GM's lambda minivans
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GM's lambda minivans
GM hopes new sport vans will revive sales in minivan segment
JASON STEIN | Automotive News
Posted Date: 7/20/05
DETROIT -- General Motors is developing a new line of minivans with a radically different look in an effort to revive its sales in the segment.
GM will launch at least three new minivans for the 2009 model year on the automaker's Lambda architecture, a platform designed for front-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive minivans and sport wagons.
Current Chevrolet, Saturn and Pontiac minivans, known internally as U vans, will move to the Lambda architecture. GM may not replace the Buick Terraza minivan, supplier and company sources say.
Production will begin in 2008. GM hasn't announced a location. A year later, GM will offer extended-wheelbase versions of its minivans.
GM began building its crossover sport vans - vehicles based on GM's existing minivan architecture but with SUV-like front ends - last year at its Doraville, Ga., plant. GM's Lambda architecture will debut early in 2007 with sport wagons built at a new plant in Lansing, Mich.
Sources say the new minivans will offer fold-flat seating similar to the minivans offered by the Chrysler group, along with a radical, rounded exterior design.
A GM insider says the GM minivans "look like spaceships."
GM could use a minivan sales boost. It sold more than 300,000 minivans a year from 1997 to 2000, but sales have declined steadily ever since. Last year GM sold 157,169 minivans.
Through the first six months of this year, GM sold 87,524 minivans and held 14.8 percent of the minivan market, down from 15.3 percent a year earlier. Through June, segment leader Chrysler sold 226,908 units and held 38.4 percent, up from 34.0 percent.
The Buick Terraza, Chevrolet Uplander, Pontiac Montana SV6 and Saturn Relay are new for the 2005 model year. But GM hasn't gained any ground with the new minivans.
GM uses the term "architecture" to signify a common set of components, performance characteristics, a common manufacturing process, a range of dimensions and connecting points for key component systems.
JASON STEIN | Automotive News
Posted Date: 7/20/05
DETROIT -- General Motors is developing a new line of minivans with a radically different look in an effort to revive its sales in the segment.
GM will launch at least three new minivans for the 2009 model year on the automaker's Lambda architecture, a platform designed for front-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive minivans and sport wagons.
Current Chevrolet, Saturn and Pontiac minivans, known internally as U vans, will move to the Lambda architecture. GM may not replace the Buick Terraza minivan, supplier and company sources say.
Production will begin in 2008. GM hasn't announced a location. A year later, GM will offer extended-wheelbase versions of its minivans.
GM began building its crossover sport vans - vehicles based on GM's existing minivan architecture but with SUV-like front ends - last year at its Doraville, Ga., plant. GM's Lambda architecture will debut early in 2007 with sport wagons built at a new plant in Lansing, Mich.
Sources say the new minivans will offer fold-flat seating similar to the minivans offered by the Chrysler group, along with a radical, rounded exterior design.
A GM insider says the GM minivans "look like spaceships."
GM could use a minivan sales boost. It sold more than 300,000 minivans a year from 1997 to 2000, but sales have declined steadily ever since. Last year GM sold 157,169 minivans.
Through the first six months of this year, GM sold 87,524 minivans and held 14.8 percent of the minivan market, down from 15.3 percent a year earlier. Through June, segment leader Chrysler sold 226,908 units and held 38.4 percent, up from 34.0 percent.
The Buick Terraza, Chevrolet Uplander, Pontiac Montana SV6 and Saturn Relay are new for the 2005 model year. But GM hasn't gained any ground with the new minivans.
GM uses the term "architecture" to signify a common set of components, performance characteristics, a common manufacturing process, a range of dimensions and connecting points for key component systems.
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Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 766
From: Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
Re: GM's lambda minivans
I wouldn't own one but I'm not overly offended by the Quest, and that dash is just plain hideous. I suspect a rounder, gentler dustbuster is in the works. Hey, looking like a spaceship may not be all bad so long as it's an attractive spaceship. Anything will be an improvement on the looks of the socalled CSVs. Nice interiors, horrible exteriors.
Last edited by SharpShooter_SS; Jul 20, 2005 at 12:05 PM.
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Re: GM's lambda minivans
Originally Posted by R377
So they didn't learn anything from the dustbuster years or the new Nissan Quest? 
Nissan, Honda and Chrysler failed to learn that lesson. That's why you see Toyota's $30K+ AWD Sienna dominating the "high end" of the entire minivan market.
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Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 301
From: Alexandria, Louisiana
Re: GM's lambda minivans
IMHO the only 2 divisions of GM in NA that need a minivan are Chevy and Saturn. Pontiac does not need a minivan as its supposed to be the "Performance Division"
IMHO if they want to keep that aura then a good step is eliminating the minivan from Pontiac. Buick as well does not need a minivan. It just does not fit with Buicks image, and as of to this date I have NEVER seen a Buick minivan on the highway or anywhere.
IMHO if they want to keep that aura then a good step is eliminating the minivan from Pontiac. Buick as well does not need a minivan. It just does not fit with Buicks image, and as of to this date I have NEVER seen a Buick minivan on the highway or anywhere.
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Posts: 2,712
From: Ontario
Re: GM's lambda minivans
Originally Posted by redzed
GM has learned one thing - AWD is now a "must have" feature in the minivan market. It isn't enough just to offer "Stow n' Go" style fold-in-the-floor 2nd row seats.
Nissan, Honda and Chrysler failed to learn that lesson. That's why you see Toyota's $30K+ AWD Sienna dominating the "high end" of the entire minivan market.
Nissan, Honda and Chrysler failed to learn that lesson. That's why you see Toyota's $30K+ AWD Sienna dominating the "high end" of the entire minivan market.
When designing a minivan you basically have to choose between "stow and go" seats or AWD. They both require the same underfloor real estate so it's either one or the other. I think more people are drawn in by "stow and go" seats than they are by AWD.
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Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 1,232
From: Orlando, FL USA
Re: GM's lambda minivans
Originally Posted by jrp4uc
I hope Pontiac is not part of the mix. They don't need a minivan.
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Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 141
Re: GM's lambda minivans
Originally Posted by R377
I don't think the AWD minivan market is that big, which is why it's offered only by a couple of players now. Notice that DCX, the volume leader, no longer offers it.
When designing a minivan you basically have to choose between "stow and go" seats or AWD. They both require the same underfloor real estate so it's either one or the other. I think more people are drawn in by "stow and go" seats than they are by AWD.
When designing a minivan you basically have to choose between "stow and go" seats or AWD. They both require the same underfloor real estate so it's either one or the other. I think more people are drawn in by "stow and go" seats than they are by AWD.
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 610
From: Akron, OH.
Re: GM's lambda minivans
The bad thing is that the Montana actually has brand identity. It might have the strongest brand identy of all the minivans GM makes.
With that being said I also agree that only saturn and Chevy need to make vans.
With that being said I also agree that only saturn and Chevy need to make vans.
