re: marketing a car in the usa (& elsewhere) - lotus/nissan/alfa

[dsedon@domain.elided]

<<<"...As to fwd and rwd, I cannot speak for the USA but the vast
majority of drivers in the UK would not even know the
difference, let alone which to prefer. Of those who do have
a preference most would go for fwd for reasons of safety
in poor conditions (most fwd cars responding well to cack
handed responses when someone over cooks it)....">>>
==============
well, ya, this is true for the usa as well.  but decidedly *untrue* for exotic hi-performance cars, (not yust in the usa), which is where lotus fits, along w/porsche, ferrari, lambo, etc...  i wonder how well the porsche boxter wooda gone over, if it were fwd....

<<<"...Maybe, but the 147 is a far bigger car than a Mini. Certainly
not in the same market. However, if they can build (say)
20000 a year, would you sell them in the USA at US$1000
profit each, or in Europe at US$10000 each? Alfa will only
launch the cars in the USA if they can make a decent
return. Without that profit margin there is not purpose
for them to return. With unlimited production capacity
then yes they can sell them for US$9K off the price,
if they can sell 10 times as many....">>>
==========================================
certainly the 147 is larger than the mini, but in the usa, they would fight in the same market.  and, ya conweniently left out the focus svt & the vw gti, which i also mentioned, as well as a bunch-o-asian hot hatches, which i dint....  for the 147 to be competitive in the usa, it would need at least one model, priced in the low $20k's, which had sporting goodies & at least 170hp...  again, i don't tink many usa buyers would ante up $40k+ for a 250hp wersion...  (unless it were awd, or rwd, of course!)  for ~$1k worth of aftermarket exhaust & computer chip, 250hp is readily attainable w/the 1.8t used in the vw's, for one thing...

ymmv,

doug s.

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