Reply: [ihc] Ford's "Scout" Range Rover

[Ted Borck <tborck@xxxxxxxxx>]

On Tue, 14 Dec 2004, Pete  Shubin wrote:

> My daily driver is a 2004 Ford Explorer Sport Trac.  When I bought it in
> November 2003 Ford gave me a little card that asked if I would be willing to
> participate in market research.
<snip>

> I also get an occasional invitation to one focus group or another. It's 
> pretty interesting and painless so I usually respond.
> This evening I went to a focus group meeting (the kind where everyone sits
> in a room with a one way mirror and they show you things and observe your
> response) regarding concept vehicles.
<snip>

> One of them so closely resembled a Scout II it was scary.  I stopped the
> presentation and asked when they were going to start selling it because I
> wanted to buy one.
>
>
>
> Why did it resemble a Scout II?  It had round headlights on a grille that
> was rectangular and had horizontal slots that made it closely resemble a '71
> or '72 Scout II grille or even a '70s IH truck grille.  The body was very
> squared off and rectangular.
<snip>

> top of fender line that extends the entire length of the vehicle to
> the rear, a nearly flat hood, what could have been a flat windshield, and
> doors with squared off window corners than dropped straight down to squared
> off corners just above the rockers.  The cab above the top of the doors and
> hood was also stepped in slightly just like a Scout II.
<snip>


While driving along today, in the movable parking lot known as US-1 here 
in Miami, the vehicle to my left was a new Black Range Rover.  I think 
Land Rover beat Ford (and others) to the Scout Look Alike Concept Punch.

http://www.landroverusa.com/us/en/Vehicles/Range_Rover/Photo%
20Gallery%20And%20Media/Photos.htm

(Line wrapped by writer)

What a great looking vehicle.  Makes the Merc G500 look like a lunchbox.

(There has been a previous thread regarding the Range Rover looking like a 
next generation Scout.)

Since the Range Rover starts at approx $75K, whoever designs and builds a 
less expensive similar vehicle will sell a zillion.

--
Ted Borck	tborck@domain.elided