It doesnt matter who the buyer is, people buying cars are generally tools who don't understand much beyond comparing numbers without necessarily having a good grasp of their meaning.
Unfortunately the stereotype of the typical import buyer (which does have some validity, though you are correct, is an analog to many a buyer of other vehicles) is someone who wants a vehicle that they can drive from A-B, without giving them any problems, and gets the job done. Heck, why else has Mazda been successful with their "zoom zoom" campaign? because the average camry or accord (or taurus, malibu, etc) is not just a commodity appliance?
Now lets go back in time... for how long has GM made 3.8L v6 engines that provide economy nicely over 30 MPG, while providing decent power and a heack of a lot of torque? Years and years?
Competition is good, S&T and advancements are good too. But, companies are out to do one thing - sell cars. They advance their technology base not for the good of the population, but for their profit. 120hp moves a car just fine... but if a competitor is offering 130, average joe WILL buy the higher number, feeling they get better value.
And then all of a sudden we start putting out enormous HP numbers, v8-esque fuel economy, but since HP is higher and number of cylinders is lower, mr or ms. non-analytical decides from the most basic information that the product is better, and then a car sells.
The problem is that people are too stupid to do real analysis. heck, the average high school kid frowns at the thought of taking pre-calculus. That really is a shame.
Unfortunately, any of these number games are merely to appeal to the vast majority of people who really cannot analyze things well. Technology? great. What is it worth? Nothing if it doesnt result in sales. Why does Honda do F1? For their own good? nope, for sales.
So guess what, a 3800 V6 is a darn good driving experience in nearly any platform it is put in. But guess what? at 210 hp or whatnot, its numbers can easily be trumped, and then those numbers on paper is what really wins. Remember, most folks cannot analyze things properly. So what do other manufacturers do? invent schemes (tech is good schemes are bad) to show higher numbers for the sake of selling cars. is the number any more valuable or better than the 210 in the 3800? Not necessarily. But its a bigger number, and so it looks better to the non-analytical buyer.
There is a reason why a base 3-series BMW wins in comparissons against much more advanced, higher powered alternatives. It is the package. It is the feel. It is also the reason why a base Porsche is a far superior ride to its 'alternatives', though they may be superior on paper from number comparisson. It is also why these cars sell out without issue. They have good products without resorting to reporting ever higher numbers for non-analytical buyers.
Is the technology that comes along great? ABSOLUTELY.
Is it all necessary? Not necessarily.
Is it enhancing efficiency? Nope, not for its early or most follow-on insertions.
OK, for 275 hp, maybe it allows the manufacturer to make a more power-dense product. Wahoo... what does it do for me? As power density increases, longevity generally decreases, without substantial metalurgical and chemical advances.
So I still maintain that most of these moves are purely to sell more cars to the non-analytical public, with negligible REAL value obtained from the process.
JMH
