Since French car maker Renault took charge of Nissan, will Renault attempt to re-enter the US market?
I hope so. Gotta love the Elf.
Not if they learned their lesson from the drubbings they took on their previous three attempts.
Three attempts? Wow.
I guess it’s pretty clear that this country doesn’t want to see another Renault Encore.
(ducks and runs)
The Encore was the hatchback version of the AMC/Renault Alliance (R7/R9?), Motor Trend’s Car Of the Year sometime in the early to mid 80s.
The Encore was had the least French Funkiness that doomed the automaker.
The Fuego, and LeCar were just a little too offbeat for Americans.
They will come back only as a middle of the road company and ONLY IF THEY CAN MARKET A LINEUP OF SUVs.
Two things needed in US market: A decent and ‘average looking’ sedan (a la the Accord…Camry…Taurus) and a line up of SUVs.
Barring those types of items, they won’t be back.
I had a Le Car. Liked it a lot.
Philster is right. Americans won’t buy funky looking european economy cars. I mean how much do those things go for anyway. I’ve seen one Le Car in my life. From a distance I thought it was a Yugo. But when we pulled up behind it, it said, “Le Car by Renault.” I thought, hmm, doesn’t Renault make an F1 car, this can’t be the same company. I got on the PA, and well I made fun of the guy. I mean, if you drive a car like that, you have to be able to laugh at yourself. Have some kinda sense of humor. But this guy didn’t. He chased us around the city. And well, the V4 Four Runner doesn’t have the speed to get away from anybody, but he gave up after some good manuevering.
Sorry about that tangent. Anyway, I think the American market isn’t going to accept anything new and radical very easily. I mean sure they probably get good MPG, but you can just get a new economy car that blows those out of the water.
I probly don’t know what the hell I am talking about, but that’s my 2 cents.
I’ll bet some people would buy this. The main concern would be servicing the thing. Easier to brand it a nissan and service it at Nissan dealerships. Check out the interior!