September 1999
Text By Redline
Photos courtesy of GM, Ford and DaimlerChrysler
MOTION Magazine
Industry Report
Cars are products of their birthplace.  If this is true, what can we expect from the land of plenty, the USA, where the roads are wide and waistlines ever-expanding?  Big cars, of course-tall and wide inside, garage-busting on the outside.  Courtesy of the USA's so-called Big Three, General Motors, Ford and DaimlerChrysler (did America really win WW2?).

Big they may be in the U.S., but in Asia the Big Three are small fry.  In the Philippines they account for less than 1% of the market.  Japanese badges are on more than 90% of our cars.  This may be due to the perseverance of the Japanese.  Toyota shrunk to nonexistence for a few years before its comeback with the 16V Corolla, while Nissan succeeded in selling us decent if bland sedans in the 80s.  However, the Americans seem to have neglected the Philippines and rest of Asia as well. 

However, the next American invasion is already on its way.  No company can hope to dominate world markets without being at the top in Asia, and the big three certainly have their sights set on us. 
Which begs the question:  do we really want them back?  Let's take a look at their offerings and decide!  To be honest, you won't find the bookmarks of Ford, GM and Chrysler anywhere in my "Cars" folder.  Let's face it-their cars don't provoke any lustful urges (to buy).  Ford's reentry into the Philippines with its monster pickups, ungainly vans and limo-ready sedan hasn't exactly helped.   If we look at their offerings in Europe, though, then there might be something worth waiting for.


The Ford Contour SVT shows that Ford USA knows how to style cars correctly now and still give decent pace.
Ford Europe designed the Cougar based on the Puma. Its agressive design and stance is enough to make other coupes run for cover.