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Land Rover Isn't A Planning Model To Slot Above the Range Rover
William Maley posted an article in Land Rover
Range Rover sits as Land Rover's crown jewel by providing the ability to go anywhere with a number of luxury amenities. But would Land Rover consider adding a model to sit above the Range Rover to take on the likes of the Bentley Bentayga and Rolls' upcoming SUV? "It would strategically be the wrong thing," said Joe Eberhardt, CEO of Jaguar Land Rover North America. "That car defines the Land Rover brand and the Range Rover family; it is really the epitome of that line, and to dethrone that would not be the right move." Eberhardt explained that by adding a new model to sit above the Range Rover would only hurt the equity in the name. He used the example of Mercedes' Maybach debacle from the previous decade. "That never worked for a whole number of reasons, but one of them was, what does that say about the S class?" Eberhardt said. "And they have — from my perspective — fixed that now by saying, 'Well, within the S class there's actually the highest execution of it that happens to be called Maybach that doesn't sit on top of the S class; it's an extension of it.' " Instead, Land Rover will create "bespoke iterations" of the Range Rover that will allow them to compete with the ultra-luxury SUVs. Source: Automotive News (Subscription Required) -
Range Rover sits as Land Rover's crown jewel by providing the ability to go anywhere with a number of luxury amenities. But would Land Rover consider adding a model to sit above the Range Rover to take on the likes of the Bentley Bentayga and Rolls' upcoming SUV? "It would strategically be the wrong thing," said Joe Eberhardt, CEO of Jaguar Land Rover North America. "That car defines the Land Rover brand and the Range Rover family; it is really the epitome of that line, and to dethrone that would not be the right move." Eberhardt explained that by adding a new model to sit above the Range Rover would only hurt the equity in the name. He used the example of Mercedes' Maybach debacle from the previous decade. "That never worked for a whole number of reasons, but one of them was, what does that say about the S class?" Eberhardt said. "And they have — from my perspective — fixed that now by saying, 'Well, within the S class there's actually the highest execution of it that happens to be called Maybach that doesn't sit on top of the S class; it's an extension of it.' " Instead, Land Rover will create "bespoke iterations" of the Range Rover that will allow them to compete with the ultra-luxury SUVs. Source: Automotive News (Subscription Required) View full article
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While automakers are going crazy in terms planning new crossovers, Kia is showing some restraint. Speaking with Wards Auto, Orth Hedrick, vice president of product planning for Kia Motors America said the company doesn't see an opportunity to introduce an A-Segment crossover. “I don’t think we see an opportunity there. We have a lot of coverage in the marketplace now, and that is not a priority at this point. I think we would see more opportunity in C-segment (CUVs) then we would in A- or B-(segment models),” said Hedrick. Kia will also not join Hyundai with entering the pickup truck market. “It’s a big step to take and I think it’s a major commitment.” Hedrick points out that Nissan and Toyota have had issues in trying make a dent into the stronghold of large pickups by Ford, GM, and Ram. "It’s a fierce battle. You have to go into it eyes wide open,” said Hedrick. One interesting tidbit from Ward Auto's piece is that Kia is considering doing something similar to Hyundai's N performance sub-brand. Source: Wards Auto -
While automakers are going crazy in terms planning new crossovers, Kia is showing some restraint. Speaking with Wards Auto, Orth Hedrick, vice president of product planning for Kia Motors America said the company doesn't see an opportunity to introduce an A-Segment crossover. “I don’t think we see an opportunity there. We have a lot of coverage in the marketplace now, and that is not a priority at this point. I think we would see more opportunity in C-segment (CUVs) then we would in A- or B-(segment models),” said Hedrick. Kia will also not join Hyundai with entering the pickup truck market. “It’s a big step to take and I think it’s a major commitment.” Hedrick points out that Nissan and Toyota have had issues in trying make a dent into the stronghold of large pickups by Ford, GM, and Ram. "It’s a fierce battle. You have to go into it eyes wide open,” said Hedrick. One interesting tidbit from Ward Auto's piece is that Kia is considering doing something similar to Hyundai's N performance sub-brand. Source: Wards Auto View full article
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The head of Genesis, Manfred Fitzgerald reiterated that the brand would not be getting N performance models. “I don’t think so right now,” he said to Motoring at the unveiling of the G70. We first reported that Genesis wasn't going to get any N models back in May. Fitzgerald's reasoning as to why Genesis will not see any N models is interesting, to say the least. He sees electrification as the equalizer on performance, making high-performance variants kind of moot as they might not be faster than the standard models. “Performance will not be on the same forefront of differentiator as it is today for ICEs [internal combustion engines]. Everybody is capable of doing an electric motor and putting it in a car, so the performance values will almost be the same. Nobody’s going to be interested in ‘A’ or ‘B’, so I think that will come down to a level playing field," said Fitzgerald. “If you look at the performance value of an electric vehicle today, there are a lot of ICEs that really struggle to keep up with that.” The countless videos of Model S sedans smoking performance vehicles on the dragstrip attest to this train of thought. But many will argue that outright performance is only one part of high-performance models. There is also the character, handling, and heritage these models have. Fitzgerald acknowledges this, but he sees a change incoming. One where tech and environmental concerns take the spotlight. “I grew up in that era… that was all right at the that time. I’m just looking forward to the future and I just don’t believe that that will still have the same power and same meaning as it did back then.” Genesis is working on two dedicated platforms for electric vehicles that are expected to debut in 2021 or 2022. Source: Motoring View full article
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The head of Genesis, Manfred Fitzgerald reiterated that the brand would not be getting N performance models. “I don’t think so right now,” he said to Motoring at the unveiling of the G70. We first reported that Genesis wasn't going to get any N models back in May. Fitzgerald's reasoning as to why Genesis will not see any N models is interesting, to say the least. He sees electrification as the equalizer on performance, making high-performance variants kind of moot as they might not be faster than the standard models. “Performance will not be on the same forefront of differentiator as it is today for ICEs [internal combustion engines]. Everybody is capable of doing an electric motor and putting it in a car, so the performance values will almost be the same. Nobody’s going to be interested in ‘A’ or ‘B’, so I think that will come down to a level playing field," said Fitzgerald. “If you look at the performance value of an electric vehicle today, there are a lot of ICEs that really struggle to keep up with that.” The countless videos of Model S sedans smoking performance vehicles on the dragstrip attest to this train of thought. But many will argue that outright performance is only one part of high-performance models. There is also the character, handling, and heritage these models have. Fitzgerald acknowledges this, but he sees a change incoming. One where tech and environmental concerns take the spotlight. “I grew up in that era… that was all right at the that time. I’m just looking forward to the future and I just don’t believe that that will still have the same power and same meaning as it did back then.” Genesis is working on two dedicated platforms for electric vehicles that are expected to debut in 2021 or 2022. Source: Motoring -
Ever since the rumor of a major Chinese automaker possibly buying Fiat Chrysler Automobiles broke earlier this week, a number of them are coming out and saying it's not us. Geely was the first to come out on Wednesday and we have learned about two others. Yesterday, a spokesperson for Dongfeng told Reuters the company has no plans to buy FCA. Then today, Guangzhou Automobile told Reuters the same thing. "Currently, we don't have plans to acquire Fiat Chrysler," said Wu Yunchong, spokeswoman for Guangzhou Automobile. That now leaves Great Wall and other Chinese automakers that we don't know about. Source: Reuters, 2- 10 comments
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Ever since the rumor of a major Chinese automaker possibly buying Fiat Chrysler Automobiles broke earlier this week, a number of them are coming out and saying it's not us. Geely was the first to come out on Wednesday and we have learned about two others. Yesterday, a spokesperson for Dongfeng told Reuters the company has no plans to buy FCA. Then today, Guangzhou Automobile told Reuters the same thing. "Currently, we don't have plans to acquire Fiat Chrysler," said Wu Yunchong, spokeswoman for Guangzhou Automobile. That now leaves Great Wall and other Chinese automakers that we don't know about. Source: Reuters, 2 View full article
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In 2009, Cadillac was gearing up to launch the brand in Australia. A small number of dealers had signed up to begin selling a right-hand drive version of CTS. But weeks before the launch, plans were axed. The economic crisis and fluctuations in various currencies were the reasons given. But in the past couple of years, various GM executives have said the brand will be coming to Australia and pictures have surfaced of various Cadillac models in the country. However, head of General Motors International Stefan Jacoby poured a bucket of cold water on this, telling Australian media at the Detroit Auto Show that the time isn't right for Cadillac to enter Australia. "We have no plans for that," said Jacoby. "First of all we should manage Holden and then we should look to Cadillac." Holden is currently transitioning from relying heavily on the Commodore to expanding their lineup comprised of vehicles coming from around the world. Already, Holden has launched the Astra Hatchback and will soon be launching the Astra sedan (Chevrolet Cruze) and Acadia. Once Holden is successful with this, Jacoby said they would revisit the idea of Cadillac in Australia. Cadillac chief designer Andrew Smith (who happens to be a Holden alum) tells Drive.com.au that he would like to see Cadillacs on Australian roads, but only when the time is right. "We're talking about Cadillac in Australia and I see it as a really good fit, but it is a futile exercise until you have exactly the portfolio you need," said Smith. "I think the Australian market is an interesting one, it's always been a mix of the European market and the American tastes. Even though we like to think it is European certainly American tastes are similar. But again it's about having everything we need to make sure we can launch it properly." Source: Drive.com.au View full article
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In 2009, Cadillac was gearing up to launch the brand in Australia. A small number of dealers had signed up to begin selling a right-hand drive version of CTS. But weeks before the launch, plans were axed. The economic crisis and fluctuations in various currencies were the reasons given. But in the past couple of years, various GM executives have said the brand will be coming to Australia and pictures have surfaced of various Cadillac models in the country. However, head of General Motors International Stefan Jacoby poured a bucket of cold water on this, telling Australian media at the Detroit Auto Show that the time isn't right for Cadillac to enter Australia. "We have no plans for that," said Jacoby. "First of all we should manage Holden and then we should look to Cadillac." Holden is currently transitioning from relying heavily on the Commodore to expanding their lineup comprised of vehicles coming from around the world. Already, Holden has launched the Astra Hatchback and will soon be launching the Astra sedan (Chevrolet Cruze) and Acadia. Once Holden is successful with this, Jacoby said they would revisit the idea of Cadillac in Australia. Cadillac chief designer Andrew Smith (who happens to be a Holden alum) tells Drive.com.au that he would like to see Cadillacs on Australian roads, but only when the time is right. "We're talking about Cadillac in Australia and I see it as a really good fit, but it is a futile exercise until you have exactly the portfolio you need," said Smith. "I think the Australian market is an interesting one, it's always been a mix of the European market and the American tastes. Even though we like to think it is European certainly American tastes are similar. But again it's about having everything we need to make sure we can launch it properly." Source: Drive.com.au -
As we have been reporting since this summer, Skoda is putting serious consideration into entering the U.S. market. Currently, a decision is expected sometime next year. But ask their parent company, Volkswagen what they think of the idea of Skoda entering the U.S. and they would likely say something to the effect of this, “We may be crazy, but we’re not mad. Entering this huge market with an unknown brand, a model range focused on Europe, and a non-existent dealer network is pure suicide. Furthermore, the last thing Volkswagen of America needs now is in-house cannibalization,” said an unnamed Volkswagen board member to Automobile Magazine. Without having any support from the parent company, Skoda's plan of entering the U.S. seems dead in the water. Whether this happens or not remains to be seen. There is one other interesting tidbit from Automobile Magazine. Reportedly, Volkswagen was considering replacing certain models in U.S. with slightly restyled Skoda vehicles badged as VWs. This idea was scrapped however which is a shame since we could see the likes of the Superb being an excellent replacement for the current Passat as an example. Source: Automobile Magazine View full article
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As we have been reporting since this summer, Skoda is putting serious consideration into entering the U.S. market. Currently, a decision is expected sometime next year. But ask their parent company, Volkswagen what they think of the idea of Skoda entering the U.S. and they would likely say something to the effect of this, “We may be crazy, but we’re not mad. Entering this huge market with an unknown brand, a model range focused on Europe, and a non-existent dealer network is pure suicide. Furthermore, the last thing Volkswagen of America needs now is in-house cannibalization,” said an unnamed Volkswagen board member to Automobile Magazine. Without having any support from the parent company, Skoda's plan of entering the U.S. seems dead in the water. Whether this happens or not remains to be seen. There is one other interesting tidbit from Automobile Magazine. Reportedly, Volkswagen was considering replacing certain models in U.S. with slightly restyled Skoda vehicles badged as VWs. This idea was scrapped however which is a shame since we could see the likes of the Superb being an excellent replacement for the current Passat as an example. Source: Automobile Magazine -
BMW offered the last-generation 7-Series with a diesel option in the U.S. and there was talk of offering it again with this current model. But these plans have been taken off the table. German magazine Focus reported last Friday that plans for 7-Series diesel in the U.S. were shelved. This information came from engineers at Bosch. This week, BMW Blog got the official word from BMW. “Currently there are no plans to bring the 7 Series diesel to the US market,” said Hector Arellano-Belloc, BMW NA spokesperson. No official reason was given, but BMW Blog speculates the decision likely comes from the Volkswagen diesel emission scandal. At the present moment, BMW offers four diesel models; 328d, 535d, X3 xDrive28d, X5 xDrive35d. There are questions as to whether BMW will continue to offer a diesel option with the next-generation versions of the models listed. Source: Focus, BMW Blog View full article
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BMW offered the last-generation 7-Series with a diesel option in the U.S. and there was talk of offering it again with this current model. But these plans have been taken off the table. German magazine Focus reported last Friday that plans for 7-Series diesel in the U.S. were shelved. This information came from engineers at Bosch. This week, BMW Blog got the official word from BMW. “Currently there are no plans to bring the 7 Series diesel to the US market,” said Hector Arellano-Belloc, BMW NA spokesperson. No official reason was given, but BMW Blog speculates the decision likely comes from the Volkswagen diesel emission scandal. At the present moment, BMW offers four diesel models; 328d, 535d, X3 xDrive28d, X5 xDrive35d. There are questions as to whether BMW will continue to offer a diesel option with the next-generation versions of the models listed. Source: Focus, BMW Blog -
One of the big surprises at the Detroit Auto Show was the Buick Avista concept. The vehicle drew a lot of praise from not only the press but also from the public. “The energy around that car and the interest in it at the shows was amazing,” said Buick's chief marketer Tony DiSalle to Wards Auto. With all of this interest, you think Buick would be making plans to get the Avista into production. Unfortunately, that isn't going to happen. DiSalle explained that wasn't enough enthusiasm for the concept to give Buick officials a prompt to approve it. “It was purely a concept and meant to generate some buzz. No other plans for now.” That includes none of the design cues of the Avista showing up on future Buick models. Source: Wards Auto Pic Credit: William Maley for Cheers & Gears View full article
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One of the big surprises at the Detroit Auto Show was the Buick Avista concept. The vehicle drew a lot of praise from not only the press but also from the public. “The energy around that car and the interest in it at the shows was amazing,” said Buick's chief marketer Tony DiSalle to Wards Auto. With all of this interest, you think Buick would be making plans to get the Avista into production. Unfortunately, that isn't going to happen. DiSalle explained that wasn't enough enthusiasm for the concept to give Buick officials a prompt to approve it. “It was purely a concept and meant to generate some buzz. No other plans for now.” That includes none of the design cues of the Avista showing up on future Buick models. Source: Wards Auto Pic Credit: William Maley for Cheers & Gears
