Gmx-551
Registered User
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,496
From: Roseville, MI, USA
Wow, I thought this was widely reported on around the 'net? I think I had this covered about 4 or 5 days ago!
Anyway, the Impala SHOULD stay a front-wheel-drive vehicle. It is the only large volume seller the company has. I'm curious though, if it stays FWD does it continue to stay on the W-Body?
Anyway, the Impala SHOULD stay a front-wheel-drive vehicle. It is the only large volume seller the company has. I'm curious though, if it stays FWD does it continue to stay on the W-Body?
Registered User
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 939
From: Lowcountry
Wow, I thought this was widely reported on around the 'net? I think I had this covered about 4 or 5 days ago!
Anyway, the Impala SHOULD stay a front-wheel-drive vehicle. It is the only large volume seller the company has. I'm curious though, if it stays FWD does it continue to stay on the W-Body?
Anyway, the Impala SHOULD stay a front-wheel-drive vehicle. It is the only large volume seller the company has. I'm curious though, if it stays FWD does it continue to stay on the W-Body?
Registered User
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,817
From: O-Town
Since Chevy is suppose to be the volume leader of all the brands under GM, per Mr. Lutz, and if the G8 moves to the states, then there will be an RWD Impala. Basically, Chevy will get one version off of every platform that GM has in production in the states. Until the stateside G8 is killed, I wouldn't write off the RWD Impala yet. I could see it change names though.
Question: If the Impala would stay FWD, why would they make it at all, since they would need to make it larger, ala G8, to separate it from the new Malibu since it has grown in size?
Question: If the Impala would stay FWD, why would they make it at all, since they would need to make it larger, ala G8, to separate it from the new Malibu since it has grown in size?
Registered User
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 6,165
From: Sterling Heights, MI
I'll probably get publicly stoned for saying this, but I really wonder why a large RWD Chevy sedan should even be a consideration at this point, let alone a priority.
-G8 should fill this niche for GM quite nicely.
-Impala sells at silly numbers on an antiquated FWD platform with little money thrown at it.
-Future CAFE/gasoline price considerations.
The only sticky point as others have mentioned is how platform-sharing with Camaro comes into play. I think we were all under the impression that Camaro had to share Zeta with something in North America to make it sustainable.
-G8 should fill this niche for GM quite nicely.
-Impala sells at silly numbers on an antiquated FWD platform with little money thrown at it.
-Future CAFE/gasoline price considerations.
The only sticky point as others have mentioned is how platform-sharing with Camaro comes into play. I think we were all under the impression that Camaro had to share Zeta with something in North America to make it sustainable.
Registered User
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 3,597
From: oshawa,ontario,canada
Sorry the 20% was Honda's 36 vs. Astra's 30. Yes the difference is 16% for the Cobalt.
2007 #s are 30/40mpg for the Civic and 24/32 for the Cobalt. Like you have shown the 2008 #s are closer but I still think 3/5mpg is significant
Astra is only 1 mpg city away from the Civic. It would be nice if it could get a better over drive gear otherwise the 1.8L looks pretty good. I don't think Americans would find it too slow. Civic is pretty slow and sells like hot cakes because of its fuel efficiency. Maybe a 6 speed Astra would have the best of both worlds. They could always offer the 2.4L for those that want a little more muscle.
2007 #s are 30/40mpg for the Civic and 24/32 for the Cobalt. Like you have shown the 2008 #s are closer but I still think 3/5mpg is significant
Astra is only 1 mpg city away from the Civic. It would be nice if it could get a better over drive gear otherwise the 1.8L looks pretty good. I don't think Americans would find it too slow. Civic is pretty slow and sells like hot cakes because of its fuel efficiency. Maybe a 6 speed Astra would have the best of both worlds. They could always offer the 2.4L for those that want a little more muscle.
nevermind the nicer interior in the civic (even tho it is ugly)
Registered User
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,496
From: Roseville, MI, USA
Not really with what is waiting in the wings at GM. The talent, like the product development is global.
GM Asia/Pacific may have a few people ready to replace Maximum...not when he retires..but when he moves on to the other life. It's pretty clear that Bob's not going anywhere anytime soon.
Not to mention....Denny Mooney. Don't count him out as a replacement either.
GM Asia/Pacific may have a few people ready to replace Maximum...not when he retires..but when he moves on to the other life. It's pretty clear that Bob's not going anywhere anytime soon.
Not to mention....Denny Mooney. Don't count him out as a replacement either.
Registered User
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 3,132
From: Santa Clara, CA
I don't buy the argument that this is CAFE's fault.
The FWD Impala large sedan is literally the only GM volume car has that's really selling well. Rule #1 is that if ain't broke, don't fix it!
People have indicated that there might be a RWD "Caprice", but IMO that sort of car has serious market positioning problems if you are also selling a Buick and a Cadillac. Plus Charger sales are really nothing to write home about.
The FWD Impala large sedan is literally the only GM volume car has that's really selling well. Rule #1 is that if ain't broke, don't fix it!
People have indicated that there might be a RWD "Caprice", but IMO that sort of car has serious market positioning problems if you are also selling a Buick and a Cadillac. Plus Charger sales are really nothing to write home about.
Partly CAFE's fault. Any car built to accept a powerful V8 can't help but be heavier than a car designed to take at most a V6.
If you're worried about maximizing fuel economy on a high volume model, you're probably going to go for the V6 and FWD.
As long as GM offers RWD on the Pontiacs and the Cadillacs, I think GM will have the market covered. Chevys don't really need it in the sedans.
CAFE is just another reason to do this.
Registered User
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 929
Not really with what is waiting in the wings at GM. The talent, like the product development is global.
GM Asia/Pacific may have a few people ready to replace Maximum...not when he retires..but when he moves on to the other life. It's pretty clear that Bob's not going anywhere anytime soon.
Not to mention....Denny Mooney. Don't count him out as a replacement either.
GM Asia/Pacific may have a few people ready to replace Maximum...not when he retires..but when he moves on to the other life. It's pretty clear that Bob's not going anywhere anytime soon.
Not to mention....Denny Mooney. Don't count him out as a replacement either.
Registered User
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 2,400
From: Michigan's left coast
It's not a question of talent - it's instead a matter of culture. That's a very complex issue in large organizations, and the importance of it is rarely comprehended by outsiders (in fact, many of those within large organizations aren't aware).