| I've noticed this recently with their "NO TURBOS" mantra. They are designing cars like their culture, compact, efficient, minimalist. Only enough to get you to the cubicle. In fact the modern Japanese car is an extension of the cubicle. The cubicle office, the cubicle home, the cubicle city. Everything square, clean, compact. And these elderly designers are making cars perfectly engineered for a long and boring existence. Someone got the idea in their head that the way of the future is green technology that offers no entertainment value. Its not surprising really, probably a natural flow of events. Japan is a tiny island nation with limited natural resources including oil. Thats why they rely heavily on nuclear power. Its a natural cultural extension to move away from gas guzzling cars given the current media environment pressing green tech. I've noticed the Japanese are very susceptible to foreign media narratives and trends. Almost hyper sensitive. To summarize: Modern Japanese cars appeal to the modern Japanese and not much else. The Jap heavy hitters we saw in the 90s are going to sleep and will sleep for another 10 years is my guess until the international sales trends get so bad and the green tech industry implodes on itself. The US has vast oil wealth it would gladly share with its Pacific Ally and in the next 10 years with the US set to become the worlds largest exporter of oil I see Japan becoming one of our main oil importers. With that oil wealth we should see a return to the cultural values of a nice romping Japanese car from the factory. Of course there are exceptions to this rule but for every exception you show me I will show you 10 cases of this being the rule.
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Matt Sturgeon | Create Your Badge
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