7 myths about Detroit automakers

[Corey]

Originally Posted by pauldun170

Mazda seems to be able to do it.

How bout not increasing the size of a car with each generation?

You almost have to. Customers read the magazines, see that Car A beat Car B because it had a more roomy interior and a bigger trunk, a wider and longer wheelbase, and more headroom, and they decide that those are the qualities that they want in a car as well.

Even Mazda isn't immune to it. The new 6 is a physically larger car than the old 6 to accommodate more interior space. It's also heavier, due to the increased size and the focus on eliminating thrashing and harsh noises with sound deadening materials to combat some of the noise complaints of the previous generation. The next generation 3 is larger, heavier, and has a larger engine that makes more power. The trade off is going to be a loss of fuel economy.