[nsap]

DETROIT -- GMC will get its first sport wagon under a change in General Motors' product plan.

GM replaced a planned 2008 Pontiac sport wagon with one for GMC, industry sources say.

The move rewards GMC for surging sales. GMC had a record 563,479 U.S. sales last year, second only to Chevrolet among GM brands.

It also shows GM's determination to build a broad portfolio in the growing sport wagon segment.

GMC, GM's "real trucks" brand, has built its success largely with rugged body-on-frame trucks with optional four-wheel drive. Sport wagons typically use unibody construction and are less capable off-road.

GMC has informed key dealers and suppliers of the change. A Pontiac-GMC spokesman would not comment.

Sources say GMC will take Pontiac's slot in the Lambda architecture, designed for front-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive minivans and sport wagons. The first Lambda vehicles will be assembled in a factory that GM is building near Lansing, Mich.

Meanwhile, Pontiac still will get a mid-sized sport wagon, the Torrent, for the 2006 model year.

Jim Sanfilippo, executive vice president of AMCI Marketing in Bloomfield Hills, Mich., says distinctions between unibody sport wagons and truck-based, body-on-frame SUVs are diminishing.



Full Article

 

[amark329]

:woot2: YAY!! This is awesome it'll be great to see a new GMC model. Now I' excited.

 

[paul8488]

as long as the vheicle is more truck-ish than car-ish it's not such a bad idea. i think GMC should have some vehicles that it doesn't share with the chevy truck line (like the XUV), so this helps. and i like that they took it from pontiac to give it to GMC, and didn't decide to do both a pontiac and GMC version. it's a small sign that GM is dedicated to evolving their brands independently, and not just dumping vehicles into all brands.

 

[gmwsag]

Finally, a new GMC model.....

 

[New_Mexico_Sunset_on_Rt66]

pictures?

:lol:

 

[tgagneguam]

"...The move rewards GMC for surging sales..." This is an interesting reward system that really rewards customers. I like it!

 

[vanshmack]

This is smart marketing! Now, all they need to do is drop the Pontiac CSV variant, and the GMC-Pontiac lineup will make some sense.

 

[paul8488]

Originally posted by LakeMichigan@Jun 21 2004, 03:09 PM
I find this a little confusing as Pontiac & GMC are 1 division

yeah, but it seems like they're finally using the pontiac-GMC relationship as it should be used. with the upcoming theta pontiac crossover and larger lambda GMC crossover the pontiac/GMC dealerships could do without the CSV (like vanshmack said) but yeah, otherwise things are on track for these two divisions.

 

[posaune]

It is refreshing to hear that both are not getting it.

 

[BigAls87Z28]

Hrmmm.....very cool! Another Sy/Ty model perhaps?

What I dont get is taht it will use the Lambda chassis or Theta?
I think that Zeta would offer a great sports wagon....and perhaps pick up? Something like Holden has? A Ute and Wagon would be 2 great cars and attract a lot of different people that wouldnt normaly buy a GMC truck.

 

[tripowergto]

Pontiac should create a Zeta-based RWD V8 wagon to directly compete with the new Dodge Magnum wagon. GM really needs a direct competitor soon to these new DCX RWD vehicles.

 

[gmwsag]

pictures?

Not in your right mind.... :lol:

 

[big swede]

Originally posted by tripowergto@Jun 21 2004, 06:00 PM
Pontiac should create a Zeta-based RWD V8 wagon to directly compete with the new Dodge Magnum wagon. GM really needs a direct competitor soon to these new DCX RWD vehicles.

Now were talking! Base would have the awesome DOHC inline 6 from the trailblazer then middle of the road could use a small V-8 and then the Hemi competitor could be the LS2.

 

[jro4566]

As long as it looks "Professional Grade" - meaning it has to look brute - then I'm fine.

 

[GTOken]

Pictures? <_<

 

[doh]

GMC is getting a car,Buick gets a truck,Olds gets the boot, Saab gets a truck. Its definately not what it used to be is it?

 

[nsap]

Originally posted by doh@Jun 21 2004, 04:06 PM
GMC is getting a car,Buick gets a truck,Olds gets the boot, Saab gets a truck. Its definately not what it used to be is it?

Which is a good thing!

 

[laserwizard]

What's the point of having GMC when they are nothing but a more expensive Chevrolet? Not that GMC has ever been anything more than that, but you'd swear GMC should be gettting some UNIQUE products to allow it not to carryover the ugliness that is Today's Chevrolet!

More losers drive Chevrolet than any other brand!

 

[02lssport]

More losers drive Chevrolet than any other brand!

LOL really? So what do winners like you all drive?

 

[BigAls87Z28]

Originally posted by doh@Jun 21 2004, 10:06 PM
GMC is getting a car,Buick gets a truck,Olds gets the boot, Saab gets a truck. Its definately not what it used to be is it?

To refresh your mind...
Buick is also getting a car with a 2nd one on the way, and Saab is also getting a car. But yeah, if you want to think of it like that.

Now were talking! Base would have the awesome DOHC inline 6 from the trailblazer then middle of the road could use a small V-8 and then the Hemi competitor could be the LS2.

The Atlas i-6 is too big and is not designed for Zeta or approved for cars. I dont think that GM needs a rwd wagon, but it wouldnt hurt.