The Jeep JK sells, and sells a lot. How many did they sell last year? 150k? And the JK8 is making a big splash, I know of two in my area. Clearly the utilitarian nature of those vehicles (in terms of off-road performance) is selling just fine. Of course, the 70 series does take utilitarian a step further, but I'd buy one. It's got AC, it's go 4wd, it's got a radio. I can install the rest. Most people I know don't even use the CD/tape deck/AM-FM radios, they use satellite radio or an iPod jack. Just put a radio and a 1/8" mini-phone jack (technical jargon for headphone jack) in the truck. That's what most people want. leave an opening in the dashboard for installing a CD player/nav/DVD system if that's what people want, and make it an option from the factory. Advertise the incredible value you get when you buy a truck that will go, in all likelihood, many hundreds of thousands of miles further than a comparable F150/Dodge RAM/GM truck, and do so on worse roads with lower maintenance costs and better reliability. Even with the increasing cost of diesel, getting 25+mpg in a 70-series for many hundreds of thousands of miles (albeit in a more expensive truck) is cheaper long-term than getting 18mpg for 150k, then having to go buy another US truck. If you want a truck to do what a truck does in a utilitarian capacity, where do modern big-3 trucks outperform the 70-series?
The JK sells because of its' image, not because it is utilitarian. Remember, most Americans care about looks over function...I see many a 2WD model driving around here. (Really, what is the point of owning a 2WD Jeep?) Look at the H2 Hummer when the economy was rocking...never seen so many street queens in my life.
The CD/AM/FM radio comment is kinda scary...means I am getting old! LOL (I don't use mine anymore either...) iPod or Pandora through the smart phone using a 3.5mm jack that is. :ylsmoke:
The 70 series isn't a half ton truck...it would compete against the 1 tons. First it doesn't come in enough cab options in the truck form, Americans usually have a couple kids, or use those for work. Why we see more extra cabs and crew cabs running around than regular cabs. Even in the 1/2 ton market...it is rare to see a regular cab anymore. Having owned a couple regular cabs, and now have an extra cab, I am not going back...might upgrade to a crew actually.
It would in between the 1/2 ton and the 1 tons...just don't see it selling well at its' price point. People want 400 HP 1/2 tons, as Ford can't build those V6 EcoBoost fast enough, and 3/4-1 tons with 800 ft.lbs TQ, where the 70 is powered like a Tacoma. The LC is going to cost what...$50-70K if it is imported? People
say they would buy one...well that is, after 10-15 years of depreciation.
So that leaves us with the 3 door and the wagon. With the limited interior access of the 3 door...I don't see that doing well here, consumers just buy vans.
The wagon "might" work...but why would Toyota add another wagon to their lineup, when they have the 200, Sequoia, 4Runner, Highlander, Rav4, and the FJCruiser?
Even with that line up...those don't see much off road action by the average consumer. Heck most people would do fine with a station wagon, but since a SUV is cooler
that is why they sell more. (It is all about image.) Well, until gas prices rise, then people look for something that has better fuel economy..but would rather have an SUV if they could afford it.
Americans really don't care about value and long term savings...they want the latest and the greatest...just look how successful Apple has become because of their business plan...don't they release a "new" product about every three months? It is the way of consumerism...it doesn't work, if people aren't constantly buying an upgrade.
The 70 series while a great vehicle, won't be profitable here in the States for Toyota. We can talk about it until the cows come home, Toyota will never bring them here. Only way for an American to buy a new one...is to move, or have Proffitt's assemble one.
