Topic: Any whitespace left in the market?

[Stephen M]

Given the current offerings of the major manufacturers, anyone see any whitespace in the current marketplace they'd like filled? What would you put there? Or are the gaps in the range of vehicles offered there for a reason?

[Otto Puzzell]

I think there is a prime opportunity for one or more mainstream manufacturers to sell small station wagons. Not SUV's, or micro-vans, or four-wheel-drive. Just a regular station wagon, with the flexible utility that suggests.

Pony cars one or two sizes smaller than what's currently available would be welcome.

And why are there no direct competitors to the Miata?

[Iluvatar]

And why are there no direct competitors to the Miata?

+1

[Stephen M]

And why are there no direct competitors to the Miata?

That's a darn good question. GM and Toyota both poked at it recently (though admittedly not quite direct competitors), and gave up after a few years. It's a really tough nut to crack, and an even harder business case to make. In the US the Miata seems to sell 15-25k a year. Assume at best you can capture half that market, no small feat. Can you develop a new car that can go toe-to-toe with the Miata and make a profit at an annual volume of ~10k? I just don't see it. There may be a better case to be made for the global market, but I think you almost need a manufacturer to enter this segment with a loss-leader/halo car that they're not worried about making money on.

Full disclosure: I currently have an NC in my driveway. If there was an inch or two more of headroom and legroom, it'd be in my garage.

[knightfan26917]

Or are the gaps in the range of vehicles offered there for a reason?

The gaps I notice the most are ones left by certain manufacturers.  For instance, Dodge has a nice flagship RWD sedan.  Some others don't.  Not too many RWD coupes on the market, either.



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