Touareg V10

[Ti Kan]

Louis-Alain Richard writes:
> Think about this a minute: wouldn't it be a better world if;
> ... 
> - Volvo was still square?
> - Saab was still Saab?

You're absolutely right.  I think this platform sharing business
has gone too far, to the point where it's almost a farce.  When the
Jaguar X-type is just a disguised Ford Mondeo, ditto the Saab 9-3
being an Opel, or the new Volvo S40... and don't get me started about
the Saabaru 9-2X!  That's badge engineering at its worst.  It's not
about just making the front grill or shape of car look like the brand,
or putting the ignition key on the console.  The "soul" of the brands
are simply lost in the translation.

Fortunately, Audi has not succumbed to this in too much of a big way.
Sure, there is platform sharing within the VAG empire, but aside from
the TT and A3 which are based on the VW A-chassis, Audi mostly has its
own.  Yes, the Passat is basically a stretched A4, but it's technology
borrowing going the other way.  I think most people will agree that
the A4/Passat's chassis is really an "Audi" platform.  Audis are still
Audis and not butchered like what had happened to Volvo, Saab or Jaguar.

> Car manufacturers are seeking for trouble when nearly each one of them =
> wants
> so cover all the personal vehicle market niches with just 4 platforms:
> 4 different size sedans, 1 sportscar, 3 SUVs, 1 minivan, 2 coupes and 1
> crossover. And if you want to double your market share, just sell them =
> under
> another brand name and voila, a brand new car company!=20
> However sees Toyota and Lexus in this description is totally right.

Last I checked Toyota had no less than five different SUV models to
choose from, not to mention trucks of all sizes.  And don't forget
Scion!  They really want to take over the world.

> Dead to uniformity! Vive la difference! Don't buy a generic car! =

Indeed.

-Ti
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