As soon as some investors drop some cash on this project, Studebaker is back. A six step plan for the return of the marque has been set forth, and is visible on the company's website. We'll summarize:
- Build a Scooter - No really, to gain momentum a 50cc gas or electric scooter is planned.
- Build a Car - Hilariously, the Lark is referred to as the "first vehicle." Scooters get no respect. Expect a hybrid here.
- Production Lark - Turn the concept from step 2 into a car that people can actually buy.
- Build Four More Concepts - The Avonaco, Hawk, President, and Champ concepts will be built. More hybrids are afoot.
- Production Stuff - The Avonaco, Hawk, President, and Champ hit the market.
- Go Public? - The website says that the entrepreneurs haven't really given this much through yet.
Studebaker is one of the car companies we'd most like to see resurrected, but as an all hybrid line? Hybrids are expensive to produce, emit lots of carbon in production, and the batteries within are filled with some really nasty chemicals. We'd love to see a diesel and hydrogen focused Studebaker, but this we're not so sure about. What do you think.
[via Studebaker]
Benjamin Allred February 21st, 2012 at 02:09 PM
I really really don't mind that they want to resurrect Studebaker. Heck, if I had big bucks, I'd invest in it. But I could design better vehicles than what they have depicted here and other sites. The Lark, and I will be blunt, looks horrible. I'd rather by a Fiat Multipla. I would also agree that Hybrid is not the way to go. Diesel is a much better choice. Hydrogen, if you could do it, would be great, but you don't have a large area where Hydrogen refueling is located. Seriously though, back to the drawing board on the Lark. If you have't tried it already, why not try using some of the lines that people love the Studebaker for, and incorporating them into your vehicles.