Calaber
Nil Bastardo Carborundum
- Joined
- Nov 29, 2007
- Messages
- 4,334
- Reaction score
- 1,357
- Points
- 113
- Location
- Lower Hunter Region NSW
- Members Ride
- CG Captiva 5 Series 2
Reap
I wasn't suggesting that the Daewoo connection would cease - rather than any future models would be better designed and engineered and far more competitive than the stuff we've had dished up to us so far.
With regard to names for models, some names sell well in certain markets, yet the same car sells poorly in other markets under the same name and the manufacturer changes the names to suit the market. "Pajero" is a good example - it's known (or has been) as the Shogun in the UK, where it was pretty successful. Personally, I hate the name Cruze - stupid spelling and dumb name to start with. It is also associated with a car that initially wasn't up to scratch. It could do with a change for our market IMO.
And as for the Malibu, I could never understand which market segment it was targeting. If it was the Camry market, I would have thought the Cruze addressed that segment. The Epica was in a similar position - it had no market identity, it didn't seem to fit anywhere and it was totally uncompetitive with other equally dull and unimaginative cars. I could imagine that the Epica and Malibu were intended to appeal to typical Camry buyers - people who wanted whitegoods on wheels - didn't care two hoots about which wheels drove it or how it worked, as long as it worked. Problem was, the Camry already satisfied that market and there are only so many wood-ducks buying that sort of car. I give the Malibu no more than two years and it's gone.
I wasn't suggesting that the Daewoo connection would cease - rather than any future models would be better designed and engineered and far more competitive than the stuff we've had dished up to us so far.
With regard to names for models, some names sell well in certain markets, yet the same car sells poorly in other markets under the same name and the manufacturer changes the names to suit the market. "Pajero" is a good example - it's known (or has been) as the Shogun in the UK, where it was pretty successful. Personally, I hate the name Cruze - stupid spelling and dumb name to start with. It is also associated with a car that initially wasn't up to scratch. It could do with a change for our market IMO.
And as for the Malibu, I could never understand which market segment it was targeting. If it was the Camry market, I would have thought the Cruze addressed that segment. The Epica was in a similar position - it had no market identity, it didn't seem to fit anywhere and it was totally uncompetitive with other equally dull and unimaginative cars. I could imagine that the Epica and Malibu were intended to appeal to typical Camry buyers - people who wanted whitegoods on wheels - didn't care two hoots about which wheels drove it or how it worked, as long as it worked. Problem was, the Camry already satisfied that market and there are only so many wood-ducks buying that sort of car. I give the Malibu no more than two years and it's gone.