[PURPLEIMPALA]

Dears Sirs:
What you need for Chevrolet: a Matiz, an Aveo, an HHR, and a Malibu/Impala.
for Chevy trucks: a small, 4cyl pickup like the S-1000 in my signiture,
a stripped-down Colorado, stripped V-6 Silverados,
a combination replacement for Express and Suburban,
(lighter than either, but still large), like in my signiture,
Tahoes, and heavy-duty Silverados.

for Pontiac: a G-3, G-6, Solstice, and a G-6 based GTO.
for Buick, a SMALL FWD luxury car, Enclave, and Lucerne
for Cadillac: a CTS, a DTS, Escalade, ESV, and XLR.

for GMC: well-equipped Sonomas and Sierras, Acadia, Yukon,
and a GMC version of the Savanna/Yukon XL.

Think smaller, lighter, and interchangable engines and transmissions for manufacturing flexibility. Simplify. Make one model replace 2 or 3. Plan to sell fewer models starting at lower prices. Think volume. Small doesn't have to mean cheap, however. People will buy small, high fuel mileage, luxury cars. And high fuel mileage trucks can sell too.

 

[FenwickHockey65]

Ehh...sorry...I just don't agree with some of your ideas. The small, 4-cylinder truck is a good one, but I'm not a big fan of the combined Savana/Yukon XL and Express/Suburban.

 

[PURPLEIMPALA]

Why couldn't the two models be combined into one ? I've owned both full sized vans and a Suburban and lived with them for years. They are similar in size, but could be combined (either body-on-frame or unibody) and made in many variations. I admit that I'm not in the car industry, but as a GM fan and customer, am trying to be helpful by stimulating thought and possible new ideas. Besides, my advice to GM is totally FREE. Maybe someone will like my ideas. Maybe not.

 

[FenwickHockey65]

I don't know, maybe it's just my own personal bias, but I just feel that the Yukon XL/Suburban and the Savana/Express need to be separate. Maybe I'm just thinking about the idea wrong, it just seems like it would be a massive oversized minivan.

 

[member12]

Especially since the 3/4 ton trucks, vans, and SUVs are not rated under CAFE.....I see no reason to do anything other than what the market demands in those segments.

The Suburban has been around with the same formula for 50 years, and it has historically been successful. I think, if anything, the Suburban should be more truck like (perhaps only a 3/4 ton version excepting the truck from CAFE) and built more for work than for family hauling.
Mom and Dad are not buying these anymore unless they have a horse trailer, boat, or RV...meaning the safe demand is expected from those who actually need trucks.

Also, the Burban is more capable off road- and better suited for towing horse trailers while the Express (on an actual Van chassis), is way, way more space efficient.

Remember about CAFE. Most Express vans are too heavy to be included....and they sell very well as they are. I see no reason to blur the lines between these two trucks other than sharing powertrain bits. I would like to see the Express be on a Van-specific chassis like the popular Sprinter van, but you do raise a good point- so maybe the Express can add options like four wheel drive and a higher towing capacity for folks like you who need it. Otherwise, the Suburban is there to cover that market.

 

[zeobandit]

A G6 based GTO?? That will fail worse then the rebadged Holden Monaro. Not a lot of people want a FWD sports car.

 

[PURPLEIMPALA]

A G6 based GTO?? That will fail worse then the rebadged Holden Monaro. Not a lot of people want a FWD sports car.

You could be right.How about a GTO version of the Solstice ? Pontiac needs a GTO, but not another model like the 2004 GTO, IMHO. I'm thinking something with a turbo 6 cylinder or something. But you are right, RWD is probably the way to go for a sports car (or near sports car).

edit- What about my S-1000 idea ? A much cheaper, 4 cylinder, non-convertible version of the SSR ? Perhaps based on the HHR model ? I'm talking cheap, cheap, cheap base price. High gas mileage. No 6 cylinder available. One size only. Sell a ton of them to first-time Chevy buyers. . Raise the CAFE average and the awareness of the brand SKY HIGH.

Especially since the 3/4 ton trucks, vans, and SUVs are not rated under CAFE.....I see no reason to do anything other than what the market demands in those segments.

The Suburban has been around with the same formula for 50 years, and it has historically been successful. I think, if anything, the Suburban should be more truck like (perhaps only a 3/4 ton version excepting the truck from CAFE) and built more for work than for family hauling.
Mom and Dad are not buying these anymore unless they have a horse trailer, boat, or RV...meaning the safe demand is expected from those who actually need trucks.

Also, the Burban is more capable off road- and better suited for towing horse trailers while the Express (on an actual Van chassis), is way, way more space efficient.

Remember about CAFE. Most Express vans are too heavy to be included....and they sell very well as they are. I see no reason to blur the lines between these two trucks other than sharing powertrain bits. I would like to see the Express be on a Van-specific chassis like the popular Sprinter van, but you do raise a good point- so maybe the Express can add options like four wheel drive and a higher towing capacity for folks like you who need it. Otherwise, the Suburban is there to cover that market.

What you say is true about CAFE, but forget CAFE, I was thinking SALES. Sales may be decent NOW, but when the price of gas goes higher, these sales will probably tank. Certainly there will always be people who NEED big trucks, but I believe that fuel mileage must be improved on EVERY vehicle except those sold to businesses and customers who NEED the large vehicles. I believe that many Tahoe/Suburban/Van buyers need higher mileage more than commercial customers. Besides, you can still build heavy duty vehicles for them.

 

[PURPLEIMPALA]

One more thing: GM became great by doing the following:
Cars had interchangable powertrains. Engines and trannies could be substituted for manufacturing flexibility, customer requirements, special orders, etc. Standard motor mount positions, etc. This also helped sales, because of ease of engine swaps, etc. was a big plus to customers. Also helped GM's reputation and RESALE VALUE.
Evolution. Don't start with a clean sheet of paper when designing a new model, evolve it from the last one. That is how GM used to do it, and how Toyota, Honda, et. al do it now. It works, saving costs and promoting reliability and quality. I mean QUALITY.
You DON'T need a model for every slot there is, only a model for every sale you can make. Don't waste time and money on models that may not sell. It's CRASH TIME ! Use your energy on models that you KNOW will sell. You know better than I which models will SELL.
Remember that low cost, high fuel mileage cars and trucks will sell in high volume. Remember how Datsun and Toyota, and Honda started. You are now starting over. Do it.
Good luck. I want GM to succeed. You are my favorite car company. Get well soon.