Detroit Auto Show

Just back from the North American International Auto Show in Detroit...I must say that I was more impressed with this year's show than last year's. Things still aren't right in the auto world, but I can see certain things that are improving. I'll have more on my opinions there (along with pictures) in future posts. In this post I'll go off a little about where I think the Big 3 are from a strategic perspective, and what they need to do to improve.

I'll start with Chrysler Group since I think they are the healthiest of the bunch. The way they have their carmakes aligned (Dodge - performance/racing and trucks, Chrysler - luxury, and Jeep - off-road) is near perfect. They should be kicking themselves for eliminating Plymouth as the entry-level brand, though. My biggest gripe with Chrysler Group vehicles is their design. The love-it-or-hate-it exteriors of the latest Dodge and Chrysler entries have found me on the hate-it side more often than not. The interiors of their entry level machines seem rather rinky-dink, too. My biggest complaint is the huge C-pillar blindspots and overall lack of rear visibility that seems to plague almost every one of their new entries...it's a terrible problem. Jeep, however, seems to be doing it right although they have the potential to have an oversaturation and overlap problem with 7 distinct models for 2007.

Ford is, well, so-so. I'm absolutely ga-ga over the Mustang and I think that the Fusion is a really good move. Ford trucks are top-notch as well. Beyond that...meh. There is waaaay too much product overlap between Ford and Mercury models. Do we really need Mercury versions of the Fusion, the 500, the Explorer, the Escape, etc.? Do we really need Mercury period, or is it time for Ford to launch an all-new brand with exclusive, specialized vehicles? Those are rhetorical questions. As for Lincoln, the need for a Ford luxury brand is there, but Lincoln cars nowhere near have the pizazz of Cadillac, Chrysler, or Lexus. Lincoln needs to make a real splash.

GM is a mess. A BIG mess. But it can be fixed. My way of fixing it would step on some toes that GM would probably rather leave untouched, though. The key to GM's survival is to cut the ridiculous amount of product overlap by introducing brand specialization. Some big things would disappear...the biggest of which would be Chevrolet's performance and racing programs, save the Corvette. Also disappearing would be the entire Buick nameplate, and one of Chevy trucks or GMC trucks. Here's how my GM would break down:

Chevy - entry level cars and small SUVs; racing, trucks, and large SUVs gone
Pontiac - performance and racing
Buick - absorbed into Cadillac
Saturn - Euro-style and rebadged Opels
Cadillac - luxury
GMC - large SUVs, trucks, and heavy duty
Hummer - absorbed into GMC?
Saab and other foreign nameplates - spun off

I'll dabble into the foreign cars, as well as add some other thoughts and pictures in subsequent posts.