FoMoCoNews.Com Opinion: The Detroit Comeback
Detroit About to Turn on the Overtake Indicator on Imports
Detroit About to Turn on the Overtake Indicator on Imports
By Ndwariga (San Diego, Ca.) Since the 1970’s Detroit has been loosing market share to Japanese and to a lesser extent European automakers. There is no intention of rehashing the Detroit is going down the tubes story here since we are constantly bombarded with that side of the story constantly. What this article would like to explore is the amazing revitalization of products that has been sweeping across the Detroit three and how the technology and design leadership is shifting back to American automakers
Design Leadership.
The last 4 years have seen the re-awakening of Detroit design innovation. Compare a Ford Sedan from four years ago to today. The dawn of this milliner saw a shift in automotive leadership. To get to the top Japanese and Korean Automakers have copied with liberty designs from North America and Europe. Suddenly they found themselves at the top, and could no longer copy “lesser” Vehicle. They have been forced to do something that they had not contemplated they would find themselves required to do. That is innovating design languages for their brands devoid of American or European styling. This has proven rather difficult. They are still reeling from the mess and no end is in sight. Asian vehicles have become ugly blobs and blocks. Meanwhile, Detroit automakers have realized they are the underdogs, and their transformation has been nothing short of stunning, from the Mustang, to the CTS to the New Cross over, virtually all offering from Detroit are huge leaps from the models they are replacing. Those that are not are finding themselves condemned to astonishingly short product life cycles such as the current Ford Taurus or the Buick Lacrosse.
Technology Leadership
On the technological front, Detroit two automakers have finally began doing what America does best. That is innovating. Ford is just about to roll out Ecoboost, and GM’s ecotec engines are churning out 260 HP easily with turbo charging. Recently a Ford 4 banger Taurus mule was filmed out running a BMW 5 series. A sign of things to come. Powetrain leadership is emerging. Instead of one or two eight speed gearboxes in vehicles costing well north of 50K, GM and Ford are putting 6 speeds in bread and butter vehicles, with Camry and Accord trying to catch up from their five speeds.
Systems like Ford’s Sync are currently on base vehicles while; Mercedes and Lexus do not offer anything close. Onstar is also a leading innovator with features no import can touch; its available in vehicles priced thousands less than the cheapest BMWs. Mild hybrids and e85 capabilities also top the list of innovations. Though the mild hybrid systems are not headline grabbing, the second generation is about to roll out, and people better start paying attention to this innovation. Its not going to be laugh at for long. The two mode hybrid system offered by GM is way more advanced than anything from the east and the Volt is going up the notch. Ford and GM also have very advanced hydrogen systems that do not get as much coverage as Hondas, but are quietly undergoing field tests.
Quality
Ford recently made headlines by virtually tying Japanese titans on quality. On the same token there was a headline about GM dealers complaining of a cash crunch resulting from repair shops that revenue is down as a result of quality improvements. The one area where imports could claim superiority without blinking is crumbling around Japan. Toyota in 2007 overtook Ford and Chevy as the most recalled brand. Perceptions on Japanese superior quality still exist in the market place, but they cannot be sustained for long.
Detroit still has a lot of work ahead of it to be on top again, but, finally there is light at the despair tunnel, that the worst may be behind Detroit. Focus on product, design quality and innovation has almost eliminated imports from car of the year awards.
Design Leadership.
The last 4 years have seen the re-awakening of Detroit design innovation. Compare a Ford Sedan from four years ago to today. The dawn of this milliner saw a shift in automotive leadership. To get to the top Japanese and Korean Automakers have copied with liberty designs from North America and Europe. Suddenly they found themselves at the top, and could no longer copy “lesser” Vehicle. They have been forced to do something that they had not contemplated they would find themselves required to do. That is innovating design languages for their brands devoid of American or European styling. This has proven rather difficult. They are still reeling from the mess and no end is in sight. Asian vehicles have become ugly blobs and blocks. Meanwhile, Detroit automakers have realized they are the underdogs, and their transformation has been nothing short of stunning, from the Mustang, to the CTS to the New Cross over, virtually all offering from Detroit are huge leaps from the models they are replacing. Those that are not are finding themselves condemned to astonishingly short product life cycles such as the current Ford Taurus or the Buick Lacrosse.
Technology Leadership
On the technological front, Detroit two automakers have finally began doing what America does best. That is innovating. Ford is just about to roll out Ecoboost, and GM’s ecotec engines are churning out 260 HP easily with turbo charging. Recently a Ford 4 banger Taurus mule was filmed out running a BMW 5 series. A sign of things to come. Powetrain leadership is emerging. Instead of one or two eight speed gearboxes in vehicles costing well north of 50K, GM and Ford are putting 6 speeds in bread and butter vehicles, with Camry and Accord trying to catch up from their five speeds.
Systems like Ford’s Sync are currently on base vehicles while; Mercedes and Lexus do not offer anything close. Onstar is also a leading innovator with features no import can touch; its available in vehicles priced thousands less than the cheapest BMWs. Mild hybrids and e85 capabilities also top the list of innovations. Though the mild hybrid systems are not headline grabbing, the second generation is about to roll out, and people better start paying attention to this innovation. Its not going to be laugh at for long. The two mode hybrid system offered by GM is way more advanced than anything from the east and the Volt is going up the notch. Ford and GM also have very advanced hydrogen systems that do not get as much coverage as Hondas, but are quietly undergoing field tests.
Quality
Ford recently made headlines by virtually tying Japanese titans on quality. On the same token there was a headline about GM dealers complaining of a cash crunch resulting from repair shops that revenue is down as a result of quality improvements. The one area where imports could claim superiority without blinking is crumbling around Japan. Toyota in 2007 overtook Ford and Chevy as the most recalled brand. Perceptions on Japanese superior quality still exist in the market place, but they cannot be sustained for long.
Detroit still has a lot of work ahead of it to be on top again, but, finally there is light at the despair tunnel, that the worst may be behind Detroit. Focus on product, design quality and innovation has almost eliminated imports from car of the year awards.