Last week’s debuts: Audi A1, BMW 8-series, Chevy Blazer and Volvo S60 [w/ poll]

Last week was busy in terms of new car debuts, so we thought we’d put them all together and see which one you think will do best in their respective segments.

Audi A1

The small A1 has been a so-so performer for Audi, selling reasonably well in Europe, but the company now has bigger ambitions. By making the second-generation model more muscular-looking and giving the latest galore of digital screens inside, Audi clearly wants to appeal to a younger crowd, hoping to lure them away from competitors such as the Mini Cooper. However, just as with the previous model, it is hard to see the A1 as much more than a posh Volkswagen. Then again, that never stopped the A3 from becoming a major success…

BMW 8-series

Just like Audi’s A1, the previous two generations of the BMW 6-series sold reasonably well, without ever setting the sales charts alight. Now, BMW decided that the way to achieve success is to make the third-generation model larger, rename it the “8-series”, and reposition it as a Mercedes S-class Coupe competitor. Will it succeed? While the BMW looks nice (if not nearly as nice as the concept the preceded it), the jury is out on whether BMW has enough cache to compete at this high end of the market.

Chevrolet Blazer

Unlike the previous two models, the Blazer is not a direct replacement of an outgoing model, but rather a repurposing of an old name to sell a new car for the Chevy brand. By fitting between the family-oriented Equinox and Traverse models, the Blazer imitates the positioning of the Ford Edge and Nissan Murano as the larger, sportier 5-seat car. With aggressive front styling and a Camaro-inspired interior, the new Blazer certainly stands out, but is the brand image strong enough to carry what is essentially an aspirational car for the image-conscious. 

Volvo S60

Like an awkward cousin, the Volvo sedan follows its sexier, more popular XC60 and V60 sister cars. Only this time the awkward cousin is all grown up, and rather attractive-looking. Will this allow the model to appeal to a different group of customers that the XC60/V60 appeal to, possibly poaching customers from the Audi A4 and BMW 3-series, or will it share the fate of its two predecessors and end up being shunned for a more practical wagon versions or the trendier crossover?

Let us know in the poll and comments section below:

Which of last week's debuts will do best on the market?

View Results

Loading ... Loading ...
  1. A1: much better and fresher than the odd-looking first generation. But why the Polo interior?
    .
    8-series: BMW could’ve done a better job in my opinion. Not as smooth and classy as the outgoing model and I don’t see the link with the namesake. Pity, because the concept had a great combination of style and aggressiveness.
    .
    Blazer: another good looking SUV Europe doesn’t get.
    .
    S60: fortunately Volvo didn’t make the mistake as they did with the V60 which looks like a shortened and boxy V90. Unlike the S90, the S60 has a decent rear. Together with its sporty profile the Swedes have done a nice job.

  2. The new Blazer looks stunning, but it’s interesting to see the difference in thinking at Chevrolet and Ford, that wants to bring back the Bronco nameplate with a retro boxy design, in contrary to Chevy that brought only the name back to the market and nothing refers to the famous ancestors besides that.

  3. Hello blogger, i’ve been reading your website for
    some time and I really like coming back here. I can see that you probably don’t make money on your
    page. I know one interesting method of earning money, I think you will like
    it. Search google for: dracko’s tricks

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.