Quote:
Originally Posted by sunkist350z
It was quoted last month that the rx-vision was axed? I hope I'm wrong, Mazda should release or bring that rx-vision or production version to compete with the new z & supra. Its the 90's all over again whoo hooo.
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under the current global economy condition, and the not-so-good business performance of most major Japanese car manufactures, I highly doubt any new sports car will come out soon.
Sports car, has become a difficult category for Japanese car manufactures, since it is the category that make the least sales and profits.
They can easily spend the same amount of money on sedan or SUV and the sales volume for these two will be much higher than the sports car.
If they price it around the $40k-$60k, there's lots of competitors from others such as M2, used M3/4, Cayman, Boxter, Vette, or even Mustang...
If they price it around the exotic category, the result will be similar to the new NSX, people rather opt for an European high-end.
Toyota/Lexus have said the LF-A is actually a lost-money model thus they have to make it limited production quantity.
When looking at the old days, 10-15 years ago, in Canada, a brand new NSX was listed for CAD$140k, yes, it has all the high end material such as aluminum chassis, the then-sophisticated V-TEC, and the ageless style, however, people were hesitated by the hefty price tag. Similar situation to the S2000, for a CAD$50k you get a honda roadster, CAD$60k for a Supra.
General consumer rather spend that amount of money on an European from a CAD$50k 3-coupe to a CAD$60-ish-K M3 or dump $140K for a Porsche....
Do we, sports car enthusiastic, want a new sports car from JDM, of course we do, but as the point of view from the car manufactures, we are only a tiny small group compare the to sedan and SUV market, thus we will always be looked after the last.....
It took Honda more than 12 years to final pen the production of the new NSX and you can see the poor sales of it...
Everyone knows nissan is holding onto the new Z35 since the weak sales volume.
Toyota, I think it's going to take them a long while before they can finally decide it's a "go", or a "no" to the exciting FT-1.