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Originally Posted by Ming
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This was a great vehicle. It offered lots of storage space, 3 true rows of seats, and the ability to tow 5500lbs. I think this is another vehicle that GM simply abandoned - which in spite Japan illustrating now for decades that the route to success is to continue to improve, GM still seems to think design, ignore, scrap, stopgap, rename, release is the better course.
Imagine for a moment if they had implemented continuous improvement on this vehicle - which had a huge following in business and personal use.
- Body on frame moves to high strength unibody for improved drivability and seat stowage, IRS becomes standard, AWD available.
- Tow rating climbs to 6,000 lbs with available 5300 small block V8 and 6 speed auto
- Tired 4300 swapped in place of modern 4200 with class leading 6 speed
- Integral ramp designed into rear bumper with 500lb capacity
- Second row seats flip and fold against the front seats, or can be removed easily via above ramp.
- Third row folds into floor
- Available rear moonroof is engineered flush with rear door, so tall articles could be carried (a modified, inexpensive XUV trick)
- 2 mode hybrid becomes available, and in engineered to allow vehicle to function as a generator while still providing 25% mileage improvement
This would be a van. However, in corporate GM think, this would compete too much with the full size vans that frankly are too big for most people, so better to cede what was a market they owned - highly capable midsize vans.