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Old Mar 17, 2009 | 10:45 AM
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Alpha.....

It's back on.
Old Mar 17, 2009 | 10:58 AM
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Old Mar 17, 2009 | 01:39 PM
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Over on GMI there is a very reliable poster talking about this very subject. I'll just combine what I've heard with what he's saying.

-First Alpha products by MY 2013-14.

-Coupe, sedan, convertible, wagon variants being considered,

-The business plan requires Chevy to be part of the program. Draw your own conclusions.

- A LWB version may replace the CTS later next decade, after CTS gets one more freshening after this one.

-Hope you like the Converj's styling.
Old Mar 17, 2009 | 02:01 PM
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Is alpha on like normal GM speed or is someone running blocker like Lutz did for Solstice?
Old Mar 17, 2009 | 02:09 PM
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Originally Posted by Z284ever
I'll just combine what I've heard with what he's saying.
Which of the those things are what you've heard, vs. what he's saying?

Originally Posted by Z284ever
-Hope you like the Converj's styling.
I do!
Old Mar 17, 2009 | 02:43 PM
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Originally Posted by Z284ever
-Coupe, sedan, convertible, wagon variants being considered,

-The business plan requires Chevy to be part of the program.
I'm very curious about the size differences between Zeta and Alpha. I wish I knew more, now more than ever if a wagon version is coming.
Old Mar 17, 2009 | 03:21 PM
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I have suspicions that for some it never stopped. I wonder if suppliers have some extra time to work on tooling. It'd be nice to pull this thing ahead a year.
Old Mar 17, 2009 | 04:14 PM
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Originally Posted by Geoff Chadwick
I'm very curious about the size differences between Zeta and Alpha. I wish I knew more, now more than ever if a wagon version is coming.
I believe Alpha is a fair bit smaller then Zeta since the Caddy is envisioned to be a 3 series competitor.
Old Mar 17, 2009 | 05:26 PM
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Originally Posted by IREngineer
I have suspicions that for some it never stopped. I wonder if suppliers have some extra time to work on tooling. It'd be nice to pull this thing ahead a year.
Funny you should say that, because I have that impression too. Even if it was at a reduced tempo, or whatever - it seemed something was always happening.
Old Mar 17, 2009 | 05:45 PM
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Originally Posted by Z284ever
Funny you should say that, because I have that impression too. Even if it was at a reduced tempo, or whatever - it seemed something was always happening.
It's funny what some managers will do for pet projects. Accounting might think they're working on some chassis rigidity analysis for Delta II, but they're really working on optimizing the unibody structure for Alpha. Not that I've ever seen anything like that before .

Ninja edit: Man, do I have bad grammer sometimes.
Old Mar 17, 2009 | 06:57 PM
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Originally Posted by Z284ever
It's back on.
It's good news week for GM.

First, excellent EPA numbers for the Camaro (plus official start of production). Now this.
Old Mar 17, 2009 | 07:39 PM
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Perhaps we might want to send some thank-you notes to Opel. The company that may wind up with a divorce from GM and a chassis they are in charge of called Espilon?

If Opel and GM-NA separate, they'll still have joint custody of Espilon and Delta, but with General Motors global operations drifting into more of a federation of independent companies, and the fact that CAFE still stands (don't foreget to send them guys thank-you cards too), might just be what it took to make a case for a chassis that most of this year, many in GM were trying to kill in favor of Espilon.

As a Euro Cadillac, the case for Alpha was extremely weak.

With Chevrolet, it's very strong.

Originally Posted by Geoff Chadwick
I'm very curious about the size differences between Zeta and Alpha. I wish I knew more, now more than ever if a wagon version is coming.
Think Pontiac G6.... which at one time, the plan was to use it as the basis of G6's replacement.

While Zeta is made to handle the most powerful engines GM makes, the Alpha is planned to make use of 4s and V6s. The 3.6 DI (which will eventually reach 350 horsepower) will likely be the biggest engine it will be designed for. The plus side is that because it's designed for less potent engines, everything else can be made lighter.

In the end, we should have V6 engines performing like they had LS3s while getting about 30 mpg.

Who said higher CAFE numbers would kill performance cars?

Last edited by guionM; Mar 17, 2009 at 07:45 PM.
Old Mar 17, 2009 | 07:43 PM
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Great news, but, will it be engineered to accept a small block?

EDIT: Nevermind, Guy already answered that. The prospects of a lighter 6th Gen seem a bit slimmer.

Last edited by Z28Wilson; Mar 17, 2009 at 08:05 PM.
Old Mar 17, 2009 | 07:55 PM
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Originally Posted by guionM
While Zeta is made to handle the most powerful engines GM makes, the Alpha is planned to make use of 4s and V6s. The 3.6 DI (which will eventually reach 350 horsepower) will likely be the biggest engine it will be designed for. The plus side is that because it's designed for less potent engines, everything else can be made lighter.
Wasn't there plans at one time to make a ~4.0L DOHC HF V6?
Old Mar 17, 2009 | 08:09 PM
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Originally Posted by Z28x
Wasn't there plans at one time to make a ~4.0L DOHC HF V6?
I heard that too. Not plans per say but the 3.6L was capable of being taken to 4.0 limit.

Heres to 6th gen on Alpha.... Long as the make a V8 fit.



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