Your Ideal Oldsmobile Lineup

[EldoFan]

Originally Posted by zabraden

I agree with most of this, except for the last statement. Clearly another regular brand, Olds or not, would be a bad move. But Olds was always on the forefront of technology, right? Well, what direction is technology moving right now? That's right, alternate propulsion.

Hear me out. I would have GM take a lot of it's unnecessary dealers, and switch them over to a new Geo/Oldsmobile network. Both would be focused on fuel economy and the future of green automotive technology. An EV-2, or sorts, could be involved, as well as Hybrids, PHEVs, Hydrogen cars, diesels, biofuels, ethanol, and maybe even solar if that technology could be perfected. This is also where GM's self-driving car would go in the future. Geo would be the low-end brand, and Oldsmobile as the luxury alternate fuel brand.

This would help clear out some of GM's excess dealers, especially in urban areas where these kinds of cars would be quickly embraced. This would also give GM a place to try out experimental technology on the buying public. At the Oldsmobile/Geo dealerships, all employees would be specially trained to deal with these kinds of vehicles, something you can't get anywhere else.

To have something like this would also drastically increase CAFE numbers. How many PHEVs could they give to Chevy? Not many. Geo/Oldsmobile would give them a place to sell only fuel efficient models. They could have a few small cars that get great mileage with regular engines to bring in young buyers, almost like a Scion of sorts, and these people would then move into the alternate propulsion vehicles. GM would have to join with an oil company to get filling stations around the country up, but I would imagine that the government, especially after the upcoming election, would be willing to help.

GM needs to be on the forefront of technology, and this would allow them to move forward into the future. GM was always the inventor of the greatest automotive technologies, lets keep it that way.

By the way, I only chose Geo because Geo=earth. I think the logo should be the same as the old Geo, except green.

Hmm........you've got a good idea going......but I think what would work better is doing another merger and putting Chevy/Oldsmobile/Saturn together (hey.....if Buck/Pontiac/GMC works.....).

Having the Malibu/Aura on the same lot really wouldn't be a problem since both are due for either overhauls or new model intros within the next 5-10yrs (and would thus, be further differentiated I imagine). This would give Saturn access to a much bigger dealer network and benefit GM as a combined Chevy/Saturn network would be a potentially formidable foe in the marketplace.

I believe Olds would be a good fit as a 'retro/niche' brand as mbukukanyau & t-rex suggested and would thus make the new C/O/S network that much more well rounded. You would have value & dependability from Chevrolet, a perfect marriage of nostalgia, technology & class with Olds and upscale elegance w/a dash of euro sportiness from Saturn (roughly akin to the GMC/Pontiac/Buick arrangement)

Once the dealer networks are fully integrated.......lineups could be better adjusted for overlap and if absolutely necessary, models could be cut. Either way........if someone built on this plan and really went to town with it, there might be room for a reborn "Rocket" after all....

[zabraden]

I put Saturn and Olds together as GM's eco-brands, with Saturn as FWD (except Sky) and Olds as sporty green RWD.

Alero Entry-level sedan, Alpha.
Cutlass Olds bread and butter vehicle, sold as sedan, coupe, convertible, and Cruiser wagon. Alpha.
442 A "green muscle car," Zeta.
Toronado Zeta based personal luxury coupe. I realize Toronado has always been FWD, but I think it should switch in order to fit with the rest of the Olds lineup.

[mbukukanyau]

HHR
SSR
Nomad

[AmericanRevolution]

Originally Posted by F14CRAZY

No quad exhaust?

OK, 864 lol

[AmericanRevolution]

Originally Posted by mbukukanyau

HHR
SSR
Nomad

Ummm...??

[zabraden]

Here's my envisioned Oldsmobile lineup. With Saturn going all hybrid, I have Olds reclaiming it's rightful place in the GM ladder, above the mainstream Chevy and below the luxury Buick.

Oldsmobile Alero - The Opel Astra convertible, to compete with the Mercury Focus convertible coming up soon. Get this out in 2010 (when I have Olds coming back) so that Mercury looks behind.
Oldsmobile Cutlass - Basically, the coupe and "hatchback" versions of the Opel Insignia, with different front end and interior treatments to reflect the fact that it's an Olds.
Oldsmobile Aurora - In my plan, I have Opel adding a new Omega to their lineup, and bring this over as the Aurora.
Oldsmobile 88 - Also in my plan, Opel adds a RWD entry-lux sedan, the Senator, to their lineup. This is the Olds 88 over here.
Oldsmobile 98 - A fully American sedan, the only main Olds car that isn't a rebadged Opel. Comfortable, but not ultra luxurious, so as not to step on the toes of the Park Avenue or Fleetwood.
Oldsmobile Toronado - FWD coupe, retro, based on the original Toronado.
Oldsmobile 442 - Based on the RIA GTO, Olds' other retro car.
Oldsmobile Bravada - The Saturn Outlook rebadged as an Olds, slightly more upscale, but nowhere near the level of luxury found in the Buick Enclave.