GM Inside News Forum - View Single Post - Rumblings & Rants: Saving money, Cutting brands, and what GM SHOULD do to survive

t-rex · 09-18-2008, 01:40 AM

Now since I didn’t have the enormous time required to concoct models names, I’ve borrowed many from existing GM models (many of which would never exist in this scheme) for expediency’s sake. Plus some of them seemed to fit better in their new role!

While there’d be a few models to come and go between 2003 and 2010, they’re few in number.

This is a tentative list, as I’ve tried to make the plan as realistic as possible; you can’t introduce a new model if there’s no plant to build it in! Yes I’ve actually gone through the trouble of figuring out which plants will build which product, which is actually the biggest challenge in setting this plan up!

So by 2010, GM would be looking something like this…

Chevrolet

Beat: Gamma; 3-door hatch
Metro: GM4200; current Aveo hatch
Aveo: GM4200; current model
Cavalier: Delta; this is the upcoming Cruze
Malibu: Epsilon; current model
Lumina: Epsilon LWB (widened); aimed at Avalon etc.
Vue: GM2700; Daewoo Rezzo; flop here, successful export model; dropped when Orlando/Cruze arrives
Traverse: Epsilon; 7-seat MPV styled much like the Malibu Maxx
Signal: Gamma; baby crossover with Groove styling cues
Equinox: Epsilon; this is the Captiva
Outlook: Epsilon LWB; slots between ‘nox and ‘hoe, replaces TB; aimed at 'yota Highlander
Tahoe: Lambda; I'm thinking "Chevyized GMC Acadia"*
Tahoe EXT: Lambda; LWB Tahoe
Canyon: Epsilon; A-Bat ish (only better looking!) trucklet
Cheyenne: Lambda; Ridgeline fighter, or unibody Avalanche if you will; RIA "Saturn Switch" would work well
Acadia: Lambda; large minivan

*I decided to capitalise on the success of the Tahoe name and transfer it to the Lambda model, while consolidating the GMT900s under one basic name. I think the GMT900 model will sell the same no matter what it’s called, and the Tahoe name would ensure success of the Lambda. Also I suspect the SWB GMT900s will be the first to go as SUV sales drop, and the LWB model could then continue on as the Suburban

Chevrolet “Heritage”

Nomad: Delta; inspired by Kappa concept
Bel Air: Delta; convertible based on Nomad
HHR: Delta; replaced by Cruze (Orlando) for 2011
Impala: Zeta; sporty sedan battles Dodge Charger
Camaro: no words needed!
Blazer: GMT355; Hummer H3, in SWB 2-door and regular LWB 4-door
Recon: GMT355; Hummer HX
Hummer: GMT800; Hummer H2
Suburban: GMT900; current Tahoe*
Suburban EXT: GMT900; current Suburban
LUV: next-gen Brazilian Montana/Tornado
Colorado: GMT355; same styling as Thai model
El Camino: Zeta; Holden Ute (OR this could be the GMC Crewman concept!)
Silverado: GMT900

Corvette (yes I think it should be spun off separate brand; it'd be sold through the Chevy "Heritage" dealers)

Monza: Kappa; entry-level roadster battles Boxster; V8-powered, hairy and brutish demeanor contrasts to Sky's svelte modernity.
Stingray: The classic 'vette
Berlinetta: Zeta/Sigma; production version of Chevy SS concept sedan (anybody think the "Chevelle" tag would be suitable?)
Cien: goes to Corvette instead of Caddy.

Pontiac

Wave: Gamma; Opel Corsa
Wind: Gamma; Opel Tigra replacement
Move: GM4200; Opel Meriva
Vibe: Delta; next-gen Opel Astra, includes stylish coupé (the NUMMI Vibe would never happen; name would go Sunfire replacement)
Safari: Delta; Opel Zafira
Torrent: Epsilon; production version of Daewoo T2X "Sport Utility Coupe"
Tempest: Kappa; compact sport sedan would be exported to Oz as Holden Torana.
Solstice: Kappa; same as current model, but fixed-roof GT coupe only
Blade: Kappa; 2+2 RX8 fighter with Firebird styling cues
Grand Prix: Zeta; basically current G8
Bonneville: Zeta; Holden Statesman with G8 styling
Himalaya: Zeta; Sporty crossover; Holden-developed Territory-fighter
GTO: Zeta; coupe derived from Commodore

Buick

Skylark: Delta; “Buickized” version of new Opel Astra sedan
Insignia: Epsilon; see recent spyshots of new Chinese Regal…
LeSabre: Epsilon (wide); Chinese LaCrosse styling, but a tad bigger; designed for FWD-lovin' snowbelt customers!
Regal: Zeta; see GMI’s RIA “Wildcat”, sporty four-door hardtop or "Velite four-door hardtop" if you will!
Riviera: Zeta; see GMI’s “Wildcat Gran Sport” coupe and roadster; production versions of Velite.
Invicta: Zeta LWB; Enclave styling cues on big Statesman-size sedan
Rendezvous: Epsilon; redesigned on new platform; with some styling mods would be exported as new Lancia large MPV
Rainier: Epsilon; current Vue/Antara, but with Buick styling touches
Enclave: as is.

Saab

9-1: Gamma; small city hatch
9-2x: Kappa; Vibe/Matrix-ish AWD wagon
9-3: Delta; funky styled Astra-sized hatch
9-4x: Epsilon; Vue-sized crossover
9-5: Epsilon; current 9-3, but renamed 9-5 (old 9-5 would be dropped) back in ’03
9-6x: Epsilon (wide) LWB; larger crossover battles Volvo XC90
9-7: Epsilon (wide) LWB; Audi A6 competitor
Sonnet: Kappa; funky AWD 3-door Kammback coupe/hatch
Sky: Kappa; current Saturn, but Saab-like front styling. The word "Sky" is of Norse origin, so figured it'd work here!

Cadillac

Tosca: Kappa; C-class/3-series sedan, coupe, wagon
Ceres: Sigma SWB: current CTS
Biarritz: Sigma: High-zoot coupe and four-door hardtop
LaSalle: Sigma LWB: sort of STS/SLS/DTS cross; traditional styling with lots of overhang, but clearly A&S themed...
Sixteen: Sigma-II; S-class competitor draws from concept
Denali: Kappa; SWB crossover appeared in ’05; larger model with Provoq styling for 2010 (GMC would have never used Denali name)
Sentinal: current SRX; replaced by ^^^ and new Escalade for 2010
Escalade: Sigma-II; new smaller unibody model battles Range Rover
Evoq: current XLR

GMC

Combo: Gamma; Opel Combo
Relay: Delta; Ford Transit Connect competitor
Arena: replacement for current Vivaro; N/A built
Movano: replacement for current Movano; N/A built
Sierra: current GMT900
Yukon: name moves to this SUT; basically GMC gets the Avalanche
Kodiak: name moves to GMC
Topkick: Isuzu-based medium-duty models.

**Updated**

Comments, criticisms and suggestions are welcomed! Especially if you can think of some better model names...

09-18-2008, 01:40 AM	#197 (permalink)
t-rex 6.2 Liter LS9 Supercharged V8 Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: New Orleans Drives: 2005 BMW 325i. Posts: 7,514	Re: Rumblings & Rants: Saving money, Cutting brands, and what GM SHOULD do to survive Now since I didn’t have the enormous time required to concoct models names, I’ve borrowed many from existing GM models (many of which would never exist in this scheme) for expediency’s sake. Plus some of them seemed to fit better in their new role! While there’d be a few models to come and go between 2003 and 2010, they’re few in number. This is a tentative list, as I’ve tried to make the plan as realistic as possible; you can’t introduce a new model if there’s no plant to build it in! Yes I’ve actually gone through the trouble of figuring out which plants will build which product, which is actually the biggest challenge in setting this plan up! So by 2010, GM would be looking something like this… Chevrolet Beat: Gamma; 3-door hatch Metro: GM4200; current Aveo hatch Aveo: GM4200; current model Cavalier: Delta; this is the upcoming Cruze Malibu: Epsilon; current model Lumina: Epsilon LWB (widened); aimed at Avalon etc. Vue: GM2700; Daewoo Rezzo; flop here, successful export model; dropped when Orlando/Cruze arrives Traverse: Epsilon; 7-seat MPV styled much like the Malibu Maxx Signal: Gamma; baby crossover with Groove styling cues Equinox: Epsilon; this is the Captiva Outlook: Epsilon LWB; slots between ‘nox and ‘hoe, replaces TB; aimed at 'yota Highlander Tahoe: Lambda; I'm thinking "Chevyized GMC Acadia"* Tahoe EXT: Lambda; LWB Tahoe Canyon: Epsilon; A-Bat ish (only better looking!) trucklet Cheyenne: Lambda; Ridgeline fighter, or unibody Avalanche if you will; RIA "Saturn Switch" would work well Acadia: Lambda; large minivan I decided to capitalise on the success of the Tahoe name and transfer it to the Lambda model, while consolidating the GMT900s under one basic name. I think the GMT900 model will sell the same no matter what it’s called, and the Tahoe name would ensure success of the Lambda. Also I suspect the SWB GMT900s will be the first to go as SUV sales drop, and the LWB model could then continue on as the Suburban Chevrolet “Heritage”* Nomad: Delta; inspired by Kappa concept Bel Air: Delta; convertible based on Nomad HHR: Delta; replaced by Cruze (Orlando) for 2011 Impala: Zeta; sporty sedan battles Dodge Charger Camaro: no words needed! Blazer: GMT355; Hummer H3, in SWB 2-door and regular LWB 4-door Recon: GMT355; Hummer HX Hummer: GMT800; Hummer H2 Suburban: GMT900; current Tahoe* Suburban EXT: GMT900; current Suburban LUV: next-gen Brazilian Montana/Tornado Colorado: GMT355; same styling as Thai model El Camino: Zeta; Holden Ute (OR this could be the GMC Crewman concept!) Silverado: GMT900 Corvette (yes I think it should be spun off separate brand; it'd be sold through the Chevy "Heritage" dealers) Monza: Kappa; entry-level roadster battles Boxster; V8-powered, hairy and brutish demeanor contrasts to Sky's svelte modernity. Stingray: The classic 'vette Berlinetta: Zeta/Sigma; production version of Chevy SS concept sedan (anybody think the "Chevelle" tag would be suitable?) Cien: goes to Corvette instead of Caddy. Pontiac Wave: Gamma; Opel Corsa Wind: Gamma; Opel Tigra replacement Move: GM4200; Opel Meriva Vibe: Delta; next-gen Opel Astra, includes stylish coupé (the NUMMI Vibe would never happen; name would go Sunfire replacement) Safari: Delta; Opel Zafira Torrent: Epsilon; production version of Daewoo T2X "Sport Utility Coupe" Tempest: Kappa; compact sport sedan would be exported to Oz as Holden Torana. Solstice: Kappa; same as current model, but fixed-roof GT coupe only Blade: Kappa; 2+2 RX8 fighter with Firebird styling cues Grand Prix: Zeta; basically current G8 Bonneville: Zeta; Holden Statesman with G8 styling Himalaya: Zeta; Sporty crossover; Holden-developed Territory-fighter GTO: Zeta; coupe derived from Commodore Buick Skylark: Delta; “Buickized” version of new Opel Astra sedan Insignia: Epsilon; see recent spyshots of new Chinese Regal… LeSabre: Epsilon (wide); Chinese LaCrosse styling, but a tad bigger; designed for FWD-lovin' snowbelt customers! Regal: Zeta; see GMI’s RIA “Wildcat”, sporty four-door hardtop or "Velite four-door hardtop" if you will! Riviera: Zeta; see GMI’s “Wildcat Gran Sport” coupe and roadster; production versions of Velite. Invicta: Zeta LWB; Enclave styling cues on big Statesman-size sedan Rendezvous: Epsilon; redesigned on new platform; with some styling mods would be exported as new Lancia large MPV Rainier: Epsilon; current Vue/Antara, but with Buick styling touches Enclave: as is. Saab 9-1: Gamma; small city hatch 9-2x: Kappa; Vibe/Matrix-ish AWD wagon 9-3: Delta; funky styled Astra-sized hatch 9-4x: Epsilon; Vue-sized crossover 9-5: Epsilon; current 9-3, but renamed 9-5 (old 9-5 would be dropped) back in ’03 9-6x: Epsilon (wide) LWB; larger crossover battles Volvo XC90 9-7: Epsilon (wide) LWB; Audi A6 competitor Sonnet: Kappa; funky AWD 3-door Kammback coupe/hatch Sky: Kappa; current Saturn, but Saab-like front styling. The word "Sky" is of Norse origin, so figured it'd work here! Cadillac Tosca: Kappa; C-class/3-series sedan, coupe, wagon Ceres: Sigma SWB: current CTS Biarritz: Sigma: High-zoot coupe and four-door hardtop LaSalle: Sigma LWB: sort of STS/SLS/DTS cross; traditional styling with lots of overhang, but clearly A&S themed... Sixteen: Sigma-II; S-class competitor draws from concept Denali: Kappa; SWB crossover appeared in ’05; larger model with Provoq styling for 2010 (GMC would have never used Denali name) Sentinal: current SRX; replaced by ^^^ and new Escalade for 2010 Escalade: Sigma-II; new smaller unibody model battles Range Rover Evoq: current XLR GMC Combo: Gamma; Opel Combo Relay: Delta; Ford Transit Connect competitor Arena: replacement for current Vivaro; N/A built Movano: replacement for current Movano; N/A built Sierra: current GMT900 Yukon: name moves to this SUT; basically GMC gets the Avalanche Kodiak: name moves to GMC Topkick: Isuzu-based medium-duty models. Updated Comments, criticisms and suggestions are welcomed! Especially if you can think of some better model names... Last edited by t-rex : 09-26-2008 at 02:09 AM.