Lutz Chimes in on the Chevy Beat: 4 Years?

[DemonKnightDK]

I dont see GM droping past Ford in sales. I can see toyota tanking in the next 5-10 years and Ford and GM battleing it out for 1 and 2 as it has always been. Chrysler and Honda with Nissan with be in distant runnings, and mitsubishi.. heaven help them (though honestly I have seen quite a few new galants running around my town with that new 3.8 they made.. I love how once GM stops using an engine size the competition starts using it. (they droped the 5.7 for the 6.0 now toyota has a 5.7, the dropped the 3.8 for the 3.5 and 3.9 and 3.6 (lol) and now Hyundai and Mitsubishi have a 3.8 (is it the same?)

I do have to wonder why is the maro taking this long though? I mean seriously, its a rebodied G8 right?

[mbukukanyau]

Originally Posted by DemonKnightDK

I dont see GM droping past Ford in sales. I can see toyota tanking in the next 5-10 years and Ford and GM battleing it out for 1 and 2 as it has always been. Chrysler and Honda with Nissan with be in distant runnings, and mitsubishi.. heaven help them (though honestly I have seen quite a few new galants running around my town with that new 3.8 they made.. I love how once GM stops using an engine size the competition starts using it. (they droped the 5.7 for the 6.0 now toyota has a 5.7, the dropped the 3.8 for the 3.5 and 3.9 and 3.6 (lol) and now Hyundai and Mitsubishi have a 3.8 (is it the same?)

I do have to wonder why is the maro taking this long though? I mean seriously, its a rebodied G8 right?

You are right. Recently, Hyundai has overtaken Honda to become the #5 automaker. Great achievement.
The problem with Honda nad toyota is their price points. Even Used Toyotas are so expensive, that you are better off going to buy a new Nissan if you are a person who loves all things Japan.
That Said, With Ford and GM on a rebound around the world, Toyota simply cannot justify its prices aganist other makes.
Their profitability or volume has to give. they cannot continue to sell vehicles at their prices and expect chevy not to undercut them.

Instead of buying a Camry you could lease a Benz or Cadillac.. for the same payments.

[63GrandSport001]

The team thats running GM right now seriously needs to go I mean come on I try to turn the other way when they make poor choices time and time again however it comes to a point where you have to seriously question the competence of them..........

I hope its just the journalist making up time frame and that this car is like a year away in reality (GM needs it right now).

[TKR]

Originally Posted by plane

Rather than posting a factual response that includes references,
I think that I shall simply throw out a well-worn but nevertheless useful metaphor.
For everyone distraught over an unconfirmed rumor that has
several times in this thread alone been shown to be untrue,
please ignore this post and continue to run around in circles shouting
"oh noez!".

Thanks Plane . Needed that....

[footney]

GM Planning to Lay Off Thousands, May Sell Brands
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,376882,00.html

We will see!!!

[neshapop]

And after such dinosaur attitude no wonder that regular Joes don't even consider stepping into GM dealerships to look for cars and the Europeans see American automakers as technologically inferior to theirs and Japanese (heck, even Korean recently).

A technology to make fuel efficient, attractive compact cars is there FOR DECADES!

Probably GM project planning relies on some expert oil analyst who predicted $70/barrel so - why bother?

[Hurricane]

Originally Posted by Hunid Racks

>>>Based on what the Journal says, this loosely translates to "the 2012 timeframe." <<<

Lutz did not give a date. Within the next two or three pages, many of you will.

LOL!

/thread

[prototype66]

I think the Autoblog people read into what he said and came to their own conclusion.
I can't see it being that far out when they are finishing up the product development right now. Makes no sense. I also thing the media just likes to fan the flames for attention which is making things worse for everyone not just the General.
It doesn't sound like he said any date inb the article.
You cant believe everything you read.

[prototype66]

oh and I forgot

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!
[running in circles]

[Saturn69]

I wouldn't give too much credence to what thw WSJ says about this - but apparently after 3 pages, everyone here is ready to string Lutz up by his....toes. There has been no official statement regarding the 2012 guesstimate that the WSJ posted, but we seem to love negative news about GM so let's jump on the hate wagon. How accurate can they be when they write that smart is going to put dealerships in Omaha, Nebraska....when we've had one for over 6 months already? They're guessing. When GM says something about it, then we should listen. Until then, it's speculation and negativity. Then again, the patriotic day of the year is over so we can all go back to hating ourselves.

[Sgt Beavis]

I like the Beat and the Trax (mostly the Trax) but GM will once again be too damn slow.

I'll have a Ford Fiesta in my garage long before any of the triplets hit US shores.

However it will be parked next to a Chevy Traverse.

[sdotjoe]

Originally Posted by DemonKnightDK

I love how once GM stops using an engine size the competition starts using it. (they droped the 5.7 for the 6.0 now toyota has a 5.7, the dropped the 3.8 for the 3.5 and 3.9 and 3.6 (lol) and now Hyundai and Mitsubishi have a 3.8 (is it the same?)

Yeah, because once GM stopped making those engines, the patents they held on the displacement expired and everyone was able to use them.

But on the original topic, All GM is doing is what I do at work which is setting a deadline for the worst case scenario and then delivering way ahead of schedule.

[Smoothcat]

Originally Posted by paul8488

GM wonders too... that's why they're going to let another manufacturer beat them to the punch and create the market for these things.

I think it's a legit question, because Americans have NEVER liked small cars. Thankfully, my own welfare and the life of my company doesn't depend on me answering that question.

[paul8488]

Originally Posted by Saturn69

When GM says something about it, then we should listen. Until then, it's speculation and negativity.

If they had decided to offer the Beat in the US Lutz would have said it by now. That man doesn't keep anything secret. He loves to telegraph every detail of GMs products. I suspect that this means that the Beat hasn't been greenlighted yet, which means it isn't coming to the US anytime soon.

[2648562]

Originally Posted by windvale

I don't think small cars is something GM should rush into. I'm not sure the public really wants small, fuel efficient cars...
How about an update of the GMT-900's ?
I also think GM needs to concentrate on the Camaro, as this is the sort of car the public is demanding right now.
Bob Lutz "understands" the market. He "knows" what people want...like the GTO and the SSR. Just leave it to him...

I think ^that's^ a post of the quarter nominee.