Buh Bye Celica and MR2
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Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 288
From: Minnesota
Re: Buh Bye Celica and MR2
Originally Posted by AronZ28
toyota hasn't made a sports car since the Supra was discontinued. Celica isn't a sports car because its FWD, the MR2 would have been a great ugly sports car if it had 100 more horsepower. Toyota is starting to become like buick, all they sell is bland, bland, and more bland cars.
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Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 388
From: Racine, WI
Re: Buh Bye Celica and MR2
[QUOTE=Z28Wilson] I want to know what the market share is of mid-engined roadsters compared to all 2 seat roadsters being sold.
QUOTE]
The newest figures I could find are from 2001 sales (source: forbes article)Mid-engine accounted for 11.67% of total us 2 seat sales (160,360 units total) broken down: Boxster 12,278 units sold, MRspyder 6254 and nsx 182. The 2 seat segment is expanding today with newcomers such as the nissan z and soon solstice.
If you looked at say 1986 sales figures the percentage would be closer to 25-33% with fiero accounting for around 80,000 units. I will check the library reference books when I have time to give an exact figure. The 1984 percentage would be even higher but it wouldnt be fair to use since fiero was brand new and had as much hype as the 01 pt cruiser. The market is there for the taking today.
How many mid-engine's could gm sell today? Good question. Depends on whether it would be 4cyl/v6 or v6/v8, only coupe or also a conv, if VW enters the market first and lastly the economy. 40,000 units would be a good number to sustain demand over the long run. Could be built on kappa.
QUOTE]
The newest figures I could find are from 2001 sales (source: forbes article)Mid-engine accounted for 11.67% of total us 2 seat sales (160,360 units total) broken down: Boxster 12,278 units sold, MRspyder 6254 and nsx 182. The 2 seat segment is expanding today with newcomers such as the nissan z and soon solstice.
If you looked at say 1986 sales figures the percentage would be closer to 25-33% with fiero accounting for around 80,000 units. I will check the library reference books when I have time to give an exact figure. The 1984 percentage would be even higher but it wouldnt be fair to use since fiero was brand new and had as much hype as the 01 pt cruiser. The market is there for the taking today.
How many mid-engine's could gm sell today? Good question. Depends on whether it would be 4cyl/v6 or v6/v8, only coupe or also a conv, if VW enters the market first and lastly the economy. 40,000 units would be a good number to sustain demand over the long run. Could be built on kappa.
Registered User
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 1,040
From: New Haven, CT
Re: Buh Bye Celica and MR2
Originally Posted by Red Planet
once again, it's important to look at what the public is buying......trucks continue to sell....
also, the number one reason overall that people buy a sports car is the appearance...performance is number two. (again.....overall......)
If the appearance does not change, there is evidence that sales will drop after 2 and a half to 3 years by as much as 20 percent.
Now...that said....don't assume that GM is ignoring the market. I'd love to talk about future products but am prohibited from doing so. (I'll say this...your voices have been heard.......)
also, the number one reason overall that people buy a sports car is the appearance...performance is number two. (again.....overall......)
If the appearance does not change, there is evidence that sales will drop after 2 and a half to 3 years by as much as 20 percent.
Now...that said....don't assume that GM is ignoring the market. I'd love to talk about future products but am prohibited from doing so. (I'll say this...your voices have been heard.......)
I wouldn't be surprised if the MR2 came back......under a Scion badge.
Toyota is pretty smart, they are trying to do what GM did in the past with the "ladder"...first you buy a Chevy, then you buy a Pontiac, then a Buick, then a Caddy (well maybe not like that but you get the point). Except now its buy a Scion, then a Toyota, then a Lexus.
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Jan 31, 2003 11:06 AM