an observation about european cars vs the rest of the

[Ti Kan]

Huw Powell writes:
> > No argument there, however I wasn't saying that Honda, Nissan or TOyota
> > are not real.  It is their "upscale brands" Acura, Infiniti and Lexus
> > that I was referring to.  There is nothing genuine about those names.
> > Their "brand" and "image" are all quite contrived, compared to their European
> > competition.
> 
> I see no difference between those examples (and some of the other things
> people have sniped at) and VW/Audi.  Large corp. (VW) owns some old
> trademarks (Audi & the other 3 rings) and revives one name and the logo
> to label a new line of cars.  Huge numbers of shared parts, technology
> and platforms while marketed as distinct products.

But there *is* a difference.  Not only is Audi an actual separate
company than VW (it has its own chairman, board, officers, engineering
and production facilities), the brand has a real history behind it that
dates back to the late 1890s, only shortly after Gottlieb Daimler and
Karl Benz "invented" the motor car.  In fact August Horch worked at
Benz and left to found his own car company due to technical disagreements
with Benz.  Now, VW owns most of Audi and there is a lot of shared
platforms and parts, yes.  But, if you were to look under the hood
of a late 1960s Audi 80, 90, or the 100, you'll find some fundamental
characteristics that had prevailed over the years, and are still present
in today's most advanced Audis.  Think back to the 1960s, yes, VW did
purchase Audi and its 4-ring logo, but the "modern" water cooled VWs
didn't even come about until many years later.  Ever marvel at how even
the most modern of Audis still reflect the lines of the late 60s NSU Ro80?
That's what I mean by heritage.  And that's why Audis have that soul
that the upscale Asian makers lack.

Perhaps I am picky, but I have a peeve when the press refers to Audi
as "the luxury division of VW".  While that is not untrue, especially
in the US market, but in the grand scheme of things Audi is much, much
more than that.

Contrast this with Lexus, Infiniti or Acura.  Those names were conjured up
by their parent companies with absolutely nothing of the sort of pedigree
that distinguishes Audi.

This is also why I consider the latest Saab and Jaguar cars less than
genuine.  They are all Saab and Jaguar on the surface, but it's only skin
deep.  Beneath that skin is all GM and Ford.  The fact that they have to
work hard to change the skin to Saab-ize and Jaguar-ize the cars is in
itself the crux of the issue.  Perhaps GM and Ford did help these fabled
companies stay afloat but at a great expense to the souls of the cars.

I hope that Volvo stays true to its own core and not make cars that are
just Fords with an Volvo-esque mask.

-Ti
01 S4 2.7 biturbo quattro
84 5000S 2.1 turbo
80 4000 2.0
-- 
    ///  Ti Kan                Vorsprung durch Technik
   ///   AMB Research Laboratories, Sunnyvale, CA. USA
  ///    ti at amb.org
 //////  http://www.amb.org/ti/
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