Are TOO Many Automakers Doing The SAME Thing?

Recently I was at an area Cars and Coffee event and it struck me. Parked away from the rest of the cars was an all-new Jaguar XKR drop top in a ruby red color. It was straight from the company's North American headquarters only a stone's throw away from the meeting spot.

I've seen plenty of XKs and XKRs but this one had something different going on inside. It featured a contrasting diamond-patterned stitch on the black leather interior.

This struck me as odd. That's because it seemed too busy and also it seemed lifted from the Volkswagen Auto Group's Audi/Bentley playbook. Why can't Jaguar just be...Jaguar?

These examples are all around us.

How many automakers do you see chasing for marketshare in these silly niche categories? Once Mercedes-Benz dropped the CLS it was only a matter of time before the other German automakers produced their own four-door coupes.

Same goes for entry-level premium sedans as well as entry-level premium sport-utility vehicles.

It seems to me that there once was a bit of differentiation in the marketplace. That goes for motors, classes and design. NOW it seems that a lot of cars are essentially the same product and decisions come down to what exterior and interior design you like best.

Is this for BETTER or WORSE? Have too many automakers started following each other too closely?

What say you, Spies?

Drerx8 - 11/13/2013 8:57:30 AM

-2 Boost

Well...I see your point, but I am a fan of the quilted look; while Audi seems to be the progenitor of this design - I actually think it looks more at home in a Jaguar.

CarCrazedinCali - 11/13/2013 2:35:21 PM

-1 Boost

progenitor, wikipedia doesnt even have that word

germanlover - 11/13/2013 9:24:29 AM

+3 Boost

Audi did not invent the diamond stitching in seats. It was once done only in higher range Bentley and Rolls models. Mercedes has done this for a while also in it's upper class models especially the 65amg which to my eye looks better than any Audi interior ever especially the new S. Audi's patterns seem less diamond and more quilted in their stitching. I prefer the way it looks in the Jaguar than the overrated audi interior.

bigheadmazda - 11/13/2013 12:15:14 PM

+1 Boost

germanlover is correct. The diamond stitching started with Rolls and Bentley models. If you want to give credit to Audi for something they brought to the table that now every automaker seems obsessed with; it's the LED daytime running lights on what seems like every new car model coming out today. Perfect example of too many automakers doing the same thing.

CarCrazedinCali - 11/13/2013 2:36:10 PM

+1 Boost

LED DRLS just make sense, so no shame in copying imo

Agent00R - 11/13/2013 6:03:24 PM

+1 Boost

I think a lot of you guys missed the point.

The diamond-patterned stitch is ONE example. And, please note I gave credit to VWAG's Audi/Bentley so, please, pump the brakes.

I was trying to say that all cars are becoming too similar.

MattDarringer - 11/14/2013 8:24:40 AM

+2 Boost

progenitor: a person or thing that first indicates a direction, originates something, or serves as a model; predecessor; precursor: the progenitor of modern painting. (dictionary.com)

Drerx8 - 11/14/2013 9:17:02 AM

+1 Boost

CarCrazedinCali: Try the dictionary first. Reading is fundamental.
germanlover: 100% Cosign on your assessment.