To make a modern days Model T, simple but still compliant to modern regulations, while not sacrificing its cross-country abilities so much, would throw the price to compact SUV standards. Makes me wonder why Renault doesn't introduce the Dacia Duster in the States, since could eventually do it rebadging as a Nissan. Ironically, the Duster is closer to the concept of a modern Model T than the comparable Ford product, the EcoSport...
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Originally Posted by Arragonis
The US market is a seperate entity from the rest of the world IMHO - a lot of overseas cars "work" in the US but very few US market cars ("world cars" excepted and maybe some SUVs) succeed elsewhere - the noted exceptions have to be the T itself and the original Jeep.
The latter was deliberately designed to be useful overseas - the usage of poor fuel and a track width which matched standard rail widths so it could run on tracks where available.
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Nowadays, the most notable difference is probably in regard to engines. While an European wouldn't really care about the amount of cylinders, and often not even for the displacement as long as it can provide a decent performance, the stereotypical American would want to slap the biggest V8 possible into anything, or a V6.
Some folks blame American cars for being "too big", but European and even Japanese automakers also had (and still have) their flagship full-size sedans. Well, a Cadillac with some 4-cyl Mercedes-Benz turbodiesel would be just perfect
About the early Jeep: its original concept lives more in a Suzuki Jimny than in a Wrangler, ironically.