Zeta: The Best Thing Going

[BigAls87Z28]

Zeta: The Best Thing Going
By BigAls87Z28
www.gminsidenews.com
September 22, 2006

January 9th, 2006 marked the start of GM’s Zeta revolution. Up until that point, there was talk, rumor and general hearsay about Zeta and RWD cars in America. The Chevrolet Camaro rolled out onto the turn table, 400 horsepower V8 engine burbling down "Main Street", is the first all new rear wheel drive car that GM has announced it will produce since the CTS. This car raised many more questions, but answered one major one that has been on our minds for years, "Is GM getting back into affordable rear wheel drive?" That answer is a resounding yes. This Zeta platform has been talked about more then any other platform in recent memory. It goes back to the first signs of one, the Opel Insigna concept car. From there, we saw the Buick Velite, and more and more rumors came out.


Opel Insigna Concept was first car mentioned to have this new affordable platform.

Affordable rear wheel drive, based off of Caddy's Sigma platform, will be shared with Holden's next generation of RWD sedans, all things we heard possible with this unnamed platform. Sigma-Lite, VE, VE-lite, and finally Zeta, all different variations of the same idea. Rumors of the Zeta program being shut down and canned for lack of funds destroyed many of our hopes, but as soon as it was put away, it felt as if it returned, back on top the lips of everyone, and seemingly being moved forward much faster. This chassis could be a key platform to develop several different vehicles, from sleek muscular coupes, to mid sized cross over sport vehicles.


Information is slowly starting to come out but from what we know, it will be a very flexible chassis allowing several different variables such as wheel base, track width, firewall height. Zeta will also be equipped for an all-wheel drive set up, probably co-developed with Holden and its VE platform. A big question is what cars, what division is getting what, from where? Zeta will underpin a future Impala, Camaro, as well as a Buick and possibly a Pontiac sedan. All Zeta's will be built at newly merged and retooled Oshawa, the highly rated plant that used to make the W body cars for almost 20 years. The plant will be just as flexible and be able to deal with all of what the future has for this great plant.


Chevy SS Concept was a test bed for many design and engineering ideas, and has the basic package we all want, 400hp V8 up front, spinning the rear wheels.

Right now, we know of one car confirmed for production, and that is the Chevy Camaro. But we as crazed GM enthusiasts know that GM just doesn’t tool up a plant like Oshawa, bring in this new Zeta platform for just a few lowly 100,000 Camaros. I know all of us have been paying attention, and we know that a rear wheel driven Impala is coming to market along side the Camaro. Rumor has it that the Impala will use Chevy's new design theme on top of adding some flair from classic Impala's of yore. This move to rear wheel drive will likely mean that the Chevy no longer expects Impala to be the sales leader it was, as the next generation Malibu moves up in size to better take on the mid size segment. News of a Buick will make its way out as the W and G body are phased out. With Oshawa moving to Zeta, the W bodied LaCrosse will be moving to the Epsilon platform along side the Malibu, G6, and Saturn Aura. There are talks of the LaCrosse using a longer wheel base to separate the Buick from a Chevy. Hamtramick is also on its way out the door with the demise of the Gbody FWD large luxury car platform. This now leaves a big empty spot for Buick to place a large luxury sedan. This also asks the question, would be wise to import Buick-ized Holden Caprice's to the US? This could give us a low production, high quality luxury sedan with many electrical additions and offer a great luxury sedan for the money. Ship 50,000 of them a year to the US, half with V8, half with the 3.6 V6, and that would make for a very nice ride.


Holden and GM North America team together to make better rear wheel drive sports sedans and coupes, for consumption in both markets.


Pontiac could develop a really killer looking Grand Prix replacement. Aggressive fenders, sculpted body lines, wheels pushed to the corners, sporty interior, and a suspension set up that is ready to take any turn. BMW should still be a target as far as offering a solid performing ride along with GM's usual fashion of adding a touch of horsepower. The cars will have available V6 and V8 power, of course, along with offering a manual transmission for both engines. This will give Pontiac a real sports sedan, and how about something with a coupe-ish look? The G6 has it, and the outgoing GP had it as well. I always bring it up, and have done several photo shops on it, but true 4 door sedan with rear suicide doors would be really killer

I have thought about several cars that could also be built off of it. A GTO coupe, yes, but...what about a Caddy? What if from Zeta we can upgrade it and get a Zeta-Lux and that could create a smaller entry level Caddy, BLS, using RWD, to really fight the 3/G35/C/A4 type cars. Price it a shade lower then the current CTS, and allow the CTS grow to more of a proper 5/3/A6 size, and with the 2nd gen STS to push up to the 7/S/A8 size. Zeta would offer a great chassis, still allowing the use of the high feature V6 engines, 5 and 6 speed autos, as well as having the ability to house the Gen IV V8 engine for V-Series use. Zeta is not old-tech, it will be a brand new platform. It could give us a sedan, coupe and convertible, just what is needed to go against the big players. Possible addition of aluminum parts to enhance its sophistication, and will also be spread to a Buick sedan to help lessen the cost. Zeta would give us a good low-cost RWD chassis to fight the 3 series.

??? ???
Zeta-Lux could replace Epsilon and Epsilon II as the basis for the BLS in both Europe and America, making a real 3 series fighter.

What about the prospects of a mid sized cross over vehicle that has a bit more sport then the Lambda/Theta group? While Theta and Lambda are great for design and space, the sport aspect is missing. Offering 5 seater, poor-mans FX for Pontiac could be a very cool thing, some thing to separate the Torrent from the ‘Nox. Or, this could even be upgraded further, use more of the Zeta BLS parts, and become this BRX we hear rumors about. This could offer a smaller cross over type vehicle, comparable to the X3 and FX in size and sport, again using the same parts bin stuff as the rest of the Zeta's, to keep costs down and profit up! The possibility of Zeta production growing overseas could also help improve the design and engineering of a next generation model.


Could Zeta-Lux provide a sporty five seat sports cross over? Lets hope so.

Zeta opens a lot of doors for GM, and it also raises a lot of questions still that have gone unanswered. How far can this platform really be stretched? How far is GM willing to take this platform? What can we really expect to get from this program? These and other questions will continue to go unanswered until the final engineering and development is done on these future vehicles. Zeta could supply GM with a very affordable and flexible platform to make some really awesome vehicles, and use this to push new vehicles to new limits, across the globe.

[JoeT]

Could Zeta-Lux provide a sporty five seat sports cross over? Lets hope so

Holden Boss Denny Mooney hasn't rule this out, saying the next VE based wagon's design is still not set in stone. Convention wagon & SUV designs are both being considered.

Holden wants a Ford Territory killer, and depending on how well the Captiva range sells (I think they'll be a smash hit), I think we'll find out which way they'll go sometime in the next 18 months.

Australia's Falcon sedan based Ford Territory

[paul8488]

Great write-up BigAl... as usual. Love that you showed us the Insignia picture again... I'd forgotten about that car... makes me think about another thread talking about three Opel concepts, one of which could be a large sedan. They've got a hot large sedan concept, and potentially a large sedan-sized hole in their lineup... be logical boys, build the Insignia!

[Bornfromparents]

Nice write up, you have a good vision of what could be, lets hope GM
will be looking at the many different ideas you just posted.
I like the pontiac crossover sporty rear wheel drive kick in the pants

[nadepalma]

Originally Posted by BigAls87Z28

[I have thought about several cars that could also be built off of it. A GTO coupe, yes, but...what about a Caddy? What if from Zeta we can upgrade it and get a Zeta-Lux and that could create a smaller entry level Caddy, BLS, using RWD, to really fight the 3/G35/C/A4 type cars. Price it a shade lower then the current CTS, and allow the CTS grow to more of a proper 5/3/A6 size, and with the 2nd gen STS to push up to the 7/S/A8 size. Zeta would offer a great chassis, still allowing the use of the high feature V6 engines, 5 and 6 speed autos, as well as having the ability to house the Gen IV V8 engine for V-Series use. Zeta is not old-tech, it will be a brand new platform. It could give us a sedan, coupe and convertible, just what is needed to go against the big players. Possible addition of aluminum parts to enhance its sophistication, and will also be spread to a Buick sedan to help lessen the cost. Zeta would give us a good low-cost RWD chassis to fight the 3 series.

Good write up Big Al!

Per your comments above, it's ironic that you mention this cause I read an article not long ago on an Australian website which mentioned comments by Denny Mooney (GM-Holden's Director) stating that there will eventually be a need for a sub-Commodore vehicle in the mid-sized category that is "home-grown" --- and that means RWD.

So a mid-sized vehicle the size of the Torana TT36 or a 3-Series may very well be in the cards for GM-Holden and the rest of the GM-Empire. Just think what that might mean? A REAL 3-Series fighter for Caddy, a RWD G6 for Pontiac, a small convertible for Buick or Caddy, or maybe even a few small crossovers (BRX replacement down the line)?

Here is the article:

Originally Posted by drive.com.au

Source: http://www.drive.com.au/Editorial/Ar...eID=19352&vf=3

Holden looks to a future without Commodore
Glenn Butler, drive.com.au, 18/08/06

Holden boss Denny Mooney says an Australian-built BMW 3 Series-size sedan could be the company's next big thing. GLENN BUTLER reports.



Could the Commodore's days as Holden's core product and Australia's best-selling car be numbered? Holden managing director Denny Mooney believes so, and it's a scenario for which Holden is already preparing.

Speaking exclusively to drive at the launch of the VE Commodore, Mooney said Holden's next-generation family sedan could be smaller and lighter, and powered by four- and six-cylinder engines. It would be similar in size to the Torana TT36 hatch concept displayed at the Sydney motor show in 2005. And it could be a reality as early as 2010.

High fuel prices and the consumer swing towards smaller cars has put the concept of a mid-size rear-wheel drive sedan, first floated by Holden in early 2005, back on General Motors' agenda. And ironically, the VE Commodore – the most critically-acclaimed Commodore since the VB in 1978 – could very well be the victim of its own success.

"I've been saying for a long time that GM has to do a 3 Series sedan, one that is affordable. [And] as I think about Holden's manufacturing plant and our future model line-up I feel very strongly that having a car like that would be dynamite for us.

"I would be naïve to sit here and say 'Commodore will always be Holden's core product'," Mooney told drive. "I should give you that answer, but I'm telling you realistically that is a possibility that I wouldn't want to ignore."

Holden's Elizabeth manufacturing plant in South Australia builds around 140,000 Commodore sedans and derivatives per year for local sale and export. Holden employs 8300 workers directly, and indirectly provides jobs for more than 20,000 across Australia.

Mooney is keen to maintain Holden's manufacturing viability in the face of softening large car demand. And complementing – or supplanting - Commodore production with a smaller rear-drive sedan is what he calls his "insurance policy".

"We'll get feedback from the market here on [the VE Commodore] and we'll start to decide what we want to do next ... It'll probably be six to eight months then we'll start cracking on ... Trying to get momentum [within GM] around a smaller performance sedan may depend on what happens [with VE].

"You could say ten years from now it could become our core product. We could easily have a Vectra-size, rear-wheel drive performance sedan [as a Commodore replacement], or they could both be in the portfolio."

The vehicle would likely go up against the Honda Accord, Toyota Camry and Mazda6, and be powered by four- and six-cylinder engines. But not a V8.

"As soon as you start trying to put a V8 into [the requirements] the car starts to look a lot like the [VE Commodore]. So you do a four-cylinder and at a maximum a V6 and you get the packaging right. Remember we're not looking for big because we've already got big, but it's got to be a legitimate sedan."

It's clear Mooney's given this scenario more than just a passing thought.

"Yeah, there's development work going on."

The car is unlikely to share component sets with the VE Commodore because the platform VE is based on does not have the bandwidth to shrink to the vehicle size under consideration. That doesn't mean it can't be built in Australia. Far from it.

"Build it here? That's a possibility. Depending on how the market shifts, and if in five or six years we would have available capacity ... It depends on whether our plant is flat-out [building Commodores and derivatives] or not. If we have the capacity we would want to build it, for a variety of reasons.

He says Holden's production process already has the flexibility to make adding a second, smaller sedan alongside Commodore relatively easy.

"We have a body shop effectively split in half. Today we build all the VZ derivatives (Utes and wagons) in the south half of our body shop. All the VE Commodores are on the north side of the body shop. When we get done converting all our other body styles to VE, the south side of our body shop is basically not utilised.

"So, would I say we wouldn't potentially [build the car locally]? We might. I would look at that. I'm very interested in that."

But Mooney is adamant the vehicle's potential for Australia doesn't rest solely on local manufacture.

"I want the car whether we build it or not."

The idea of a small rear-wheel drive vehicle was floated by Holden with the Torana TT36 hatch concept in early 2005. Initially thought to give styling clues to the VE Commodore, the concept's true significance quickly emerged.

"[Torana] did what I wanted it to do, which was create more energy inside of General Motors about thinking about doing a car like that."

Now, it seems Torana is back on the agenda. Mooney believes North American acceptance of rear-wheel drive – crucial if the vehicle is to get the green light – is growing.

"I see a lot of opportunity for GM with a smaller rear-wheel drive performance sedan. I think it could be significant volume."

Enough volume to challenge best selling front-wheel drive models Toyota Camry and Honda Accord in North America?

"The problem in the 'States would be that in some parts of the country [where snow is an issue] you still have a problem selling rear-wheel drive. I personally think the ability to be successful in RWD is going to start to re-emerge in North America in volume."

Mooney says Holden may play a reduced role in developing the compact rear-wheel drive architecture, even though it effectively came up with the idea with the Torana concept, and VE has proved Holden's ability to build a world-class rear-wheel drive car.

"We just don't have enough resources. We just couldn't find enough engineers around here to do that. But that doesn't mean we couldn't pick up a derivative. We wouldn't own the underpinnings like we do with VE, but we could still pick them up and do the rest of the car here."

Whether the smaller rear-wheel drive concept replaces Commodore altogether or sits alongside it, one thing is for sure, says Mooney: " We're not going to go nine years before we re-do the Commodore".

[Hugh Jass2]

Very nice.

[DuSpinnst]

Well Cadillac is getting a Zeta already, personally I think it slots above the BLS and below the CTS. I think the CTS and the STS are moving upmarket as well.

Good write-up though.

[cincygoblue]

Originally Posted by BigAls87Z28

The Chevrolet Camaro rolled out onto the turn table, 400 horsepower V8 engine burbling down "Main Street", is the first all new rear wheel drive car that GM has announced it will produce since the CTS.

Excellent write-up and I really hope GM is listening. However, haven't the Solstice/Sky been announced since the CTS came along? That being said, the Zeta is MUCH more flexible and therefore design friendly than the kappas. That's why I hope GM is paying attention to your comments. A smaller crossover than the Lambdas would be great off this platform, as well as a host of brands. In my opinion, Zeta should be to RWD what Epsilon could be to FWD.

[zeobandit]

Great article! That was an awesome read. It sounds like the possibilities for Zeta are almost endless.

[ChrisNJ]

YESSSSSSSSSS!!!!!! I (we've) been waiting tooooooo long. Get them built ASAP. I'll take a chevy, buick and a caddy in RWD-V8(big, not 4.6L), would buy all three of them for my company.

[kenman923]

A lot of exciting things happening with the Zeta. I can't wait until it is out in dealerships.

[Dynamo]

This site will always be about the next big platform and how it's going to save the world by making pickup trucks and BMW fighters off of it. The world is afterall begging for V8 power with rear wheel drive and manual transmissions.

This is great imagination and an exciting platform but I think we should save at least some of the praise until we at least see one. Remember that flexibility often comes with compromise and balanced requirements. So I just know that we'll all be in here in 2011 and someone will complain about how the Chevy is too heavy and expensive and another guy will talk about the Caddy that's too harsh and the trim is too plasticy while yet another guy will complain about the size of their shared nav screen.

[63cat]

Nicely written. Zeta will be great for GM, I just hope theymake the Buick Velite or something like it.

[elderon]

I definately see some sort of Zeta in my future.

[WishIhadatruck]

Very nice write-up. I hope they do all you said! I sure hope Zeta is super flexible, we don't want a big boat of a Camaro and it would be nice to make a mid-size sporty suv from it.