Three RWD architectures coming for Cadillac (and others).


1)Alpha, we've heard about. It will form the basis of Cadillac's family of 3 Series/C Class competitors. Coupe, sedan, wagon and convertible versions are in the works and will be in showrooms in two years. Expect ATS-V and ATS AWD versions. Also a sporty little pony car for Chevy.

2)Alpha + will be a larger, stretched version of Alpha which will replace Sigma for Cadillac. The 3rd gen CTS will be based on Alpha+. Expect that in 4 years.

3)Beta. Alittle further out and not completely approved yet. This would be a large RWD architecture and form the basis of Cadillac's S Class competitor. It would reportedly be based on Zeta and possibly developed in China. Buick would probably get a version of Beta as well.

 

Alan Hamel anyone? Anyone?

 

So Beta is replacing Zeta? Makes sense for Zeta to be replaced. So Beta is just a concept now and no actual work has been done. What time frame would Beta be expected?

 

Can't wait to see Alpha. I hope it lives up to the hype.

 

As long as that little pony car for Chevy can fit a Gen V V8 between the fenders then we are all good!

 

If I were going to guess on time frame, I'd say 2015 or after.

Beta wouldn't really be a replacement for Zeta per se, more of an off shoot. One of the criticisms of the defunct Zeta Caddy was that Zeta wasn't quite premium enough to let Caddy compete with BMW and MB. Supposedly "Beta" addresses that.

 

Oh, it better!

 

are the wheelbase numbers known for Alpha and Alpha + ?

 

Can you elaborate on this at all?

I guess what I am askins is: What defines "premium" in this context?

 

Does that mean suspension changes along with wheelbase?

 

Good question!


My guess would be things like NVH, refinement, and ability to interface with various technologies. Just a guess on my part.

 

No. But if I were to go into guess mode, I'd say Alpha 106-110" and Alpha + 113-115".

 

This has me a little scared. Why the hell is GM developing cars to be sold here in China??

 

Probably because China is a prime market.
Get used to it. Note that I did not write "Learn to like it."

 

I was thinking this too. My line of thought had more to do with the previously established notion that Holden was the goto part of GM for RWD know-how and that Daewoo and Shanghai were centres for small FWD vehicle development.

I would think that with a decade of Sigma development behind it that Cadillac (or is that GMNA?) would have its head around RWD too, so why got to China for any reason other than cost?