Posted on Fri, Dec. 06, 2002

AUTO PLUS
GM declares war in mid-size car competition
MOTOR MATTERS

General Motors once owned the mid-size car market. But its dominance waned as Toyota and Honda came on strong with their Camry and Accord, respectively.

Now, enough is enough, GM seems to be saying. GM wants to reclaim its mid-size car leadership.

To that end, GM plans an all-out assault on the mid-size car market, revamping its entire mid-size car line and introducing more than two dozen sedans, coupes, crossovers and convertibles over the next three years.

"We're launching an all-out assault on cars similar to our assault on the truck market a few years back," said Robert Lutz, GM vice chairman for product development, as he unveiled the first two vehicles in the arsenal.

The 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix goes on sale in the spring; the 2004 Chevrolet Malibu comes to market in September.

While it will style each model distinctively, GM will use as the springboard for its new line two basic vehicle platforms or architectures, which is the car's basic structure. Its new worldwide platform, known as Epsilon, has been put to use on the 2003 Opel Vectra, on sale in Europe, and the Saab 9-3.

The Episilon will also be used for the Chevrolet Malibu, which goes on sale in September. GM engineers say the Epsilon architecture is extremely flexible so that it can be modified to be longer, shorter or wider, and can accommodate a range of engines -- from a fuel-efficient inline four-cylinder to a high-performance V6, and even a V8, or two power sources for a hybrid car. It can also be either front- or all-wheel drive.

The Malibu looks like a traditional sedan. It features the same chrome bar across the grille as Chevrolet trucks wear. It will come with either a 2.2-liter four-cylinder engine or 3.5-liter V6.

Six months after the Malibu goes on sale, GM will come to market with the Malibu Maxx, a crossover version of the Malibu. It has a wheelbase 6 inches longer than the Malibu, though it is slightly shorter and wider.

The result is a roomier interior. It has a rear hatch in addition to the four doors. Malibu Maxx also has rear seats that slide forward and back for more legroom or more cargo-carrying capability.

A year after the Malibu is introduced, the 2005 Pontiac Grand Am will go on sale. An Epsilon-based Buick crossover, a mid-size Saturn and a Saturn crossover will follow it.

GM's premium mid-size platform will be used as the basis for the 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix sedan, on sale in February. It also will provide the underpinnings for the elegantly styled 2005 Buick Regal sedan, as well as the 2006 Impala sedan with a performance-oriented SS version possible, and the 2006 Monte Carlo coupe. (The Buick Century reportedly will be dropped.)

While its underbody is not all-new, the Grand Prix, a model that dates back to 1962 and was last upgraded in 1997, has 80 percent new parts, including exterior and interior styling features and improved performance.

The 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix will be available only as a sedan; the coupe will be dropped with the new model. The upcoming 2004 Pontiac GTO, on sale in the fall and imported from GM's Australian subsidiary, will fill the void for a coupe.

All of the body cladding that has made Pontiacs of recent vintage appear almost cartoonish is gone on the new Grand Prix, which is sleek and clean, except for distinctive lines along its side.

Inside, Pontiac has maintained the driver-oriented cockpit style instrumentation for which it is known, but the interior is done with higher quality, better-looking materials. Doors open wider than on the previous Grand Prix and, for greater versatility, the front passenger and rear seats fold flat, opening the way to the trunk, for carrying long objects.

The Grand Prix will be available as a base model and as a GT with the previous 3.8-liter V6 engine, rated at 200 horsepower. It will be offered in the high-performance GTP version, which adds a new supercharger to the V6 engine to produce 260 horsepower.

A Competition Group option package will be offered that adds TapShift, an automatic transmission that can be shifted manually with steering-wheel controls; a stiffer suspension; and 17-inch performance wheels and tires.

http://www.bayarea.com/mld/cctimes/c...ve/4680331.htm

 

I never thought I would be pumped about a competition in the family sedan market, but I must say, this will be exciting.
More money saved on using the same Epsilon chassis means more money spent on QUALITY MATERIALS!

 

Declare war? With what ammunition?

 

BTW: here is a pic of GM's competition from Nissan

http://www.gminsidenews.com/cgi-bin/...c;f=1;t=000032

 

I wouldn't be too skeptical. Some of this sounds promising. I just hope that GM doesn't give up entirely on someday revamping their RWD 2+2 performance car platform in favor of FWD & AWD.

IMO, true enthusiasts will never accept either in place of a true RWD sports sedan. (e.g. BMW).

 

ewwwww, I havent posted in a while but I just had to say I really dislike the styling on that car.......

 

They're gonna have to have better cars and things than that to take over the market.

What they need to do is to take back the B-Bodies market that they held for such a long time.

 

I think GM can, I think GM can, I think GM can...


Everybody speak up, its not working!!!!!

 

Ok, so the '04 Grand Prix re-design features the new underpinnings? That goes against everything I have read, here and other places....I thought this car was a hold over until a totally new car showed up in '06, potentially with RWD, to go along with the Impala...

And wait, I thought the Impala was going RWD along with the MC!!! Wtf? Did I miss something here? Are they now just using the fwd platform that shows up this spring? Damn...that sucks...

 

Far as I know & have read the Impala redesign is in 2004 & the new model is in 2007, with the M/C either being placed on that chassis or replaced.

GM does have RWD cars in 2007. Exactly what they will be called is probally anyone's guess.

 

...Cadillacs (full size).

 

I sure as hell hope not. Otherwise, I'm running my Grand Am until it explodes, then buying a RWD Dodge. I hate FWD

 

I hope the new Malibu is all it's cracked up to be. Chevy needs some excitement in it's car line. Don't tell me about the Vette, most folks can't afford a Vette and isn't that what Chevy is supposed to be, a value leader?