3 Cool mini cars for Chevy at NY (now w/ pics)
Registered User
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 6,165
From: Sterling Heights, MI
Lutz has already stated you won't see these here.
http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll...51/1148/AUTO01
I continue to be amazed at the Big 3's stubborness when it comes to building cars like these. The perception is that GM, Ford and Chrysler build gas guzzlers. They have done nothing to squash that perception. WHY?
http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll...51/1148/AUTO01
In an interview with reporters after revealing the three concept cars, GM Vice Chairman Bob Lutz said it currently was unlikely that GM will build any of the triplet concepts for sale in the United States, unless there was a dramatic prolonged increase in fuel prices or an "unforeseen" change in fashion for small cars here.....Lutz noted that the vehicles aren't currently being designed to meet rigorous U.S. safety requirements, another sign the company isn't likely to bring any of the three vehicles designed at GM's South Korean design studio to the U.S. market.
Registered User
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 10,285
From: Albany, NY
Lutz has already stated you won't see these here.
http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll...51/1148/AUTO01
I continue to be amazed at the Big 3's stubborness when it comes to building cars like these. The perception is that GM, Ford and Chrysler build gas guzzlers. They have done nothing to squash that perception. WHY?
http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll...51/1148/AUTO01
I continue to be amazed at the Big 3's stubborness when it comes to building cars like these. The perception is that GM, Ford and Chrysler build gas guzzlers. They have done nothing to squash that perception. WHY?
I hope at least they sell them in Canada and Mexico.
Registered User
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 1,018
Automotive darwinism is playing out. The dumb ones will end up dead simply for refusal to adapt to the changing market.
Wave goodbye to GM as they roll over the edge of the cliff, continuing on in their stubborn ways.
Wave goodbye to GM as they roll over the edge of the cliff, continuing on in their stubborn ways.
Registered User
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,022
From: Newhall, CA USA
HELLO! GM, I want to like you, but sometimes it seems like nobody's home.
Registered User
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 4,000
From: TX Med Ctr
The Beat is a very interesting name... Honda has used it on a small car too. It is in Gran Turismo 2/4 (Beat the Beat)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honda_Beat
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honda_Beat
Registered User
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 1,018
Yeah, when news of three small, fuel-efficient cars reaches an enthusiast community that's focused on performance cars AND THEY LOVE THEM, that's a logical response--announce that you're gonna sell them only in markets other than the US.
HELLO! GM, I want to like you, but sometimes it seems like nobody's home.
HELLO! GM, I want to like you, but sometimes it seems like nobody's home.
Registered User
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 940
From: Southern Indiana
They would sell them here if not for our ever more rediculious "safety" and emission standards.
Registered User
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 1,215
From: Coppell, Texas
Why the HELL are they having a poll to see which one people would like to see built if they aren't going to offer them here? And what's the purpose of showing them in the US if they won't be available here?!
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 4,600
From: Pewee Valley, KY
My guess is that all three will be on sale somewhere within the GM world shortly, except maybe the Trax. GM may be seeing what type of minicar the US wants and could use the poll results to build a business case for one or more of these cars. GM would have been better off showing these at a Asian auto show if they weren't going to do something with them here. They will certainly get a better judge of what those markets want than they will the ones here.
Registered User
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 3,123
From: Melbourne, Australia
Given Toyota's image for fuel efficiency, value and dependability has largely been built on the back of Corolla's success, why don't GM build these vehicles if it's serious about turning it's image around?
Personally, I reckon all three vehicles have a place in GM's lineup. They all look cool, IMO. I was surprised that the Groove was most popular. I voted Beat and my next fave was Trax, which looks like nothing else on the road.
The sad part about GM not building these vehicle is that another manufacturer will be inspired by these designs and actually build them! :-(
Personally, I reckon all three vehicles have a place in GM's lineup. They all look cool, IMO. I was surprised that the Groove was most popular. I voted Beat and my next fave was Trax, which looks like nothing else on the road.
The sad part about GM not building these vehicle is that another manufacturer will be inspired by these designs and actually build them! :-(
Registered User
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 13,713
From: The Golden State
Lutz has already stated you won't see these here.
http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll...51/1148/AUTO01
I continue to be amazed at the Big 3's stubborness when it comes to building cars like these. The perception is that GM, Ford and Chrysler build gas guzzlers. They have done nothing to squash that perception. WHY?
http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll...51/1148/AUTO01
I continue to be amazed at the Big 3's stubborness when it comes to building cars like these. The perception is that GM, Ford and Chrysler build gas guzzlers. They have done nothing to squash that perception. WHY?
...GM builds minicars in other markets but hasn't determined if there is a strong enough business to bring the little racers to the United States, Lutz said.
"We have a very strong focus on small cars in the current and future portfolio for the U.S.," Lutz said last week. "The real question is will we build these types of vehicles in the U.S.? Historically, these types of cars haven't done well here. But clearly, things are changing...
GM won't officially speculate if it will bring minicars to America, but the automaker could realistically have them available in the U.S. market by 2009, insiders say."
http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll...62/1148/AUTO01
"We have a very strong focus on small cars in the current and future portfolio for the U.S.," Lutz said last week. "The real question is will we build these types of vehicles in the U.S.? Historically, these types of cars haven't done well here. But clearly, things are changing...
GM won't officially speculate if it will bring minicars to America, but the automaker could realistically have them available in the U.S. market by 2009, insiders say."
http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll...62/1148/AUTO01
"But the company acknowledged it wasn't likely to bring any of the three South Korean-designed vehicles to the United States anytime soon.
GM Vice Chairman Bob Lutz said it currently was unlikely that GM will build any of the triplet concepts for sale in the United States, unless there was a dramatic prolonged increase in fuel prices or an "unforeseen" change in fashion for small cars here.
"Designers include various regions' technical specifications in their plans and then devise ways to build the same exterior while changing some pieces under a vehicle's skin to meet different regulations, said David Lyon, GM's executive director of design for Asia Pacific.
It's easier, for example, to design three bumpers to meet three countries' regulations at the beginning of the process than to re-engineer a vehicle for the United States after it's built for Europe, Lyon said.
"You get better designs when you're involved from the beginning," he said.
It's easier, for example, to design three bumpers to meet three countries' regulations at the beginning of the process than to re-engineer a vehicle for the United States after it's built for Europe, Lyon said.
"You get better designs when you're involved from the beginning," he said.
Personally I strongly disagree with this because the Aveo & Mini are doing very well and cars like these Chevrolets would no doubt sell at greater volume than Aveo, and due to lower pricing and more dealers, sell at more volume than the Mini.
Although the cars aren't being developed to meet US regs (would make the cars unnecessarily heavy in their markets), they are being designed to quickly & easily add US compatability.
Although I feel GM should take the plunge NOW and get the cars here, GM's position is that fuel prices haven't climbed enough to make these cars sell enough to be worthwhile. So, in traditional GM fashion, they'll wait for someone else to make the market case for them.
Registered User
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 10,285
From: Albany, NY
Unfortunately it takes 3+ years to get a car to market and almost no time for gas prices to go up.
