Are auto makers smart or just plain lazy?

[Ethnic Vagina Finder]

The types of models have shrunk drastically.

Instead of making different types of cars, they simply strip features/options and make different variations of the SAME car.

There are 14 different types of Dodge Challengers

 

[Fat Fred Jones]

For the most part they just respond to market demand while trying to keep costs down. It's relatively inexpensive to offer many different packages on model that they know will sell versus developing different chassis/models in a fledgling segment (e.g. sedans). However since you mentioned the Chrysler's Challenger, I'm not understanding why there is no longer a 300 SRT, especially seeing as there are so many various Chargers, which the 300 shared a platform with. Then again, that just reinforces how expensive it must be to manufacture models and even packages that don't sell well. The R&D cost on an all-new model is astronomical so automakers tend to play it safe.

 

[MMA]

They are too focused on minimizing the amount of platforms they use.

 

[UberEatsDriver]

The types of models have shrunk drastically.

Instead of making different types of cars, they simply strip features/options and make different variations of the SAME car.

There are 14 different types of Dodge Challengers

I thought the Jeep Grand Cherokee had the most trims

 

[B86]

I'm not into cars all like that so I may be wrong, but I swear just from renting newer cars and having a 2018 Elantra, every newer vehicle drives the same and has damn near the same dashboard/stereo/center console, unless it's a luxury or exotic car. Hyundai, Toyota, Honda, Chevy, Dodge, Ford etc are all too similar nowadays