He's done it, this is a comment Raul1983 made in Top Gear: 1995 Ford Scorpio 2.9 Ultima MkII:


Oh my gosh, what the heck? I'll start by saying, do you ever read car history? That may be how they started, (I'm no sure) because they wanted to know how to make those crappy German carts into something good and usable. But it is safe to say, there is no other company as innovative as American auto-makers. I mean no offense, but it is true! Look at the facts!I'm not saying other country's car makers didn't invent some pretty amazing sutff, but Americans usually perfected it. Europeans may have made the first car (more like, bicycle cart), but here is what Americans have accomplished:

Cadillac: Electric ignition and self starters
Ford: Assembly line. If it weren't for Henry F. cars would be in the millions range and nobody would have one except super rich people.
Oldsmobile: Speedometer.
Oldsmobile: Monoblock V8
Oldsmobile: (full) Automatic transmission.
Oldsmobile: Front airbag
Oldsmobile: HUD (Heads Up Display), which was very helpful for race cars and squad cars.
Oldsmobile: GPS, GuideStar (Eighty-Eight LSS, 1996-).
Oldsmobile: Automatic headlight dimmers
Oldsmobile: Panoramic windsheild
Oldsmobile: Perfected the computer engine management system.
Ford/Bantam/Willys-Overland: First true offroad vehicle. Also first war motor-car vehicle.
Americans invented the SUV
Chevrolet/GMC created the Suburban which was the first full-size SUV
Bantam/Willys-Overland/Ford: First offroad vehicle (early SUV).
International-Harvester/Ford: First mid-size SUV (Scout/Bronco)
Essex/Ford: Station wagon (enclosed)
Dodge/Chrysler/Plymouth: First minivans
Ford/GM/Chevrolet: First modern pickups.
Ford: First performance coupe availible to the average man: muscle/pony cars.

American milestones:
Ford Motor Company (1913) was producing 50% (or over) of cars in North America.
When Henry Ford passed away, A&E reported that an estimated 7 million people mourned his death.
1967: Ford started work in Europe.
Oldsmobile's Bravada paces the Indianapolis 500.

See, if it weren't for great people like Henry Ford and R.E. Olds and companies like Hudson and Chrysler, you would still be riding expensive carts that lack roofs and have 1HP.

Explorer4x4 - please don't start flag waving/nation bashing on this forum. You complained about RockerBJ but in your own way you are almost as bad. Your "holier than thou"/"better than you" additude is exactly why americans are generally disliked elsewhere in the world as fat, wasteful, opinionated and ignorant buffoons. You do little to change that perception.

Well, on the forum it is not a major problem, as that does not pollute very much.

Explorer4x4 >> about your last point, who invented the steam/petrol/gas/diesel engines? Because without that your Oldsmobiles would be hauled by horses. There were major inventions everywhere
And often it is not really an invention made by one guy, but several guys that had idea and that improved previous ideas.

I know, and there is no such thing as the perfect company or car. But Raul1983's comment made it sounds as if American companys hadn't done anything, which is not true!

He said "early 20th century", not "whole 20th century"... And by the way he probably said that because you said that european makers did nothing innovative or something like that

Sometimes, I think I should've stayed with trains (then I wouldn't care about any of this, and still probably wouldn't have ever heard of Citroen).

When speaking of trains, do not forget the French "TGV" and other various European/Japanese trains

Et c'est pareil pour les avions et que sais-je encore.
Les USA sont une jeune nation comparée à l'Europe. Il est donc évident que leur histoire et tout ce qui va avec a un certain retard, qu'ils ont grandement rattrapés sur certains points (je rajouterai malheureusement pour quelques aspects: pollution, guerre, système économique...).
De tout temps, l'homme s'est inspiré de ce qu'il voyait ailleurs pour l'utiliser, voire l'améliorer...Avec quelques fois un résultat pire que l'original.
Les américains ont utilisé les progrès technologiques des européens, comme nous avons pillé l'Asie, l'Afrique ou le Moyen-Orient. Poudre à canon, matières premières, écriture...
Ainsi va notre monde, et ce n'est pas cette discussion qui améliorera la condition humaine.
(Si un angliciste a le courage de traduire dans la langue de Shakespeare, qu'il ne se gêne pas. Moi, j'ai plus le courage.)

What's funny?

Antoine, this is one of the things I agree on. In my opinion, the TGV is the most stunning new train. Of course, if I had to pick favorites (which is harder then picking car faves), I have to go with classic American steam engines, particularly the legendary 4-6-2 Hudsons and the less-famous Chinese Mikado type engines.

Actually, the Mini Cooper (which, although lacking the straight line performance of the Mustang, could go around corners quicker) was available three years earlier. And, even sticking to American cars, the Corvair Monza also predates the Mustang.

What's your point? I said the car is perfect for a job which highlights one of its best assets. The fluid suspension, which keeps everyone comfy and ride smooth, is perfect for professional use also. Yeah, the Crown Vic is great for plowing through things as well as the E-Series hauling people and cargo. They do well in a professional environment which highlights the greatness about the vehicles.

Which country has patented most innovations in the car industry ? I'll give you a clue, it's not the US. And haven't you heard the famous phrase: "Germans invented the car, French made it work, American's made it available for people and Japanese perfected it"

No, I had nto heard of the famous phrase, and it somewhat makes sense, except "Americans made it fast" should be added. I have two words: Super Sport.

Yes, but most of the performance work the Americans did merely went towards making it available for the people. They've always had a place in making performance cars, but at the same time, it's not as if the Americans have ever been the only (or even the first) ones to build fast cars.

Okay, okay. Still, what do you think of when you think of Sport Utility Vehicle, muscle car and pickup? And, who invented the SUV?