I'm glad RWD is coming back to GM but it seems that many of the new cars will be very large. (Buick Park Ave, Holden Statesman, GTO) Camaro looks to be the smallest Zeta car and Kappa cars are all going to be small sports cars (at first).

Are there any plans for a RWD sedan that comes in at around 3200lbs. or less? I think a Kappa based 2.4L turbo Sedan with the interior size of a Impreza or 3 series would be very cool. Since the smaller cars would also be cheaper it will help get the good word of RWD out to the younger crowd that usually can only afford smaller cars that all happen to be FWD.

 

Define small? Cobalt size. For GM the quickest route would be redressing the WRX like they did with Saab but leave off the front drive hardware.

Although, I guess that wouldn't work well either.

I think a major hurdle with small cars is that they're usually someone's first or introductory car, can't cost alot and has to be practical as all not.

I think that's a tough business case to make.

 

Small as in half way between a Cobalt and Malibu. If the Kappa can come in at under $20,000, why couldn't a Kappa Sedan?

Kappa based Cobalt sized sedan would make a good sunfire replacement for Pontiac, name it G4 since it would only come with different versions of the Ecotec

 

Very interesting. I could see that in Pontaic's portolio ("serious performance at every level").

I'd still bet though, marketing would be hard pressed to make a good business case.

 

I thought the CTS was more than small enough - at least on the inside.

 

So, what you are saying is... you've never seen the inside of a CTS, yet feel compelled to flap your lips to create a breeze?

Never heard anyone say it was unexpectedly small inside... :blah:

 

Just for S**ts & giggles, I pulled up the interior dimensions of the BMW 330 4-door to compare to the CTS on Edmunds, since the 3-series sedan is CTS's main target:

I bolded the winner in each catagory so you can understand it a bit easier without trying to think so hard.

2004 Cadillac CTS:

Interior Front Head Room: 38.9 in.
Front Shoulder Room: 56.6 in.
Rear Head Room: 36.9 in.
Rear Shoulder Room: 56.2 in.
Front Leg Room: 42.4 in.
Rear Leg Room: 36.2 in.
Luggage Capacity: 12.5 cu. ft.
Maximum Seating: 5

2004 BMW 3-Series Sedan:

Interior Front Head Room: 38.4 in.
Front Shoulder Room: 54.4 in.
Rear Head Room: 37.5 in.
Rear Shoulder Room: 54.2 in.
Front Leg Room: 41.4 in.
Rear Leg Room: 34.6 in.
Luggage Capacity: 10.7 cu. ft.
Maximum Seating: 5

 

I thought the CTS was closer in size to the 5 series even though it's priced closer to the 3 series.

 

Dimensionally, the 5-series is a bit closer, especially on the exterior dimensions, but the interior dimensions still don't make the CTS look bad when you compare even the 5-Series to it:

2004 BMW 5-series:

Interior Front Head Room: 37.7 in.
Front Shoulder Room: 57.3 in.
Rear Head Room: 37.9 in.
Rear Shoulder Room: 57.2 in.
Front Leg Room: 41.5 in.
Rear Leg Room: 36 in.
Luggage Capacity: 14 cu. ft.
Maximum Seating: 5

2004 Cadillac CTS:

Interior Front Head Room: 38.9 in.
Front Shoulder Room: 56.6 in.
Rear Head Room: 36.9 in.
Rear Shoulder Room: 56.2 in.
Front Leg Room: 42.4 in.
Rear Leg Room: 36.2 in.
Luggage Capacity: 12.5 cu. ft.
Maximum Seating: 5


I think the 2005 Cadillac STS will be a more appropriate comparision to the BMW 5-Series, though....

 

CTS is a 5 series at a 3 series price. STS is sized between a 7 & 5 series.

Don't listen to redzed, he is are local pet troll.

I think a WRX/Protege sized RWD Kappa Sedan would sell awesome.

$17,000 with the 175hp 2.4L
$23,000 with a 260hp turbo 2.4L

 

Are you talking Nomad-ish size?

 

I think that would be a hot package, especially with the ricer/import racer crowd.

I'm still a little skeptical about that market segment in general. I think the majority of people at that price level are utimately looking for value in their first car or the second car of the family. I'm just going by my gut here.

I think your idea would be a great 'aspirational vehicle', soimething where you couldn't quite swing the price of entry and/or insurance on a base V8 Camaro/Mustang but want more than an uber-practical econobox, but still more practicallity than the Solstice or you really like the look of sport sedans.

Dunno, it's an interesting little niche.

 

With the expected return of the Holden Torana (smaller than commodore) I assume that would be what you want? It would have everything, Zeta chassis, V6 (Small HFV6 seeing as Holden have a HFV6 plant), RWD (of course). Export in small numbers? Holden is considered a 'niche' manufacturer and selling niche cars overseas was their plan when it comes to exporting.

My biggest wish is for the Torana (or whatever they call it) to return, coming in around 1400-1500kg and for HSV to get there dirty little mits on it and drop in a LS2 That would suit me perfectly! Or maybe a Holden HFV6 version with a 'low boost' (not for long! buwahahahaha) Twin Turbo engine. I just don't want a small car (can't get out of them without hurting my back/shoulder), and a big car like my current one can be awkward around town. A sedan right in the middle of those two = perfect

 

I don't know, I bet they could use the great sales success of the SRT-4 to prove that a small, cheap, quick car has it's own niche.

 

Yes, but the SRT-4 is based off a practical FWD chassis. He's talking about a SRT-4 sized RWD sedan.

That's a different animal.