Some Interesting Quotes from Mark Reuss...

As a member of the International Motor Press Association, i get to read some pretty interesting things.....

Here's some quotes from Mark Reuss.... Head of GM Performance Division... Recent quotes...just from a few weeks ago...

On the Colorado...
The Colorado. The Colorado we did this last year [for the dream cruise] was, again, a hot version of this that would be absolutely produceable. And in fact, the reason why we did this was we did not know how to package a V8 in a 355 architechure. We only had the I-5. And so this whole exersize was to determine whether we could actually put a V-8 into this architechure, load it and produce it, and in fact we can.

On the Chevrolet Concept
And if you look at the Chevrolet here, i'll just call it the Chevrolet, you look at a four door that has coupe styling. Okay? This- we made it a sedan, quite simply, because we didn't want the Camaro badge put on it. Okay? But a Chevy coupe is something that we all want very dearly someday. Okay? But don't walk out of here and say Mark Reuss said we're doing a Camaro because i didn't say that. I still think a high-line of Chevrolet coupe is still very relevant.

On the TrailBlazer SS
TrailblazerSS, you're going to see that later this year as well. We're launching that in the fall time frame here. This will be avalible in both two-wheel and all-wheel drive. This will be our six-liter small block, and it will be a killer SUV. This was developed on the autobahn as well. And by the way, it beats the BMW X3, X5 and Land Rover around that track.

On the economy and the Escalade ESV
....things like the Escalade and ESV Platinum that we just introduced, we're running about 40% of the ESVs, people don't think there is money in the American economy, we're running about 40% of all Escalade ESVs are the platinum edition at about $72,000. Okay?


So, take it for what its worth... there's 16 pages of a speech he made, so i can't really type it all out, but its interesting to read about alot of the products that are out today...

Oh and btw: i have an H2 SUT on loan from HUMMER right now. I'll post a full review of that in a few days.

Zane

what is the chevrolet? is it a concept car?

what is the chevrolet? is it a concept car?

Click here (http://www.bilgi.aof.edu.tr/users/ebarcin/images/Chevrolet%20SS%20Concept.jpg)

Im a flippin retard. I didnt realize, till I saw that picture just now, just how much the SS concept looks like a Camaro... Of course, that makes me doubly appreciative of what Reuss had to say.

On the Colorado...
The Colorado. The Colorado we did this last year [for the dream cruise] was, again, a hot version of this that would be absolutely produceable. And in fact, the reason why we did this was we did not know how to package a V8 in a 355 architechure. We only had the I-5. And so this whole exersize was to determine whether we could actually put a V-8 into this architechure, load it and produce it, and in fact we can.

Wow. I wanted to keep mine a long time, but this might throw a twist into my plan





On the economy and the Escalade ESV
[i]....things like the Escalade and ESV Platinum that we just introduced, we're running about 40% of the ESVs, people don't think there is money in the American economy, we're running about 40% of all Escalade ESVs are the platinum edition at about $72,000. Okay?


Wow, I never expected sales of the Platinum to be that strong, Can't wait to see the GMT900 version.

Very VERY interesting comment about the not a camaro, camaro. I remember when this was shown at NAIAS a couple years ago any though that this was a concept for a camaro replacement were quickly put down by most people in here. It doesn't say Camaro to me, but it wouldn't take a great deal of restyling to be a camaro.
It is amazing how minor styling changes can really change a car.

Early 90s caprice-> 94-96 Impala
Mercury Grand Marquis -> Marauder

Well, I just spent the last 1/2 hour looking for the post where Red Planet refers to the SS concept and compares it to what a new Camaro is not. I wanted to check to see exactly what he said, but I can't find the post.

It was something along the lines of "the SS concept has nothing to do with a new Camaro" or "the SS concept is not a Camaro concept". Either way it leaves everything open to interpretation.

Danno02SS, the only person here who has seen an actual Chevy Coupe "Camaro" mock up in the styiling clinic said it greatly resembled the SS concept. So to see the comment from Mark Ruess where he mentions SS Concept and Camaro in the same sentance isn't too surprising. It's still nice to read though.

Well, I just spent the last 1/2 hour looking for the post where Red Planet refers to the SS concept and compares it to what a new Camaro is not. I wanted to check to see exactly what he said, but I can't find the post.

:D Found it. Go to the bottom of the page: http://web.camaross.com/forums/showthread.php?t=66072&page=2&pp=15

Getting back to the Camaro replacement thing.....I think there are styling cues that remind you of Camaro.....not the entire car...but the taillamps are very reminiscent of the early 2nd gen. The Grille has the look of the late 4th gen...and perhaps the early 2nd gen RS. In my opinion, the car is great looking...but it is not a Camaro replacement and I don;'t think it adequately captures the "Camaro look." So....don't have a cow....you can be assured that when we do another Camaro, it will not be the SS concept car.

Of course that post is over 2 years old so take it for what it's worth.

Selective hearing Joe, here's Red's entire post:

well, I haven't posted in the past week as I;ve been busy at the Los Angeles show and also Detroit. First...where the SS will be in terms of major autoshows: Detroit, St. Louis, Chicago, Cleveland, Minneapolis, and New York. (that's tentative.....)

Second: At Detroit and Chicago, there will also be an SS salon....vintage V8s, videos...etc. You will note that the videos capture the heritage of the SS...and YES, Camaro is captured in the videos.

Third: The SS Concept is NOT a Camaro replacement. (4 doors???) Now...with that said, the design was to capture the essence of SSs of past ... in a new design. You've heard me say it before and I will say it again.....please.....don't judge something by its picture. I've listened to many journalists over the past couple of days remark that the Cheyenne looks terrible in the pictures, yet looks great in person. ....so...come to one of the shows and then make your opinion.

Getting back to the Camaro replacement thing.....I think there are styling cues that remind you of Camaro.....not the entire car...but the taillamps are very reminiscent of the early 2nd gen. The Grille has the look of the late 4th gen...and perhaps the early 2nd gen RS. In my opinion, the car is great looking...but it is not a Camaro replacement and I don;'t think it adequately captures the "Camaro look." So....don't have a cow....you can be assured that when we do another Camaro, it will not be the SS concept car.

Do I think we should offer this car with some changes? You betcha! Will it happen? Don't know.

Red's indictment on the car NOT being a Camaro was based on the concept's exact configuration at the time, 4-doors, not quite the "Camaro look". He went on to say that with some changes the car should be offered. :D

I read that more as, this car isn't a Camaro in looks or purpose.

This Mark Reuss guy sure does say "Okay?" frequently and at unusual times. :p

Very good thread, like when the man in charge of the performance division wants to voice his opinion on certain things, namely Camaro and V8 Colorado.

i just have a quick question about the Chevrolet SS Concept that was discussed in this thread. Has anyone ever chopped any photos of this car to see what it would look like as a coupe.???? cause the more i stare at it the more i see a Camaro... maybe it is wishfull thinking, or maybe i just need to go to bed.....

i just have a quick question about the Chevrolet SS Concept that was discussed in this thread. Has anyone ever chopped any photos of this car to see what it would look like as a coupe.???? cause the more i stare at it the more i see a Camaro... maybe it is wishfull thinking, or maybe i just need to go to bed.....

Yeah coupe photoshops have been done...I dont know where they are though

Yeah coupe photoshops have been done...I dont know where they are though

GONGOS clinic car (http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/daniel.cervantes@sbcglobal.net/detail?.dir=0c30&.dnm=96d4.jpg)

This was a chop I did shortly after the clinic. The hood lines were a little more sharp, ala 1st gen creases, but it is very close to the car that was shown. Since then some guys from C&G have gotten info that the front end has been changed and the fenders re-worked with '69esque fender creases.

Sharpshooter_SSs rendition with newer info:
Camaro SS rev 1 (http://www.helixstudio.com/ssmd/camaro/camaro_ss_rev1.jpeg)

On the TrailBlazer SS
TrailblazerSS, you're going to see that later this year as well. We're launching that in the fall time frame here. This will be avalible in both two-wheel and all-wheel drive. This will be our six-liter small block, and it will be a killer SUV. This was developed on the autobahn as well. And by the way, it beats the BMW X3, X5 and Land Rover around that track.


Giddy giddy Chuck...

Giddy giddy Chuck...


TrailBlazer SS is something I am thinking about getting to repalce one of the cars when the leases are up in a year and a half or so... my only drawback is that I am not overjoyed with TrailBlazer's interior... I wish they'd redo it.

TrailBlazer SS is something I am thinking about getting to repalce one of the cars when the leases are up in a year and a half or so... my only drawback is that I am not overjoyed with TrailBlazer's interior... I wish they'd redo it.

That'd be my only drawback, too. But right now Im pretty desperate for a LS2 truck so this would be sufficient. I wonder what the tow rating will be on it?

GONGOS clinic car (http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/daniel.cervantes@sbcglobal.net/detail?.dir=0c30&.dnm=96d4.jpg)

This was a chop I did shortly after the clinic. The hood lines were a little more sharp, ala 1st gen creases, but it is very close to the car that was shown. Since then some guys from C&G have gotten info that the front end has been changed and the fenders re-worked with '69esque fender creases.

Sharpshooter_SSs rendition with newer info:
Camaro SS rev 1 (http://www.helixstudio.com/ssmd/camaro/camaro_ss_rev1.jpeg)

I have not seen that rev1 pic! I really like that. The SS concept had me wondering last weekend at the Baltimore auto show. They had it there years after its intro. They obviously dont intend to build it and it not one of thier "classics" yet. What other reason would they have to drag it around the country?

TrailBlazer SS is something I am thinking about getting to repalce one of the cars when the leases are up in a year and a half or so... my only drawback is that I am not overjoyed with TrailBlazer's interior... I wish they'd redo it.
I think '08 is the redesign (GMT370)

TrailBlazer SS is something I am thinking about getting to repalce one of the cars when the leases are up in a year and a half or so... my only drawback is that I am not overjoyed with TrailBlazer's interior... I wish they'd redo it.Believe it or not, I just took one of these for a quick spin not 10 minutes ago. Actually, it was an older Buick Rainier body with the Trailblazer SS powertrain/suspension, etc. for development. Anyway, I was gentle for the most part, and was impressed with the pull in 2nd and 3rd gear on moderate tip-ins. I got on it once on a curve, but it stayed in 2nd (at first I wasn't sure what gear it was in, because the tach wasn't working :o), and it still pulled pretty hard. Finally, on the way back to the building, I stepped into it pretty hard from a rest.

:eek:

As much as I love my car, I am seeing two basic options in my future.

1) Buy something with a gen3 or gen 4 in it (LS1 Camaro, C5, or LS2 GTO), or
2) Get to work on a heads/cam swap on my paid-off LT1.

It is hard to tell in an automatic, taller riding SUV vs. my low-slung, haven't driven it since November, six speed LT1, but this thing felt quicker than my car, even with a 1000 lb weight disadvantage... I looked down after not very many seconds and was surprised to see 70+ mph on the speedo... :alert:

Dang.

Oh, it also cornered and stopped rather nicely for a ~4500 lb suv (based on my too-short test drive). If it is true that there will be both rear and awd available (the one I drove was awd), oh man...

LT1 = :cool:
LS1 = :metal:
LS2 = :bow::metal::bow:

Believe it or not, I just took one of these for a quick spin not 10 minutes ago. Actually, it was an older Buick Rainier body with the Trailblazer SS powertrain/suspension, etc. for development. Anyway, I was gentle for the most part, and was impressed with the pull in 2nd and 3rd gear on moderate tip-ins. I got on it once on a curve, but it stayed in 2nd (at first I wasn't sure what gear it was in, because the tach wasn't working :o), and it still pulled pretty hard. Finally, on the way back to the building, I stepped into it pretty hard from a rest.

:eek:

As much as I love my car, I am seeing two basic options in my future.

1) Buy something with a gen3 or gen 4 in it (LS1 Camaro, C5, or LS2 GTO), or
2) Get to work on a heads/cam swap on my paid-off LT1.

It is hard to tell in an automatic, taller riding SUV vs. my low-slung, haven't driven it since November, six speed LT1, but this thing felt quicker than my car, even with a 1000 lb weight disadvantage... I looked down after not very many seconds and was surprised to see 70+ mph on the speedo... :alert:

Dang.

Oh, it also cornered and stopped rather nicely for a ~4500 lb suv (based on my too-short test drive). If it is true that there will be both rear and awd available (the one I drove was awd), oh man...

LT1 = :cool:
LS1 = :metal:
LS2 = :bow::metal::bow:


Wow. Cool info. Thanks.

BTW... older Rainier body?? Was there one that wasn't used?!? :confused:

Wow. Cool info. Thanks.

BTW... older Rainier body?? Was there one that wasn't used?!? :confused:No, sorry for the confusion. I just meant it had been around the block a few times. Actually, it was in pretty decent shape really. Just not quite up to showroom standards, so I typed "older". My bad. :)

No, sorry for the confusion. I just meant it had been around the block a few times. Actually, it was in pretty decent shape really. Just not quite up to showroom standards, so I typed "older". My bad. :)

Ah... OK, I was all perplexed. :D

No, sorry for the confusion. I just meant it had been around the block a few times. Actually, it was in pretty decent shape really. Just not quite up to showroom standards, so I typed "older". My bad. :)


How's it drive compared to the SSR?