China

So to summarize all of your points, FWD large cars are basically dead in the US and therefore if the Impala is to sell well it must be RWD, just like the best-selling car in its segment, the Lexus ES.

In 2015, the less expensive, more powerful Genesis was outsold by the Lexus ES more than two-to-one.

Do you really not understand that it’s the large car market that’s in decline, not front wheel drive large cars? In that segment nobody cares. Well, that’s not true really, they care about getting their car for less money, which a rear wheel drive platform does not provide.

USA sales for the year of 2015:

No, it’s not. It’s a perfectly functional, comfortable vehicle. The target market, SS aside has never cared about performance.

The director of the project talks about how he owns an earlier GT-R that he tuned to 600 HP. He discusses his feelings about tuning in the same video. Check on the Motor Trend youtube page.

“Hasn’t built a roadster in years” is hardly a disqualifier when, for much of their target market, roadsters ARE Fiats, up there with Alfas and MGs and the like. Saying they’re unreliable is like saying a Ferrari may catch fire: it’s part of the experience. Bear in mind the Miata was much like the NSX, which came to…

You’re welcome to do the ANSYS if you like, but bolting a roof between the two giant roll hoops doesn’t strike me as a justification for the extra weight.

That’s not the whole story. The Z3 borrowed extensively from the E36 and even the E30 platforms. It wouldn’t be disingenuous to call it an E36 with an E30 rear suspension - making it, interestingly, the closest cousin to the 3 series ti hatch. The largest factors, however, are that overall vehicle technology has…

I have a feeling that considering the car is already engineered from the ground up as a roadster and therefore wouldn’t benefit greatly from a hardtop for rigidity, our “coupe” will just be a lightweight version of this with a panel and sans the electronics and motors. Which would be wonderful.

You’re writing ads for this guy because his name is Mate! When will the same-name Gawker corruption end?! This is about ethics in auto journalism!

What no-one mentions is the Grand Touring Miata starts over $30k. I would expect a price difference between $5 and $10k, which seems fair.

The Miata’s retail price for the 2.0 base in the UK is:

I did a little more reading on the XJ... how exactly is that the role of the NSS? I’m pretty lost and curious.

I watched the Jay Leno’s Garage episode on the new NSX and the project lead for the car explained the car’s 9 speed really well: he said there was a launch gear, a cruising gear, and a close ratio 7 speed in between. I think that makes sense.

I had no idea that would be the job of an NSS, that sounds horrible. My condolences.

NSS is for losers. Just jump the starter relay with a wire.

It’s just not a daily driver. The ergonomics are horrific. They’re for completely different jobs. This is as asinine as comparing a Z06 to every sports car.