Something's not quite right with all of these conflicting reports over the past year or so.
Now:
Quote:
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"We always thought we'd do it at some point"
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April 2007:
Quote:
Unless something drastic changes, like gas prices going through the roof for more than a month, or a sudden fashion shift to tiny cars, General Motors likely won't sell its newest Chevy minicar in the U.S.
The public's whims will be "considered" as part of GM's decision as to which one goes into production, something Lutz said will happen in the "relatively near future," which he defines as within normal development time.
Judging by needs and the capital budget, probably only one will get the green light, but styling cues from the also-rans may make it into future small cars, Lutz said.
The triplets are not engineered to meet U.S. safety requirements, but Lutz said if GM does think North American needs a Chevy minicar, the chosen one can be homologated relatively quickly.
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"The 2012 timeframe" = relatively quickly? Ooookay.
Imagine for a second that the 2012 date is legit. I wasn't aware that GM had so much time to futz around with product -- maybe they could have shaved a year off if they hadn't waited for gas prices to get so high before acting? The Beat/WTCC inspired Matiz redesign is already in camo in spy shots seen around the web at least a month ago. 4 years to get it to the U.S.? Is that another well-timed market move like the introduction of the current Opel Astra to U.S. shores 4 years after its debut in Europe? Or is that how long it would take to get a factory in Mexico?
Again, someone is trying to conveniently forget his remarks of the past,
the reporters got it or are getting it wrong, or, as Doug Henning would say, "it's all an illusion"!
Or perhaps GM is hoping we'll forget about all this when (if) gas prices drop to around $3.20, Obama or McCain are finishing out their first term in office, and people start turning back to SUVs (they hope)?
