GM May Sell New Mini-Cars to U.S. Buyers

[Ming]

Originally Posted by xyagentguy

Wait a second, I'm confused.. you mean at one point they had no plans to bring the Beat to the US market? I thought it was American's that voted between the Beat, Groove, and Trax to determine which one GM would green-light???

A week or two back we had semi-confirmation that the Trax was in Transformers 2, as well. I imagine they green-lit both, no? Why would they want that kind of publicity and advertising for a vehicle they don't plan to sell?

Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if they green-lit all three of the mini's at this point, all three had an extremely positive reaction and I would love the selection!

A. GM has had concept cars in movies before. See Demolition Man.

B. Bob Lutz and GM basically came out and told us that the voting thing was pretty much pointless, and that they had no plans to bring the Beat here. The impression they left me with (along with a bad taste in my mouth) was that unless things got so bad with big trucks and a shift to small cars - unless they were forced, kicking and screaming (by a country in love with small cars and good fuel economy), to act, they would not bring them here. And they would just bet on gas prices going down again and plan the next Silverado, Tahoe and Traverse for their "turnaround".

Flashback (see bottom in red):

GM 'blown away' over enthusiastic global response to minicar concepts


"Oh, geez, look what we went and did...Can someone tell these people they're just concepts so we can get back to talking about our next 7-passenger Crossover?"

Sharon Terlep / The Detroit News
05/10/2007

General Motors Corp. hoped to drum up some publicity with a Web site asking folks to vote on which of three super-small vehicle concepts the automaker should build.

But even the minds behind vote4chevrolet.com were taken aback by the response -- nearly 870,000 votes cast for one of the plucky rides.

The poll is far from scientific, as GM has no way to stop people from weighing in multiple times. Nonetheless, the groundswell of interest has the automaker thinking more seriously about bringing minicars to the United States.

"We were pretty blown away," GM spokesman Michael Albano said. "It has certainly opened our eyes to that segment here."

The three mini- or microcar concepts, called the Chevrolet Groove, Trax and Beat, are part of GM's global approach to design and manufacturing. They were designed in Inchon, South Korea, and assembled in the United States and India.

GM builds minicars in other markets, but the automaker hasn't determined whether there is strong enough demand to bring them to the United States.

But the potential is growing as soaring fuel prices are shifting consumer preferences toward smaller, more fuel-efficient and city-friendly vehicles.

Minicars represent about 5 percent of worldwide market, with some estimates suggesting they could account for 15 percent within a decade.

GM's miniconcepts debuted at the New York International Auto Show last month.

The Beat is a three-door hatchback that would offer front-wheel-drive high performance.

The Trax is a flat-faced micro-SUV, featuring a single molded plastic front end to help eliminate weight, tighten its design and improve gas mileage.

The Groove, nicknamed "Funkastalgia" by GM, is a five-door model with a stretched profile and flared fenders designed to give it a longer, tougher look.

As of Friday, the Groove was leading the vote with 54 percent to the Beat's 37 percent and Trax's 9 percent. The Web voting, which includes input from around the globe, won't single-handedly drive GM's decision to build here. The automaker still plans to conduct more traditional market research and would have to consider the logistics and costs of building such a vehicle and selling it here.

So far, GM has said it's not likely to bring one of the three vehicles to the United States anytime soon, and none of the three is built to meet U.S. safety standards. After the New York debut, GM product czar Bob Lutz said only a dramatic prolonged increase in fuel prices or an "unforeseen" change in demand for American small cars would justify selling them in the United States.

http://forums.motortrend.com/70/6283...tes/index.html

[New_Mexico_Sunset_on_Rt66]

Originally Posted by jeep2c

I wish they'd bring the Beat and the Groove. I'd love a groove, and think the Beat would be popular amongst young people.

I agree. The Groove was my favorite.

Originally Posted by FenwickHockey65

We need the Beat now more than ever. Good plan.

Yep.

Originally Posted by Clownzilla

Well, if the production model looks close to the concept then I think it would be hard to keep these on the lots. Couple that with the Groove (for 4 door lovers) and you have a VERY hot brand following brewing. I honestly can say that these two vehicles SMOKE the micro car offerings by Toyota & Honda in the style department.

My only complaint with the design of the Beat is the headlight assembly. Instead of haveing it reach all the way back to the a-pillar, I wish they would shorten it to accent the single round headlight.

Also the name Beat has potential negative connotations. Back in the 80's, ("the day"), the term "beat" meant it sucked. Used in a sentence, "that thing is beat". Kinda like how "bad" meant good. Except "beat" meant it wasn't cool. Just thought I would throw that out. Maybe the name "gear" would work, the Chevy Gear. Cuz back in my brothers "day", (the 60s), "gear" meant great. Like, "the Beattles are gear".

all right, enjoy your Fourth.

[Ming]

Originally Posted by New_Mexico_Sunset_on_Rt66

Also the name Beat has potential negative connotations.

Not the least of which is "Beater".

[motorman]

i see ralph nader's book making a come back,"unsafe at any speed".

[footney]

Chevy needs all of the mini subcompact models it shown the last three years:

"Beat"
http://www.autobloggreen.com/photos/...oncept/202589/

"Groove"

http://www.autobloggreen.com/2007/04...roove-concept/

"WTCC"
http://www.automobilemag.com/auto_sh...ept/index.html

[Gallon of Fuel]

I would buy a Trax in a heartbeat if it really was 4wd and under $14k or so. A new Samurai/Sidekick/Tracker type vehicle would probably do well these days.

[ZillaZ]

I'm not into small cars at all and I really like this car. I'd buy one as my daily driver and then I'd have an H3 alpha (V8) in the garage for towing a boat and stuff.

[silentgarth]

Originally Posted by Ming

I don't think it would win many new customers who wouldn't already have considered the HHR. The Beat is significantly more radical and sharp looking than the Aveo, on the other hand. At least in concept form.

However, your post has a point in that GM might consider more than just one of the triplets if they're going to sell the Beat here anyway.

I have been considering buying an HHR when my lease is up. But if the Groove was available I would take it ( if the options were good). I like the styling better than the HHR

[jorgesalazar521@msn.com]

bring all three---maybe the grove as hhr replacement to compete with skii-oon (scion)
my fear by the time they realize they should have, they will be opoligizing once again in 2015 sayin in three years the cars will be ready---only a decade late. with every other manu--having a dozen cars in the segment already. ive seen this for my whole life. evey 8 years GM has a news conference to admit they were wrong but next time blah blah....

[Ming]

Originally Posted by motorman

i see ralph nader's book making a come back,"unsafe at any speed".

Says the guy with the Corvette in his avatar, who prizes safety above all other concerns.

"Because safety is not a primary concern of Corvette drivers, little is said of its active and passive safety systems. In fact, neither the federal government nor the insurance industry has crash tested it. Chevrolet equips the Corvette with driver and passenger dual-stage front airbags, as well as a passenger sensing system. Side impact air bags, however, are only available as an option."

http://usnews.rankingsandreviews.com...rvette/Safety/

Not to pick on you, Motorman, but I really wish the safety nazis who inevitably pop up in the minicar threads would leave minicars alone. Especially convenient "rain on your minicar parade" safety nazis who drive sports cars and motorcycles but frown on minicars secretly because of the lack of a macho, tough-guy image - or possibly just leg room .

[Whitesky]

I wouldnt buy any of them, but I am glad they are going to sell it here for those that want micro cars.

[Ambalanche]

Originally Posted by Ming

A. GM has had concept cars in movies before. See Demolition Man.

B. Bob Lutz and GM basically came out and told us that the voting thing was pretty much pointless, and that they had no plans to bring the Beat here. The impression they left me with (along with a bad taste in my mouth) was that unless things got so bad with big trucks and a shift to small cars - unless they were forced, kicking and screaming (by a country in love with small cars and good fuel economy), to act, they would not bring them here. And they would just bet on gas prices going down again and plan the next Silverado, Tahoe and Traverse for their "turnaround".

Flashback (see bottom in red):

GM really needs to get some people on it's board and inside the company who have a pulse on what the current, and more importantly, future trends are. Why must they constantly and consistantly be behind the curve with every new or needed segment? There was a time when GM lead instead of followed!

[osv_alero]

GM said they wouldn't bring those cars over a year ago when people where still buying big trucks and SUVs. Now that the big vehicle market has changed they very well could have changed their mind as they said they would.

[Saturn69]

Originally Posted by Ming

Not the least of which is "Beater".

But just think of the Go-Go's singing "We Got the Beat" during the commercials! What a great ad tie-in, the car already has a theme song!

[salbracht]

Looking at these minicars, are we really just talking about stylized versions on the '80s CRX? (If so, I'm all for it.)

http://blogs.motortrend.com/6203901/...ase/index.html