Actually, if you take note of what GM and Ford have done, they've actually been struggling more to build cars like the Japanese and Germans rather than the opposite.
Muscle? No problem. Modern, reasonably fuel efficient engines bolted to reliable cars with nice fit and finish, wrapped in a body that doesn't look like a car from 60 years ago and can actually turn and brake? That's been the US car companies' big battles -- most noticeably in the latest gen Mustang and Camaro.
V8's remain rare, mainly luxury/top of the line options for every other nation who has worked primarily more on making the most out of smaller, high output engines. The rest (to varying degrees) they already had sorted out 30 years ago.
Final thought: Lets say they go with the smaller option. Imagine a < 3000 lb 325 hp/250 tq turbo 4 -- something in that ball park is do-able using the Mercedes parts bin, I believe (which is quite possibly where a turbo motor would be sourced). Even at the same relative price-point as the Z34, it would eat the 86/MX-5 for lunch, and easily match or out-handle them too (just like now...), but be much more nimble feeling than the current gen, get better mpg and have lots of room to grow.
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Enjoy it. Destroy it.
Last edited by Jordo!; 08-04-2015 at 11:23 AM.
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