Just to post some info recently given OKs by alternative sources.

These are the facts:

*Bonneville is officially dead after model year 2005. At the moment, there is no intention of using the name in the future.

*Park Avenue is dead after model year 2005 as is LeSabre. Again, no future plans to use the name.

*The Cadillac DTS will be touched up and continue as front wheel drive in 2006.

*There will be a flagship Cadillac with a V12, though exactly when is uncertain.

* The next GTO was designed by Holden.


These are pretty certain, but I haven't had enough certainty to cast it in concrete just yet:

* GM has moved up the date of it's rwd Buick sedan from it's original fall 2007 intro.

* The body stampings of Holden's cars will be nearly identical to our Zeta sedans.

* GM's performance coupes will be out starting in 2007, vice 2008.

* Nomad won't be happening when the Solstice rolls out next year, if ever.


These fall under the heading of speculation (single somewhat informed sources) but doesn't fall under fact or certainty:

*GM's Zeta cars will be the biggest automotive startup in recent history, with 4 car lines nearly simultaneously begining production.

*Chevrolet's performance coupe will be somewhat more angular than Pontiac's or Buick's.

*Impala and LaCrosse may likely be the last of the FWD W-cars, and may also be likely to continue indefinately (well past 2010).

* Solstice will get a TURBO it's second year.

Speculations of others (here & elsewhere) that seem to be panning out:

*The next Grand Prix may be Pontiac's rear drive Zeta sedan.

*The next Monte Carlo may be Chevrolet's rear drive sedan.

*Cadillac DTS's assembly may be moved to another plant when it's redesigned.


There's plenty more, but can't post them for various reasons.

 

The next GTO designed by Holden and built in the US ?

 

2007 as 2008 MY or 2006 as 2007MY?

 

Good new for the most part. I especially like the parts about cadillac getting a v12 and the Solstice getting a turbo its second year.

Speaking of years, is the solstice going to come out anytime this decade??

 

I think he meant 2007 release as a 2008 model year.

 

Initially moved to the 2008 model year. Now seems moved back to 2007 model year.

Solstice officially is coming out next fall as a 2006 model.

It was bulldozed through, was one of the 1st cars to used GM's new and latest supercomputer design & engineering methods that cut development time to a fraction of the "old" way, had Vice Chairman Lutz run blocker against all politics, created new ways of streamlining product development by doing away with alpha builds as well as other methods, and represents the absolute quickest GM can now develop a new model from idea to production.... in nearly FOUR years!

As a yardstick, that's roughly the length of time it took the slow lumbering GM to develop their smaller B body in the 70s and the all new 3rd gen Camaro in the late 70s from scratch with prehistoric computers and the old way of doing things.

 

It seems like GM is going to be late to market with there RWD Cars. Crysler, Dodge, Infinity, Mazda and otheres will all have a RWD sedan, coupe or both in some cases. GM has Caddy but that is moving out of the price range of most. Doesn't this hurt them in the short to medium term. By the time GM has interesting products to buy everyone will have already had there interesting products out and proven by then.

My second concer in that when GM releases the new cars the intrest rates will be higher on car loans. The US public cant keep buying cars like they have been for the past 3 years its going to slow down.

 

By the time Solstice hits the streets, it will seem like it has been out for years - same problem as the SSR. It's already yesterdays news. It would have been better to keep them tightly under wraps, then they wouldn't loose their freshness by the time they seep through the GM production process. It doesn't look like a new for 07 "Camaro" will suffer from the overexposure though - since it apparently isn't coming back, officially.

The timeline comparison between the old methodologies and new efficiencies in churning out new cars is so funny....., I want to cry.

 

You need to appreciate the vast difference in content between the old cars and the new cars to accurately gauge this.

Cars are vastly more complex, much more thoroughly tested, lighter, safer, faster, more efficient and less costly than before.

That all takes time...

 

I agree. The first time I ever saw an SSR in person was last September. My first thought was "eh, that's kind of neat." I mean, I had seen a million pictures of the thing at that point, so it was nothing special by then.

 

This is primarily the result of the death of personal responsibility in our society GM is just trying to avoid getting sued.

 

I certainly wouldn't argue any of that and agree wholeheartedly. I was merely bemoaning the timeframe within the context of Guy's post.

 

guionM , any Colorado news/Rumors? It seems now that a V8 fits, I'm hoping Colorado either gets a V8 or a Diesel. With the HUMMER H3 now on the GMT-355 platform I would think that HUMMER fans would want more power than 220HP

 

I agree. Obviously those other parts are very important - crash testing etc - but after 2-3 years of seeing a car before it comes out, it just looses some of its' appeal. The C6 was first leaked around Christmas time, and it's rolling out now, only about 8 months later. Would have been nice to see Solstices running around 8 months after initial preview.

I like the DTS staying fwd. Caddy will have both the CTS and STS for younger drivers (under 100 years old) who want something sporty, and the DTS is still selling very well for never really getting a make over. I'd guess its a pretty good cash cow.