Quote:
|
Originally Posted by rsbaker
I don't care if Monte Carlo is in Nascar or not. I ""do"" care that GM may not replace it when Chevrolet gets the new Impala. There's always room for at least one Coupe in the line up. If Monte Carlo sales are down right now it only means people have grown tiered of the current model and that it needs to be replaced with a new one. I have always thought Monte Carlo should be moved back to share the Malibu platform as it did for almost 20 years, in this case Epsilon II. (Correct me if I'm Wrong on that) The New 2008 Malibu is due next summer or fall of next year and from what we've all seen and heard, it is going to be a knock out. I say why not give us a sexy sporty coupe version of that new Malibu and call it Monte Carlo, and while you're at it why not give that new Monte Carlo a Saab 9-3 type convertible version to to go with the coupe as a lower cost alternative to the hard top G6. Monte Carlo could become the personal luxury touring coupe and convertible in the line up. Whether or not it returns to NASCAR is unimportant. GM should make more of its models competitive in the SCCA series as they have done with Cobalt and Solstice anyway. SCCA races are much more interesting to watch anyway.
|
rsbaker, I've seen you advocate this idea before, and I think it's intriguing. However, given that there is already a G6 coupe, GM could be accused of 'badge engineering' or brand overlap with a Malibu coupe/monte carlo - a convertible just pushes it farther into Pontiac territory.
Even more interesting I think would be to have an all wheel drive Epsilon II coupe that would be a rally type car ala WRX Subaru. I don't really like the G6 coupe proportions, but I relish the idea of a GM rally car. It gets out of the retro/muscle box and into something much more contemporary. It would have practical, functionality, all weather bragging rights and perhaps a racing pedigree, and not just ride on GM's 1960's laurels.