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Beyond Branding is written by members of The Medinge Group

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January 14, 2006

Detroit goes back to the archives, again 

I see went -mad during its Auto Show last week. says it could bring back the , possibly on a platform (my guess), and will bring back the on an old Mercedes E-class platform. Ford released the fastest production .
   I love these cars, but they highlight two deficiencies: Detroit is recycling ideas again, and they are never as good the second time around; and does the world need another ? Plus, I am not sure if they can get the pricing right for .
   Yes, it’s a familiar cry at Beyond , and how we’re using the world’s resources. And I don’t mean to turn this into a peak oil discussion. I also know that the first time Detroit tried to address the muscle car issue, it gave us a Chevy Nova-based Pontiac GTO (1974), the Ford Mustang II (also 1974), and the Dodge Omni 024 Charger (1982).
   These cars failed not just because they lacked a V8, but because there wasn’t that much driving pleasure to be had. I still say produce a compact coupé for enthusiasts and see a new generation of buyers flock to that. Won’t work? Look at the CDW27-based , you say? Let me counter that: did anyone say ?
   Americans were once good at creating new like the and the . Both sparked off revolutions around the world. Most crossovers, to me, are a joke—the “craze” only got folks buying trucks, and introduced the acronym into the vernacular (what is sporty about a sport utility vehicle, Nissan Murano aside?).
   I say look at today, what the hottest segment today wants, and deliver. If Detroit doesn’t, the Japanese will: post-, Honda has announced that the Fit will be sold in the United States, and that could pave the way for all manner of (Mitsubishi Colt, Nissan March, or even the Renault Clio).
   An attractive compact coupé for 2008–9 isn’t that far-fetched if earlier cycles are anything to go by. Just don’t muck it up this time.
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