The answer is, there’s no future in serving tiny niches. Due to economies of scale it makes sense to target larger segments. Kinda like a government trying to please everyone.
I, and I suspect many others, would still pay $40K for a specialty base model which would only cost $30K if it sold in mass-market quantities.
Large companies in oligopolic positions won't try to produce those sorts of products, because it's risky and they have no reason to innovate or seek untapped markets.
It feels like it would be possible if we could incentivize competition and disincentive consolidation, though. Not just in the auto market, either.
"The Homer" -- https://simpsonswiki.com/wiki/The_Homer
The newer models seem to be trying to appeal to the “big truck” people, but in a way that those same people won’t want
Something that I can use 95% of the time to get groceries and not feel like it's overkill, but toss a couch, dirt bike or beehive in the back when the situation calls for it.
They're also not really pickup trucks, underneath they have the same SUV unibody as the Bronco (yikes) and the Escape.
Unibody vs body-on-frame. Many consider that "not a real truck".
those vehicles had horrendous safety records, and modern trucks are larger so as to allow for crumple zones. plastic shells, Styrofoam, and other improved materials allow them to be much larger but without being excessively heavier.
agree with your 4' bed and minivan comments, tho
> Why don't we have more specialized vehicles catering to small, passionate niches?
because large scale manufacturing, safety, liability, and hell just the plain ole logistics of getting stuff places means it's not cost effective. One-offs like the Rally Fighter go for 75k-100k and won't have support, warranty, or the build quality of brands like Ford or Toyota.
Thank you government, for producing a regulatory agency strong enough to direct the entire automobile industry, but weak enough to be bribed into near-uselessness by corporate interests.
Why don't we have more specialized vehicles catering to small, passionate niches?
A modern Jeep or Land Rover looks just like a modern BMW or Audi SUV. The former brands were made by offering minimal rugged off-roaders, the latter by offering luxury vehicles. Now they've been blended into the same bland category.
What about beach buggies, or even the Yaris/Matrix/Fit class of light get-arounds? Gone.
What about the old nimble 6'-bed Ford Rangers, Chevy S-10s, Toyota Pickups? Gone, replaced with monstrous lifted 4'-bed wannabe minivans.
I understand why we can't have a meaningful choice between different types of government in the same area. But why must it be that way with consumer products?