China has become the world's largest automobile consumer market for many consecutive years. Such huge consumption potential has also made more and more automobile manufacturers pay more and more attention to the domestic market. Many foreign brands have begun to put more production lines in China, and have launched exclusive formulations and even exclusive models based on the specific car-using environment and habits of Chinese people.
However, there are still some models that have not been introduced to China because they are too niche, some have overlapping product positioning, and some are not suitable for the domestic market. Today we have listed some models that have good sales or reputation overseas and see if there is one you like.
Honda Pilot
I got news from the Internet some time ago and found that Honda Pilot appeared on the announcement of the National Patent Office of my country. This means that Honda's medium-sized 7-seat SUV, which is exclusively for the North American market, is likely to meet domestic consumers in the near future. Its future goals are the Toyota Highlander, which has dominated the Chinese market for many years, and the latecomer Volkswagen Touron and other models.
If you want to stand out in this level, you will definitely not be able to do it without some strength. So what is the background of this Pilot?
As early as 2000, Toyota launched the first-generation Highlander in the North American market. For Americans who also love big cars and value practicality, the Highlander fits their tastes very well and has been a best-seller since its launch. At this time, Honda currently only has the lower-level CR-V competing in the market. Although it also sells well, it cannot compete with the Highlander.
Toyota's move successfully stimulated Honda. It is time to launch a larger urban SUV, and it is the Pilot. Thanks to its larger size, the Pilot is visually significantly thicker than the CR-V, and its practicality has also been improved. Coupled with its straight and thick lines, it has been well received in the North American market since its launch.
Although it is positioned as an urban SUV, Honda has also injected some off-road performance into it, adding the first-generation VTM-4 four-wheel drive system, which was also later used by Acura SH-AWD four-wheel drive system. predecessor. In terms of power system, it is equipped with a 3.5L V6 VTEC engine.
In the following years, Pilot has undergone two updates and is now in its third generation. The boxy shape of the previous two generations has been washed away, and more rich lines have been added, fully moving closer to an urban household SUV.
At the same time, a cylinder cut-off system was added, the Honda Sensing active safety system was equipped as standard, and the VTM-4 four-wheel drive system was replaced with a more intelligent i-VTM4 system. In addition, a more off-road-oriented model was also derived. Performance Passport model.
According to the overseas version, the current Pilot body size has reached 4940/1996/1773mm, and the wheelbase is 2819mm. This size is enough to compete with other competing models in this level. High or low. Unfortunately, I thought it would have another head-on confrontation with the Highlander in the Chinese market, but Honda's response was the Guandao and UR-V specially supplied to China.
If it can successfully enter the country in the future, the power combination of the code-named J35Z6? 3.5L? V6 engine currently used by Pilot and the 6AT and ZF? 9AT gearbox will definitely need to be changed, and the most effective The possibility is to replace it with the 2.0T engine on the Crown Road.
Hmm... When that day comes, I wonder how much impact this Pilot will have on the flourishing Highlander?
Toyota Harrier
Honda wants to introduce the Pilot to fill the gap in the mid-size SUV market, and Toyota can’t wait to follow suit. What they plan to launch this time is a medium-sized SUV. The model between Highlander and RAV4 Rongfang has FAW Toyota's internal code name 941B (GAC Toyota 942B), and its Chinese name is Harrier, which is also very similar to the transliteration of Harrier.
Judging from Toyota's previous product planning, the overseas version of Harrier is expected to be officially released in the second half of this year, and the domestic version may choose to meet consumers in 2021.
Many domestic friends may not be familiar with this car, and its reputation is far less than that of RAV4, Highlander, Prado, and Land Cruiser. In fact, this Harrier is not a new car. So far, three generations of models have been launched, and there is also a cousin called Lexus RX.
The second-generation model was updated at the same time as the Lexus RX in 2003. While equipped with a hybrid system, the size was also further increased, but the sales strategy did not change. Here is a little easter egg. By the way, when Harrier was sold in Japan, it did not carry Toyota's regular "cow head logo". Instead, it used a harrier, which is also the meaning of the word Harrier. A harrier is very common in Hokkaido. Accipitrid raptor.
As Lexus returns to the Japanese market, the third-generation Harrier, which is also the current model, has begun to gradually diverge from the RX. This relationship is somewhat similar to the Avalon and ES. The former focuses on being close to the people, while the latter continues to be responsible for the high-end market.
What will be introduced into the country in the future will be a brand new fourth-generation model, based on the GA-K platform under Toyota's TNGA architecture. Currently, only overseas renderings have been released, but a lot can be seen from them. RX shadow. In terms of power, the new car will most likely use 2.0L self-priming and 2.5L hybrid systems. The main competitors should be Honda Crown Road and UR-V.
Mazda 6 Wagon
You may not be able to react immediately when you say this name. It also has another name, called Atez Travel Edition. The Atez sedan currently on sale has been on the market for some time. Its most attractive feature is probably its superb appearance.
Although the sedan is very beautiful, for other Mazda fans, or fans who are in love with crock pots, there is always a regret in their hearts, that is, the Atez station wagon has not yet been released. Introduction to the Chinese market. Although it was previously reported that Mazda planned to bring this station wagon to China, the final result was nothing.
In fact, judging from the current situation, such a result is reasonable. Although people's acceptance of station wagons is gradually increasing, and there will even be some friends who love the Crock-pot model extremely and believe in it, they are definitely still a minority, and Mazda is obviously not willing to take this risk. It is much simpler to introduce it through import, but in the end how many people will pay for its expensive price?
On the other hand, Mazda itself is a very individual existence in the industry. Sometimes people always think that they belong to the Buddhist car sales and are unwilling to make changes to cater to the market. This directly As a result, its models often suffer from poor reviews and remain tepid. Eat a full meal first before you have the strength to talk about feelings. The Atez Touring Edition is more like a good car that can be the icing on the cake, but it can never be a timely help. Boosting the sales of existing models should be what Mazda is more concerned about.
Dodge Charger
The godfather of American muscle cars, a frequent guest in Hollywood movies, and one of the cars used by the American police. These all describe one car model - Dodge Charger (War Horse) . However, since the Chinese market has almost given up on the Dodge brand, we can only see this legendary muscle car on the big screen.
The first-generation Dodge Charger was born in 1966. At that time, its B platform already had a Coronet, a luxury model. However, in that era of unprecedented prosperity in the United States, Americans wanted to own a Coronet. Taipei is a large-displacement muscle car that is sportier, purer, more individual, and can better demonstrate its unrestrained temperament.
Chrysler will naturally not let go of such a demand. They responded quickly and transformed the B platform, launching a standard version with a 5.2-liter V8 engine and a semi-load-bearing chassis + leaf spring rear axle. American big muscles. Sounds pretty good? It’s very in line with American tastes, so it must be selling well? However, it is not the case. On the contrary, the sales volume is indeed dismal. Compared with the so-called Pony Car Mustang next door, I don’t know how many streets it has been left behind.
After more than fifty years of development, Dodge Charger has created its own brilliance and also experienced loneliness.
Since its development, it is no longer what it was in the past, but what remains unchanged is still the large-displacement V8 engine, violent power output, straight-line acceleration capability comparable to that of a supercar, and... it has never been in the Chinese market. But it’s right to think about it. If the American brain can’t accept replacing it with a 2.0T engine or launching a new energy version or something, it probably will never come.
Peugeot 208
Due to the impact of the epidemic, almost all large-scale exhibitions at home and abroad have been canceled this year, including the Geneva Motor Show that was supposed to be held at the beginning of the year.
Although the auto show has been cancelled, the selection of "European Car of the Year", a repertoire before previous auto shows, is still scheduled. The winner that finally stood out was a small hatchback, the new Peugeot 208, which defeated its opponents including Porsche Taycan, Tesla Model 3, Toyota Corolla, BMW 1 Series...
This car Is the car so powerful? At least in the European market, this is indeed the case, and it is not an exaggeration to say it is popular. In the six months since the new Peugeot 208 was launched, it has received 110,000 orders in France alone, and the main reason for conquering these consumers is its appearance.
This cute and fierce hatchback adopts Peugeot’s new design language, making it cute and yet dynamic. Coupled with its unique interior, it is probably very big. A group of young people were completely ruined.
After all the praise, although it performs well in overseas markets, is it suitable for the Chinese market? Can he use his good looks to convince domestic consumers to pay for it? To be honest, it's not necessarily true. The car-using habits of Chinese people are very different from those in Europe. It is easy for people who are not acclimatized to the local environment to make them use their skills but not be able to use them. Looking at the current market atmosphere, the living environment of hatchbacks is constantly being suppressed by small SUVs, and the remaining share is There are not many anymore; French brands have never had much presence in the Chinese market. After entering, they will have to face the attack of powerful opponents such as Fit and POLO, and life may not be easy.
Written at the end
Globally, every market has different characteristics. People’s different needs have caused this differentiation, which has made many brands We had to come up with multiple plans to "prescribe the right medicine". However, we still hope that more and more excellent models will enter the country in the future, providing us with more abundant purchasing options.
This article comes from the author of Autohome Chejiahao and does not represent the views and positions of Autohome.