Friday, January 27, 2006
Xenophobic
So, Toyota has announced it wants to go NASCAR Nextel Cup Racing in 2007. Fine bring it on… besides lots of Toyotas (and Hondas) are assembled right here in the USA. I am not afraid of Lucy Lawless or Toyota.
But a couple things seem a little odd to me.
1. Chevrolet, Dodge, and Ford have been building snarling low-revving high-horsepower gas guzzling low-tech push-rod V-8’s since about the time the U.S. and Japan had that skirmish that resulted in some nuclear unpleasantness. Toyota has never been a player in the “snarling” V-8 market and their corporate culture would likely snub their nose up at the suggestion. NASCAR has a muscle car heritage. I know muscle cars… I dream about muscle cars… Toyota, you have no muscle cars.
2. Each of the current NASCAR brands have some form of performance pedigree to go along with their model names: the Chevy Monte Carlo SS, the SHO Ford Taurus, and the Dodge Charger R/T. I am not so foolish to pretend these models have the grunt of production NASCAR models of the 60’s, 70’s, and 80’s. But still they have attitude and something more than a family sedan.
Apparently Toyota is not content in crushing the traditional domestic brands in building market share. The skeptics may be more than Toyota bargained for and I suspect their success in competition on NASCAR’s highest level won’t come as naturally as it does in the showroom.
# posted by Rob : Friday, January 27, 2006
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Speaking of muscle cars, have you seen the new Dodge Challenger concept? It has beautiful lines and you can tell that the designers loved the original car. I know it won't be raced on NASCAR's Nextel Cup circuit, but a great car nonetheless.
the challenger is sweet. when i saw first saw it, i said that chevy needs to come out with a new "retro" camaro. when i was growing up my two favorite cars were the 69 camaro and the 70 challenger. Unfortunately, i put too much faith in chevy. they did unveil a concept camaro a few days later, but they obviously dont adhere to my life motto, Keep It Simple, Stupid, because i think they went way overboard in their design. its too much. too overdone. terrible job GM.
I understand your hesitancy to embrace a so-called "foreign" company in a so-called "domestic" dominated sport, but aren't Nascar cars pretty much all the same underneath slightly different body styles?
Also - Toyota doesn't really need to do anything to crush the american competition. The Americans are doing a pretty good job of self-destructing all by themselves.
Also - Toyota doesn't really need to do anything to crush the american competition. The Americans are doing a pretty good job of self-destructing all by themselves.
The brands each have their own aerodynamic characteristics and each brand brings its own engine design... within the framework of NASCAR rules. It is not just the decals on the front and rear of the car.
But your right, NASCAR works to create a level playing field. Though they often give one brand an advantage by submitting to the demands of powerful team owners.
Even in racing... lobbying is evil.
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But your right, NASCAR works to create a level playing field. Though they often give one brand an advantage by submitting to the demands of powerful team owners.
Even in racing... lobbying is evil.
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