Doug Kanter wrote:

They recover the costs the same way they do with ANY new model. If they
create a decent vehicle, it'll sell. If it's an oddball item, maybe they
have to work harder.
http://www.chevrolet.com/ssr/
(no idea how that's selling, by the way - never seen one on the road)

I've seen quite a few. Extraordinarily cute, like the PT Cruiser. Great
color, no wonder they charge extra. Costs too much, but what new car doesn't?

Companies invent or reinvent new car ideas all the time, and they either
sell, or they don't.

To me, this is funny looking, but it's selling:
http://www.chevrolet.com/avalanche/

You seem to be looking for complicated answers, when, in fact, the answer to
your question is simple: Good design, good advertising, good sales tactics.

That's also funny looking, but I think you can open the back so it acts like a
pickup in case you have to transport a refrigerator, which makes it a
reasonably adaptable vehicle. I talked with a guy at Harbor Freight who had
the Cadillac equivalent, and he said he loved it.

Most practical vehicle: 4-door pickup with a big engine. Haul anything and
anybody anywhere.

--
Cheers,
Bev
=============================================
If you are going to try cross-country skiing,
start with a small country.