GM still likes coupes.
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GM still likes coupes.
Automotive News:
The scoop on coupes: GM still likes them
By Jason Stein
Automotive News / January 10, 2005
Some automakers may view the coupe segment as passé, but don't count General Motors in that camp.
Lori Queen, GM's vehicle line executive for small cars, said GM will continue to pursue the North American coupe market.
"A lot of people are walking away from coupes. We're not going to walk away," Queen said Monday.
"Everyone wants to find a winning formula. We think coupes are here to stay."
Last month, Trevor Creed, the Chrysler group's senior vice president of design, said his company will abandon nearly all two-door vehicles after the 2006 model year.
The Dodge Stratus and Chrysler Sebring coupes are expected to go out of production at that time.
"If you do a two-door, people say it looks sportier but that a four-door is more practical," Creed said in December. "There is no market for two-doors."
Queen said GM's internal research shows coupes still attract a healthy segment of the market.
She said sedans draw two-thirds of the market, but coupes are still strong.
"When you go into a customer's second choice, coupes are always right there," Queen said.
"We feel very strongly (the coupe) is part of Chevrolet's identity, and we have no intention of walking away from the coupe.
"Five years from now, could that change? It's possible," Queen said.
"But right now, all of our research data indicate there is a market for coupes, and we're going to keep doing it."
Queen said GM's Cobalt plant in Lords-town, Ohio, has begun building coupes. Dealers should begin seeing the vehicle this month.
By Jason Stein
Automotive News / January 10, 2005
Some automakers may view the coupe segment as passé, but don't count General Motors in that camp.
Lori Queen, GM's vehicle line executive for small cars, said GM will continue to pursue the North American coupe market.
"A lot of people are walking away from coupes. We're not going to walk away," Queen said Monday.
"Everyone wants to find a winning formula. We think coupes are here to stay."
Last month, Trevor Creed, the Chrysler group's senior vice president of design, said his company will abandon nearly all two-door vehicles after the 2006 model year.
The Dodge Stratus and Chrysler Sebring coupes are expected to go out of production at that time.
"If you do a two-door, people say it looks sportier but that a four-door is more practical," Creed said in December. "There is no market for two-doors."
Queen said GM's internal research shows coupes still attract a healthy segment of the market.
She said sedans draw two-thirds of the market, but coupes are still strong.
"When you go into a customer's second choice, coupes are always right there," Queen said.
"We feel very strongly (the coupe) is part of Chevrolet's identity, and we have no intention of walking away from the coupe.
"Five years from now, could that change? It's possible," Queen said.
"But right now, all of our research data indicate there is a market for coupes, and we're going to keep doing it."
Queen said GM's Cobalt plant in Lords-town, Ohio, has begun building coupes. Dealers should begin seeing the vehicle this month.
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Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,276
From: Chattanoga & Franklin
Re: GM still likes coupes.
I think Trevor Creed was talking out of his a@@. I really doubt DC as a whole is stupid enough to abandon a whole market segment. Almost all of my friends drive coupes. I'm 20 and young people love coupes. 4 doors are what mom drives. So Chyrsler is going to abandon the youth market? I don't think so.
Glad to see that GM is committed to selling cars to the next generation of customers, because eventually your current customers will die.
Glad to see that GM is committed to selling cars to the next generation of customers, because eventually your current customers will die.
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,724
From: Hebron, KY
Re: GM still likes coupes.
Originally Posted by Z284ever
Regarding Trevor Creed and the DCX line about no coupes - ever notice how many coupes Mercedes offers?
LOTS!
LOTS!
Anyhow, it's good GM still portrays an enthusiasm for coupes (the same company that cut Sunfire coupe, Camaro, Firebird, Eldarado, gave us a four-door only Impala, Malibu, etc...)
As she said, this enthusiasm could change in five years. I'd say coupes (convertibles aside) are certainly going away from all brands in the lower and mid-sections of non-luxury product lines.
Last edited by jrp4uc; Jan 12, 2005 at 08:35 AM.
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From: Sarasota FL
Re: GM still likes coupes.
I love GM and coupes, and GM loves coupes. Hope I'm happy for a long time to come 
With that said, I'm still annoyed the GP coupe died after '02. A $26,000 GP GT buyer is NOT a $33-35k GTO buyer...I wish Pontiac understood that before axing the GP coupe.
With that said, I'm still annoyed the GP coupe died after '02. A $26,000 GP GT buyer is NOT a $33-35k GTO buyer...I wish Pontiac understood that before axing the GP coupe.
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From: Frankfort, KY U.S.A.
Re: GM still likes coupes.
"There is no market for two-doors"
Ah, I disagree. Mustang sells over 100K+ a year, and sales will probably increase quite abit with the new model this year. Camaro sold 70K+ on its last year, and thats 10 years without a major restyle. In 2004 57K Monte Carlos were sold, thats not alot compared to the Mustang, but I think that is pretty good for a large coupe that has not seen any changes in 5-6 years.
Ah, I disagree. Mustang sells over 100K+ a year, and sales will probably increase quite abit with the new model this year. Camaro sold 70K+ on its last year, and thats 10 years without a major restyle. In 2004 57K Monte Carlos were sold, thats not alot compared to the Mustang, but I think that is pretty good for a large coupe that has not seen any changes in 5-6 years.
Last edited by 30thZ286speed; Jan 12, 2005 at 03:37 PM.
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From: Sarasota FL
Re: GM still likes coupes.
Actually, Camaro and Firebird combined barely broke 70k...Camaro alone didn't break 40k.
Al,
I know I can get a G6 coupe, but I love a little bit bigger car like a GP. I had an '02 Grand Am GT coupe before the GP, and one of the largest advantages over the GA was the GP's feeling of width inside. G6 is wider, but I still like the GP size better personally...
The other advantage to the GP over the GA was that the dash wasn't designed by a heroin-injected Talaban leader using a pencil and a scroll...no offense to Talaban members.
Al,
I know I can get a G6 coupe, but I love a little bit bigger car like a GP. I had an '02 Grand Am GT coupe before the GP, and one of the largest advantages over the GA was the GP's feeling of width inside. G6 is wider, but I still like the GP size better personally...
The other advantage to the GP over the GA was that the dash wasn't designed by a heroin-injected Talaban leader using a pencil and a scroll...no offense to Talaban members.
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Posts: 3,698
From: USA
Re: GM still likes coupes.
A coupe is nice to have...but put togethor a nice value/performance equation in a sedan...and you can forget a coupe quick. That is why I drive a Grand Prix (first four door in 14 cars 
) and the 200 sells so well.
) and the 200 sells so well.
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Posts: 1,597
From: Mack and Bewick
Re: GM still likes coupes.
Sounds like this is another part of the whole utilatarian vehicle craze. I guess at some point every lossed the ability to buy a beater and need one car to do everything they could possible ever need a car to do, and plenty they didnt.
Hence the massive SUV craze, now that its dying, a sedan has to become the be all end all of everyone's garage. To carry kids/cargo/things no one carries. Thats pretty stupid.
Everyone doesen't buy practicality, and at the very least somepeople will buy practicality and something else. Thats a lot of customers to throw away.
Hence the massive SUV craze, now that its dying, a sedan has to become the be all end all of everyone's garage. To carry kids/cargo/things no one carries. Thats pretty stupid.
Everyone doesen't buy practicality, and at the very least somepeople will buy practicality and something else. Thats a lot of customers to throw away.
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From: Frankfort, KY U.S.A.
Re: GM still likes coupes.
Originally Posted by Jason E
Actually, Camaro and Firebird combined barely broke 70k...Camaro alone didn't break 40k.
Oh well, one of those things.
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Posts: 8,504
From: Ohio
Re: GM still likes coupes.
I have a few problems with 4-door cars.
1) I am 6'3" tall, so I slide the seat back all the way for the most part... anyway, with a 4 door, the B-Pillar is always in the way when I am trying to look over my shoulder to merge and such. Very annoying.
2) It just clutters up the side of the car. Extra body seams, extra door handles, etc... generally forces the roofline to be more awkward, especially on these so called "4-door coupes" such as the Mazda RX-8.
3) Just the overall impression of a 4-door says "family car" to me more than "performance car" or "fun car"... I'm probably stuck in an older time with this mentality though.
About the only type of vehicle I don't mind 4-doors on is an SUV...
I can't argue with the utility gain of 4-doors, but I think there is still a definate reason to produce and market coupes in a variety of price ranges.
1) I am 6'3" tall, so I slide the seat back all the way for the most part... anyway, with a 4 door, the B-Pillar is always in the way when I am trying to look over my shoulder to merge and such. Very annoying.
2) It just clutters up the side of the car. Extra body seams, extra door handles, etc... generally forces the roofline to be more awkward, especially on these so called "4-door coupes" such as the Mazda RX-8.
3) Just the overall impression of a 4-door says "family car" to me more than "performance car" or "fun car"... I'm probably stuck in an older time with this mentality though.
About the only type of vehicle I don't mind 4-doors on is an SUV...
I can't argue with the utility gain of 4-doors, but I think there is still a definate reason to produce and market coupes in a variety of price ranges.