Small / economy car deathwatch: we've passed "peak econobox" again

[MetroMPG]

Chevrolet Subcompact Dead In Canada, Report Claims



No word on U.S. fate, or news about the even smaller Spark.





https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/wp...ic-768x512.jpg

[Hersbird]

Sometimes there is no gain on making something smaller in cost or weight. Maybe weight, but it is getting to be negligible. You can pack the same motor, transmission, brakes, axles, wheels, tires, seat, airbags, etc., etc. Into a tiny package or a small package but for most consumers there is no reason to choose a tiny package over a small or even medium size package. All the components have the same cost and weight so what's a few more pounds of sheet metal to make some room in the back seat?

[Xist]

You cannot really compare their cars. The Cruze and Malibu are only available with turbos and the last was only available with an autotragic, but none of those have the same engines. The Cruze may have a similar engine to the Spark, but the turbo makes a significant difference. I would expect the wheels, brakes, and other components to get bigger as you progress from the Spark to the Malibu as well.

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Originally Posted by Hersbird

Sometimes there is no gain on making something smaller in cost or weight. Maybe weight, but it is getting to be negligible. You can pack the same motor, transmission, brakes, axles, wheels, tires, seat, airbags, etc., etc. Into a tiny package or a small package but for most consumers there is no reason to choose a tiny package over a small or even medium size package. All the components have the same cost and weight so what's a few more pounds of sheet metal to make some room in the back seat?

That makes sense. But anyway, sometimes a no-frills econobox may be roomier than something else from the immediately-higher segment.

[Hersbird]

Originally Posted by Xist

You cannot really compare their cars. The Cruze and Malibu are only available with turbos and the last was only available with an autotragic, but none of those have the same engines. The Cruze may have a similar engine to the Spark, but the turbo makes a significant difference. I would expect the wheels, brakes, and other components to get bigger as you progress from the Spark to the Malibu as well.

Right, but they have to do that or the Sonic and Cruise would be the same price. What they should do and maybe they will, is make a low end Cruise to fill the hole that would be there if they got rid of the Sonic or better yet drop them both and make a low end Malibu. The big boys of the automotive world though often keep all kinds of models around because they can.

[Frank Lee]

My experience with Marketing Departments is they feel they need to fill every niche they can identify no matter how complex and messy that makes the model line.

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Originally Posted by Frank Lee

My experience with Marketing Departments is they feel they need to fill every niche they can identify no matter how complex and messy that makes the model line.

And that's how they get kinda lost. Well, even though new car prices here in Brazil are kinda obscene, Chevrolet and Fiat recently managed to trim down their entry-level ranges recently, which would be supposed to increase the economics of scale and eventually allow them to put a more competitive price tag.

[MetroMPG]

Originally Posted by Hersbird

maybe they will, is make a low end Cruise to fill the hole that would be there if they got rid of the Sonic or better yet drop them both and make a low end Malibu.

They've announced the cancellation of the Cruze already. Along with the Volt. Malibu too? I forget.

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

I don't remember if it was the Malibu or the Impala that would have the plug pulled. Or both...

[Stubby79]

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

Chevrolet Subcompact Dead In Canada, Report Claims

Must have been flogging the leftover 2018s then...there's two new ones shown up in my block this past month or so!