You in marketing?

well, no, but I am intrigued by it certainly. it goes along with the understanding of appeal to humans. I think i have a good understanding of it...

I think we're really arguing on semantics here. You and a few others are using "badge engineered" as "two vehicles that are for all practical purposes the same, but have different badges."

When I use "badge engineered," my usage is a little more specific: "two vehicles that appear to be nearly identical." The difference is subtle; the best example I can think of are the 1996 Ford Taurus and Mercury Sable.

No, I find "badge engineering" to be the same vehicle, it can be tweaked here and there to appear slightly different, but there is no mistaking the connection between the two vehicles.

"Subtle differences" by changing a few parts doesn't distract me...