$25 Billion Auto Bailout may mean some RWD projects will move forward at GM

[GMusa]

hopfully this is true and works out! It would be great to bring RWD production back to the U.S!

Too bad about now Alpha at Pontiac tho! I would of loved a RWD G6!

Well since now RWD G6.. maybe we can get a XWD G6 GXP to go up against the Evo/STi!

[jmlee0695]

well remeber kdawg said the riviera was coming...

[samkung]

Better hope GM will invest the $$ wisely

[BBDOS CV8]

I don't think Holden will build anything Alpha nor ever intended to - their whole plant is recently remade to make Zeta.

I don't think another smaller Australain-made model is likely in the current ultra-competitive and getting worse import environment, unless it's a shorter Zeta, and as the coupe is dead, that's probably that.

If Holden get Alpha, it will be made elsewhere. That'll make it expensive which will limit it's success compared to the Commodore for the same reasons the G8 sells less numbers than a Grand Prix in the States. Less options, less customising, more expensive, bigger wait. Plus Zeta as a chassis architecture is still in it's infancy. It is what it is today becasue of Holden's need for a strong chassis for Australian large car/light commercial conditions. Alpha won't replace Zeta sedan/limo/ute/wagon in Australia any more than BMW or Mercedes architecture - they are much lighter duty and have different missions.

There's nothing to stop future Holdens being both smaller and lighter. However, thankfully the US is going it's own way which means hopefully Holden can go back to autonomy and do these on it's own, without having to worry about GM divisons. We might get another Monaro after all...

[SpaceCowboy]

I'm not sure how to take this news, it's both good and bad. If Cadillac takes control of Alpha development it means good things for Caddy, but a platform that will ultimately be compromised, too heavy and too expensive for use by other divisions. Of course if it means a revival of mid-size RWD drive products then do whatever it takes to make that happen! I'd love to see a Torana (and Pontiac G6 I guess) in RWD, plus if the platform is truly flexible then the per unit cost should drop dramatically especially with one platform underpinning a variety of cars from small to large across multiple divisions (It works for Nissan-Renault so why not GM?)

Of course the overwhelming arguement is that this bailout money shouldn't be used on such 'flight of fancy' products, but should instead be used on smaller cars, better engine tech and other fuel saving initiatives. Who knows though. I'll keep my fingers crossed for now though.

[MonaroSS]

Zeta is a great platform with a large future, just not for Commodore.

It is heavy for a unitary body (monocoque) design because it needs to be tough for Australian roads and conditions. People are forgetting the GMC Denali XT Concept. GM not only needs to make it's cars smaller, lighter and more economical, it has to do the same with trucks and SUV/CUV's.

While there is a role for FWD based CUV's, these will become smaller and lighter over time. But there will also be a role for a lighter but tough new generation of RWD based trucks and heavy duty SUV/CUV's. This is where GM will likely exploit Zeta now. But this will follow the more urgent small car programs and after GM stops bleeding red ink after 2010 or now 2011 if their cash burn allows.

[RedVee8]

^ Yes a zeta based awd people mover/suv would be excellent.

[LeSabre]

I'd like to see a 3dr of this.

[MonaroSS]

Originally Posted by LeSabre

I'd like to see a 3dr of this.

[eb110americana]

I don't give a crap about a RWD Impala. Chevy has enough going on already with plenty of new cars and the halo of the Vette, Camaro, and even turbo SS models like the Cobalt and HHR that no other brand sells.

GM surely doesn't need anymore crossovers, SUVs, or trucks right now, so please don't water down Alpha into another "7 seater, segment busting, Family Truckster."

I won't buy a Cadillac Alpha model that will surely weigh in around 3700lbs and cost well over $35K with options.

It's Pontiac's time now. GM, you decided that Pontiac would get this car when you left the G6 out to rot with substandard materials and outdated equipment even as you completely remade all its platformates, some even twice over the G6's lifespan. You can't turn back now, finish the job.

[MonaroSS]

Originally Posted by eb110americana

GM surely doesn't need anymore crossovers, SUVs, or trucks right now, so please don't water down Alpha into another "7 seater, segment busting, Family Truckster."

It would probably pay to read posts. Then you would know that the "crossovers, SUV's or trucks" and "7 seater, segment busting, Family Truckster" you think we are saying should go on to Alpha, are not.

We are talking about what are they going to do with the Zeta Platform if it is replaced by Alpha. The suggestion being that after the new small cars are done then they can make lighter more efficient trucks etc.

[jcurry05]

Originally Posted by HoosierRon

I literally laughed out loud when I read this headline.

Don't move up production of the U.S. Cruze.

Don't move up (and increase) production of BAS+.

Don't build a U.S. factory for production of a competitive Aveo replacement/Beat.

Don't invest in R&D to make direct injection affordable for every single car you sell.

Don't make a fuel efficient minivan to compete with the Odyssey and Caravan.

Don't start making the 1.4L turbo any sooner.

Don't replace ancient Buick models with fresh, efficient models being sold everywhere else.

No, instead, take $25,000,000,000 from U.S. tax payers and announce a new RWD platform for the Australian Commodore. Brilliant.

I gotta say even though I love RWD and would love to see more RWD GM cars I have to agree with you there. RWD is not going to save GM. More cars that are competitive like the Malibu are.

[Ambalanche]

Ok, first, if we're talking RWD Impala again, how long will it be NOW before it comes out? The current Impala is already stale, or getting stale against the Malibu, I don't know the numbers but I would think it's rapidly becomeing a fleet queen (even more so) as I can't see anyone other than seasoned citizens buying it retail now.
Second, How much of the $25billion is GM getting? Just because they are getting that money to spend on "fuel efficient" projects doesn't mean they have to shut down everything else. They need a well rounded portfolio.

MonaroSS- Fantastic chop job as usual, I really liked the Denali concept, but how much more fuel efficient will this be? It's still going to be one really heavy vehicle!!

[nota]

Originally Posted by GMFAN85

However, who would've guessed at the beginning of the Zeta development, that gas would be hovering at or above $4/ gallon, GM would be severely strapped for cash, and the economy would be in the crapper.

This many years ago?

Way back in the last millennium and early 2000, initial tape drawings were compared to the VT design. The VE [aka Zeta], which became 'the baby' to thousand's of devoted Holden designers and engineers over the next seven years, was conceived.

(source)

[EvilTriumph57]

1st, While I am a fan of RWD, I have to agree with some of you on this board that this probably isn't the best way GM could have spent the money....It does, however, give me an excellent excuse to buy one: I already paid for it, I might as well own it.

2nd, How big is Alpha supposed to be? 3-Series sized? I thought Zeta was a flexible platform that could do Extra Large ( Extended wheel base Commodore, Caprice), Large ( Commodore, G8) and Medium ( Camaro). I thought then that Alpha was going to be flexible as well, and cover the small-medium segmets (Alpha medium=smaller than Zeta medium). However, In this article they talk about alpha being the new chassis for the CTS ( BMW 5-series sized, on the large side of medium) and the Impala ( Historically, Impalas were pretty big and were ussually either the largest car in Chevy's line up or 2nd largest after the Caprice). Will the new CTS and/or Impala be smaller? I hope so, the Zeta is a good platform for the larger cars, I want a compliment to it, not a replacement for it. BMW 1 to 3 Series sized, then Zeta will take care of 5 to 7 series sized.