Guest Commentary: Does a Zeta-based Impala make sense? Yes.

[mrDenali]

Guest Commentary: Does a Zeta-based Impala make sense? Yes.

Good evening.

From looking at the title I would guess you would say “not this again.” But your wrong, though GM insists it is moving to a FWD Impala, there is still a chance the Impala can go RWD, and will be based off of the Holden Commodore and the Zeta platform..


Let’s look at a recent statement.

In an interview with Go Auto, Mark Reuss stated that any Zeta based car would likely go to Chevrolet. Reuss also explained how the Direct-Injection would make a better case for bringing a Zeta to the U.S., “We didn’t have direct injection in these cars when we’re looking at this the first time,” he said. Reuss also stated that for the Commodore to do well on the world stage, not just here, if a lot of mass were taken out of the car. Reuss also stated the possibility that a future Zeta project could be engineered in Australia, and built in North America, sort of like the Camaro, “It’s both because like we are doing with the Australian-developed Camaro, we take the whole thing and do it in Australia and then take the team to Oshawa Canada to put it in to the plant to do build it.”

Now, Reuss discussing direct-injection and future production in North America in my opinion does not really coincide with Lutz talking about a low volume “4-door Corvette.” The fact he is discussing North American production strongly hints at high volume.


Now, you can see that from different perspectives, but it’s not hard to tell GM wants Zeta within Chevrolet, Mr. Reuss’s words about direct-injection and North American production can seem like an indicator for high-volume, which strongly points to Impala.



Let’s look at Zeta as a whole. It’s a global platform that was the center for gigantic North American plans. It was developed by Holden between 1999 and 2006 to replace the V-body Commodore. Around 2004 GM started releasing gigantic plans to have Zeta be a mass-market platform to replace several old large FWD platforms, all was swell. Then around 2007, something went wrong, talks of Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFÉ) started to creep in and projects were put on hold. By 2008, most Zeta projects were canceled, including the Zeta Impala, all because of CAFE. Then later in 2008, gas prices shot up way over $4 a gallon, with sales of Chrysler LX cars, the catalyst to GM’s plans, falling dramatically, the whole idea of Zeta being big within America seemed downright stupid.

But that did not stop Holden, whatever the North American plans were, Holden was still going to use Zeta for themselves, but they also had the issue of high fuel prices, but that still did not stop them. In 2009, they released SIDI for the whole VE and WM lineup, delivering fuel economy as low as 9.3L/100KM in a Commodore Omega 3.0L. When you convert that figure as well as the city/highway figures from ADR to EPA standards, you get around 21/30, by comparison, a Honda Accord I4 with an Automatic transmission only gets 21/31. That’s not it, The Commodore has more interior and trunk volume than a Dodge Charger while only being 2 inches longer than an Opel Insignia.

But, GM still won’t use the Commodore for the next Impala, instead plans have come out for the Impala to ride on a Super-Epsilon platform, or in other words, they’ll stretch a Lacrosse to become an Impala. Let’s compare the smaller Epsilon cars, both the Lacrosse and even the upcoming Regal, to the Commodore and bigger sibling, the Holden Caprice.

Now, a Buick Regal is a corporate cousin to the Opel Insignia, weighs around 3,600 pounds, and in it’s most efficient configuration, gets 20/30 out of a 2.4L SIDI I4. The Buick Lacrosse is the larger sibling to the Regal and Insignia, weighs around 4,000 pounds, and using a 2.4L SIDI I4 gets 20/30, but in it’s most efficient V6, the 3.6L SIDI, it gets only 17/27, with a 2.77 final drive ratio (remember that number).

Now, a Holden Commodore Omega weighs around 3,700 pounds, gets about 21/30 out of a 3.0L SIDI V6, while using a 3.27 final drive ratio. The larger Holden Caprice weighs about 4,000 pounds, and is able to get 18/27 out of the same 3.6L SIDI V6 as the Lacrosse, all while having a 3.27 final drive ratio. Well that is interesting to say the least.

To add to that, a Commodore currently has more interior room than the Charger and Taurus, the Impala’s main competitors, more trunk capacity than the Charger, while offering fuel economy almost on par with the Honda Accord I4. While even in a smaller form than what’s planned for the Impala, the Lacrosse needs an I4 to compete with a Commodore V6’s fuel economy.


The whole CAFE issue is now in Zeta’s favor, so what else is there? Production issues? Oshawa recently had a flex-line put in to handle the platform cousin Camaro, so Oshawa can handle it, and parts suppliers could easily be brought in within the next 3 years till whatever the next Impala is.



As for a market for a Zeta Impala, sales would drop to less than 100,000 retail annually, and let the Malibu become the big volume seller. But even in 2007 when the Impala sold well over 300,000 total, less than 40% of it was actually retail, most sales went to fleets and rental car companies. The Chrysler 300, Dodge Magnum and Dodge Charger do demonstrate customers do not care whether a car is FWD or RWD. The three together sold close to 300,000 together annually and had under 50% fleet sales, which means it technically outsold the Impala on a retail basis. But why did the 300, Charger and Magnum drop so many sales? Several reasons. 1. They have not been redone since 2004/05, 2. The Chrysler effect, and 3. The fact they went into $4 gas prices without an efficient engine, the big reason Zeta was killed back in 2008.


So, what exactly is stopping GM from making a Zeta based Impala if it’s attributes are so great? I would suppose the Epsilon plans were already in affect when Fritz Henderson, former CEO of GM was in charge. Bob Lutz, the man who had all the mystical plans for Zeta in North America is now being listened to by CEO Ed Whitacre, and former head of Holden Mark Reuss is now President of GM North America, and he has constantly been teasing us with ideas about bringing Zeta here with direct-injection, possibly building more out of the Oshawa plant in Canada that already assembles the Camaro.



I will make one prediction. Chrysler is said to be releasing the 2011 Charger and 300 later this year, and with the new Pentastar V6 is said to get 30MPG highway. In August, Holden will release the VF Commodore, which will ride on a revised Zeta that will be lighter and slightly more efficient. My prediction is that GM, after seeing these releases, will submit plans for a Zeta based Impala after seeing the possibilities that this platform can achieve.



I shall leave you off with my word that GM will reverse it’s decision sometime later within this year.













Thoughts? Comments?

[GMusa]

Impala isnt giong to be RWD .. its going to be a Tuarus compeitor. So hopfully we'll get a high preformance AWD 350hp SS!

[PistonsFan]

It's too high volume for RWD. CAFE consideration goes into every new product.

...unless they push the Impala into a slightly more expensive segment and use the Malibu as their major volume player.

[mrDenali]

Impala isnt giong to be RWD .. its going to be a Tuarus compeitor. So hopfully we'll get a high preformance AWD 350hp SS!

Whose to say a RWD Impala cannot be competitive to the Taurus?

[mrDenali]

It's too high volume for RWD. CAFE consideration goes into every new product.

...unless they push the Impala into a slightly more expensive segment and use the Malibu as their major volume player.

I forgot to add that

[BigAls87Z28]

If you remove the idea that it has to be high volume, and leave that to Malibu to take on that role 100%, then the Impala can take on a higher end class of car.

[A.J.]

I think a RWD large sedan is a great idea for Chevrolet.

But that doesn't mean that the EPII series should be dropped.

[mrDenali]

I think a RWD large sedan is a great idea for Chevrolet.

But that doesn't mean that the EPII series should be dropped.

Right, if GM can get enough weight out of it, maybe trim down those giant unused overhangs, and tune the engines correctly EPII can make a great Malibu.

But it just won't work for a large car.

[OLDSCHOOLGMFAN]

NO. Like it or not, there is a market for large FWD cars in this country and the FWD Impala has been at times GM & Chevy's BEST-selling car line. So it only makes sense to continue down that path. As far as the Malibu goes, if folks want to insist that the Impala is stepping on that car's toes, (Which I don't think it is) then make the next FWD Impala larger. Problem solved.

I do think a big RWD Chevy sold ALONGSIDE the FWD Impala is a good idea.

[A.J.]

Right, if GM can get enough weight out of it, maybe trim down those giant unused overhangs, and tune the engines correctly EPII can make a great Malibu.

But it just won't work for a large car.

Really?


The rear overhang is about the same length as a Commodore's...and the overhang is necessary for A) trunk space and B) rear-impact safety.

[mrDenali]

AJ, I was speaking more from the front overhang.


OLDSCHOOLGMFAN, you obviously failed to read and comprehend my writing.

[mikmak]

It's too high volume for RWD. CAFE consideration goes into every new product.

...unless they push the Impala into a slightly more expensive segment and use the Malibu as their major volume player.

There are no assurances that EPII is going to be more efficient than the RWD Zeta Platform.

After a week in the 3.6 SIDI Calais, I was thoroughly impressed with its efficiency. To add more heat to the fire, I also talked to a sales rep yesterday, in regard to the fuel efficiency of his base model Omega sportwagon with the 3.0 and 6A driveline:

....
I usually get 6.9 to 7.1 [l/100km] on the highway, but around the city it sits between 9.1 and 9.9......

6.9l/100km= 34 USMPG 7.1= 33.13
9.1= 25.85 USMPG 9.9= 23.76

These are real world figures from a guy who monitors his fuel usage as a matter of course.

This guy has always had commodore wagons and he was impressed that he was getting around 200kms more from a tank than his last wagon.

Stick that in your CAFE pipe and smoke it.

[sigma]

the FWD Impala has been at times GM & Chevy's BEST-selling car line... to HERTZ

Fixed that for you.

[1965Rivman]

The final drive ratio analogy you use does not account for the transmission 6th gear ratios. When this is taken in effect the difference is .1411 and not the .5 you indicate by only using the axle ratio.

The Lacrosse 6T70 has a 6th gear of .74 x 2.77 axle = 2.0498

The Omega 6L50 has a 6th gear ratio of .67 x 3.27 axle= 2.1909.

Using this to evaluate hiway MPG comparisons show that the 4000lb LaCrosse achieves an equal 27MPG as the 4000LB Holden Caprice and demonstrates that there is no big CAFE advantage.

Also I do believe people care that the car is FWD or RWD.

[mrDenali]

The final drive ratio analogy you use does not account for the transmission 6th gear ratios. When this is taken in effect the difference is .1411 and not the .5 you indicate my only using the axle ratio.

The Lacrosse 6T70 has a 6th gear of .74 x 2.77 axle = 2.0498

The Omega 6L50 has a 6th gear ratio of .67 x 3.27 axle= 2.1909.

Using this to evaluate hiway MPG comparisons show that the 4000lb LaCrosse achieves an equal 27MPG as the 4000LB Holden Caprice and demonstrates that there is no big CAFE advantage.

Also I do believe people care that the car is FWD or RWD.

The Caprice is also 7 inches longer overall, and has a 7 inch longer wheelbase.

It has a lot more interior and trunk volume than the Lacrosse and ties it for fuel economy. The point was the much larger Caprice ties with the much smaller Lacrosse on fuel economy while using the same engine.

The big CAFE advantage is where the Commodore has more interior room than competitors, a large trunk, and get's much, much better fuel economy.