GM speeds development of cars delayed during battle for survival
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GM speeds development of cars delayed during battle for survival
DETROIT -- With bankruptcy behind it, General Motors is speeding up the development of vehicle programs that had been delayed.
One car, the next generation Chevrolet Malibu, will go on sale in two years. In August, GM executives said that car would debut a year later, in 2012.
“Once we got out of the bankruptcy and started having money available, we were able to pull a lot of our programs forward,” said GM Vice Chairman Bob Lutz.
He said “a bunch” of other vehicles were being pulled forward, without being more specific or identifying them. He was interviewed at a press preview Wednesday night staged to show some of Chevrolet's future vehicles and highlight the brand's marketing strategy.
The Malibu will not be shown at either show, and no timetable was given for the public unveiling.
Through November, Chevrolet sold 142,194 Malibus, for 25 percent of its U.S. car volume. Amid this year's industry sales collapse, Malibu sales have slid 11 percent, while the division's top-selling car, the Impala, has dropped 38 percent.
Siblings
The next generation Malibu will share a front-drive vehicle platform with the 2010 Buick LaCrosse and 2011 Regal. It will be as wide as the LaCrosse, Lutz said, but the overall length will be slightly shorter than the current Malibu. He said interior space will be larger that today's Malibu; the wheelbase will be slightly shorter than the LaCrosse.
“We are going through the whole portfolio and pulling forward as much as we can,” Lutz said. “It is not forward from where it should have been. It is forward from back where we had deferred in bankruptcy.”
A mockup of the car was displayed at the preview. All of the sheet metal is new. Lutz said he's particularly fond of a chrome strip that surrounds the side glass.
“Nothing adds perceived value to a car faster than that chrome surround around the side glass because it is a hallmark of German and Japanese luxury products,” said Lutz. The high end Malibu also will have chrome door handles and other similar touches.
“If you skimp on $50 of chrome, you are reducing the customer's perceived value of the car by $500 of $600,” he said
Lutz said all of GM's future cars will have a chrome strip surrounding the side window glass. The lone exception is the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze. It was too late in the product plan to make the change.
One car, the next generation Chevrolet Malibu, will go on sale in two years. In August, GM executives said that car would debut a year later, in 2012.
“Once we got out of the bankruptcy and started having money available, we were able to pull a lot of our programs forward,” said GM Vice Chairman Bob Lutz.
He said “a bunch” of other vehicles were being pulled forward, without being more specific or identifying them. He was interviewed at a press preview Wednesday night staged to show some of Chevrolet's future vehicles and highlight the brand's marketing strategy.
The Malibu will not be shown at either show, and no timetable was given for the public unveiling.
Through November, Chevrolet sold 142,194 Malibus, for 25 percent of its U.S. car volume. Amid this year's industry sales collapse, Malibu sales have slid 11 percent, while the division's top-selling car, the Impala, has dropped 38 percent.
Siblings
The next generation Malibu will share a front-drive vehicle platform with the 2010 Buick LaCrosse and 2011 Regal. It will be as wide as the LaCrosse, Lutz said, but the overall length will be slightly shorter than the current Malibu. He said interior space will be larger that today's Malibu; the wheelbase will be slightly shorter than the LaCrosse.
“We are going through the whole portfolio and pulling forward as much as we can,” Lutz said. “It is not forward from where it should have been. It is forward from back where we had deferred in bankruptcy.”
A mockup of the car was displayed at the preview. All of the sheet metal is new. Lutz said he's particularly fond of a chrome strip that surrounds the side glass.
“Nothing adds perceived value to a car faster than that chrome surround around the side glass because it is a hallmark of German and Japanese luxury products,” said Lutz. The high end Malibu also will have chrome door handles and other similar touches.
“If you skimp on $50 of chrome, you are reducing the customer's perceived value of the car by $500 of $600,” he said
Lutz said all of GM's future cars will have a chrome strip surrounding the side window glass. The lone exception is the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze. It was too late in the product plan to make the change.
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Joined: Sep 1998
Posts: 4,320
From: Memphis
GM already overdoes chrome applications on several of their vehicles. Sounds like they're getting even more chrome happy. I hope they realize customers would rather have a tight fitting solid sounding/plush feeling center console, center stack, dashboard, etc without chrome than cheap materials or build quality with extra bling. My Aura's center console is laughably cheap... super hard creaky hallow feeling plastic that feels like it will break if I'm not delicate around it... but I sure do have enough chrome to look at.
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Joined: May 2001
Posts: 1,018
GM already overdoes chrome applications on several of their vehicles. Sounds like they're getting even more chrome happy. I hope they realize customers would rather have a tight fitting solid sounding/plush feeling center console, center stack, dashboard, etc without chrome than cheap materials or build quality with extra bling. My Aura's center console is laughably cheap... super hard creaky hallow feeling plastic that feels like it will break if I'm not delicate around it... but I sure do have enough chrome to look at.
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Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 2,801
From: South Bend , IN
I was into it till they said more chrome . Chrome wheels and kinds of chrome accents to actually make a car look cheaper ....especially inside . If Mr. Lutz would look in and around alot of these german vehicles he always likes to bring up , theres not much chrome going on . A splash here and there for accenting , and high luster silver paint ( looks nearly like polished aluminum ) for the rest .
The G8 did chrome accents perfect ....there werent hardly any
The G8 did chrome accents perfect ....there werent hardly any
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Joined: Sep 1998
Posts: 4,320
From: Memphis
They do typically have the chrome around the windows. I don't think that thin strip of chrome is too offensive. I was just talking about chrome in general. My last four cars have been a Lexus, an Audi, a BMW, and a Saturn and the Saturn has twice as much chrome on the inside as any of them yet also has the cheapest interior materials and quality of all of them (though I admit the Aura's interior is still mostly decent for its price point).
My point really is spend money on chrome last...after you fix the non bling stuff that matters more. It's the equivalent of a 2 dollar ***** putting on half a pound of makeup. It just looks tacky after a certain point. Less is more, especially when you're more bark than bite.
My point really is spend money on chrome last...after you fix the non bling stuff that matters more. It's the equivalent of a 2 dollar ***** putting on half a pound of makeup. It just looks tacky after a certain point. Less is more, especially when you're more bark than bite.
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From: Sandy VJJville
They do typically have the chrome around the windows. I don't think that thin strip of chrome is too offensive. I was just talking about chrome in general. My last four cars have been a Lexus, an Audi, a BMW, and a Saturn and the Saturn has twice as much chrome on the inside as any of them yet also has the cheapest interior materials and quality of all of them (though I admit the Aura's interior is still mostly decent for its price point).
My point really is spend money on chrome last...after you fix the non bling stuff that matters more. It's the equivalent of a 2 dollar ***** putting on half a pound of makeup. It just looks tacky after a certain point. Less is more, especially when you're more bark than bite.
My point really is spend money on chrome last...after you fix the non bling stuff that matters more. It's the equivalent of a 2 dollar ***** putting on half a pound of makeup. It just looks tacky after a certain point. Less is more, especially when you're more bark than bite.
That chrome strip at the top of the bumper just looks dumb. If I was any good at photoshop, I'd edit that out to see how much better it would look.
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From: Southern Indiana
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Posts: 3,577
From: Sandy VJJville
I don't think that strip of chrome provides any value. I think it'd look much cleaner up front if it was just white paint there. The Tahoe gets along fine without a cheese strip at the front.
I think it's one of the best looking SUV's GM has put out in a long time.
I think it's one of the best looking SUV's GM has put out in a long time.
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Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 1,495
From: Westmont, IL
Totally different front end designs though. The Tahoe has a chiseled "shelf" below the grill that transitions into the bumper. The Acadia or whatever that is, its just one big smooth bumper. It would be way too much white without something breaking it up.
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Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,496
From: Roseville, MI, USA
On a Buick Regal GS...........No............This is another idea Lutz & Company will shy away from Chrome on "everything" real real soon I bet.
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Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 8,504
From: Ohio
I won't complain about this statement until I see stuff that is obviously overdone.
The thing I like here is that they stated that they realize that adding a few bucks to the cost to build a car can add even more value to the vehcile than that actual extra cost.
That is important to realize, and then act on.
The thing I like here is that they stated that they realize that adding a few bucks to the cost to build a car can add even more value to the vehcile than that actual extra cost.
That is important to realize, and then act on.
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Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 824
From: North of Cincy
I think some of you are getting bend out of shape for nothing. GM interiors of late have been great for their segment. Not gobs of chrome everywhere like we are in the 50's. If GM wants to add that chrome trim around the window, fine. Most manufacturers have it now anyway.
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