Chevrolet Orlando to launch in 2009, U.S. likely to miss out

[Chaz_23]

Gotta love how GM thinks.
What does NA get? An Impala with a different grille at most, I bet.

[tgagneguam]

What an absolutely perplexing decision. Though the decision is pretty consistent with GM's lack of vision.

Originally Posted by Xenon

So what the hell is GM doing with the federal money in the first place? Making more useless crossovers, instead of bringing over useful cars like that here?

I sense that an AIG-style spa-getaway for executives is in the works for their federal welfare check. Then, after that conference, GM can ask for more federal welfare, again, just like AIG.

[kenman923]

That's a shame. This shows the arrogance of the GM brass

[goatgary]

Originally Posted by kenman923

That's a shame. This shows the arrogance of the GM brass

Noooo...in case you haven't got the memo....it means they are out of cash and can't spent the $$$$ on the changes and testing necessary to meet US Safety requirements and to tool the plant for production which runs into the tens of millions.

[rcracedriver]

Funny how This news coincides with the timing of the 25billion loan guarantees which really wont be available yet:

The bill includes language requiring the Energy Department to draft final rules overseeing the loan program within 60 days of it becoming law. It also gives the department $10 million to hire outside consultants to help them write the rules. But Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman warned in a letter last week that it could take "six to 18 months or more" to approve and award

http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll...TO01/810010350

My suggestion to all who want to have this car, write your elected officials to lite the fire under the seat of the rule makers who are supposed to dish out the loans.

[steve333]

Originally Posted by Tone

Too bad -- this was looking to be right in the strike zone for what I will likely need for our next family car!

Hopefully, Ford will bring over the C-Max.

They will, Ford has a competent CEO.
GM has Rick Wagoner, Putz of the decade.

[TexCarFan1980]

Ford has a competent CEO? More like a saint to me. At least he's realizing that Ford needs smaller vehicles, and has decided to bring not one, or two, but 6 Euro-spec models to the States (Fiesta, Focus, Focus Convertible, Kuga (Next-generation Escape), C-Max, Transit Connect (Small 4-cyl. utility van), Ka (possibly), and I believe the 2012/13 Fusion will have similar traits to the Mondeo). AND HE'S NOT EVEN A PROPER CAR GUY!!!!! HE'S FROM BOEING!!! If he could turn Boeing around, I have full faith he can turn Ford around. Buon Voyage GM-you guys are AWFUL!!!

[nadepalma]

Originally Posted by steinravnik

I agree that car would do well here, especially in urban areas where people need a family vehicle.

Absolutely. And I think it would do well for folks with young families and who don't need the size/bulkiness of an SUV and want something other than a "boring" sedan.

I think they are missing out on an opportunity here.

[kenman923]

Originally Posted by goatgary

Noooo...in case you haven't got the memo....it means they are out of cash and can't spent the $$$$ on the changes and testing necessary to meet US Safety requirements and to tool the plant for production which runs into the tens of millions.

Oh, so they can build it for other markets and not the U.S.? That really makes sense. If they knew that it could go global, then somehow they would find the cash to bring it to U.S. specs.

Sorry friend, but it's now or never for GM.

[regfootball]

Originally Posted by kenman923

That's a shame. This shows the arrogance of the GM brass

no, it shows the incompetence.

This vehicle would be PERFECT as a complement to Chevy's lineup.

what we have here

-we can't afford to shut down the cobalt-
-we need to protect the equinox and traverse-
-it would cost us too much to certify (despite that we are supposed to have global designs now)-
-we could import it, too, if we can't build it here....but we choose not to-
-we know you all will like it too much so on purpose to PSS you all off, we don't sell it here...we love all the bad press that goes with

I challenge Bob Lutz, Rick, and the braintrust to give us a BELIEVABLE reason why the world's almost biggest car company cannot build a simple product like this and sell it here in the US. It simply boils down to this....they could find a way to do it if they wanted to. My guess is the money they blew giving suzuki a version of the equinox would have covered all the expense they needed to make the already baked and done orlando for other countries.

G8 wagon, same thing.

Toyota is evil, but give them credit for this....they can design, build, and sell a car like second nature. they don't turn each product offering into a hailstorm of excuses and failed promises. they don't make it out to be a godawful soap opera laced with 'ands' and 'buts'.

a move like this suggests complete imcompetence in a lot of ways, not being able to take something they already have in the oven, and not being able to serve it to the whole table.

I don't care how awesome the GM leadership crew may or may not have been the last few years getting the CTS and other things to showroom. Not getting the Orlando to the US in my opinion should result in a housecleaning to those who can't make this stuff happen.

if they can't get this product to the US showroom, then they deserve every bit of failure they have coming to them right now.

[regfootball]

Originally Posted by rcracedriver

Funny how This news coincides with the timing of the 25billion loan guarantees which really wont be available yet:





My suggestion to all who want to have this car, write your elected officials to lite the fire under the seat of the rule makers who are supposed to dish out the loans.

good idea. totally.

[GM_RU]

We will have this one beauty in Russia, and we will build it.