I am eager to see chrysler designs 10 to 20 years down the road once the merger has taken complete effect over their design process. It should be interesting to see what happens.</strong><hr></blockquote>
Or you could look at Chrysler designs from 2000 to 2004, before they completely turn into a poor man's Benz.
ford is in complete control of mazda, which is why the company's going down the shitter. they're too afraid to innovate--afraid of progress. hence the lack of rotaries available now, and the overcatious development of the RX-8.
the list of good jap companies is dwindling...
oh well.</strong><hr></blockquote>
Mark Fields, the current president of Mazda, was a pickup driver. A totally boring Ford implant since, I guess, about 1998. Anyway, he is now a die-hard rotorhead. He bought a Bathurst edition Rx-7 (2001), and additionally a SpiritR edition (2002), and has spoken many times about how much he cares about supporting the Mazda "brand DNA" by producing rotaries. With the Mazda6 (piston powered) and the Rx-8 coming, I think you'll start to see a lot more Mazda's on the road. The next step is the rotorification of the Miata, the arrival of a 4th Gen 7, and total, utter LeMans domination. (providing the FIAA and IMSA don't castrate Mazda as they have in the past.)
Or you could look at Chrysler designs from 2000 to 2004, before they completely turn into a poor man's Benz.</strong><hr></blockquote>
Chrysler designs have been weird like that for a while now. They're definitely not conservative. In 1986, the practically reinvented the small van concept with the Dodge Caravan. Before that you had barely road worthy Toyotas and VW Vanagons. In the early 90s they introduced the first cab-forward Intrepid and the very distinct and beautiful Dodge Ram pick-up. The Ram look is a bit outdated now, of course, since Ford used the same design cues for their Super-Duty trucks.
I'll say that the Daimler - Chrysler merger hasn't realy changed the way Chrysler styles its cars. In fact, it's probably more true of the opposite. With the new C-Class coupe and upcoming M-Class refresh, I think it'll be pretty clear that Mercedes-Benz is aiming for the "poor man" too. Other than the new C, I'm not very happy with the new Benzes. The roundy, bulgy look doesn't fit them...they're starting to look like the Japanese luxury sedans. I'd take the edgy look of the Gelaendewagen over any of the new Benzes. I'm serious.
I thought the first RAM pick-up was a little messy, good, but in need of a little smoothing. The restyle, while using known cues, looks very good. The current RAM is the best looking pickup on the market ATM.
With the new C-Class coupe and upcoming M-Class refresh, I think it'll be pretty clear that Mercedes-Benz is aiming for the "poor man" too. Other than the new C, I'm not very happy with the new Benzes. The roundy, bulgy look doesn't fit them...they're starting to look like the Japanese luxury sedans. I'd take the edgy look of the Gelaendewagen over any of the new Benzes. I'm serious.</strong><hr></blockquote>
I agree 100%. I mean who would buy a $90,000 S-Class that looks so cheap? I just don't get it. And MB going downmarket with the C230 Sport Coupe is just sad.
<strong>I thought the first RAM pick-up was a little messy, good, but in need of a little smoothing. The restyle, while using known cues, looks very good. The current RAM is the best looking pickup on the market ATM.</strong><hr></blockquote>
I don't agree. The 90s Ram wasn't messy for its time. It looks dated now, but not then. The current Ram isn't remarkable, because it looks pretty much the same.
Mark Fields, the current president of Mazda, was a pickup driver. A totally boring Ford implant since, I guess, about 1998. Anyway, he is now a die-hard rotorhead. He bought a Bathurst edition Rx-7 (2001), and additionally a SpiritR edition (2002), and has spoken many times about how much he cares about supporting the Mazda "brand DNA" by producing rotaries. With the Mazda6 (piston powered) and the Rx-8 coming, I think you'll start to see a lot more Mazda's on the road. The next step is the rotorification of the Miata, the arrival of a 4th Gen 7, and total, utter LeMans domination. (providing the FIAA and IMSA don't castrate Mazda as they have in the past.)</strong><hr></blockquote>
yes, i am well aware that they are in the middle of a rebirth, but for now the current line-up has nothing "zoom-zoom" about it. NONE of their current cars are faster than a civic, which is why i think their current advertisement strategy is such a joke. if their next gen RX-7 and the RX-8 are successful, then they have a chance at not falling apart--the future of the company depends on their innovation w/ the rotary. i just hope Ford doesn't fu*k them over the way they do to their own products...
Comments
<strong>
I am eager to see chrysler designs 10 to 20 years down the road once the merger has taken complete effect over their design process. It should be interesting to see what happens.</strong><hr></blockquote>
Or you could look at Chrysler designs from 2000 to 2004, before they completely turn into a poor man's Benz.
<strong>
ford is in complete control of mazda, which is why the company's going down the shitter. they're too afraid to innovate--afraid of progress. hence the lack of rotaries available now, and the overcatious development of the RX-8.
the list of good jap companies is dwindling...
oh well.</strong><hr></blockquote>
Mark Fields, the current president of Mazda, was a pickup driver. A totally boring Ford implant since, I guess, about 1998. Anyway, he is now a die-hard rotorhead. He bought a Bathurst edition Rx-7 (2001), and additionally a SpiritR edition (2002), and has spoken many times about how much he cares about supporting the Mazda "brand DNA" by producing rotaries. With the Mazda6 (piston powered) and the Rx-8 coming, I think you'll start to see a lot more Mazda's on the road. The next step is the rotorification of the Miata, the arrival of a 4th Gen 7, and total, utter LeMans domination. (providing the FIAA and IMSA don't castrate Mazda as they have in the past.)
<strong>
Or you could look at Chrysler designs from 2000 to 2004, before they completely turn into a poor man's Benz.</strong><hr></blockquote>
Chrysler designs have been weird like that for a while now. They're definitely not conservative. In 1986, the practically reinvented the small van concept with the Dodge Caravan. Before that you had barely road worthy Toyotas and VW Vanagons. In the early 90s they introduced the first cab-forward Intrepid and the very distinct and beautiful Dodge Ram pick-up. The Ram look is a bit outdated now, of course, since Ford used the same design cues for their Super-Duty trucks.
I'll say that the Daimler - Chrysler merger hasn't realy changed the way Chrysler styles its cars. In fact, it's probably more true of the opposite. With the new C-Class coupe and upcoming M-Class refresh, I think it'll be pretty clear that Mercedes-Benz is aiming for the "poor man" too. Other than the new C, I'm not very happy with the new Benzes. The roundy, bulgy look doesn't fit them...they're starting to look like the Japanese luxury sedans. I'd take the edgy look of the Gelaendewagen over any of the new Benzes. I'm serious.
<strong>
With the new C-Class coupe and upcoming M-Class refresh, I think it'll be pretty clear that Mercedes-Benz is aiming for the "poor man" too. Other than the new C, I'm not very happy with the new Benzes. The roundy, bulgy look doesn't fit them...they're starting to look like the Japanese luxury sedans. I'd take the edgy look of the Gelaendewagen over any of the new Benzes. I'm serious.</strong><hr></blockquote>
I agree 100%. I mean who would buy a $90,000 S-Class that looks so cheap? I just don't get it. And MB going downmarket with the C230 Sport Coupe is just sad.
<strong>I thought the first RAM pick-up was a little messy, good, but in need of a little smoothing. The restyle, while using known cues, looks very good. The current RAM is the best looking pickup on the market ATM.</strong><hr></blockquote>
I don't agree. The 90s Ram wasn't messy for its time. It looks dated now, but not then. The current Ram isn't remarkable, because it looks pretty much the same.
<strong>
Mark Fields, the current president of Mazda, was a pickup driver. A totally boring Ford implant since, I guess, about 1998. Anyway, he is now a die-hard rotorhead. He bought a Bathurst edition Rx-7 (2001), and additionally a SpiritR edition (2002), and has spoken many times about how much he cares about supporting the Mazda "brand DNA" by producing rotaries. With the Mazda6 (piston powered) and the Rx-8 coming, I think you'll start to see a lot more Mazda's on the road. The next step is the rotorification of the Miata, the arrival of a 4th Gen 7, and total, utter LeMans domination. (providing the FIAA and IMSA don't castrate Mazda as they have in the past.)</strong><hr></blockquote>
yes, i am well aware that they are in the middle of a rebirth, but for now the current line-up has nothing "zoom-zoom" about it. NONE of their current cars are faster than a civic, which is why i think their current advertisement strategy is such a joke. if their next gen RX-7 and the RX-8 are successful, then they have a chance at not falling apart--the future of the company depends on their innovation w/ the rotary. i just hope Ford doesn't fu*k them over the way they do to their own products...
<strong>Mustangs suck. Fords suck.</strong><hr></blockquote>
the kid speaks the truth. and very efficient wording too.