No 7-Seat Theta For NA

[nsap]

PARIS -- General Motors Vice Chairman Robert Lutz said the automaker decided not to offer a seven-passenger SUV developed on the Theta architecture for North America.

Last month, GM unveiled the Chevrolet S3X concept at the Paris auto show, a small SUV with three rows of seats. But Lutz says it doesn't suit American tastes.

"We decided that the (S3X's) seven-passenger seating was very tight and that for all intents and purposes you would have to choose between luggage or seven seats," Lutz said. The S3X's third row of seats is designed primarily for children.

Speaking of the S3X's size and seven-passenger seating, Lutz said that by U.S. standards the S3X is small, but "Europeans would call it a medium-sized SUV" and find the tight seating arrangement acceptable.

GM Daewoo Auto & Technology Co. will build a seven-passenger production version of the Chevrolet S3X in Korea.

Sales are planned for Korea and Europe, beginning in 2006.

The S3X concept is based on GM s Theta vehicle architecture, as is the Chevrolet Equinox and Saturn Vue. But unlike the S3X in Paris, the Equinox and Vue have two rows of seats, seating five.

From>Automotive News

[gmsickofan]

that makes sense. The Suzuki XL-7, for instance, has 3rd row seats that are tight even for kids, and the Buick Rendezvous isn't much better.

People may ask for 3 rows, but they will want to test them out. The best 3rd row in a mid-size SUV I've tried were in a GMC Envoy.

[ChevyEquinox]

Why would the S3X need a 3rd row? A vehicle like the S3X would go so far into changing people's perception about GM and Pontiac (cause that's where it should go). It sounds like the only reason it isn't coming here is b ecause of a tight 3rd row, get rid of the 3rd row and sell it here!!!!!!

[gmsickofan]

Put a pontiac grill on it and I would think about it.

[DMC]

Mazda disagrees. The Mazda5 will be coming to the US in late 2005. Six seats in three rows, and a manual transmission will be available.

[jro4566]

I wouldn't mind the S3X at all...even if the third-row is tight. For my family members, that's OK!

[slowinthefastlane]

Chrysler disagrees as well. The Chrysler Pacifica has three rows of seats and seats six. There's about 6" of trunk room with the 3rd seat in use.

[hotrod1949]

Maybe it is not coming to NA as a GM product because it will as the next Suzuki XL-7. If it takes off for Suzuki, it could be sold as a stretch Nox or Torrent. GM will let Suzuki test the waters.

[GM_Guy81]

Originally posted by slowinthefastlane@Oct 4 2004, 07:29 PM
Chrysler disagrees as well. The Chrysler Pacifica has three rows of seats and seats six. There's about 6" of trunk room with the 3rd seat in use.

That has so little to do with this discussion its not even funny. The Pacifica is a totally different type of vehicle. The issue here isnt that GM doesnt think people want third row seats, which should be obvious since so many GM SUVs do have third row seats,t he issue is that the S3X the seats are too small.

The pacifica has nothing to do with it.

We have the Nox, what is all the commotion over this about? If they said they were going to sell it here, im sure Laserwizard would be complaining about GM using Korean cars in NA.

[HEVguy]

I think GM should sell it here (I agree, as Torrent) and have the third row as an option... If it is truly to small for Americans taste, everyone will buy all the 5 seaters.

I, for one, would take the three row version and use the third row when I was in a pinch. For example, I personally am not going to buy a bigger SUV just because of the <5% of the time when I have our relatives visiting, or our kids friends that are driving with us.