The dominant purchasing model in Europe and the UK is to go to the dealership, choose the vehicle and options, place an order, and then wait some number of week

The dominant purchasing model in Europe and the UK is to go to the dealership, choose the vehicle and options, place an order, and then wait some number of weeks for the vehicle to arrive. The dominant purchasing model in the US has always been to go to a dealership and choose something that is on the lot. Car companies give the dealership an "allocation" and they place orders with the car company for the cars that will go to their lot - within the confines of that allocation. Ford might tell them that if they want 50 Mustangs they also have to take 7 Fiestas. And generally, that's the only way that Fiestas will end up on the lot - because the dealership doesn't want anything but the most popular vehicle. So, does anyone really know what Americans will buy? I don't think they do. Now Covid and supply shortages have happened. Dealers have nothing on the lot; they are selling everything while it is inbound to the dealer. Ford, at least, is currently offering a $1000 discount on many vehicles if you place an order and wait - like people buy cars in Europe. So maybe this is going to be permanent. Manufacturers will like this better. I think dealers like it too. But if it sticks, we will likely see changes. More color choices, more combinations of options. And then, hopefully, more vehicle varieties. Because you've eliminated the need for unwilling dealers to keep some of them on the lot. By the way, you can get a Ford 2.3T with a 7-speed manual transmission and (traditional) 4 wheel drive in the new Bronco. That would make a sweet combo in a wagon (but with full-time AWD)