted June 23, 2015 Share Posted June 23, 2015 While the Cruze HB is incremental product, I doubt the diesel is a good idea given the sustained low sales of diesel Cruze sedans, I doubt the HB would do any better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akirby Posted June 23, 2015 Share Posted June 23, 2015 But a Wagon version with a diesel and a manual trans would sell BILLIONS! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anthony Posted June 23, 2015 Share Posted June 23, 2015 About time they offered the hatch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PREMiERdrum Posted June 23, 2015 Share Posted June 23, 2015 But a Wagon version with a diesel and a manual trans would sell BILLIONS! Cruze-V. Can't lose. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silvrsvt Posted June 23, 2015 Share Posted June 23, 2015 People buy diesel VW's because they are diesel VW's....sounds like the same reasoning why we got the ATS and lesser extent the CTS. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardJensen Posted June 23, 2015 Share Posted June 23, 2015 People buy diesel VW's because they are diesel VW's....sounds like the same reasoning why we got the ATS and lesser extent the CTS. You wonder if there are still people at GM who think: "The only reason why they're buying (X) from (Y) is because they can't buy an (X) from (Chevy/Cadillac)" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akirby Posted June 23, 2015 Share Posted June 23, 2015 You wonder if there are still people at GM who think: "The only reason why they're buying (X) from (Y) is because they can't buy an (X) from (Chevy/Cadillac)" I don't wonder at all. These are the same folks who don't think GMC buyers would buy a virtually identical truck with a Chevy badge. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fordmantpw Posted June 23, 2015 Share Posted June 23, 2015 I don't wonder at all. These are the same folks who don't think GMC buyers would buy a virtually identical truck with a Chevy badge. Oh, but Chevy is not 'Professional Grade!' Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PREMiERdrum Posted June 23, 2015 Share Posted June 23, 2015 Oh, but Chevy is not 'Professional Grade!' Those red letters stand for somethin'. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bzcat Posted June 24, 2015 Share Posted June 24, 2015 Cruze diesel was a calculated experiment with a decent amount of cynical post-bankcrupcy PR built in to show certain political establishments that GM is "trying". I very much doubt GM expected the car to be a retail success. The lack of Curze hatchback on the other hand is definitely a mistake. C-segment buyers are quite polarized these days, split evenly with younger Gen-Ys and babyboomers downsizing from larger cars. The younger buyers are more receptive to hatchback while the older buyers prefer sedans. Ford neatly caters to both groups and is able to make significant in roads with critical younger buyers that will become repeat Ford buyers. Chevy on the other hand, has failed to really move the needle with younger buyers with Cruze. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
630land Posted June 24, 2015 Share Posted June 24, 2015 I am glad to see the Cruze 5 door coming, and I agree that older boomers have memories from Pinto/Vega/Gremlin still etched in their brains, so they stick to trunkbacks or trucks. But, those who could not care less about ancient history and 'memories' want a versitle 5 door. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave-S Posted June 24, 2015 Share Posted June 24, 2015 I know you guys tend to criticize GM a lot and this thread is a good example of that. I tend to keep quiet about most of the criticism because as an enthusiast I like to buy cars that I want regardless of who makes them and regardless of what I think of that companies business plan and whether it is one of the best or one of the worst. I also don't work in the auto industry like some of you do but it seems to me that both Ford and Chrysler (FCA) need to look inward a lot right along with GM. I was actually somewhat astounded by the profit gap in comparison to Toyota. http://www.detroitnews.com/story/business/autos/2015/02/22/toyota-per-car-profits-beat-ford-gm-chrysler/23852189/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akirby Posted June 24, 2015 Share Posted June 24, 2015 Holy misleading chart Batman! Toyota's North America income was $4.7B on 2.7M units. Strong but not that strong. Comparing NA companies to Asian companies is apples to mandarin oranges. Call me back when Ford and GM are able to compete on even ground with Toyota in Japan and the rest of Asia. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave-S Posted June 24, 2015 Share Posted June 24, 2015 So normalizing all these companies for North American Markets only (aren't Ford Chrysler and GM's numbers worlwide?) what do the comparisons look like? I would do the math myself but I am not privy to that information. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpd80 Posted June 24, 2015 Share Posted June 24, 2015 Investments in China have to come from somewhere, don't believe the rhetoric that Chinese production self funds development there as all companies have a Chinese partner that takes basically half the profits made....they may as well be paying it straight to the Chinese government.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akirby Posted June 24, 2015 Share Posted June 24, 2015 Yes the others are worldwide but Toyota competes heavily in the Japanese and other Asian markets that are closed to Ford, FCA and GM. China is open now but that's a very recent development. Where they compete evenly (North America) there isn't that much difference. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardJensen Posted June 24, 2015 Share Posted June 24, 2015 (edited) both Ford and Chrysler (FCA) need to look inward a lot right along with GM. Ford does pretty good in years when they don't launch a brand new half-ton pickup truck losing tens of thousands of high profit volume while incurring over a billion in costs. Edited June 24, 2015 by RichardJensen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aneekr Posted June 25, 2015 Share Posted June 25, 2015 (edited) People buy diesel VW's because they are diesel VW's....sounds like the same reasoning why we got the ATS and lesser extent the CTS. Those people buy diesel VWs because they are diesel powered. It's just that until recently, VW was alone in the U.S. market in offering mainstream car models so equipped. A potential MQB Golf TDI customer, for instance, probably won't consider the gasoline or electric variant. ATS and CTS aren't offered with diesel engines. Chevy Cruze is the only U.S. market passenger car from GM available with a diesel. Edited June 25, 2015 by aneekr Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akirby Posted June 25, 2015 Share Posted June 25, 2015 A VW or Audi diesel buyer is a VW or Audi buyer first. Most would not buy a diesel from another mfr. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aneekr Posted June 26, 2015 Share Posted June 26, 2015 (edited) A VW or Audi diesel buyer is a VW or Audi buyer first. Most would not buy a diesel from another mfr. VW of America has garnered favorable owner loyalty rates with their diesel powered cars and SUVs, no doubt. But in meeting and speaking to members of various German marque car clubs (I'm a member of Mercedes-Benz Club of America, Indianapolis 500 section), I've found that many owners of diesel powered VW, Audi, Mercedes-Benz, and BMW are more loyal to diesel powertrains than they are to specific makes and/or models. For example, if Mercedes-Benz jettisoned its diesel car lineup in the U.S. market starting today, owners of older diesel MBs who are in the market for a new car won't bother looking at gasoline powered MB vehicles. They will migrate to another brand that offers diesel engines. It's the same deal with many HD pickup truck buyers, who embody an even stronger affinity for diesel engines. Edited June 26, 2015 by aneekr Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akirby Posted June 26, 2015 Share Posted June 26, 2015 Ok, but the point is those same buyers would most likely stay with their German brand even if Ford or GM offered a similar vehicle with a similar diesel powertrain. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bolt in blue Posted June 29, 2015 Share Posted June 29, 2015 I think Ford would be very competitive against German brands when it comes to diesels. Ford diesels are very popular in Germany and are very similar in design to similar cars from local brands. The Focus diesel I rented in Germany was night and day a better vehicle than Renault and VW models I was given in Europe at a similar rental price point. I understand Ford's business reasons for not bringing a diesel here, but I think if they did, they would give at least VW a run for their money. Probably not as much Audi and BMW unless the diesel also showed up in a Lincoln. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anthony Posted June 29, 2015 Share Posted June 29, 2015 (edited) Ok, but the point is those same buyers would most likely stay with their German brand even if Ford or GM offered a similar vehicle with a similar diesel powertrain. (Diesel aside) Especially since Mercedes just announced their RS rival (AWD 381 hp). Albeit, I'm sure they will be not in the same price league. http://www.topgear.com/uk/car-news/mercedes-benz-a-class-facelift-a45-amg-2015-06-27 Edited June 29, 2015 by Intrepidatious Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akirby Posted June 29, 2015 Share Posted June 29, 2015 I just don't see many Audi and VW diesel buyers switching brands no matter how good a Ford diesel turns out to be. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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