Rear Drive to return in 2005 for 2006 MY
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Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 13,713
From: The Golden State
Today's Automotive News:
"YPSILANTI, Mich. - General Motors is spending $300 million to upgrade its Willow Run, Mich., transmission plant to prepare it to produce a new six-speed automatic for rear-wheel-drive vehicles.
GM expects the work to be completed by 2005. The new transmissions are scheduled to be installed in 2006 model year vehicles. The plant currently builds four-speed automatics for rwd and front-wheel-drive vehicles.
GM expects the work to be completed by 2005. The new transmissions are scheduled to be installed in 2006 model year vehicles. The plant currently builds four-speed automatics for rwd and front-wheel-drive vehicles.
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Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 3,698
From: USA
Re: Re: ...
Originally posted by guionM
Actually I honestly don't know.
The reason I said I doubt it's a Regal is because my understanding is that Regal was part of the Grand Prix/Impala/Monte Carlo's updated "W" body.
It could be Park Avenue's replacement, LeSabre's replacement, or a whole new line like a possible Roadmaster. I just simply know that Buick's getting essentially a rebodied STS, and that this car (like the STS) will be very close in overall size as the CTS, though it will be modestly wider & have a slightly longer wheelbase.
Though I found this out over a year ago, Buick never really interested me beyond the Grand Nationals, and I figured no one else would be that instred either. Plus at the time, 2006 seemed an eternity away.
Plus, at the time, it was early in development and I was asked not to 'spread it all over the place just yet'. But since so much time has passed, GM has announced new RWD engine & transmission plants for full sized cars, and Lutz himself has said that Buick will be filling in Cadillac's old market as it goes upscale, I'm assuming the coast is clear now.
Actually I honestly don't know.
The reason I said I doubt it's a Regal is because my understanding is that Regal was part of the Grand Prix/Impala/Monte Carlo's updated "W" body.
It could be Park Avenue's replacement, LeSabre's replacement, or a whole new line like a possible Roadmaster. I just simply know that Buick's getting essentially a rebodied STS, and that this car (like the STS) will be very close in overall size as the CTS, though it will be modestly wider & have a slightly longer wheelbase.
Though I found this out over a year ago, Buick never really interested me beyond the Grand Nationals, and I figured no one else would be that instred either. Plus at the time, 2006 seemed an eternity away.
Plus, at the time, it was early in development and I was asked not to 'spread it all over the place just yet'. But since so much time has passed, GM has announced new RWD engine & transmission plants for full sized cars, and Lutz himself has said that Buick will be filling in Cadillac's old market as it goes upscale, I'm assuming the coast is clear now.
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Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 8,504
From: Ohio
Re: Re: Re: ...
Originally posted by formula79
Remember though the updated W-body cars are supposed to go RWD also...starting in 06 with the Grand Prix.
Remember though the updated W-body cars are supposed to go RWD also...starting in 06 with the Grand Prix.
I just find that hard to swallow.
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Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 2,402
From: Toronto, ON Canada
Just an observation... We hear about many models that will come out / will be converted to RWD in 2005/6/7.
Then we also say W-body will go RWD, and just about everything mid-size to full-size will go RWD.
I highly doubt that GM will make such mass exodus to RWD platform and leave only Cavalier (or its replacement) and GrandAm as front wheel drive vehicles.
There are many people who consider FWD to be safer (winter), and although performance market does seem to prefer RWD, I doubt GM will abandon FWD to just few select vehicles.
Then we also say W-body will go RWD, and just about everything mid-size to full-size will go RWD.
I highly doubt that GM will make such mass exodus to RWD platform and leave only Cavalier (or its replacement) and GrandAm as front wheel drive vehicles.
There are many people who consider FWD to be safer (winter), and although performance market does seem to prefer RWD, I doubt GM will abandon FWD to just few select vehicles.
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Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 10,285
From: Albany, NY
Re: Re: Re: Re: ...
Originally posted by Darth Xed
This is one I have to wonder about and at leats be somewhat skeptical... if Grand Prix were to go RWD for 06, that means the new GP would have a life span of 2 years....
I just find that hard to swallow.
This is one I have to wonder about and at leats be somewhat skeptical... if Grand Prix were to go RWD for 06, that means the new GP would have a life span of 2 years....
I just find that hard to swallow.
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Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 3,698
From: USA
Re: Re: Re: Re: ...
Originally posted by Darth Xed
This is one I have to wonder about and at leats be somewhat skeptical... if Grand Prix were to go RWD for 06, that means the new GP would have a life span of 2 years....
I just find that hard to swallow.
This is one I have to wonder about and at leats be somewhat skeptical... if Grand Prix were to go RWD for 06, that means the new GP would have a life span of 2 years....
I just find that hard to swallow.
The current GP was in the piplen before Lutz and couldn't be stopped. The RWD program has been going for a year plus now. Also updates every 2 years isn't foriegn..Ford used to do it with teh MN-12 T-bird...Plus wasn't the Monte restyled in only 00 or 02? either way the upcoming W-bodies ARE meant to be short lifecycle cars to hold sales ground untill RWD is here.
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Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 2,224
From: CNY
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: ...
Originally posted by formula79
Belive it....once a year ago I asked why Bob Kraut (RP's counterpart for the Firebird at Pontiac) had hardly any public profile, and I was told "He was hard at work on the new Grand Prix" to which I said but the 04 is pretty much complete...the person said "no..the RWD model for 06'".
The current GP was in the piplen before Lutz and couldn't be stopped. The RWD program has been going for a year plus now. Also updates every 2 years isn't foriegn..Ford used to do it with teh MN-12 T-bird...Plus wasn't the Monte restyled in only 00 or 02? either way the upcoming W-bodies ARE meant to be short lifecycle cars to hold sales ground untill RWD is here.
Belive it....once a year ago I asked why Bob Kraut (RP's counterpart for the Firebird at Pontiac) had hardly any public profile, and I was told "He was hard at work on the new Grand Prix" to which I said but the 04 is pretty much complete...the person said "no..the RWD model for 06'".
The current GP was in the piplen before Lutz and couldn't be stopped. The RWD program has been going for a year plus now. Also updates every 2 years isn't foriegn..Ford used to do it with teh MN-12 T-bird...Plus wasn't the Monte restyled in only 00 or 02? either way the upcoming W-bodies ARE meant to be short lifecycle cars to hold sales ground untill RWD is here.
Registered User
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 2,072
From: Lilburn, GA, USA
As far as safty goes, with sability and traction controls, rwd cars are a lot safer and easier to drive in bad climates than they once were. You definatly can't abandon fwd all together, and I am sure no one will.
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