GM Disbands High Performance Vehicle Unit
02-18-2009, 04:31 PM
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GM Disbands High Performance Vehicle Unit
This may be old news here but I just read it and thought I'd pass it along
PER AUTOMOTIVE NEWS:
LINK to the AutoWeek version: http://www.autoweek.com/article/2009...NEWS/902189973
PER AUTOMOTIVE NEWS:
DETROIT -- General Motors, focusing on mainstream products in a battle to survive, has scrapped a unit that produced high-performance vehicles.
GM today disbanded High Performance Vehicle Operations, which is based at the company's suburban Detroit technical center, and redeployed its engineers, said spokesman Vince Muniga.
"All high-performance projects are on indefinite hold," Muniga said. "The engineers are moving into different areas of the organization, and they will work on Cadillacs, Buicks, Chevrolets and Pontiacs."
The unit created low-volume vehicles for GM's divisions designed to appeal to enthusiasts and bolster the company's image. Products included V-series Cadillacs and the Chevrolet Cobalt SS, HHR SS and a V-8 version of the Colorado.
Muniga said there are no plans for high-performance versions of upcoming cars.The move is in the spirit of GM's viability plan delivered to the U.S. Treasury Department on Tuesday. In the plan, GM said its future-product focus is on fuel- efficient cars and crossovers. It also pledged to increase its current offering of six hybrids to 14 by 2012 and to 26 by 2014. GM also boosted its request for federal aid by as much as $16.6 billion.
The High Performance Vehicle Operations unit could be reinstated once GM regains its financial health, GM's Muniga said.
"These guys are pretty good at what they do," Muniga said, "They are moving into different areas to work on core products." ...
GM today disbanded High Performance Vehicle Operations, which is based at the company's suburban Detroit technical center, and redeployed its engineers, said spokesman Vince Muniga.
"All high-performance projects are on indefinite hold," Muniga said. "The engineers are moving into different areas of the organization, and they will work on Cadillacs, Buicks, Chevrolets and Pontiacs."
The unit created low-volume vehicles for GM's divisions designed to appeal to enthusiasts and bolster the company's image. Products included V-series Cadillacs and the Chevrolet Cobalt SS, HHR SS and a V-8 version of the Colorado.
Muniga said there are no plans for high-performance versions of upcoming cars.The move is in the spirit of GM's viability plan delivered to the U.S. Treasury Department on Tuesday. In the plan, GM said its future-product focus is on fuel- efficient cars and crossovers. It also pledged to increase its current offering of six hybrids to 14 by 2012 and to 26 by 2014. GM also boosted its request for federal aid by as much as $16.6 billion.
The High Performance Vehicle Operations unit could be reinstated once GM regains its financial health, GM's Muniga said.
"These guys are pretty good at what they do," Muniga said, "They are moving into different areas to work on core products." ...
Last edited by Route66Wanderer; 02-18-2009 at 04:41 PM.
02-18-2009, 04:42 PM
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Z28 what?????
I am sorry to all the Camaro sackgrabbers who just simultaneously let out a cry. Now would you all stop worrying who has the fastest car and just make a base model V8 Camaro and let the aftermarket dictate which ones will be the baddest?
At least GM gets the point.
I am sorry to all the Camaro sackgrabbers who just simultaneously let out a cry. Now would you all stop worrying who has the fastest car and just make a base model V8 Camaro and let the aftermarket dictate which ones will be the baddest?
At least GM gets the point.
02-18-2009, 04:48 PM
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Z28 what?????
I am sorry to all the Camaro sackgrabbers who just simultaneously let out a cry. Now would you all stop worrying who has the fastest car and just make a base model V8 Camaro and let the aftermarket dictate which ones will be the baddest?
At least GM gets the point.
I am sorry to all the Camaro sackgrabbers who just simultaneously let out a cry. Now would you all stop worrying who has the fastest car and just make a base model V8 Camaro and let the aftermarket dictate which ones will be the baddest?
At least GM gets the point.
However, not everyone, actually I'd say most people, don't want to spend throusands of $$$ to modify their vehicles since doing so usually makes the vehicles much less reliable and decreases the value. For those people, ilke me, we prefer to buy "performance" that is factory engineered and under factory warranty.
So, it's a bit sad to see that a unit that did this kind of work for GM is being disbanded.
I don't know if this will have any impact on the Camaro or not but I don't see it as good news.
02-18-2009, 04:51 PM
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However, not everyone, actually I'd say most people, don't want to spend thousands of $$$ to modify their vehicles since doing so usually makes the vehicles much less reliable and decreases the value. For those people, ilke me, we prefer to buy "performance" that is factory engineered and under factory warranty.
After shelling out north of $40k on a performance RWD-V8 coupe, I don't want to pay thousands more to make it faster or void my factory warranty.
02-18-2009, 05:02 PM
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My comments actually come from the many responses on this board of how the new Camaro should have a competitor from the factory for basically every known motorized device in the world. I am surprised that someone has not made a thread about how the Camaro should have wings and be much more tactical than a F-22 in a air battle.
It is sickening that they MUST have it a certain way or it is a failure. They should be telling GM to market the ever living hell out of the V6 so it can stay around and not be so damn worried that it will be the best performance car on the market. That WILL NOT generate the sales numbers it needs to be a success.
The enthusiast is the minority and doesn't mean jack squat when most are buying the damn cars used anyways.
It is sickening that they MUST have it a certain way or it is a failure. They should be telling GM to market the ever living hell out of the V6 so it can stay around and not be so damn worried that it will be the best performance car on the market. That WILL NOT generate the sales numbers it needs to be a success.
The enthusiast is the minority and doesn't mean jack squat when most are buying the damn cars used anyways.
02-18-2009, 05:08 PM
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Man, that's terrible! I wonder if this will retard some technological progress. The high performance cars usually featured the new and improved technology because the cost wasn't justifiable in the lower priced cars. Granted, for the next decade or so the only technology 'people' (aka the all knowing government) will care about will be fuel economy and emissions technology.
Still, that's depressing news.
Still, that's depressing news.
02-18-2009, 05:08 PM
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My comments actually come from the many responses on this board of how the new Camaro should have a competitor from the factory for basically every known motorized device in the world. I am surprised that someone has not made a thread about how the Camaro should have wings and be much more tactical than a F-22 in a air battle.
It is sickening that they MUST have it a certain way or it is a failure. They should be telling GM to market the ever living hell out of the V6 so it can stay around and not be so damn worried that it will be the best performance car on the market. That WILL NOT generate the sales numbers it needs to be a success.
The enthusiast is the minority and doesn't mean jack squat when most are buying the damn cars used anyways.
It is sickening that they MUST have it a certain way or it is a failure. They should be telling GM to market the ever living hell out of the V6 so it can stay around and not be so damn worried that it will be the best performance car on the market. That WILL NOT generate the sales numbers it needs to be a success.
The enthusiast is the minority and doesn't mean jack squat when most are buying the damn cars used anyways.
I think what is sad about this anouncement is the general trend it might indicate for GM. I fear that with the Federal government as a partner (if not sole owner); GM and anyone else left that took money is going to be stuck building nice, safe, green and completley uninteesting vehicles that most people won't want to buy no matter how much money they throw on the hood.
When the dust settles, Ford may be the only one standing that can sell cars the performance crowd actually want.
02-18-2009, 05:19 PM
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Hmpf...... you know they made some great idea's, and not so great idea's.
The V-series huge +
Cobalt SS not bad
HHR SS terrible - (HHR was a bad idea to begin with, don't add insult to injury)
Colardo V-8, didn't even get to become a SS
The V-series huge +
Cobalt SS not bad
HHR SS terrible - (HHR was a bad idea to begin with, don't add insult to injury)
Colardo V-8, didn't even get to become a SS
02-18-2009, 05:46 PM
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Originally Posted by Route66Wanderer
When the dust settles, Ford may be the only one standing that can sell cars the performance crowd actually want.
Originally Posted by King Moose SS
HHR SS terrible
Originally Posted by jg95z28
I don't want to pay thousands more to make it faster or void my factory warranty.
Originally Posted by Route66Wanderer
So, it's a bit sad to see that a unit that did this kind of work for GM is being disbanded.
But Holden is still alive.
And the engineers on this team are [hopefully] all still around and can be brought back together.
02-18-2009, 06:22 PM
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Most of what I'm seeing indicates that people have turned away from "green" cars - and the only thing holding most people back from buying large/performance vehicles/trucks is the overall economy in that most people are simply afraid to buy right now.
I suppose what I'm saying is that the people truly willing to pay a premium for green vehicles are a minority at best.
Unfortunatley, a lack of consumer demand won't stop Uncle Sam form dictating that GM and Chrysler build those types of vehicels; Uncle Sam knows best about everythign you know!
02-18-2009, 06:26 PM
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f'in hell! This is one thing that bothered me most about the hearings when the 3 CEO's plead to congress for money. They were willing to bend over backward to get it, even if it means making products that people dont really want as much as is thought. honestly, how well do hybrids sell if theyre not a hybrid only car like the prius? how many hybrid variants has GM sold? Ive hardly seen any even out in LA where every 5th car practically is a prius.
but it doesnt matter! lets let the government tell us what we want.....
mmm socialism! mmmm......
but it doesnt matter! lets let the government tell us what we want.....
mmm socialism! mmmm......
02-18-2009, 06:37 PM
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I agree with you - but both groups are a minority.GM also has Uncle Sam on their back, which means the "greenies" are worth twice as much to GM.
02-18-2009, 07:17 PM
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The "Prius Frenzy" has weakened because of the economy - but when people finally start replacing their cars, the fuel economy is going to need to increase over their current vehicle, and "green" still sells a LOT. The movement is still toward economy, despite the reduction. Ford made another right decision at the right time by putting spin on the "twin force" motors as "ecoboost".
Time will tell of course but I think the only way "green" vehicles will ever sell in significant numbers is if the government forces us to buy them.
Last edited by Route66Wanderer; 02-18-2009 at 08:44 PM.