As is the engineering!
The point here is that if you produce in penny numbers as MMC do, then you inevitably have high costs. You can keep things simple and relatively crude as with the Trad but even then on any rational basis, the buyer is getting a poorly engineered car for premium money and buying for emotional not rational reasons. But as design progresses the market moves on. Generations younger than most of us dont get their hands dirty fiddling with grease guns - maintenenace is for dealers and not that often at that. They expect "infotainment" and blue tooth connectivity and things like cruise contraol and aircon. So MMC have no option but to modernise whilst still keeping their USP, the 1950s basic style. And the price goes ever upwards.
You either have the volume to compete on price or you dont have the volume and you try to offer something to compensate for the price you have to charge. Image is an important part of that.
