A little Buick Velite and Zeta info
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From: Australia
A little Buick Velite and Zeta info
Another article taken from the goauto newsletter. It should appear on the goauto site in the next few days.
The Buick built on Holden bits
By BRUCE NEWTON
THIS is the Buick Velite, the concept car the struggling GM division will unveil at the New York motor show on April 7.
Its significance to Australia is it features the Holden-developed Zeta architecture that will be used to underpin the forthcoming VE architecture and a slew of other GM vehicles.
Velite is not the first car to use Zeta – that honour went to the Opel Insignia concept
which debuted at the Frankfurt motor show last year.
But it is the first US car underpinned by Zeta and the plan is for the architecture to be manufactured under hundreds of thousands of cars in the US from 2007.
The Zeta architecture employs double wishbone suspension up front and a fivelink independent rear-end. In Insignia form, the wheelbase was 2915mm and the track 1666mm.
However, the Zeta architecture is highly flexible and that means adjustable wheelbase and track and – obviously with the debut of Velite – the ability to build drop-tops.
A convertible is something the existing Holden V-car platform is not financially suited to – it could be done but the cost would be prohibitive.
The arrival of Zeta not only gives Buick an opportunity to go topless, but Holden as well.
Pontiac is pushing for a convertible version of the Pontiac GTO when it rolls over into Zeta, so a similar design for Monaro would make sense even if the cars will deviate significantly in exterior design for the next generation – although it seems Holden is not convinced as yet.
GTO product development manager David Poniatowski told thecarconnection.com that a
US convertible edition was being considered for the Australian-built GTO, although he acknowledged “the Aussies are not open-car fans because of the hot, sunny weather down under”.
Little has been said about Velite by Buick as yet, except it wants to build it.
Preliminary timing supplied to GoAuto indicates a 2008 on-sale date, following on from a rear-wheel drive sedan that would also be Zeta-based.
Buick is fighting to reverse a sales slump and push its image upmarket as GM’s Lexus rival in North America.
It is expected that GM will have a fair bit more to say about Zeta after the reveal of the car in New York.
Chevrolet, Saab and GM Daewoo are also expected to be recipients of the Zeta architecture.
It can be rear or all-wheel drive based and house V6 and V8 engines, including the HFV6 manufactured in Melbourne.
By BRUCE NEWTON
THIS is the Buick Velite, the concept car the struggling GM division will unveil at the New York motor show on April 7.
Its significance to Australia is it features the Holden-developed Zeta architecture that will be used to underpin the forthcoming VE architecture and a slew of other GM vehicles.
Velite is not the first car to use Zeta – that honour went to the Opel Insignia concept
which debuted at the Frankfurt motor show last year.
But it is the first US car underpinned by Zeta and the plan is for the architecture to be manufactured under hundreds of thousands of cars in the US from 2007.
The Zeta architecture employs double wishbone suspension up front and a fivelink independent rear-end. In Insignia form, the wheelbase was 2915mm and the track 1666mm.
However, the Zeta architecture is highly flexible and that means adjustable wheelbase and track and – obviously with the debut of Velite – the ability to build drop-tops.
A convertible is something the existing Holden V-car platform is not financially suited to – it could be done but the cost would be prohibitive.
The arrival of Zeta not only gives Buick an opportunity to go topless, but Holden as well.
Pontiac is pushing for a convertible version of the Pontiac GTO when it rolls over into Zeta, so a similar design for Monaro would make sense even if the cars will deviate significantly in exterior design for the next generation – although it seems Holden is not convinced as yet.
GTO product development manager David Poniatowski told thecarconnection.com that a
US convertible edition was being considered for the Australian-built GTO, although he acknowledged “the Aussies are not open-car fans because of the hot, sunny weather down under”.
Little has been said about Velite by Buick as yet, except it wants to build it.
Preliminary timing supplied to GoAuto indicates a 2008 on-sale date, following on from a rear-wheel drive sedan that would also be Zeta-based.
Buick is fighting to reverse a sales slump and push its image upmarket as GM’s Lexus rival in North America.
It is expected that GM will have a fair bit more to say about Zeta after the reveal of the car in New York.
Chevrolet, Saab and GM Daewoo are also expected to be recipients of the Zeta architecture.
It can be rear or all-wheel drive based and house V6 and V8 engines, including the HFV6 manufactured in Melbourne.
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Posts: 4,306
From: Jersey Shore
holy crap, thats a 114.76 inch wheel base!! But thats the insignia, and could be the larger chassis. We could see a 110 inch wheel base again! Back to the original I belive. Very cool...very very cool. Man, Im very happy.
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From: Australia
Originally posted by Darth Xed
A Daewoo Zeta car?!?!
Did I read that right?!?
A Daewoo Zeta car?!?!
Did I read that right?!?
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Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 4,306
From: Jersey Shore
Originally posted by IZ28
1sts and 2nds were 108" actually.
1sts and 2nds were 108" actually.
mah bad. and yeah... was that Daewoo on that list? Man, thats gunna be the biggest joke.
"YOUR CAMARO USES THE SAME CHASSIS AS A DAEWOO!!"
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From: Australia
Originally posted by Big Als Z
Right you are Ken. mah bad.
and yeah... was that Daewoo on that list? Man, thats gunna be the biggest joke.
"YOUR CAMARO USES THE SAME CHASSIS AS A DAEWOO!!"
Right you are Ken.
mah bad. and yeah... was that Daewoo on that list? Man, thats gunna be the biggest joke.
"YOUR CAMARO USES THE SAME CHASSIS AS A DAEWOO!!"
What car company owned by GM did I miss?
BTW, there maybe another company, but all will be revealed tomorrow
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Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 4,306
From: Jersey Shore
Originally posted by crYnOid
Maybe that should read "YOUR CAMARO USES THE SAME CHASSIS AS AN DAEWOO, OPEL, SAAB, HOLDEN, CHEVVY, PONTIAC, CADDY AND BUICK!!!!"
What car company owned by GM did I miss? BTW, there maybe another company, but all will be revealed tomorrow
Maybe that should read "YOUR CAMARO USES THE SAME CHASSIS AS AN DAEWOO, OPEL, SAAB, HOLDEN, CHEVVY, PONTIAC, CADDY AND BUICK!!!!"
What car company owned by GM did I miss?
BTW, there maybe another company, but all will be revealed tomorrow
tomorrow eh? what happens tomorrow? Dont you mean the 1st? Or is it the 31'st by you already? Its still the 30th here in the US.
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Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 185
Just a little more info -
The last Generation Camaro had a wheelbase of about 100 inches, with the Mustang just under that. The 2005 Mustang has a wheelbase of around 107 inches. It would be cool if the next Camaro had a longer wheelbase with shorter overhangs. Imagine how much better the new car could ride compared to the last.
The last Generation Camaro had a wheelbase of about 100 inches, with the Mustang just under that. The 2005 Mustang has a wheelbase of around 107 inches. It would be cool if the next Camaro had a longer wheelbase with shorter overhangs. Imagine how much better the new car could ride compared to the last.
Im really excited!
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Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 4,600
From: Pewee Valley, KY
Originally posted by crYnOid
Maybe that should read "YOUR CAMARO USES THE SAME CHASSIS AS AN DAEWOO, OPEL, SAAB, HOLDEN, CHEVVY, PONTIAC, CADDY AND BUICK!!!!"
What car company owned by GM did I miss? BTW, there maybe another company, but all will be revealed tomorrow
Maybe that should read "YOUR CAMARO USES THE SAME CHASSIS AS AN DAEWOO, OPEL, SAAB, HOLDEN, CHEVVY, PONTIAC, CADDY AND BUICK!!!!"
What car company owned by GM did I miss?
BTW, there maybe another company, but all will be revealed tomorrow
Maybe there will be the rumor the fiero had "suspension by Lotus" I can see it now.
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Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 848
From: Melb, Aust
Originally posted by Big Als Z
they might... but usualy they go for the lesser of all thoes cars. Even if the chassis was developed by Holden.
tomorrow eh? what happens tomorrow? Dont you mean the 1st? Or is it the 31'st by you already? Its still the 30th here in the US.
they might... but usualy they go for the lesser of all thoes cars. Even if the chassis was developed by Holden.
tomorrow eh? what happens tomorrow? Dont you mean the 1st? Or is it the 31'st by you already? Its still the 30th here in the US.
That Zeta Toyota was supposed to be a April Fools joke but some fool believed it and then leaked it early
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