Whats the "HF" thats like high output? I guess that makes sense if Pontiac is to become a dedicated performance brand; however, it isn't Saturn nominally upmarket of Pontiac now?

Also I see you're saying the domestic zeta sedan will be a Pontiac leaving Buick without a Lacrosse replacement...

Why wouldn't it be? Monte Carlo, GTO and Velite would all share cost.

 

The cost of Zeta development? There's 1 plant right now chosen for Zeta but endless possibilities if things need to change (I.E. more vehicles need to be made).

You have Oshawa as the only plant confirmed. That means GM wants 100k Camaro's (their words, not mine). Also, The Impala coming on-line in 2010 (early 2010) which is another 100k easy. Throw in the G8 and Oshawa is really, really tight on capacity.

Wilmington sees new product soon so do not factor them into the grand scheme of things.

D-Ham can still be considered a wildcard in everything, but it's been a little quiet from that end of things.

 

I thought that the new Oshawa, the combining of I and II, would yeild a capacity of 400k units a year?
I still think that a G8 should be home grown, while the Statesman is brought here for Buick. The quality build and design, not to mention they are going to make Buick's for China anyway, would be right there with the best in teh world. It would cost next to nothing to convert these cars, due to teh fact that, as I said, they make Buick's already. No need for tooling of badges or anything like that. Just have to figure a way to get 40k of them over to the US as Buick's flagship sedan. LS2 power, 6spd automatic, 370hp, would make a fantastic fighter for the 300C.

 

Plus we should have a new Silverado SS by then and a V8 in the Colorado.

 

I thought that there was capacity for nearly ~500k units at Oshawa?? Don't know if that was a "factual" number, or a "nice thought" number?? But still, I didn't think ~300k was hitting their limit yet?

 

I think GM is planning on way more production than that for Impala.

 

Any word on a possible v8 Malibu? I can't remember if i read it on here or somewhere else about this possibly happening.

 

Impala production is being held at 250k per year now, and MC is doing what 20-30k? And that is just one plant. Sorry but I think your wrong on capacity Josh.

 

It's becoming pretty obvious that Oshawa (save the truck plant) is going almost entirely RWD, but don't figure on just 100K Impalas. Chevy can sell at least as many rear drivers as Chrysler with the right design and quality, and Buick is also going to be a part of the sedan program, so right there you probally have 250K sedans. If Holden gets the SWB platform for Monaro's replacement, it's likely going to be made on the Camaro line, and where goes Monaro goes GTO. That's a total of at least 125K coupes. If the new large Chevy coupe sees daylight it's likely to be shared with another division, so there's another 35 to 40K. That pretty much fills up Oshawa.

Holden had to work 3 shifts 7 days per week and hire an additional 1000 workers just to make the GTO. No doubt Pontiac will sell more Commodore sedans than Monaro coupes, so that (plus the prospect of 12K US bound Utes) probally puts Fishermans Bend at max capacity.

If anything else comes up, Detroit Hamtramck is probally the only other place GM has open that's not on the chopping block.

I'd imagine Wilmington is going to get a vehicle that is compatable with whats being made there now.

Although Malibu is going to grow in size, I doubt it's going to get a V8.

 

i just hope that if and when ford does bring back the T-Bird they don't go screwing it up like they did with the MN-12's cause that SC(super coupe) really took a crap on the name of T-bird. The T-birds are supposed to be cruisers not ricers.

 

Ummm...

What was "ricer" about the SuperCoupe?

I thought is was a decent, big, personal coupe. Kinda like a Monte Carlo, but nicer and faster.

Sure it was heavy, but yeesh... it sure as hell wasn't a Civic.

 

Good times are ahead.

 

well its the fact that they took the cool american classic saturday night cruiser T-bird, and took a crap on the name by putting a Blown V-6 in it seriously. i'd rather buy the last t-bird then the mn-12. and i own a 74

 

OK Wolf........ you just poked sleeping bear with a stick.....not once, but twice!

Look at my signature if you need to see why!



Since you obviously don't know jack about the MN12, and especially know squat about the Thunderbird SC, how about a short lesson.



I have owned 3 MN12 SCs (Been without 1 only 1 out of the past 12 years), and I've been contemplating selling one to pick up my 4th. Till the 1st time I drove an SC, I probally wouldn't have been caught dead in a Thunderbird.... though the Turbo Coupe 'Birds weren't half bad.

SCs were easily the quickest accelerating, highest top speed Thunderbirds ever made. It also has a sophisticated IRS that is still advanced today, 18 years after it came out. What's the most sophisticated front suspension? SLA? Got it.

Don Peterson essentially gave his engineers a blank check, a picture of the BMW 5 series, and a mandate to beat it. What came back was a high powered (supercharged V6 with 315 and later 330 lbs/ft of torque), high speed (145 mph) freeway cruiser that did more to restore Thunderbird's name than the over plush pimpmobiles of the early 70s, and the wannabe Monte Carlos of the late 70s.

Exactly how many Thunderbirds has Ford made that had to be purposely detuned as to not reach 60 mph quicker than the Mustang? Also, if you can find some panzy wristed stock V8 Thunderbird that can beat an SC, you'd better cut back on the meds because you're imagining things.

Anyone who calls the MN12 a "ricer" needs a CAT scan because there's gotta be damage somewhere upstairs. How many ricers have supercharged pushrod V6 engines?! How many &^%$#@ ricers have a 19 cubic feet trunk?! How many ricers are over 200" long and weigh 3800 friggin pounds?! A ricer????! Yeah.... and Camaro is a Japanese import.


I have EATEN ricers in a Thunderbird SC. The car already had tremendous mid-range thrust. Add a Y pipe where the resonator shouldn't be and smaller pulley and go hunting 5.0 and pre '99 4.6 Mustangs. On a freeway where some kid is already reving the begezus out of his Honda trying to pull away, I drop 2 gears, punch it, game over.

I can forgive you for not knowing more about Thunderbird SCs. Till the new GTO came along, they are the ultimate stealth cars. Although I never get a freeway challenge in my LS1 Camaro, there's at least 1 person a month who mistakes my SC for an LX with ground effects and wants to show their friend how "fast" their car really is...... rarely lasts more than 10 seconds

These cars are heavy & big. But they're also fast and handle. The chassis including the suspension is almost indestructable. The car can eat up Interstate 5 between San Francisco and LA, or carve up Highway 1 down the coast with equal ability. If you ever actually DROVE one, you'd be a bit more enlightened, because I don't see anything "ricer" about that.

 

So you would rather own a heavier, less powerful, less mod friendly, lower gas mileaged V8 version over a blown V6?