Global Auto Market Creates Counter-Intuitive Success Stories

The constant flow of design, manufacturing and marketing ideas across the globalized automotive industry at times creates counter-intuitive success stories.

The Toyota Tundra 4×4 CrewMax pick-up, packing a 381 horsepower 5.7-liter i-Force V8, is a very North American product from this Japanese global leader.

If the Tundra was in the past underestimated, today it’s a major player in the fast growing pick-up truck segment. With US brands dropping small pick-ups, the Toyota Tundra and Tacoma combination has closed in on GMC, Chevrolet and Dodge Ram trucks.

While not likely to supplant the best-selling Ford F-150, the Tundra offers an impressive quality, power and high-tone interior amenities package for $47,000.

At the other end of the size spectrum, the new Ford Fiesta Titanium, a well appointed, fun-to-drive 5-door hatchback, is finding an enthusiastic American audience with the world car approach that small doesn’t mean a cheap and uninspiring. Fired by a 120-horsepower 1.6-liter engine, paired with a 6-speed power shift trans, the Fiesta mini-car offers 32 combined city and highway and sacrifices nothing in style and interior comfort for a well-equipped price under $22,000.

This George Polgar of GT Marketing for KYW News Radio.