Chevy Orlando axed

for the US:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122175512284552785.html

Hmm - GM rolls this concept out, and then kills its chance at production two weeks later. Is this what Lutz means by "shortening the development process"? :lol:

Woah, that was fast.....

Hmmm. People were speculating this was going to replace the HHR. What now?

Maybe we'll get a stretched G3/Aveo that seats 7.

Lets see....

GM "began scouring its global product portfolio for small vehicles it could bring to the U.S." earlier this year due to the changing market.

OK.... Understood.

GM needs to get small vehicles here ASAP. The market's changing, and we need to get the types of vehicles here that traditionally was reserved only for Europe.

Also....

"The Chevy Orlando could have complemented those (upcoming fuel efficient) models, adding another fuel-efficient option for potential buyers who may have otherwise avoided a GM dealership."

But...

"there aren't many small vehicles with seven seats available in the U.S., and the Orlando may be better suited to the European market where such vehicles are common.

Say WHAT!? :shock:


Am I the only one sensing a boneheaded decision or at least a shot-yourself-in-the-foot missed opportunity here???

A small, 7 seat, fuel friendly, crossover SUV that no one else here in the US makes?

Not only does this remind me of the fact that GM turned down the opportunity to be the 1st to produce minivans in the late 70s (the idea was later sold to Chrysler management and the rest is history), this also reminds me of the 2007 NYIAS when GM showed the Chevy Beat, Trax, & Groove, had us vote on our favorite, then said there were going to "study" the "possibility" of selling it here "in the future"...

With gas prices likely to drift to $5 per gallon (CAFE is irrelevent since people are buying fuel efficient vehicles on their own) makes me wonder who's the hell is really making these decisions at GM??? Is Ford the only US carmaker that actually "Gets it"???!!!!

"Hello.... McFly??!!"

I don't see where GM can say there are no competitors, the Mazda5 seems to be selling well enough to continue.

So GM built the Lambda crossovers so people had a better fuel efficient option to the SUVs. Then, GM unveils the Orlando concept which is a smaller looking Lambda which will get better gas mileage than the Lambdas will still retaining seating capacity.....but we don't want to off that here in the US. That doesn't make sense.:think:

So GM built the Lambda crossovers so people had a better fuel efficient option to the SUVs. Then, GM unveils the Orlando concept which is a smaller looking Lambda which will get better gas mileage than the Lambdas will still retaining seating capacity.....but we don't want to off that here in the US. That doesn't make sense.:think:

The Orland is Delta based (HHR/Cobalt) not Lambda based. It is MUCH smaller!

I don't see where GM can say there are no competitors, the Mazda5 seems to be selling well enough to continue.

GM should realize that they shouldn't play catch-up. They should be the leader/innovator with products like this. Just because nobody else is producing a vehicle similar to the Orlando doesn't mean they shouldn't do it.

And, speaking from personal experience, the Mazda5 is a gigantic POS.

Bummer, I would have considered a production Chevy Orlando over any other GM product on the horizon. (Aside from Camaro of course.)

Dumb move GM. Dumb move indeed.

Dumb , dumbdumbdumb dumbmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm :rolleyes:

Count me in on the "bad move" crowd too.

I think it would have been well-received as a good people-mover.

What bothers me more than the lost opportunity is the irratic back-tracking and crazy lane-changes that GM's management seems to be displaying recently. I think it was a huge mistake to unveil the production Volt almost 2 years before they can sell one. I guess I'm reading this as a public display in attempt to shore-up confidence in their ability to do something with it, i.e. "they are actually working on it".

Is this all posturing for the bailout money, or are they really have this much lack of direction and a good plan?
IMO, the knee-jerk decisions need to stop soon if they are going to come out with a recovery.

"So GM built the Lambda crossovers so people had a better fuel efficient option to the SUVs. Then, GM unveils the Orlando concept which is a smaller looking Lambda which will get better gas mileage than the Lambdas will still retaining seating capacity.....but we don't want to off that here in the US. That doesn't make sense. "

Why the frack would you want a smaller displacement engine when you can get equal mileage with more power?

Oh, I mean, smaller car when you can get more power and storage space.

The Orland is Delta based (HHR/Cobalt) not Lambda based. It is MUCH smaller!

I know and the point i was making is that people still want the SUVs/Lambdas for their capacity but would like better mileage. GM either needs to put a stop/start or hybrid system on the Lambdas or offer people the seating capacity in a smaller vehicle that, even though being smaller, would still move 7 people comfortably and get better mileage. I guess you could say it would be a stretched HHR, but given the right engine, move 7 people while still getting better mileage.

I think this may be the straw that broke the camels back for me. After so much promising and hope offered to the loyal fans GM just can't do a darn thing right. Something so blatently obvious of a good idea and they turn away. Thats it no more GM for me! Ford and Mr. Mulally here I come!

Not only does this remind me of the fact that GM turned down the opportunity to be the 1st to produce minivans in the late 70s (the idea was later sold to Chrysler management and the rest is history),[/i]??!!"

It was Ford that had the first opportunity to produce the minivan, when Iaccoca was working there before jumping ship to Chrysler.

But back on topic ... so the news from GM today is as follows:

- We're going to badge-engineer a sub-par product and sell virtually identical copies at two divisions (Aveo/G3)
- We're nixing the idea of producing an innovative, fuel efficient people hauler (Orlando) that would would put us at the front of the pack for once

Yep, days like these make it tough to be a GM fan :(

has suspended plans to build a small, seven-seat crossover wagon for its Chevrolet brand in North America and instead plans to bring another small car to the U.S. from Asia.

This could mean that they just cancelled plans to BUILD it in the US. They may still plan to SELL it in the US. The primary source for the article was a UAW representative.

A spokesman confirmed that GM has no concrete plans to bring the model to the U.S.
This quote could be another "we do not discuss future product" lies er statements that they use when convenient.

This could mean that they just cancelled plans to BUILD it in the US. They may still plan to SELL it in the US. The primary source for the article was a UAW representative.

This quote could be another "we do not discuss future product" lies er statements that they use when convenient.

Now your into wishful thinking.

This could mean that they just cancelled plans to BUILD it in the US. They may still plan to SELL it in the US. The primary source for the article was a UAW representative.

This quote could be another "we do not discuss future product" lies er statements that they use when convenient.

This has been stated to be assembled in Lordstown, unless the plans have changed since the UAW negotiations.

So is the G3 the small asian car coming here soon instead of the Orlando? Or is their a different car the article is speaking about... I figured they are refering to a different car being the G3/Aveo are the same.

so they are wasing money or car development that will never see the light of day?? WOW

GM why dont you let us take control of the board?? Bet we would at least do a good job of targets to meet. not just throw away.

This could mean that they just cancelled plans to BUILD it in the US. They may still plan to SELL it in the US. The primary source for the article was a UAW representative.

This quote could be another "we do not discuss future product" lies er statements that they use when convenient.

No. They are definately not going to build it Europe and import it to the US. The dollar's inferiority to the Euro has made any vehicle made in Europe expensive to us here in the US. GM is having a bear of a time with the Saturn Astra. The G8 has a bit more pricing room,

If Orlando waqs going to be sold in volume here in the US... especially, Chevrolet-like volume... it would have to be made in the US or Mexico or else it would be expensive, or incapable of supplying the volume needed, or both.

So is the G3 the small asian car coming here soon instead of the Orlando? Or is their a different car the article is speaking about... I figured they are refering to a different car being the G3/Aveo are the same.

The G3/Aveo isn't the car GM's importing instead of making the Orlando.

so they are wasing money or car development that will never see the light of day?? WOW

GM why dont you let us take control of the board?? Bet we would at least do a good job of targets to meet. not just throw away.

GM is evidently going to make and market the Orlando in Europe instead of the US.

Then GM wonders why it's overseas divisions do better than GM does here in the US. :rolleyes:

No. They are definately not going to build it Europe and import it to the US. The dollar's inferiority to the Euro has made any vehicle made in Europe expensive to us here in the US. GM is having a bear of a time with the Saturn Astra. The G8 has a bit more pricing room,

If Orlando waqs going to be sold in volume here in the US... especially, Chevrolet-like volume... it would have to be made in the US or Mexico or else it would be expensive, or incapable of supplying the volume needed, or both.


What about Asia?