100 Days of New GM: Product

[Ghrankenstein]

100 Days: Grading the New GM

Product

Lead Editor: Anderson Johns
Ghrankenstein, GMI Staff Member since 2001



Tony Pimpo
ChevroletRevived, GMI Staff Member

Grand Acknowledgements: Nick Saporito, GMI Contributor Bravada, GMI Contributor Monaro SS

Introduction

Grading the New GM on its product landscape is surprisingly tough. The products that are coming out right now are artifacts of the Wagoner era, and then we’re looking at news coming out daily from the Whitacre-Henderson regime. With that to work with, we at least have some idea of what the Old GM seemed to have figured out, and what the New GM will still need to prove.

We're writing this to comment on trends based on new products, and not lack thereof, so issues like the next pickups and midsized sedans will stay untouched until we get more information. We have as many good signs as we do question marks as it is, and there's plenty to talk about in the here and now. So, with a certain amount of disagreement yet among ourselves, let's get at it.

What We Like

The good news is that there’s plenty to like in many of the new products. Chevrolet has figured things out long enough to produce a Malibu that remains a solid competitor even as it goes into its Epsilon-II redesign. The pickups remain strong sellers, the Lambda CUV's continue to show good fuel economy for their room, and the Cadillac CTS has remained desirable, even if its value statement of size and room is out of date (and Old-GM).

GM -can- do it. The star product in GM’s lineup so far has been the 2010 Chevy Equinox. No GM product in recent history has been so far from the Old GM. The ‘Nox proves that GM can design and produce an attractive mainstream vehicle that directly answers a major demand: a crossover utility vehicle rated at over 30 mpg hwy, EPA estimated. Faint praise, for sure, but a far cry from the news media’s standard pre-bankruptcy faulting of GM for its focus on gas guzzling SUV’s.

The Equinox equally eschews other Old-GM faults. The 3.4L pushrod V-6 that encouraged writers to invent more and more outrageous “old-tech” jokes (1) is no longer around to be such a target, and the vehicle bristles with technology that previous GM vehicles were pannned for not having: Direct-injection engines, Bluetooth and USB connectivity, backup cameras (that display in the rear-view mirror rather than necessitating a NAV screen), and dash-mounted navigation systems, all of which are no longer items jealously reserved for Cadillac and, apparently, Kia. We’ve always liked OnStar, but the GMI community has been as apprehensive as the rest of the market at GM’s longtime boycott of navigation systems and Bluetooth in its favor. That trend appears to have disappeared completely with the latest introductions.

True, it took GM longer than 100 days, and probably more than 200, to design the Equinox, but it’s the best sign yet that the new GM has learned from Old GM’s mistakes.

A GMC crossover with the same capabilities couldn’t be a bad thing, could it?

Cheap interiors are gone. We’ve seen GM steadily improve the design and materials used for their vehicle interiors for quite some time. The often-stigmatized “mouse-fur” headliners have not been used since the last days of the Chevrolet Cavalier, even though competitors continue to use them with impunity. The current line of radio head units is sleekly integrated, replacing the older “black-tie” units in every vehicle that has been launched since current Malibu.



The biggest leap occurred where it was needed the most, with Cadillac, specifically with the 2008 CTS and SRX, even though we were disappointed that the STS did not get the same attractive interior seen in the Chinese market stretched version. We’re glad to see that the trend is continuing, especially in Buick. The interior of the 2010 Lacrosse makes few apologies, and it looks distinctively Buick with its sweeping single-curve dash. GM has a good thing going with its use of LED pipe-lighting accents, which we'll equate to the interior equivalent of fender vents: They’re going to be ubiquitous here pretty soon, but for now the gimmick is cool.

We think the kicker, and the best sign that GM really does have this interior thing figured out is the look of the upcoming Chevy Cruze. It has Chevy’s signature twin-cockpit look, and it looks to borrow a lot of the same color motif from the current Malibu, yet it upstages the older vehicle with a more modern design. If GMI’s own Michael McWilliams has anything to say about it, the materials might even be a bit better, and in a less expensive vehicle. So, good job there, GM.

The 2011 Buick Regal is going to be a winner. Buick has its styling and interiors figured out, and the brand has a clear idea of what it should be doing. The Chinese model already looks good, though we hope that the Lacrosse's profile relief will be translated to the smaller car, rather than the current Insignia-based surfacing.



What gets us all googly is the prospect of seeing the efficient 2.4L SIDI four in a smaller vehicle, and the 3.0L SIDI V-6 in what might be its rightful home. It will be priced right (South of the Lacrosse, obviously), and Lexus will not have a direct competitor. Even if we don't get the Insignia's drive, we'd at least like to see about 20% more sport per trim level than the Lacrosse. If that happened, Buick would have a good shot at turning Lexus into the stereotypical "Old Peoples' Car."

The 2010 Astra is back on the wish list. At first, a lot of us thought it was a little pudgy looking, but with more pictures we have generally grown to appreciate its full-figured sexiness. Those of us who don't read German very well haven't gotten to hear a whole lot firsthand, but AutoBild was able to score it in a dead heat with the VW Golf, giving it the edge for its fuel economy (2).



That's a very encouraging sign that the new direct-injected 1.4L turbo will live up to its responsibilities, delivering reasonable performace with exceptional fuel economy. We're not going to doubt its handling, and it's also got a smokin' interior. With Buick aligning itself with Opel, and the possibility of seeing OPC products as Buicks, we have good reason to be optimistic that we will still see this one, in North America. An OPC-based Verano GS (most of us like "Skyhawk" more) would be tasty, and we hope that GM and Buick will recognize that compact luxury, with an appropriate dose of enthusiast performance, has been "in" for some time, and will grow in the future. The market is still ripe for a solid entry below the BMW 1-series and challenging the Volvo C30. That Verano GS, with about 260 hp (read on) and priced competitively, would be just the thing.

What We’re Not So Sure About

There’s a fine line between platform sharing and the simple rebadging of products across multiple marques. We’ve often fallen into group-defense mode when the subject comes up: “Everybody does it!” That’s true, but Old GM was the industry leader in blatant rebadges, and it continued the practice up to the end, with the Pontiac Torrent, G5, and the G3.

We’re not going to get into the Cadillac SRX just yet, but this is a good time to mention the GMC Terrain. We've spent a lot of time looking over this design, and most of us like it. We think the blocky, big grille look will make it the cool surprise that the Dodge Nitro failed to be. We generally agree that its extroversion is a good contrast to the Equinox’s less-polarizing classiness, but at least one contributor wants to make sure that they aren't in that "general agreement."



The downside of the Terrain’s design is the same controversial styling that most of us like. The ‘Nox shoots for the bull’s eye, and hits. The Terrain aims for the edge, and it’s not going to be on the right side of the line for everyone. It has a rugged look, for sure, but we don’t expect it to have anything close to the rugged capabilities of the ostracized Hummer H3 that it vaguely resembles, or a Jeep Liberty for that matter. We're hoping that the design earns edgy appeal, and not cult-car status.

On the inside, the Terrain has the same basic design as the Chevrolet, with a nearly identical center stack. It’s certainly a good center stack, but the older Lambda-body crossovers (Chevrolet Traverse, Buick Enclave, GMC Acadia, Saturn Outlook) were better differentiated. With the same, notably good, performance and capabilities as the Chevrolet Equinox, and GM still trying to shake its reputation for rebadges, we’re not sure this is enough to avoid the buyer overlap and sales cannibalization that we saw so much in older Chevy and GMC utility vehicles (Trailblazer and Envoy, Tahoe and Yukon).

While we're at it, we have takes on some other upcoming products that raise a few questions...

2011 Chevrolet Aveo / Holden Barina / Daewoo Kalos Previous incarnations of the Aveo have gotten by with an early lack of competition an in the Entry-Level Basic Transportation segment, rather than being exceptional automobiles. They haven’t been all that bad, just dull and easily upstaged by the competition. We haven’t seen a look yet, but the line will be introduced on the reworked Gamma II global platform. We expect the soon-to-be familiar Zero-family engines (1.4T in NA, 1.4L elsewhere) plus the 1.8L Ecotec to be the powerplants, but we have cautious hope that the Gamma platform will have superior handling to the previous T250 platform. Early reports are that the soon-to-hit North America Ford Fiesta will deliver on many of our entry-level aspirations. We hope that Aveo and company can bring mainstream (i.e. Toyota-level) appeal; with sport and quality that rivals Honda and Ford, and with content that matches Kia and Suzuki. The Aveo is big business, and if GM does it right very good things will happen. If GM produces another slipshod space-filler, it will be held up as another example of GM not being able to produce a competitive compact car.



2010 Opel/Vauxhall Meriva: GM showed a snappy concept, and the upcoming vehicle looks to have retained that look, including the rear side windows and suicide doors. It's also slated to be built on the Gamma II platform, but our European contributors are quick to point out that actual commonality with the Aveo could be less than one would initially think. We're encouraged, but at this point all we can say is either it will drive well or it won't, one of those two, and all the looking at pictures in the world won't change that. So far, we dig it.



2010 Daewoo Matiz Creative; 2011 Chevrolet Spark: The Chevy Beat concept was great, and most of us think the look has translated well into real-world photos that have been popping up. What we’re hoping for is a zippy runabout that is well-appointed for its class, without the slop that has haunted previous GM-DAT chassis. The Daewoo version gets a 1.0L engine, but we're wondering if we'll see the new naturally aspirated 1.4L engine as the base. The 1.4L turbo would be tasty in this car, and help it live up to its racy looks, but we’ll need some tight handling and a manual that doesn’t feel like it’s made from Tinkertoys before we’re convinced. The Spark will be moving into a segment already receiving attention, from Scion and Mazda, as well as Smart. Setting the bar low here will make GM look very bad, when others set it high.

2010 Chevrolet/Holden Cruze; 2010 Daewoo Lacetti Premiere; 2010 Chevy Cruze (NA): This car is already out in many parts of the world, including Australia, where GMI’s Michael McWilliams drove the diesel version (3). We're filing this under, “So far, so good.” The interior looks to be a knockout, while the Lutz-described “baby Malibu,” is clean and relatively attractive, if not particularly daring on the outside. We don’t think GM is going to out-Toyota Toyota, and we think the exterior is a little too close to the Corolla's design. On the good side, some of us note that it does look especially good in GM’s Dark Crimson Metallic (“purple”). Mainstream sensibilities, such as ride-handling compromise tend to be reported as good, though they don’t stray too far toward enthusiast appeal. Some staffers blame some that on the lack of independent rear suspension, but others note the handling prowess of the Coball SS; still we'd prefer an independent rear setup. The baseline 1.8L Ecotec engine has proven somewhat tepid, both in performance and fuel economy. If the highly anticipated, and soon to be highly scrutinized 1.4L SIDI turbo engine delivers the promised fuel economy, GM might finally have the strongly competitive compact that it’s been promising since pretty much forever. If the New GM can figure out what currently unused engine might be appropriate for an SS version, the Cruze might even turn into a class-leading, popular-appeal enthusiast drive.

Chevrolet Volt: Old GM has been promising the world from the get-go, starting with a concept for which its E-flex driveline technology had not yet been invented. We have to give GM props for shooting for the moon, and getting the product ready in an acceptable amount of time, given the technology leap.



What worries us about the most hyped vehicle launch in history? Three words: It Better Work. If it doesn’t, it’s all going to be piled on New GM as "Old GM." We think it will, but we suspect we’re going to see the same type of criticism that we saw when the Toyota Prius, under variable use, delivered variable mileage that was often lower than its mpg EPA rating. Two-Hundred Thirty is a miles-per-gallon number that is going to vary by enormous amounts, depending on use, and we're afraid that it could cause some PR problems for GM. Our biggest fear though, is that other car makers, backed by their respective governments, will introduce copies at lower prices, with GM having shouldered the staggering research and development costs. It seems too obvious, and in this case it won’t be fair, because GM will have done a lot of good for the industry.

Chevrolet Orlando: The sales growth of the Mazda5 is a good indicator that GM guessed right on entering the compact MPV segment, which still isn't all that much of a segment in the states. These vehicles are purely utility driven, so style could be a low enough priority that buyers might overlook the Orlando's awkward rear-end in favor of its inevitably good fuel economy. We hope that its driving dynamics can match those of the surprising Mazda5, in case the segment does decide to burgeon in the US.

Cadillac ATS: On paper, GM’s competitor for the BMW 3 series sounds like a winner, but the biggest source of enthusiasm for the upcoming small Caddy is simply the fact that it’s going to be RWD. Judging by the current trends of the new GM, we don’t think design, interior, or equipment are going to be letdowns. We’ll need to be convinced that this won’t be another size-equals-value statement that turns out like the Lacrosse and SRX: too heavy for its engine, and with deficiencies in performance and fuel economy. Ideally, we'll get a car that matches the 335i in performance, with brash styling and better creature comforts. We expect a tick less on the straightline, since BMW's twin-turbo V-6 is awfully stout down low, but Holden's bead on BMW-like handling should make the car a legitimate competitor. Would a slick 6-speed manual be too much to ask?

2010 Chevrolet Agile (South America): Most of us aren’t big on the styling, which is a cluttered combination of Equinox, Suzuki SX-4, and Ford Aspire. We don’t have much information on the platform, but with the Aveo set for North America, we no longer see this as a vehicle for that market. We think it will deliver space and fuel economy, but not much in the way of safety in a GM market that doesn’t have much fresh product to begin with. Other than that, we’re really not sure what to think.

What We Don’t Like

Overweight and underpowered: Our biggest concern in the New GM product portfolio is with two vehicles upon which GM is weighing heavily. Literally. They are are the 2010 Buick Lacrosse (4) and 2010 Cadillac SRX (5). There’s a lot to like about both cars, but the Old GM criticism of poor fuel economy will be hard for them to shed, and both lack a performance advantage to offset the low-end gas mileage. Cadillac dealers are still excited about the SRX; the RX 350 market is a big market, and the SRX does have a Cadillac personality in terms of handling, rather than a softer Buick-like drive. The Lacrosse continues to earn praise, and attention on dealer lots, and the 2.4L version will help somewhat with the fuel economy issue, but we still think they weigh too much.



Both cars have already received heavy criticism for the 3.0L SIDI V-6 engine that also appears in the Chevrolet Equinox. We don't doubt that the engine itself is quite good, but it tends to make torque in the neighborhood of 220 lb-ft, at rpm’s north of 5000 rpm. Numbers like that make fans of the venerable 3800 pushrod V-6 snicker a bit to themselves, and that’s not counting the fuel economy ratings. The EPA estimated figures of 18/25 for the 4224 lb 3.0L FWD SRX (5), and 17/27 for the 4019 lb 3.0L FWD Lacrosse (4) aren’t completely out of the neighborhood, but they are at adequate at best. With those vehicles having curb weights that are at the top of the heap, both cars pay a penalty in performance (6, 7, 9, 10). We think GM can make these vehicles match up better, but too much car and too little engine is not the way to do it.

No Zeta sedan to replace the G8: All one has to do is drive a G8 GT to realize why we’re so disappointed that the rest of the world gets this vehicle in one form or another, and those of us in North America do not. The thinly disguised Holden Commodore drives, performs, and handles like a far more expensive car, and while it didn’t have the most upscale of interiors, you definitely knew what you were getting for your money.

With Pontiac, and the G8, now gone forever, we see a void in the North American product lineup, and we see it on Chevrolet lots, where a Zeta-based rwd Impala or Caprice would be a welcome addition. GM admittedly didn’t have great sales figures to back up the G8, but fuel economy and adherence to the stricter CAFE fleet mpg standards that are looming in the future have been the primary rationale for not including more Zeta-based sedans. GMI’s Mark Cadle, who attended a recent Holden Commodore 3.0 SIDI demonstration, reported over 32 mpg during a spirited 300-mile drive (8), and his fuel usage was mid-pack. None of us, short of Mark himself, can verify one way or the other if he drives 70, or like he’s 70, but either way that’s good. True, one event does not an EPA test rating make, but the 2010 Lacrosse with the same 3.0L SIDI engine isn’t supposed to even approach this. The fuel economy argument doesn’t stick when it comes to Zeta and RWD, and we’re not buying it.



We’re disappointed that a G8 replacement hasn’t already made it into the North American lineup, but we’re even more disappointed that the Zeta-based Buick Park Avenue seen in China did not get the green light and that the Cadillac DT7 was shut down. Currently, the RWD sedans are still more a subject of debate than anything else at GM. The recent announcement of the North American Chevrolet Caprice police car is the smallest of steps in the right direction. The clock is ticking.

While we’re at it, where did the 2.0L SIDI go? Not a big take here, but the 260 hp / 260 lb-ft 2.0L turbocharged LNF Ecotec engine has a heck of a lot going for it. It’s an efficient engine with big enthusiast appeal that’s currently in search of a home. The world has been wondering why this engine isn’t already working its way into the Cruze, and we happen to be global citizens ourselves. Let's all hold hands.

Cadillac lacks focus. Most of us agree that there’s more good than bad going on at Cadillac, but when the best bits of news to hit lately are the announcement of a CTS-V Wagon and the nebulous ATS, there’s still some reason for concern.



We've already picked on the SRX quite a bit, even though it’s a vehicle that a lot of us like in person. Taking a good, if ambiguously styled product that won a bunch of awards in direct competition with the BMW of luxury SUV’s, the X5, and turning it toward the Camry of luxury SUV’s, the Lexus RX 350 is an un-Cadillac like move downmarket. We’ve already commented on the weight, power, and fuel economy shortcomings, but the more premium RWD torch has been essentially passed to the CTS Wagon. The SRX will certainly sell better than the previous SRX just based on its new styling, but it’s not going to improve the Cadillac brand by being merely competitive in a lower segment.

We have mixed feelings about Cadillac’s original landslide SUV, the Escalade, switching to the transverse-engine Lambda platform. It’s another move downmarket, but Cadillac may come out for the better on this one, since the Escalade was probably GM’s worst vehicle for PR other than the Hummer H2. For better and/or for worse, the Escalade certainly won’t be what it was, but we still think that a RWD-based setup is still more appropriate than a really expensive FWD/AWD crossover. We hope the reduced media baggage will be worth it, but we really can't say at this point.

In Cadillac’s stable, we’re most concerned about the news regarding the XTS. We've already covered the Zeta casualties in North America. A FWD/AWD flagship sedan seems to be a timid attempt to bridge the old Deville/DTS with newer Cadillac designs. That means that Cadillac hasn’t learned that DTS buyers are often just looking for a Hertz program car at half the price, and that a non-RWD platform won’t match up against a 7-series or S-class. This is Buick territory, and even Buick has the Chinese Park Avenue. It can be as good as it wants, and still not pull the buyers Cadillac wants out of their LS's, 7-series, and S-Classes, especially not with the Hyundai Genesis, and soon the Equus, running around.

Cadillac is certainly building some good vehicles, but outside of the CTS line, we’re just not sure it’s building the right ones.

The Final Grade

There are a lot of good things happening with the new GM, but things aren’t where we’d like them to be. Several of the biggest allegations against Old GM have been abandoned, and some remain. GM has shown that it can give their vehicles class-leading designs and interiors, and that they can produce cars with top-tier safety, performance and reliability. At the same time, we have a hard time looking past mismatched engines and those high curb weights in comparison with the competition. We think that GM’s enthusiast commitment in mainstream segments remains tepid (again, would a good stick be too much to ask?), and with that comes the benchmark compact car that GM has yet to produce.

Chevrolet seems to have its head on straight. The Equinox is a winner, and the brand’s execution seems to be working with its mainstream focus. We can’t give Chevy an “A” until the 1.4L Cruze performs as promised (indications are that it will), until GM-DAT chassis show improvement, until the Volt introduction goes well, and until we see a new full-size pickup line.

In markets outside of North America, Chevrolet often works with GM-DAT products that are quickly homogenizing (and catching up) with North American products, which bodes only as well as those products. The Delta II Cruze is a step forward, while the Gamma II Aveo remains a, "Show us what you've got," and the Spark/Matiz/Barina and Agile remain big question marks.

We still need to see what the next generation of trucks have to offer. The fact that the current GMT-900's are still competitive means that our expectations are nothing short of class-leading for Chevrolet and GMC in the future.

B

Holden is a lot like Chevrolet, in that it will rely on the global GM platforms for its small cars, such as the Cruze and Barina. The Cruze will probably be okay, especially with its non-North American diesel engine and even more so if it gets the 1.4L petrol plant. The Barina, again, is a hopeful that will only be proven with time.



Holden, though, is GM's bastion of RWD, of performance, and of prestige, outside of the Chevrolet Corvette. Its vehicles are not only great, but they have been desirable in North America since the swooning began in the mid-80's, when Automobile Magazine pitted the Holden Calais Director against the Mustang GT, Buick Grand National, and Monte Carlo SS (11). We have no reason to believe that Holden's fought-for-and-won Alpha platform, underpinning the Cadillac ATS will be any different. We hope that we will see more Holden engineering in North America, and worldwide where it permits.



Much as the Nobel Peace committee awarded its latest Peace prize, in hopes of influencing world politics, we hope that we can hold some sway in GM politics by awarding Holden an "A." (12)

A

Buick is finally realizing its upside, and the brand has rediscovered beauty, inside and out, to match its proven quality. Letting the Chinese market design its dream vehicles is paying off. Moving upmarket and away from fleet sales will cost Buick long-time customers that weren’t necessarily profitable anyway, but the commitment will be worth it in the long run. Hints at a North American influx of OPC products certainly won't hurt. We can’t give Buick an "A" until we see its Lexus competitors beat Lexus in performance, or at least fuel economy. Lexus does it, and those numbers are a lot to apologize for, no matter how good the car might be. Buick has an easier job to do than Chevy, but it's figured out how to do it.





B

GMC has one new product, and it currently gets by selling products that are similar to Chevrolets, differentiated by styling. If GMC was worth keeping through the bankruptcy, it’s worth not starving of product. GM needs to revamp its full-size truck line, and give GMC something of its own without Chevrolet throwing a temper tantrum. The newly announced compact crossover could be step in the right direction, or it could just be the Orlando II. We'll see.

Incomplete

Cadillac needs to commit, and be the company that builds the CTS, CTS-V, and cars like them. We were especially hurt by the loss of the Zeta-platform DT-7 and its next-generation Northstar powerplant, the Ultra V-8. We feel that the downmarket moves by the SRX and, with much possibility, the Escalade, serve to undermine the long-term aspirations of Cadillac being simply the best with no apologies. We know firsthand that Cadillac cannot sustain itself as a new-car brand when it is constantly in competition with its own second-hand program vehicles, and a clientele accustomed to buying them at bargain prices. We also know that Cadillac cannot succeed in Europe without a competitive diesel engine, and that a North American diesel program should not be out of its reach.

Cadillac needs to let Buick handle the responsibility of being Buick, and stick with RWD-based vehicles that emphasize performance with its luxury. That's why we still have North American Buicks in the first place. We're sure that dealers are a big pressure for Cadillac. They want Lexus competitors too, and they don’t want to give up the DTS customers that have been moving to Avalons and ES350’s for years. Just as Buick takes on Lexus, Cadillac needs to take on the Europeans, and do it with conviction.

D

That seems to average out to what we were thinking all along. Maybe we’re being a little too critical on the shortcomings, since every automaker has them. Maybe we’re not giving enough credit where it’s due. Maybe GMI focuses too heavily on RWD. Maybe we’re expecting too much too soon, but for the most part, the newer the stuff is, the better and more competitive it looks to be. Ultimately, though, GMI wants GM to be the best, and for our very pride we want a lot. For right now, after 100 days the new GM deserves a B- for product.

That isn't necessarily a bad thing. We like a lot of the things we see, and with some of those question marks substituted with successes, that grade can grow by leaps and bounds should the questions be answered with more positives. We're just going to have to wait until we see those successes. Godspeed Ed, Fritz, Bob, Ed, Susan, and everyone at GM for whom we are rooting.

Final Grade: B-



1. Anderson's: The 3400, which received high praise from critics such as Moctezuma and Akhenaten, utilized an internal combustion process known by insiders as, “the Cambrian Explosion.”

2. http://www.autobild.de/artikel/opel-...si_987997.html (Thanks, Toto!)

3. GMI Review: Holden Cruze Turbo Diesel!

4. www.buick.com Lacrosse CXL FWD 3.0: 255 hp at 6900 rpm, 217 lb-ft at 5100 RPM, 4019 lbs. 17/27

5. www.cadillac.com SRX FWD 3.0: 265 hp at 6950 rpm, 223 lb-ft at 5100 RPM, 4224 lbs, 18/25

6. http://blogs.edmunds.com/straightlin...se-cxl-30.html Lacrosse CXL FWD 3.0: 0-60 8.4 seconds

7. http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do...ticleId=154266 SRX FWD 3.0: 0-60 in 8.2 seconds

8. GMI Review: 2010 Holden Commodore SV6 & Calais, The G8 That Might Have Been!

9. www.lexus.com 2009 ES 350, 3580 lbs, 19/27, 0-60 6.8 seconds

10. www.lexus.com 2010 RX 350,18/24, 0-60 7.5 seconds

11. The reference to the exact issue is not available from Automobile's website, or the internet in general.

12. I couldn't make the Holden 60th Anniversary Ute pic work to save MikMak's life!

Picture credits: Ghrankenstein- Jim Gillette, all others, GM Media.

[skylark68]

Great article. I agree with you especially about not having a RWD sedan at the G8 price point in GM's fleet. We need the Caprice.

[FenwickHockey65]

One thing...

Buick is developing a Verano. Not a Verona. That's a Suzuki.

[Smoke]

Excellent write up!! Thanks.

[Rocket 88]

I bumped into a Cadillac SRX at the mall with my father in law. He's a foreign car buyer while I only buy American. Both of us like the SRX much more then the BMW X5 it was parked with. It is just a real beauty and more reasonably prices. It is a lot more classy then the Lexus RX mention in the article. Granted we are just talking about appearances but I was surprised how much nicer the car is in person then in the ads.

I'd buy one, but I am the Cadillac of broke.

[goatgary]

Overall good write up but I question the downrating and hesitation about upcoming products that have not been seen in production form, never mind driven. The New GM does seem to get that the benchmark has to be world class for every product going forward, ESPECIALLY in small cars so I have very high hopes for Cruze, Aveo, Spark.
As to Cadillac a BMW 3 series fighter has great promise and Ed Welbour calls the new big Cadillac one of his 3 favorite designs of all time (others being Lamborgini Countach and the 1963 Corvette split window). Sounds very encouraging to me.

[Chaz_23]

What I don't like: That the Impala and Lucerne are still around unchanged, that GM still sells cars with 4-speed automatic transmissions, and that so far GM hasn't done anything to address the aweful shifting of the 6-speed transmissions about which every reviewer everywhere has complained.

[Novak454]

-Finally, someone recognizes the "missing" 2.0 DI Turbo motor (with the GMPP upgrade - 300 hp and 340 lb/ft) ! That thing was BORN to be in a sport model of the Malibu AND Cruze. Please.
-And while we're at it, I was just thinking last night about the CTS. The engine mounts / components for the CTS-V's v-8 should translate over to the new 5.5 v-8 going into the Corvette. How hard would it be to drop that V-8 into a 2011 CTS Sport? 425hp at $50k... quite a bargain.
-And the weight comments are dead on. I dont' think buyers would mind spending a bit more for a better engineered / lighter car with better efficiency and driving dynamics granted by having less weight.
-And a huge "I concur" to the absense of the RWD full size Caddy and G8 replacements at Chevy. Those are killers to GM's competativeness.

[osv_alero]

Thanks for the great write up.

[WishIhadatruck]

Regarding the fact that cheap interiors are gone. The other day my 8 year old son and I stopped by the local Buick dealer because they finally had a Lacrosse sitting out front. After checking it out and the Camaro that was there we hopped back in my Grand Prix to head home. I was surprised on how he noticed how much better the interior of the Lacrosse was than my '01 Grand Prix. It was funny, I didn't think he would give it that much thought because he doesn't really seem to have a great interest in cars at this point. He said he always thought my GP interior was good but after seeing the Lacrosse he didn't think it was that great anymore. I'm impressed with his observation even though to an adult it was pretty obvious how much better interiors have come.

He did say on the way home however that if they were still making new woody wagons he'd buy another one for himself when he got older, he thinks they are cool and it is still his favorite car. Now if he actually got to ride in the Lacrosse he'd realize what a car without rattles and wind noise is and perhaps he'd change his mind.

[steve333]

>2010 Chevrolet/Holden Cruze; 2010 Daewoo Lacetti Premiere; 2010 Chevy Cruze (NA): This car is already out in many parts of the world, including Australia, where GMI’s Michael McWilliams drove the diesel version (3). We're filing this under, “So far, so good.” The interior looks to be a knockout, while the Lutz-described “baby Malibu,” is clean and relatively attractive, if not particularly daring on the outside. We don’t think GM is going to out-Toyota Toyota, and we think the exterior is a little too close to the Corolla's design. On the good side, some of us note that it does look especially good in GM’s Dark Crimson Metallic (“purple”). Mainstream sensibilities, such as ride-handling compromise tend to be reported as good, though they don’t stray too far toward enthusiast appeal. Some staffers blame some that on the lack of independent rear suspension, but others note the handling prowess of the Coball SS; still we'd prefer an independent rear setup. The baseline 1.8L Ecotec engine has proven somewhat tepid, both in performance and fuel economy. If the highly anticipated, and soon to be highly scrutinized 1.4L SIDI turbo engine delivers the promised fuel economy, GM might finally have the strongly competitive compact that it’s been promising since pretty much forever. >

And thats what I've been saying all along. The Cruze is decent, not great,
which equals not good enough.

[megeebee]

and that a non-RWD platform won’t match up against a 7-series or S-class.

In all fairness, I don't remember anyone at GM or Cadillac saying it would. But I don't see the problem is competing with other luxury makes that do produce such cars.

Otherwise, I must say thank you to you, Mr. Johns for your hard work, research, and reporting.

[OLDSCHOOLGMFAN]

Too bad most of em are crap.

[A.J.]

Originally Posted by OLDSCHOOLGMFAN

Too bad most of em are crap.

BiasbiasbiasbiasBIAS. Notice I said "bias" instead of "BS".

I still hold strong to the idea of selling a streamlined version of the Holden Commodore range in the US as Holdens. Omega, Berlina, SX (SS-V renamed). Sedan, Wagon, Ute. Plus the Statesman. It would bring Holden's RWD prowess around the world, but still give its home market exclusitivity with the Calais, Caprice, and HSV models.

[Ambalanche]

Great article but I would point out that the comparison of "old GM with new GM" is not accurate in that ALL the new products and upcomeing products are of "old GM" liniage.

Really, probably after 2013 we'll start to see some "New GM" products since it takes at least 4 years to develop products, not to mention new platforms. As good (even with their drawbacks) as SRX, LaCrosse, Equinox, Terrain and even Camaro are, they are still products of "Old GM". I guess you could call the new FWD Cadillac "New GM", but it's still based off an existing platform. I still think "New GM" is moving too slowly with decision making based on articles I've read on this very site among others, and I agree totally with your point about Cadillac letting Buick be Buick and Cadillac should take on the Germans. Personally, the Escalade moving to Lambda is scary to me. How is that vehicle going to be different from the Enclave other than styling? If it's not much different, that alone smacks of "old GM" thinking and is not the way forward. I still say the Cruze was not thought out fully especially since the American market is the last to get it. Arn't they just now getting around to building the plant that will build the engine for it and the Volt? By the time the car debuts here, it'll be time for a MCE in other markets!!

I was glad to see the inclusion of where is the 2.0 SIDI Turbo? I've been asking that forever. I loved it in my Sky Redline. It's too good a pkg to put in nitch products and let die.
I've always been a GM supporter and Cheerleader, Lord knows I've given them gobs of my hard earned cash as I've had more new cars than I want to admit, but unless things we can actually see change, and change dramatically, I'm more than a little worried. GM's (old, new whatever) new products are selling very well, so well they can't seem to keep them in stock, so that's good, but they arn't perfect and arn't necessarily best in class in all areas. When GM's new products are called best in class by the biased media I'll stop worrying about the future.