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I feel this is completely and ignorantly misstating reality. Yes, e.g. Golf has grown over last few decades. I assume this is so each and every year they can s
by NikolaNovak 5y ago
I feel this is completely and ignorantly misstating reality.
Yes, e.g. Golf has grown over last few decades. I assume this is so each and every year they can say in marketing materials that it's a bit bigger and better, or that it's biggest and best in its category, however that category is conveniently defined.
But now there are two more cars underneath it in vw range - Lupo and Polo!
Same for any other car mentioned - sure Honda Civic is bigger. But Honda fit now occupies it's previous spot. And so on for all manufacturers - any given name plate gets bigger and better but something slots underneath. Tuscon is what Santa fe was 20 years ago. Etc etc.
I find the premise deeply flawed and whole content of article a sloppy p0st hoc rationalization based on flawed premise.
- jeffbee 5y agoSince this article is about American regulations, the existence of the Lupo, Polo, and Fit are irrelevant. None of those cars are sold in the U.S.
- NikolaNovak 5y agoBut they ARE made. I don't think golf grew because of usa regulations. I think golf grew for other reasons - and then consumer preference , profit margins, safety, and fuel regulations combined to guide what is feasible to sell in USA. Article's premise of cause and effect (these models grew because of usa fuel regulations) is I believe thusly easily disproven. Don't get me wrong, I personally love small economic hatchbacks. But my values and politics and environmental thoughts are irrelevant - golf grew across the world for reasons many and various outside of usa laws... And other small models replaced it. This appears to be a multi decade strategy across the board.
- PaulDavisThe1st 5y agoThe Honda Fit was sold in the US for a least 13 years. Honda EOL'ed it last year for the NA market.
- aczerepinski 5y agoI've never heard of the VW Lupo or Polo so I looked them up. No mention of either on vw.com. Wikipedia says the Lupo was discontinued on 2005. The Polo has never been sold in the US and its popularity is steadily declining in Europe (as measured by sales figures). The Honda Fit was discontinued in the US in 2020.
- NikolaNovak 5y agoSee my other comment for usa vs world ; and names keep changing - after lupo there was fox, etc etc. But as golf grew there were always smaller models. Toyota corolla grew and was replaced by Yaris which became echo or other way around which was discontinued but then corolla got the iq and other small hatch versions. Nissan sentra grew but then we got micra etc. My whole point is forget specific names - models and Renaming aside, tiny cars keep existing.
- sundvor 5y agoAustralia: The ~2008 1.8T Polo GTI was quite the little ripper. Three door, manual, you could get an APR ECU tune that unlocked the engine's true potential - identical with and detuned from an Audi A3. So much fun in a small package, I regretted selling it later. It had full stability control and the full set of airbags, so it was an early upspec for what would later become the norm of safety features. Looks like it's still being sold now but it is no longer the same car.