Nissan Scores a Hit With Gender Specific Cars: Should Others Follow Suit?

Ayano Sasao is defying the conventional wisdom that cars targeted to a niche consumer category like young women are doomed to fail.

The 18-year-old Japanese hospital worker just bought the Nissan Pino, a toylike minicar just 11 feet long with star-stamped upholstery, a hook for a handbag and a chic "milk tea beige" exterior -- although she says she almost went with the pink.

"It's so cute. I just love it," she said.

To make sure women like Sasao get the message, Nissan Motor Co. launched a merchandise line for Pino, including pink bear-shaped cushions, seat covers with hearts, a CD case that looks like fat red lips, and a colorful cover for a tissue box.


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Will_ - 3/20/2007 4:10:07 PM

+6 Boost

And what would the male equivalent of this car come equipped with? A magazine rack for porn?

Rupert - 3/20/2007 5:28:52 PM

+2 Boost

Don't "typically male" things just end up looking gay?
Can you imagine a "macho" car? I imagine lots of hide and a beer compartment.

EL34 - 3/20/2007 4:20:45 PM

-1 Boost

That would make a nice trash can.

S4cabriofoxone - 3/20/2007 7:19:59 PM

0 Boost

That would only pass for a trash BAG here in MY town...

Threepoint1415926 - 3/20/2007 8:12:45 PM

0 Boost

Dont we already have gender specific cars?

Corvette: Guys Car
Beetle: Gurls Car
Mustang GT: Guys car
Mustang V6: Gurls Car

Anyone could probably keep going with a list and make it as long as my... well, long. Though most manufactures don't go so far as to put pink bear shaped cushions in a car to give it an identity, there are plenty of things engineered into a car that give it a "gender" so to speak.

kart1 - 3/21/2007 1:20:26 AM

+2 Boost

Audi TT - Girls car
BMW 3 series - Girls Car
Mazda Miata - Girls car (even though more men drive it)

Rupert - 3/21/2007 11:50:07 AM

+1 Boost

All convertibles bar SL AMG and Z4M - girls cars.

Sorry, but it's true.

ryaajus - 3/21/2007 1:34:56 PM

+1 Boost

Sorry Rubert...645ci..boys...Any convertible Ferrari,
Lambo, Porsche

Rupert - 3/21/2007 4:29:07 PM

+1 Boost

I knew I forgot a few things.
Everything you said, bar 645. Only M6 convertible. And the 911 convertible is a girls car too.