[Chapter 470: Full-Size SUV]
The investors overlooked the fact that the frequency of advertisements was gradually declining. What excited them most was that car sales were still on the rise.
They believed that when the other vehicle models were released, the sales numbers would still be impressive. They shrugged off the short-term losses, thinking, "None of the Big Three automakers are really turning a profit."
Full-size SUVs and large pickup trucks had always been the favorite of Texans. Naturally, Bentley would choose Texas to unveil its ultra-luxurious SUV.
Despite the high price, it still attracted a lot of attention. Bentley not only trounced Rolls-Royce in luxury car sales, but also planned to expand its product line.
With a 6.0L V12 engine weighing over 7,700 pounds, don't expect its fuel economy to be impressive.
Fortunately, Texas wasn't California; there weren't as many eco-warriors here. The wealthy elite had no resistance to showing off this flashy SUV.
Driving this beast down the street was noticeably more eye-catching than cruising in a stretch Lincoln, especially for those who preferred driving themselves. If you were in a Lincoln, chances were you were just the driver, and you could bet no one would be holding the door for you at the hotel entrance.
...
"Land Rover? That guy's pretty full of himself," one said.
"Sir, a desert tycoon just ordered over 300 bulletproof upgraded versions. We might need to reassess the valuation of this Bentley," another reported.
"Good grief, those filthy rich folks! Aren't they hand-crafted? When will they be finished?" the boss sighed.
His subordinate chuckled wryly; he had never taken it seriously because no matter how impressive you were, without production, you were just out of luck.
"Sir, the new factory in London isn't the same old workshop anymore. Though the leather interiors are still hand-polished, the engines and chassis are now produced on an assembly line. Their so-called flexible production lines are pretty efficient," another chimed in.
The hot demand for ultra-luxurious SUVs was entirely within William White's expectations. In today's market, there were no real competitors.
High-performance sports cars and luxury SUVs had a very narrow audience. However, one couldn't deny the demand. What's endearing is that these folks were loaded -- spending $100,000 was nothing to them.
Bentley and Aston Martin were no longer purely hand-crafted. Their impressive transformations really caught people's eyes.
When Bentley launched a new vehicle, Aston Martin naturally wouldn't sit idle either; they were aiming for the SUV market. Well, the concept of urban off-roading wasn't all that popular back then, and not many thought cities needed off-road vehicles, even the Beetle could easily climb over curbs.
But the issue was that consumers were buying into it; using this vehicle to show off was unparalleled. More importantly, the suspension was reliable, so even the most spirited driving didn't lead to mishaps.
"Ha! Spirited driving? What kind of driving are we talking about, boss?" one asked.
"Don't get smart with me; your Aston Martin needs a suspension adjustment. I gotta hand it to you, you've really been improving lately," the boss replied.
Jason Garrison looked miserable. In this cramped space, his back was almost broken.
"Don't talk nonsense; I'm about to get married!" he protested.
"Uh, if you're in need, how about borrowing my Jurassic Park? Lanai Island isn't worth seeing anymore," the boss suggested.
"Sure boss."
...
The two new car models that were hot on the market left the Big Three automakers in a tough spot. They had previously criticized the so-called ad bombardment, but now, it turned out they weren't even running many ads and were still out of stock.
They were actually relieved that Bentley and Aston Martin's factories weren't set up in the U.S. or their situation would have been even worse.
You could cry foul about cheap imports and slapping on tariffs, but how do you explain Bentley and Aston Martin?
Noble British heritage?
Let's not kid ourselves; you've got more brands in your hands. Sadly, those brands in your control are just going to gather dust, becoming practically invisible.
Of course, the Big Three wouldn't just sit back and take it. Who couldn't make an SUV?
William White didn't care about their race to catch up. Unless something unexpected happened, it would take those guys at least two years.
Don't be surprised -- when General Motors rolls out a new model, it takes two full years. When it's ready for mass production, you're looking at a minimum of three years. By the time they get their act together, Tesla's SUV and off-road vehicles will be hitting the market. How could he fear such idiots?
American SUVs and off-road vehicles were pretty decent, but one drawback was their terrible fuel economy, and the suspensions weren't that well-tuned either. Compared to the Japanese cars, the comfort of their suspension was lacking. When it came to European cars, they felt too soft.
In short, they didn't really have their own unique characteristics. The Japanese cars had great riding comfort but were lacking in high-speed stability. The European cars had stiffer suspensions that weren't that comfortable, yet their high-speed stability was outstanding.
In the U.S., the comfort fell short of the Japanese cars, and the high-speed stability wasn't as good as that of the Europeans. They couldn't even compare for ride comfort. Plus, they had ridiculous fuel consumption and all sorts of little issues.
Unless you really like working on cars, buying American just didn't make much sense.
Some might say, "Americans are super hands-on; they not only do their own maintenance but also enjoy fixing their cars." If your car isn't falling apart, how are people supposed to have fun?
Okay, that's a point.
There are plenty of such folks in America, but most people just see their cars as a means of transportation. You can't expect everyone to be a mechanic.
*****
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