Should Chevrolet Bring Back the Metro Nameplate?

[vsd]

Yes, they should, and they should also go back to the Metro's root's and slap it's badge on the new Suzuki Swift.

[psece]

Originally Posted by CrimsonTider

The Aveo name does have recognition. The wrong kind. Same for the Metro. Chevy should go back farther and bring back another storied name. Of course I'm referring to Chevy's entry-level ride, the Nova.

But you can't just slap the Nova name on a cheap import... That would be mad.....

[mgescuro]

Originally Posted by vsd

Yes, they should, and they should also go back to the Metro's root's and slap it's badge on the new Suzuki Swift.

The Swift is an awesome looking car!!!

I certainly would not mind "Metro" coming back to the lineup.

[Butz]

Originally Posted by vsd

Yes, they should, and they should also go back to the Metro's root's and slap it's badge on the new Suzuki Swift.

My exact same thoughts

[DemonKnightDK]

They did start selling the metro as a chevy at the end of its run... it was called the Chevrolet metro.... and it didnt look half bad.

[Ming]

Originally Posted by rsbaker

Absolutely not. They should be Chevrolets...Period! GM does not need any more divisions. Chevrolet is just beginning to develop a reputation for offering fuel efficient cars. Aveo, Cobalt, HHR with more models to comE like Beat. If there are any other models offered, and I think there should be, they should all be Chevrolets. I never did like the "GEO" badging. The Tracker, Metro, Prizm etcetera would have helped the image of the Chevrolet name if they had been called Chevrolets. These same models were sold in South America and other places as "Chevrolets" so why not in the US. I vote, NO MORE GEO!!!

I didn't say bring back Geo - just the Metro name. Also, Chevrolet had the Metro, Prizm and Tracker for years here as well after the Geo brand was dumped.

Note the badges:

[GMC-70]

Originally Posted by PontiacBixler

Forget making it a Chevy, bring back the GEO brand and make that the "Global" "Go Green" name for GM instead of shoehorning these underpowered, high gas mileage vehicles where they don't belong.

Bring all 3 Chevy concepts from last year out as GEOs and make sure that the lowest MPG rating that they get is 30 in the city and GM would have a winner. Oh, and make sure that the most expensive they get is $25k at the most.

Wouldn't these work better as Saturns? There ares still many, many people that associate Saturn with economical commuter cars, but they really dont have that offering anymore--The Astra is nice but too much $$$

[Ming]

Originally Posted by PontiacBixler

Forget making it a Chevy, bring back the GEO brand and make that the "Global" "Go Green" name for GM instead of shoehorning these underpowered, high gas mileage vehicles where they don't belong.

Bring all 3 Chevy concepts from last year out as GEOs and make sure that the lowest MPG rating that they get is 30 in the city and GM would have a winner. Oh, and make sure that the most expensive they get is $25k at the most.

While I understand the nostalgia driving it, I don't agree with keeping the Chevy image of yore - of big, heavy sedans, SUVs, Muscle Cars and Trucks. It's not the 1960's or 1990's anymore.

Chevy won't survive with $4.00+ gas prices if that's the image they chase (while Toyota and Honda own the "green" mantle) -- one of Silverados with dogs in the bed, Camaros & Cowboys, Blue Collar inner city Big Impalas with bling-bling wheels, and Rural-friendly Suburbans. Even if a subsegment of Chevy (and Pontiac) loyalists love that kind of "big bruiser" image, it's not going to work in this climate.

Chevy needs to be an "every brand" that offers all types of cars, IMO. They can keep their traditional loyalists and reach out to Toyohonda buyers, and avoid getting boxed into a fuel-inefficient image. The Chevy Volt is only a part of the puzzle, since it will be too expensive.

Besides, Metro is just a name. We could always go smaller....

http://www.automk.com/thread-39504-1-1.html

[New_Mexico_Sunset_on_Rt66]

I brought up a similar topic last year or so. But let me attack this from a different angle, outside of simple names.

Yes, the Metro is an established name, recongized as fuel efficient, but maybe not appointed the best.

I would argue that GM needs to place the same passion, energy, excitement and anticipation that was shooting through the hallways of GM in 2005 when the Camaro was being generated to be intorduced at the 2006 NAIAIS, into the small cars in GM's lineup.

Small cars need to be more than an afterthought at GM.

I argued for years for GM to bring back the Camaro. And even wrote a rather passionate letter to GM back in the mid-1990's to use Holden as a platform for a new series of RWD cars. So we now have the Camaro, G8 and future Buick Zeta all featured on RWD. So now what's next to be a full-line manufacturer? Small, fuel efficient, well-appointed cars.

I'm confident GM can do it. I've learned, "if you set your mind to it, you can do anything".

GM, today, needs to commit to producing a series of cars, small, in the low-teen to $20,000 price range, with interiors well appointed, full of nice rich materials.

The exteriors do not need to be styled "wacky". Simple, yet classic like the Invicta concept, Lambda triplets will do well. GM is establishing some very nice design themes with the Buick concepts and the current Lambda triplets. These need to also continue into the smaller cars in GM's lineup.

In this atmosphere the consumer is willing to spend a little more to get a nice, well-apponted small car with great fuel efficiency.

[Ming]

I would argue that GM needs to place the same passion, energy, excitement and anticipation that was shooting through the hallways of GM in 2005 when the Camaro was being generated to be intorduced at the 2006 NAIAIS, into the small cars in GM's lineup.

Good point, but honestly, I don't see how GM can do that with Bob Lutz at the product helm. Bob has shown contempt and disdain for small cars in statements he's made to the press in the past, and predicted we'd need to see $8.00/gallon before Americans would swith out of their SUVs, just back in January or so.

You can't change what the man appears to like -- cars like the old Cunningham concept, 60's style roadsters like the Solstice, or 60's style muscle like the Camaro. He likes flowing lines and classic design, not "angry toasters", or, I'm guessing, boxy little Kei cars from Suzuki (see Chevy MW above).

Unless GM gets a young, tech-happy guy like some car-geek from Wired Magazine (examples below) to slot under Lutz and supply the passion for small techy cars where there is none apparent right now, I don't see GM changing any time soon from the "we were forced to make this car by market demands" situation we have had for years now.

Forced enthusiasm from Lutz for such cars will shine through.

[GMC-70]

Originally Posted by Ming

Good point, but honestly, I don't see how GM can do that with Bob Lutz at the product helm. Bob has shown contempt and disdain for small cars in statements he's made to the press in the past, and predicted we'd need to see $8.00/gallon before Americans would swith out of their SUVs, just back in January or so.

You can't change what the man appears to like -- cars like the old Cunningham concept, 60's style roadsters like the Solstice, or 60's style muscle like the Camaro. He likes flowing lines and classic design, not "angry toasters", or, I'm guessing, boxy little Kei cars from Suzuki (see Chevy MW above).

Unless GM gets a young, tech-happy guy like some car-geek from Wired Magazine (examples below) to slot under Lutz and create passion for small techy cars where there is none apparent right now, I don't see GM changing any time soon.

Forced enthusiasm from Lutz for such cars will shine through.

Your right-- Lutzprobably won't let that happen with Chevy, but he should give it up and let Saturn have some more designs of this type. Chevy should be a little more conservative in design in my opinion, but Saturn is perfect for this application. Not all youths like the techy look so they have a chance at appeasing both crowds which is a win situation.

[kodos78]

Yes, Yes, and Dear God YES!

Everyone knows what Metro stands for -- good fuel economy. It would be perfect to tackle on Yaris, and Smart.

In fact, GEO could come back as a subbrand to take on Smart. Reduce HUMMER to a Wrangler like vehicle (real offroad) and maybe H3, and then take all other resources and put into a GEO division.

I think the brand has name recognition and could be the Scion of the GM brand. I'd really think to dump Pontiac at this point. It's nothing more than lead weight with very niche vehicles.

[psece]

Originally Posted by Ming

Good point, but honestly, I don't see how GM can do that with Bob Lutz at the product helm. Bob has shown contempt and disdain for small cars in statements he's made to the press in the past, and predicted we'd need to see $8.00/gallon before Americans would swith out of their SUVs, just back in January or so.

You can't change what the man appears to like -- cars like the old Cunningham concept, 60's style roadsters like the Solstice, or 60's style muscle like the Camaro. He likes flowing lines and classic design, not "angry toasters", or, I'm guessing, boxy little Kei cars from Suzuki (see Chevy MW above).

Unless GM gets a young, tech-happy guy like some car-geek from Wired Magazine (examples below) to slot under Lutz and supply the passion for small techy cars where there is none apparent right now, I don't see GM changing any time soon from the "we were forced to make this car by market demands" situation we have had for years now.

Forced enthusiasm from Lutz for such cars will shine through.

Don't get too upset with or think that he wouldn't be able to know a good looking small car. Wasn't he the one that approved the triplets to be used on the show floor?

I think we have seen a major turnover from the old guard to the young kids in GM engineering. We are also seeing it a little bit in design. We just need it in corporate. I am starting to scare myself and think that Buickman was right about Red Ink Rick. I vote for John Heinricy to right the ship. Can you imagine a Chevy SS that does for Chevy what the GTI did for Volkswagen.....

[Puzzel]

Yes, bring back the Chevy Metro (and Pontiac Firefly) under the Aveo, as 3-door hatches only, with mpg of 35/45 to 40/50 city/hwy. Offer them with the new 1.4L in both NA and Turbo forms as XF and SE/GT models respectively.

[packardlust]

Originally Posted by likearock00

The Aveo sucks- name included. I like the Beat name, but think they could name the Aveo the Metro if they really wanted to. Nerdy and green customers will buy the Aveo because it is just a boring, fuel efficient vehicle. The Beat is going to be the vehicle that if built well and contented enough, will attract the next gen of kids back to GM.

The Aveo is a good little car, roomy, comfortable, with a quite pleasant quality interior for the price range. Dependable, looks as good as the competition, Anti lock brakes, 4 Air bags, and inexpensive.