Chicago Trib: Zeta is DEAD...!!!

FoMoCo Fan · 03-19-2005, 03:49 PM

http://www.chicagotribune.com/techno...ck=1&cset=true

General Motors confirmed Friday that it has stopped development on vehicles being designed for a new rear-wheel-drive platform in the North American market.

Zeta was believed to be the platform GM was going to use for the next-generation Pontiac GTO as well as possibly a pair of new Buick offerings, the Velite sedan and convertible, and maybe a midsize, performance Chevrolet sedan.

Some observers suggest GM scrapped what was to be a low-volume Zeta lineup to turn to a platform that could accommodate higher-volume cars, crossovers and SUVs in rear- and all-wheel-drive.

David Cole, chairman of the Center for Automotive Research in Ann Arbor, Mich., says this is no surprise, considering GM was not gaining market share or filling its coffers last year, either. "I'm also not surprised that they'd look at an AWD platform as well," he said. "The Ford Five Hundred and Freestyle and Mercury Montego have proved AWD is much more popular than people thought it would be. AWD in cars has really caught on."

GMfan2381 · 03-19-2005, 04:02 PM

Well. I guess Zeta will not be "saving the company now". I cant say Im suprised, espically with all of the recent news coming down the line. GM has a rear drive platform now, so chances are they will be using that in its stead. If they can do what needs to be done with the Sigma platform then Im ok with it. Save the money for other things.

Mike The Canadian · 03-19-2005, 04:21 PM

and the retarted morons wasted ****************ing money on developing it
****************ing retarted gm

GMfan2381 · 03-19-2005, 04:42 PM

It makes me wonder how much devlopment was actually done if they are willing to walk away from it. I know times are hard, but I dont think they would have jumped ship had they sunk billions into it...

FoMoCo Fan · 03-19-2005, 04:44 PM

But it sounds like Holden is still going to get their cars on the RWD platform. Some things in the original plan didn't make sense, like building the Holdens in the US, and building the Buicks in Australia.

So I guess if you want GTO, better get one now!

**mgescuro** · 03-19-2005, 04:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FoMoCo Fan

But it sounds like Holden is still going to get their cars on the RWD platform. Some things in the original plan didn't make sense, like building the Holdens in the US, and building the Buicks in Australia.

So I guess if you want GTO, better get one now!

I'd assume those Buicks would have been for China, seeing as Buicks are very big there.
But you're right, Holden in the US doesn't make any sense.

FoMoCo Fan · 03-19-2005, 05:04 PM

I wonder what this means for Camaro fans? Does an extended Kappa make an appearance as the Chevy Sport Coupe?

camaro chris · 03-19-2005, 05:12 PM

i hope camaro is on kappa if theres no zeda. no camaro equals killing rampage.

GM_Fanatic · 03-19-2005, 05:12 PM

I'm very confused now. This means no GTO? Today is a very sad day. And what is this RWD / AWD platform they are talking about? I guess I would be satisfied with that regardless as long as it doesn't set things back even more.

GM_Guy81 · 03-19-2005, 05:14 PM

well, as long as there is still the other platform thats RWD and AWD, then this shouldnt really change things much. In fact, that could be even better

driverblogger · 03-19-2005, 05:16 PM

So GM doesn't want a new GTO? **** it. What other platform are they gonna use and that is good enough to not get critized enough? GM needs to rethink itself.

FoMoCo Fan · 03-19-2005, 05:32 PM

Maybe they can use the GMT360 platform! ;-)

uujjj · 03-19-2005, 05:36 PM

GM had a bad quarter and I fear their knee-jerk reaction will be to cut R&D, which will send them further down the same spiral.

Still, it's true that RWD doesn't sell in America as well as it does in Australia or Europe. Americans value interior room over sporty handling, and FWD delivers more room and less handling.

My 100th post!

**TaHoE** · 03-19-2005, 05:36 PM

I wouldn't make a big deal out of this, I actually prefer this. They are designing a platform from the ground up. And it's not like they are giving up on RWD comletely (Buick Lausanne). They are just looking for a high volume way, and it will be possible for X-Over vehicles which is even better, I would actually consider this good news. All new Platfrom, All new components, X-Over Capability, essentially the same release date. No problem here.

FoMoCo Fan · 03-19-2005, 05:42 PM

TaHoE - you're spinning so fast I can hardly see your avatar! This is not good news. And how do we know the Lausanne is still on schedule after this announcement. It was supposed to be Zeta, right?

03-19-2005, 03:49 PM	#1 (permalink)
FoMoCo Fan 7.0 Liter LS7 V8 Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 5,014	Chicago Trib: Zeta is DEAD...!!! http://www.chicagotribune.com/techno...ck=1&cset=true General Motors confirmed Friday that it has stopped development on vehicles being designed for a new rear-wheel-drive platform in the North American market. Zeta was believed to be the platform GM was going to use for the next-generation Pontiac GTO as well as possibly a pair of new Buick offerings, the Velite sedan and convertible, and maybe a midsize, performance Chevrolet sedan. Some observers suggest GM scrapped what was to be a low-volume Zeta lineup to turn to a platform that could accommodate higher-volume cars, crossovers and SUVs in rear- and all-wheel-drive. David Cole, chairman of the Center for Automotive Research in Ann Arbor, Mich., says this is no surprise, considering GM was not gaining market share or filling its coffers last year, either. "I'm also not surprised that they'd look at an AWD platform as well," he said. "The Ford Five Hundred and Freestyle and Mercury Montego have proved AWD is much more popular than people thought it would be. AWD in cars has really caught on." Last edited by Ming : 03-19-2005 at 06:13 PM.

03-19-2005, 04:02 PM	#2 (permalink)
GMfan2381 5.3 Liter Vortec V8 Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Bel-Air, MD Drives: 2001 Cavalier Z24 Posts: 1,368	Re: Chicago Trib: Zeta is dead Well. I guess Zeta will not be "saving the company now". I cant say Im suprised, espically with all of the recent news coming down the line. GM has a rear drive platform now, so chances are they will be using that in its stead. If they can do what needs to be done with the Sigma platform then Im ok with it. Save the money for other things. __________________ GM autos: the best investments I've ever made ------------------------------------------------------- 1986 chevy cavalier wagon-206,442 miles 1989 oldsmobile cutlass-216,220 miles 2000 chevy cavalier-52,367 miles --totalled 2001 chevy cavalierZ24-80,654 (Something finally happened! Needed a new battery) So lets see. Toyota lied about recalls. Lied about their HP ratings... I wonder how much truth is in their milage ratings..

03-19-2005, 04:21 PM	#3 (permalink)
Mike The Canadian 3.5 Liter V6 Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 290	Re: Chicago Trib: Zeta is dead and the retarted morons wasted **************ing money on developing it **************ing retarted gm

03-19-2005, 04:42 PM	#4 (permalink)
GMfan2381 5.3 Liter Vortec V8 Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Bel-Air, MD Drives: 2001 Cavalier Z24 Posts: 1,368	Re: Chicago Trib: Zeta is dead It makes me wonder how much devlopment was actually done if they are willing to walk away from it. I know times are hard, but I dont think they would have jumped ship had they sunk billions into it... __________________ GM autos: the best investments I've ever made ------------------------------------------------------- 1986 chevy cavalier wagon-206,442 miles 1989 oldsmobile cutlass-216,220 miles 2000 chevy cavalier-52,367 miles --totalled 2001 chevy cavalierZ24-80,654 (Something finally happened! Needed a new battery) So lets see. Toyota lied about recalls. Lied about their HP ratings... I wonder how much truth is in their milage ratings..

03-19-2005, 04:44 PM	#5 (permalink)
FoMoCo Fan 7.0 Liter LS7 V8 Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 5,014	Re: Chicago Trib: Zeta is dead But it sounds like Holden is still going to get their cars on the RWD platform. Some things in the original plan didn't make sense, like building the Holdens in the US, and building the Buicks in Australia. So I guess if you want GTO, better get one now!

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03-19-2005, 05:04 PM	#7 (permalink)
FoMoCo Fan 7.0 Liter LS7 V8 Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 5,014	Re: Chicago Trib: Zeta is dead I wonder what this means for Camaro fans? Does an extended Kappa make an appearance as the Chevy Sport Coupe?

03-19-2005, 05:12 PM	#8 (permalink)
camaro chris 5.3 Liter LS4 V8 Join Date: May 2004 Location: Binghamton NY Posts: 3,656	Re: Chicago Trib: Zeta is dead i hope camaro is on kappa if theres no zeda. no camaro equals killing rampage. __________________

03-19-2005, 05:12 PM	#9 (permalink)
GM_Fanatic 5.3 Liter LS4 V8 Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 3,469	Re: Chicago Trib: Zeta is dead I'm very confused now. This means no GTO? Today is a very sad day. And what is this RWD / AWD platform they are talking about? I guess I would be satisfied with that regardless as long as it doesn't set things back even more. __________________ My thoughts and random babblings... http://perpetualanticipation.blogspot.com/

03-19-2005, 05:14 PM	#10 (permalink)
GM_Guy81 5.3 Liter Vortec V8 Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 1,267	Re: Chicago Trib: Zeta is dead well, as long as there is still the other platform thats RWD and AWD, then this shouldnt really change things much. In fact, that could be even better __________________ "Government at its best is a necessary evil, at its worst it is an intolerable one" - Thomas Paine

03-19-2005, 05:16 PM	#11 (permalink)
driverblogger 3.6 Liter V6 Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 1,220	Re: Chicago Trib: Zeta is dead So GM doesn't want a new GTO? **** it. What other platform are they gonna use and that is good enough to not get critized enough? GM needs to rethink itself.

03-19-2005, 05:32 PM	#12 (permalink)
FoMoCo Fan 7.0 Liter LS7 V8 Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 5,014	Re: Chicago Trib: Zeta is dead Maybe they can use the GMT360 platform! ;-)

03-19-2005, 05:36 PM	#13 (permalink)
uujjj 3.9 Liter V6 Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Urbana, IL Drives: zx3 Posts: 784	Re: Chicago Trib: Zeta is dead GM had a bad quarter and I fear their knee-jerk reaction will be to cut R&D, which will send them further down the same spiral. Still, it's true that RWD doesn't sell in America as well as it does in Australia or Europe. Americans value interior room over sporty handling, and FWD delivers more room and less handling. My 100th post! __________________ To stay employable in the future in this country, you need to have highly marketable skills that are unlikely to be shipped overseas. So, brush up on your brooming and cash register skills. Last edited by uujjj : 03-20-2005 at 11:13 AM.

03-19-2005, 05:36 PM	#14 (permalink)
TaHoE GMI Staff Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Long Island, New York Drives: 2002 Oldsmobile Aurora 3.5 Posts: 9,850	Re: Chicago Trib: Zeta is dead I wouldn't make a big deal out of this, I actually prefer this. They are designing a platform from the ground up. And it's not like they are giving up on RWD comletely (Buick Lausanne). They are just looking for a high volume way, and it will be possible for X-Over vehicles which is even better, I would actually consider this good news. All new Platfrom, All new components, X-Over Capability, essentially the same release date. No problem here. __________________

03-19-2005, 05:42 PM	#15 (permalink)
FoMoCo Fan 7.0 Liter LS7 V8 Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 5,014	Re: Chicago Trib: Zeta is dead TaHoE - you're spinning so fast I can hardly see your avatar! This is not good news. And how do we know the Lausanne is still on schedule after this announcement. It was supposed to be Zeta, right?

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