Imagine that… good design sells in the mid-size category
Filed under: Trends, Sedans/Saloons
The Chrysler 300 is an overwhelming success for Chrysler. Ford’s Five Hundred wasn’t nearly as big a hit despite on paper being a strong competitor. The Chrysler’s advantage, of course, is bold design. The 300 has it, the Ford not so much. Automotive News even quotes an unnamed Ford exec saying the Five Hundred got a new look and a new name because, “it can’t do any worse than it has been.” Ouch. Ford CEO Alan Mulally himself is quoted saying the Five Hundred’s original look “may have been too conservative.” Ya think?
The Automotive News article points out that in the past, bold design in the mid-size sedan category was considered suicide. Take the third-gen Taurus. The car’s iconic jelly-bean shape went oval and sales dived. Honda and Toyota have historically counted on their evolutionary design strategy to sell tons of Camrys and Accords. But, as the article says, even those two Japanese companies are seeing how some well-placed design cues may appeal to even conservative car buyers’ emotions - if done well.
Continue reading after the jump.
[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req.]
Continue reading Imagine that… good design sells in the mid-size category
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