Some things in that which caught my eye:
I think this is a fair move. Nothing precludes a Nismo or GTR or whatever evolution of the car, so bringing it out in the form that is likely to sell the most cars seems wise. Hyundai couldn't keep non-turbo Velosters on the lot for two years, and if this IDx can slot in with cars like the Fiesta, Nissan may claim some customers. It's been a long time since they have had any truly desirable small car... I gotta think that was the Sentra SE-R. Although not the big block powerhouse the SE-R was, maybe this is the starting point. I'm down with that.it would mount instead a 1.6 liter four cylinder, something the designer mentions during his ride with Leno. What he does not mention, however, is Nissan’s stated choice of transmissions for the car, their variable ratio automatic.
I don't understand this comment. What didn't they do that they should have? (I know what my answer is, but I wonder what his is...)Then again, the BRZ/FR-S is not selling in the numbers they expected because Toyota and Subaru decided they knew better than us about what people wanted
I think this is more complex than alluded to. My understanding is that Chrysler was positioning the Dart as a sporty car, and it actually failed to deliver. The reason they ended up short on automatics is because they couldn't convince enthusiasts to buy it. Every article I've read about it says it's very nice from a touch & feel perspective, but isn't actually very good to drive. It ends up appealing more to people who have given up on life than people who want to love their commute.Dodge horribly botched the debut of the new Dart by failing to bring enough automatic transmissions to market.
Anyway, while I'd love an IDx in the vein of a Fiesta ST, I think building a car in the vein of the Fiesta is the right financial move.
Also, perhaps oddly, what I found really appealing in that Jay Leno video is the car's greenhouse. It looks like an awesome place to be!