A Geo-Centric GM

[Toto]

Originally Posted by Caleb02

Gm has way too many division, Chevy should be the entry level division, then comes saturn, then Caddy, get rid of buick gmc, pontiac, saab, opal, vuxhaul, and all the rest and use only Chevy, Saturn and Caddy as world wide products.

In Europe ... good luck.

[camaro_freak]

Originally Posted by BigAls87Z28

GM does have a VERY green line up, with a lot of vehicles that achieve over 30mpg, but the burned in image still lingers.

while I like where you are going with your article I must say that a lot GM vehicles can only obtain those 30MPG at highway speeds... not inner city or daily driving.

That is where GM needs to improve most.

[pinch a loaf]

Originally Posted by N8s07ss

I think the Cobalt's fuel economy is vastly underrated. I own a Cobalt SS supercharged, and consistently get 25-27 MPG city, and 32-34 MPG highway. I guess it's possible that it's because my engine is .2L smaller than the base models, but I would think that the base engine 2.2L would do better than my LSJ. I visit Cobaltss.net occasionally, and I remember a thread a while back about fuel economy, and many of the other members were seeing similar numbers to me, and I remember a few of the 2.2 owners getting something in the 40 MPG-range highway. Are those numbers any more competitive, or do I just not know enough about the Civic & Corolla numbers?

I agree with you. I have an 05 stripper Cobalt with a 5 speed that got me 37 MPG on my trip to Virginia over the 4th of July. The harder you drive it the worse it gets. I was going 74 the whole time and it wandered between 35mpg - 39mpg. But it was never below 35.

[tama z71]

I can't agree with this article. Fuel economy should be a common thread amongst all GM brands. Also, anyone who has ever followed a 3-cylinder GEO down the turnpike at 51 mph with no way around them (as I did for 15 minutes today) will likely not look kindly to the rebirth of the GEO brand. As others have said and Al pointed out, another brand just is not in the GM cards.

[unkillsam]

Originally Posted by jwrebholz

The last thing GM needs is another divsion, even a subdivision.

What GM NEEDS is a compact and subcompact that can compete with the Civic, Corolla, Fit and Yaris. The Cobalt and Aveo aren't there. They aren't even CLOSE. The Cobalt needs to lose about 400 pounds and go with a sub-2.0L ECOTEC that can get it up to 30 MPG city. The Aveo needs a 40+ MPG powertrain.

And they can't be "just as good" as the competition. They need to be better--leaps and bounds better--before anyone will take them seriously.

Are you even remotely knowledgeable about cars? The Cobalt only weighs about 150 more pounds then a Civic. How is it supposed to loose 400 lbs.

[GM-Joe]

Not a bad idea. I like the Saturn route too, they need to distance their existance with GM because the people that would consider Saturn would not consider anything domestic; they are too good for that.

[dallennium]

Yes Geo does need to return it should have never left, obviously Toyota thought it was a good idea. I am sure it would be cost prohibitive for GM to build Gamma's in the USA, so to save face with the Union they could just import them to the Chevrolet/Geo dealers. Putting Geo at Saturn dealers is not a good idea it should be back at Chevrolet, GM has confused the buying public enough already.

[F14CRAZY]

Geo should never have been disbanded

[PA Dweller]

GM doesn't need another division. Just build 4 cylinder engines that get much better fuel economy, offer some more small cars, and just sell them in GM's current divisions. Making another division is just a waste of time, money, and resources and GM doesn't have much of either.

[SierraGS]

Originally Posted by BigAls87Z28

A Geo-Centric GM
by BigAls87Z28
www.gminsidenews.com

I know that at this point most people that have gotten this far are saying, "The last thing GM needs is another $@%# division!" but this is more or less an addition to the Saturn brand. This would be a great key to get people into the GM family. Young people getting into the Geo cars will return to the Saturn dealer to move up into car that had the same idea in mind, giving great gas mileage, only now their tastes have matured. Cars like the Aura and Outlook will grab attention of these family-conscious customers and move them up the line. Eventually the ties from Saturn to Caddy will be made, and hopefully the circle will be complete. Will it work like that every time? No, but GM can no longer afford to throw out random hybrid models that are disguised as just another vehicle made by the same old GM people. Toyota has thought about creating a Hybrid-Only division, and this is a great way for GM to jump out and grab the market now before Toyota does. It will show that GM is taking very large steps to set the record straight. Geo: The little green machine that helped save General Motors from itself.

This is a tough call, you are right on the money with the idea that GM needs to have a line that focuses on efficiency. This may sound odd, but since SAAB is an import brand to start with and has not really defined itself as to how it "fits" into GM; SAAB maybe the brand to do it with.

SAAB already has the BioPower drivetrains and is the leading brand in Europe of Alternative fuel vehicles this fits SAAB's European strategy.

Hybrids are more expensive than non Hybrid models and SAAB has some hybrids in the pipeline. The Triplets would give SAAB great entry vehicles and the new SAAB models will have the XWD system of AWD so SAAB's lineup would start with Scion competitors with the Triplets and Sonnet taken from the KAPPA or Alpha architeture and add Subaru competitors with models on the Delta II (WRX) and Epsilon II (Legacy and Outback) with Audi competitors with the new 9-5 on the Alpha platform with XWD (A4 and S4). The 9-4X and 9-6X would compete against the Tribeca and Q7. There could also be a A3 competitor from the Delta II with DSG gearbox and Turbo Diesels.

SAAB models are already fitted with Turbo Diesels, Bio Power, Bio Power Hybrid and XWD so there will be no additonal engineering costs to fit these powertrains.

GM needs to make more of SAAB's excellent safety record and with one division GM would compete with Scion, Subaru and Audi.

[BigAls87Z28]

To move Saab downmarket like that would be tough as it has worked itself as a entry level luxury car for a while now.
The idea was to get hybird and fuel efficent cars into the hands of the common man. Most hybrids cost a decent amount of money, but a very effiecent 4cyl with a BAS system could increase local city milage and its high way stuff works itself out. This wouldnt be about building super fast rides, anything with any major power, but like Scion, they have 4cyl cars that get good gas milage, but its image is hip, its designs are edgy, and are growing in popularity.
As for Geo's name, I have never heard a real response, and most people probably know about someone's prizm that lasted 1/4 million miles. While it was a Corolla with badges on it, the name still has an image of quality and durability. Add design and cool to it, and you have a two-prongged attack at this new subcompact market with high tech hybrids and sharp design.

[SierraGS]

The SAAB idea is mainly to avoid the cost of introducing a new brand and broaden SAAB's appeal. You are right about it being hard to stretch down market, but I think the Triplets may have enough going for them to not be considered "Econoboxes".

I think the GEO idea would work as it did originally in Chevy dealers, I am just afraid that GM will just drop it again if fuel prices drop.

[TKR]

Originally Posted by Caleb02

Gm has way too many division, Chevy should be the entry level division, then comes saturn, then Caddy, get rid of buick gmc, pontiac, saab, opal, vuxhaul, and all the rest and use only Chevy, Saturn and Caddy as world wide products.

....and maybe they should use Opel, Chevrolet, Holden and Vauxhall but kill Saturn, GMC etc? Or kill the whole lot and rebrand them as Oldsmobile or something equally stupid?

Do you have any idea what backlash there would be in other markets if you killed off Holden, Opel or Vauxhall? Do you even care?

As for economy, GME seem to get pretty good economy but they somehow manage to make vehicles lighter than their NA counterparts and can therefore use smaller engines.

[asim]

It's definitely a good idea to add another division that will focus on being green, and to sell it along with the new hip Saturn brand. I just don't know if naming it Geo is the best idea in the world, even though there is some brand recognition to the name. I have friends that make fun of the Geo brand, particularly the Geo Metro...so I don't know if the Geo name is exactly the right move. But it will definitely be smart to make a new, hip, eco-friendly brand within GM.

[Flyingbunnys]

I have to ask why why... First lets look at a compainy that is considered green and on top of the world right now, yes, you guessed it, Toyota. They have 3 brands we have Toyota, Scion, and Lexus. Which one is their green brand? None of them. Because its part of Toyota you only need 1 green car, the prius. then just offer a hybrid on the rest of your veicles and keep them mainstream breadand butter and affordable, ISN'T THAT WHAT CHEVY IS SUPPOST TO BE!!!! One thing I've been told is stick to something that works and toyota works, use the same plan as Toyota with Chevy(with exception to the corvette of course) Then pontiac obviously you performance but its failing as of now, buick the poor mans caddy(or for old poeple). Caddy of course for the rich. Saturn a younger version of Buick, a euro style twist. GMC should be the caddalac of trucks. See everything right now fits together perfectly no new barnds a Geo would be part of Chevy, end of story.