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paul8488 · 06-03-2008, 09:34 AM

Closing Hummer is a start... but they should go an extra step and turn Pontiac into a new Geo. As gas prices get higher and higher people are going to care even less than they do now about paying a bit more for a Pontiac that they can get at Chevrolet or Saturn. GM could be the only manufacturer with a proper channel for eco-friendly cars (now that Scion has already forgotten that that was their goal).

GM has a handful of good, small, economical cars out now, a few in need of better engines, and a couple more on the way. They shouldn't get tossed into the mix with exisiting brands... they'll too easily get lost. Heck, drop the Pontiac name and use the Geo moniker again. It has a nice ring to it and sounds ecological on its own. It could be the home of all of GM's small cars (Beat, Matiz, Agila, Aveo), along with a basic version of the Cobalt and even the Volt. They could get a people mover too, like the (hopefully coming soon) new Rezzo in Europe, or the Vibe (rebadged). They could offer up some car-based mini pickups and mini utility vans like in other countries.

Make these things as light as possible and focus on fuel economy. The Cobalt XFE shows what GM can do with exisiting platforms... they just need to apply this thinking to all their small cars. I think a semi-new name (Geo) with a bit of recognition would be the best way to get some attention (as we read in another thread that 54% of Americans won't even consider a domestic brand).

06-03-2008, 09:34 AM	#19 (permalink)
paul8488 Firebird Concept (the turbine one) Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: France Drives: 2006 Yamaha YBR 125 1990 Citroën Ax Posts: 14,550	Re: GM to close 4 North American truck plants, may axe Hummer, Volt to be made in Det Closing Hummer is a start... but they should go an extra step and turn Pontiac into a new Geo. As gas prices get higher and higher people are going to care even less than they do now about paying a bit more for a Pontiac that they can get at Chevrolet or Saturn. GM could be the only manufacturer with a proper channel for eco-friendly cars (now that Scion has already forgotten that that was their goal). GM has a handful of good, small, economical cars out now, a few in need of better engines, and a couple more on the way. They shouldn't get tossed into the mix with exisiting brands... they'll too easily get lost. Heck, drop the Pontiac name and use the Geo moniker again. It has a nice ring to it and sounds ecological on its own. It could be the home of all of GM's small cars (Beat, Matiz, Agila, Aveo), along with a basic version of the Cobalt and even the Volt. They could get a people mover too, like the (hopefully coming soon) new Rezzo in Europe, or the Vibe (rebadged). They could offer up some car-based mini pickups and mini utility vans like in other countries. Make these things as light as possible and focus on fuel economy. The Cobalt XFE shows what GM can do with exisiting platforms... they just need to apply this thinking to all their small cars. I think a semi-new name (Geo) with a bit of recognition would be the best way to get some attention (as we read in another thread that 54% of Americans won't even consider a domestic brand). __________________ *It's been swell, but the swelling's gone down.* Last edited by paul8488 : 06-03-2008 at 09:48 AM.