By the close of the 2008 model year, GM would have gone over all of it's high priority projects. Saturn would have been rebuilt, all it's new bread & butter cars would have been redone, and GM will have scheduled all it's 3-4 year reskinnings.

But for 2009 & 2010, hang on to yer hats because it's likely to be 1968 all over again..... to the extreme!!!

Since nothing is official till the final money flows and the ink's dry on final contracts, I'm using "if", "may", & "should". But consider the timing of these items...almost all at once.... if things pan out:

1. Pontiac will have a performance rear drive V8 sedan.
2. Pontiac's GTO will return.
3. Chevrolet may see the return of the El Camino.
4. Chevrolet's Corvette "Stingray" will be hitting the streets.
5. The new CTSv with as much as (or even more than) 500 horses will be in showrooms.
6. The 5th gen Camaro will be in showrooms.
7. GM "should" have their small sports sedan either in showrooms or in final testing...... and it seems a coupe is possible as well.
8. Solstice "may" have a restyling where it "may" be fitted with a HFV6.
9. Chevrolet "should" have a premium performance coupe within a year of Camaro.
10. Buick "should" have a RWD convertible in showrooms, also by this time.

Over at other automakers:
1. Chrysler's 2nd gen SRT300, SRTCharger, SRTMagnum "should" all be out.
2. Challenger will already be in it's 2nd & 3rd year.... including it's SRT version.
3. Ford will have a new Mustang with the new "Boss" V8s.... yes, plural.
4. Nissan Skyline will be in it's 1st or 2nd year.
5. We "should" have a new 350Z by then.
6. Hyundai will even have a V8, rear drive, sports sedan... and "may" have a coupe.
7. If Ford "may" very well end up importing some version of the upcoming Falcon... apparently it has LHD capability engineered in.
8. Mercury or Lincoln is scheduled for a RWD convertible "if" Ford gains some financial traction

I can't remember a single time in automotive history where so many performance oriented vehicles all hit the streets in such a small window of time.

Although I have to say there is speculation involved, they are all apparently at the very least penciled in for the 2009-2010 timeframe. Most anyone in-the-know will say is that they are 'thinking' about it. But "thinking" has a different meaning in the auto industry than it does to you and me.


(gotta protect myself from black Suburbans... as well as black Town Cars and Black 300Cs, which aren't quite as in

 

 

With all due respect, based upon what I have read from the other insiders, I think that only items 1, 4, 5, and 6 of the GM list will happen by 2010, but I think all items except 7 and 8 will happen on the non-GM list. Just having a RWD Impala SS with a 6.2L V8 is enough for me.

 

Make this happen GM!!

 

Guy, when you say "Stingray", are you refering to the rumored V6 Kappa variant or what has been called "Blue Devil/SS/Super Vette"?...Glad to see a pair of "will" for Pontiac...

 

I'm pretty sure that is the super Corvette.

Regarding the Solstice, hopefully the turbo motor will stick around even if it gets a V6.

 

How about the CTS Coupe? And maybe a convertible version?

 

may i say.....

 

That's what I wanna know. I've been waiting for them to design a CTC since the CTS came out.

 

Guess I better start saving some $$$$$$$$$$$$$

 

Its probably a go, even if not as far along as the other things on that list.

Every luxury automaker has a personal coupe and GM has clearly decided large coupes, like GTO, Monte Carlo, make sense.

I know. With any luck I'll be able to afford one of those 2009's by 2012.

 

[QUOTE=ehaase Just having a RWD Impala SS with a 6.2L V8 is enough for me.[/QUOTE]

When will we see the rwd Impala...2009?

 

Hmmm.....

If I were betting against myself (meaning what on the books is least likely to make it to production despite it being in the pipeline), I'd say 3 & 8 from GM, and 7 & 8 from the other guys.

I know there's a substantial group both here and on another site betting against GTO, and I sound like a lone voice in the woods.

But also remember, I was also the lone voice in the woods earlier this year about Pontiac getting a RWD sedan before decades end, and one of the 1st about Holden exporting to the US a vehicle that turned out to be the GTO.

Guess we'll have to wait & see.

 

I would not say that we will see a new GTO before 2010. There's just no way, unless it gets the green light...yesterday like.

The Impala I learned is a for sure 2010, and we all know that's been worked on quite a while now. The GTO, well that's been a little less forward in development. And, I understand hardly any of the models on the table were overly impressive.

Also, the Buick RWD.....I'm fairly certain it will not be on Zeta. So, unless Sigma has been chosen I don't see that happening either. Of course it's always likely the Buick RWD went to Sigma with the upcoming update of GM's other Sigma vehicles to spread the costs.

But, I will say that 2010 sounds like the end of a great second half of the decade for us here in Detroit. I still say the Camaro will be out sooner rather than later and that's not just my speculation.

I also don't see the Solstice getting a V6. The refresh might see one, but with sales remaining high for the Kappa twins and overseas production beginning, I don't see a rush on the new Kappa, or Kappa II being that big of a priority.

 

I better start saving now......