Jewels of Geneva: Ssangyong SUT 1 and Ford Ranger Wildtrak

[MahindraPlanet]

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The 2011 Geneva Motor Show is underway and it sure seems like the Europeans are getting a glimpse of far cooler machinery (both in concept and production form) than Americans have seen at US shows in...

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[jriosa]

Nah - if I could take anything home from Geneva it would be one of these

Morgan 3 Wheeler

Jim

[howam00]

I'd rather have the model in front of the Fiat 500!

Geneva 2011: Fiat surprises with hot little 500 Coupe by Zagato — Autoblog

[michigandon]

How Ford can justify a prohibitively expensive halo truck like the Raptor but refuse to replace the outgoing Ranger with the new global Ranger is completely baffling. Seriously Ford, WTF?

With a 7,385 pound towing capacity and a 197 hp/346 lb-ft torque, 3.2L 5-cylinder diesel engine, with manual or automatic transmission options… I’m sure that no one in America would ever want such an anemic and weak little truck. Obviously it’s terrible, so that is why 188 countries will get it, but the US and Canada will not. We can dream anyway.]

I have come to the conclusion that the marketing directors at the Big 2.5 AND the North American branches of the Japanese companies all make their decisions by pulling out a Ouija board and asking it questions.

[clubgitmo]

How Ford can justify a prohibitively expensive halo truck like the Raptor but refuse to replace the outgoing Ranger with the new global Ranger is completely baffling. Seriously Ford, WTF?

The global Ranger is the size of the Sport Trac and not much cheaper. Ford sold approx 12 per year before canceling them.

Diesel is NO LONGER just a simple by product of making gasoline, and as a result is quite a bit more expensive. Plus, it's harder to get a new diesel engine to pass emissions AND be reliable AND make power than it is to get Hilary to have sex with Bill.

Add all this up and the global Ranger would be a failure in N America. Give it up folks. Maybe most auto manufactures are dumber than a politician (and that's pretty hard) but Ford came from the brink of extinction and managed to rebuild and become soluble in tough economic times. The leaders are NOT stupid. Just because 14 people on an internet chat room think it's a good idea, doesn't make it a profitable one.

[blue7.3]

Originally Posted by michigandon

I have come to the conclusion that the marketing directors at the Big 2.5 AND the North American branches of the Japanese companies all make their decisions by pulling out a Ouija board and asking it questions.

I'd like to borrow that ouija board, at least Ford's, GM's, and Toyota's. They're building great vehicles that people are buying many copies of...


-pete

[jriosa]

Originally Posted by howam00

I'd rather have the model in front of the Fiat 500!

Geneva 2011: Fiat surprises with hot little 500 Coupe by Zagato — Autoblog

Actually - I am waiting for the Abarth SS to hit these shores - I can do without the Zagato roof ridges - but a good turbo DGI - maybe I can keep hauling crap in the Element and have something fun

Jim

[michigandon]

Originally Posted by jriosa

Nah - if I could take anything home from Geneva it would be one of these

Morgan 3 Wheeler

Jim

This is the one thing from that show that you might actually be able to procure on this continent! Their website lists not one, but four dealers in the USofA.

[michigandon]

Originally Posted by blue7.3

I'd like to borrow that ouija board, at least Ford's, GM's, and Toyota's. They're building great vehicles that people are buying many copies of...

Even if I did have the money and/or the credit to afford something from them right now, none of the aforementioned currently offer a damn thing on this side of the Atlantic/Pacific that I want.

Current plans are to run my Jetta and the Wife's Sprinter until there is absolutely nothing left.

And once my Travelette is completed I intend to hang onto it for the remainder of my naturally born life.

[howam00]

Originally Posted by jriosa

Actually - I am waiting for the Abarth SS to hit these shores - I can do without the Zagato roof ridges - but a good turbo DGI - maybe I can keep hauling crap in the Element and have something fun

Jim

It should be a fun little ride. I am kinda dissapointed in the fuel economy of the 500 but that likely has to do with its shape and size rather than the motors.