originally posted in:The Garage
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I know here in the states that nearly the entire domestic market has shifted toward SUVs, Cross Overs, and Trucks, but being a car guy I have a real hard time understanding why. I had an Explorer for a time, for I needed a truck and a car, so it worked out. Once that era passed, I went back to cars.
But to me this thing (if they did it) is a cry for help from GM.
All the high end Euro performance car companies have 1 or more SUV / Cross overs in their line up. Currently the only Domestic one that is remotely in the same genre is the Cadillac Escalade, and that's a land yacht.
I just don't like it when a manufacturer steals the thunder from one of it's key models, trying to pull customers in with the context that it's in the same vein of cool or performance.
Last year Ford claimed that the new electric SUV that they were developing was 'Mustang inspired'. They were going to go as far as to utilize the Mustang's performance line of Mach 1 to badge the thing. Luckily many Ford and Mustang faithful made sure Ford knew in no uncertain terms that this would be heresy to the name, and not acceptable to re-purpose the name.
Most of you probably do not know what a Ford Probe was/is. Back in the 80's Ford was planning on making a similar move by replacing the Mustang platform with a Mazda based 1 & 6 cylinder front wheel drive. Hell rained down upon them form the Ford and Mustang faithful then too, and the Probe became that model, and the Mustang went on in it's Pony Car lineage.
I'm interested in seeing what you all feel on this.
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It's bad enough they are making the Vette a mid engine, but an SUV?! EHAT THE -blam!-?!