This is feasible, but unlikely nowadays. I would wager that GM is trying to move all the chassis tuning stuff to the Lutz'ring. This would more than likely be done with full-bodied mules anyway due to the way that vehicle package affects dynamics. This is why the C6 did not do its tuning as a rebodied C5.

Powertrain testing on the otherhand could possibly happen in a sigma, but again I would expect that to happen behind very closed doors.

I would also bet that Holden is doing a bulk of the durability testing. Where are our Aussie spys??

 

I agree in many ways, but there were infact early C6 mules with C5 bodies... they looked slightly awkward, because of the wheelbase change on the chassis vs the C5 body.

One was shown on the Discovery Channel's (I think it was Discovery) 2005 Corvette special...

EDIT: Here is a link to a picture of one of them. Scroll to the bottom of the page, and look at the blue C5.

http://www.vetteweb.com/features/0410vet_c6drive/

 

Good catch!

But did that vehicle ever see asphalt outside of Milford?

 

That's a good question... I haven't seen any specifics on how it (they?) were used.

 

Uh huh.

 

The main aussie mags sign NDAs to get the info early, so local spy shots are very rare. I haven't seen any shots yet, and the best place to find them will be the internet if someone stumbles accross one.

It is believed that there are a few VE Commodores running around with the body of an awkward looking VY Commodore on them. And one website has all sorts of info on the VE from so called 'insiders' but most of it conflicts.

 

that's pretty cool, didn't know that

 

I don't think Kappa being scaled back has anything to do with the future of Zeta. Consider all the buzz that's recently been created by the Solstice and Sky. GM might be worried that a few Kappa sports coupes on the horizon might hurt the sales of their latest FWD sports coupe the Chevy Cobalt.

Let's face it, would you buy a loaded Cobalt SS today if you new GM would be launching a similar sized RWD coupe with a surpercharged Ecotec in the near future for about the same amount of money? Besides, by backing off on the Kappas until after the Soltice and Sky go on sale, GM can determine on whether or not a Kappa coupe is even necessary. By that time word of a future Zeta coupe should be out and people might just flock to that instead.

 

The question is would people pay more for the larger Zeta coupe than for a closely sized Kappa coupe with a less power?

 

I think you are pretty close. Believe it or not, there are complaints within some GM divisions about having too much product coming up!!

That may seem unbelievable till you realize that these divisions have to pony up their limited budgets & resources to market these new vehicles. When Kappa was envisioned, it was going to be the chassis that was going to pop up everywhere. Now reality is setting in.

Zeta is more mainstream and is a big part of GM's future lineup, while Kappa is a cheap way to do niche vehicles. Scaling back Zeta is like scaling back "W" bodies (LeCrosse, Monte Carlo, Impala, Grand Prix). If it happens, GM is in a major crisis.

 

Hope this would not be classified as a "major crisis"! Reading this does not give me a warm, fuzzy feeling...
http://www.canada.com/national/natio...3-35f23f11266d

Best regardSS,

Elie