CAFE takes another bite out of GM product plan as RWD programs fall away
A year ago the Zeta rear-wheel-drive architecture developed at General Motors Holden division in Australia looked set to spawn a host of new North American models. The platform that under-pins the new Pontiac G8 and the upcoming Chevrolet Camaro now looks like it will have much more limited application. The next generation of the Chevy Impala was due to be built on this platform alongside the Camaro but now will likely stay on an updated version of the current front-wheel-drive chassis.
The fact that the company needs to move aggressively to meet new 35mpg fuel economy standards will likely mean that higher-volume applications like the Impala go to smaller, lighter platforms instead. The fate of the rumored Alpha compact rear-drive platform is still up in the air at this point. Whether a new Zeta-based Pontiac GTO ever sees the light of day is unknown as well. The 2.9L Cadillac turbodiesel V-6 mated with the two-mode hybrid system would probably get a GTO or Impala in the ballpark of 35mpg. However, that combination would probably be too expensive to get the desired volumes on the Impala and might not appeal to prospective GTO buyers.
[Source: GoAuto via Autoblog]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Wildgoosechase 12:35AM (1/21/2008)
The real losers are law enforcement agencies as they lose one more rear-wheel drive option. Ford will likely discontinue the Crown Victoria and the Dodge Charger is too expensive for most agencies. Sure they can switch to front wheel drive cars, but the cost to re-train officers in high speed driving is staggering. I predict we will see a lot of old police cars on the streets in the near future.
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Turbofrog 12:24AM (1/21/2008)
Considering a 530d manages 36 US mpg, a 2.9L turbodiesel with a 2-mode hybrid system could almost certainly get a full-size sedan well into the 40 mpg range if any thought at all was given to the aerodynamics. The price is the only problem.
However, one or the other in isolation would still be reasonably affordable, and able to produce the required mileage, especially when combined with 40+ mpg compact cars. And if the Volt sells as well as it should, GM has nothing to worry about.
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Mattias 3:24AM (1/21/2008)
#3: Here in Germany many police cars are BMWs. Leasing 3 series BMWs for fleets is cheaper than leasing Volkswagen Golfs, so the decision usually is easy.
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Mirko 4:18AM (1/21/2008)
RWD=bad mileage? Come on, that's BS.
A BMW 520d does 0-60 in 8 seconds and 46 US MPG.
RWD + lazy engineering + "it has to have a gasser V8" -> bad mileage.
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GenWaylaid 8:39AM (1/21/2008)
Mirko has it exactly right. The switch back to RWD is all about handling. GM's problem is that they keep ratcheting up the horsepower and engineer everything like it's a truck.
In the short term GM will probably give us more Opels instead of Holdens. In the long term if consumers keep focusing on efficiency then GM will have to engineer their cars more efficiently. It's good that the next generation of gas hogs may never see the open road.
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Tim 8:46AM (1/21/2008)
This will be HUGE for car collectors.
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