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

[Bicycle Bob]

Originally Posted by Piotrsko

2013 is the year of the computer cheat , 2014 Tdi's were banned from sales. 2017 is when it became acceptable to resale cheat buybacks IIRC

That affair has always bugged me. VW's numbers looked radically better, but they were not bragging about a tech breakthrough in alternative chemistry. Next, they were careful to not implicate other probable cheaters. They never even tried to defend themselves by pointing out that by allowing more NO, with local effects, they saved a lot on CO2, with universal effects. I think they just cheated more obviously than the others, and then "took one for the team."

[freebeard]

The whole kerfluffle moved them to electrification so, in some sense, it was a good thing.

[redpoint5]

TDI was a good thing.

Even more excited for EV, but batteries still suck, bigly.

[Bicycle Bob]

Originally Posted by freebeard

The whole kerfluffle moved them to electrification so, in some sense, it was a good thing.

Their XL1 was the more promising direction, but it was still overweight. Instead, we are still being sold vast excess capacity to maintain the status games and try to stay ahead in safety through sheer weight. Everyone is also going for full driverless technology, instead of just focussing on the limited-access roads. There, we could be automatically merged into trains with almost zero clearance and no driver errors, then just punch in our exit number and relax. There could even be powered rails available for infinite range and en-route charging.

[MetroMPG]

Originally Posted by freebeard

Golf precedes the ID.3.

I don't think 3 is coming to North America?



VW believes Americans will only buy CUV/SUV's so we'll get the ID4

[freebeard]

Makes me sad. SUVs are hard to see around when you're behind them. I remember the 1950s, when you could see the road though the back window of the car ahead of you.

we could be automatically merged into trains with almost zero clearance and no driver errors, then just punch in our exit number and relax. There could even be powered rails available for infinite range and en-route charging.

Platooning though electromagnetic bumpers. I think they could start with left turn lanes with the inductors timed to the traffic lights. A long light might be good for a mile or two of range. Auto-payment by Bitcoin.

[JSH]

Originally Posted by Piotrsko

2013 is the year of the computer cheat , 2014 Tdi's were banned from sales. 2017 is when it became acceptable to resale cheat buybacks IIRC

VW cheated as far back as 2009 on the 2.0L TDI. 2015 was the last year for TDI sales in the USA and the 2.0L got urea injection that year.

2009 - 2014 official fix / warranty:
https://www.vwcourtsettlement.com/en...n-1-AUT-v4.pdf

2015 official fix / warranty
https://www.vwcourtsettlement.com/en...Volkswagen.pdf

[some_other_dave]

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

VW believes Americans will only buy CUV/SUV's...

So does Ford. And, to some extent, FCA as well.

And the stats show that they are largely correct. Fans of small efficient cars seem to be a small minority.

-soD

[Bicycle Bob]

Originally Posted by some_other_dave

So does Ford. And, to some extent, FCA as well.

And the stats show that they are largely correct. Fans of small efficient cars seem to be a small minority.

-soD

I think that the manufacturers actually believe that North Americans can still be sold the most excess vehicle at a sustainable promotion cost. If we were constantly being reminded of how little we actually need, the necessity of conservation, and how a tiny new car could be just right for us, I'm sure that they would sell.

Sadly, the Tata Nano struggled for sales, because a used car of the same price made the owner look more prosperous. Change does happen, though. I have heard that even in Dallas, if you get on a crowded elevator wearing cowboy boots, you might hear "I smell cow ****" from the back.

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

VW believes Americans will only buy CUV/SUV's

Meanwhile in Brazil, where hatchbacks smaller than a Golf and sedans still hold a considerable market share, there are 2 Polo-based CUVs and one of them will be some sort of Golf replacement in the local market. Well, it does surprise me the Volkswagen T-Cross doesn't make its way to the United States and Canada.