All of us regulars have poked fun at Maximum Bob's "gotta have" product comments over the past 12-18 months, and seen them backed up with an Impala that is competent yet boring, a G6 that is competitive but leads the pack in zero categories, a LaCrosse that hasn't even made an impression on anyone, a Torrent with 185hp, a Lucerne with a great interior but is so conservative on the outside no one will notice, and, uhm, uh...

Not one of these cars screams "gotta have it." The closest new car I can see myself driving away in from GM is still my beloved Grand Prix GXP, and even then that car is more flawed in some ways than the cars mentioned above...sit in one, and you'll know why. Add to that the fact that I'd be in disre straits financially if I did buy one, and what the hell am I left with? A Cobalt SS N/A? Nice little car, but probably not my thing...

I've come to the decision that rather than drop prices like they have been, (have you seen the MSRPs on Grand Prixs these days? $24,995 for a blown GT???? $27,995 for a GXP? CHEAP for what you get!!!), give me some great design. Great design will sell me on a new Grand Prix...not a lower sticker price. I think the 900s will be great, and without a doubt, so will the Camaro. But we need more than trucks and sports cars...

So, my question is, collectively what do we know about the upcoming GM products for the next 3 years? Where are the "gotta haves" in terms of development? What will Buick look like? What do we know about the Zeta Chevy sedan? More importantly, what do we know about the PONTIAC Zeta???? What will Saturn look like in 36 months? I thought this might be an interesting thread to culminate what we know...because other than trucks and Camaros, what the hell do we REALLY have coming that's exciting?

Because, to be honest, I'm tired of people telling me "if it wasn't for the Solstice, I never would have come in here...", then watch them drive off in their BMW or Honda

 

Reportedly the upcoming CTS and Malibu will fit the bill of a "normal" car (family sedan) with "gotta have" styling.

Also, while it may not be the type of vehicle many on this board drool over, the HHR seems to be well received based largely on its styling (but also value).

 

Pretty much all of the Lambdas (crossovers) in development seem to be very promising.

As has been pointed out before, we always seem to get the "wait until x and y come out, then you'll see!" from GM only to actually see production x and y and say....we waited 2 years for this?

 

36 months as in late summer-2008 as in 2009MY?

Chevy RWD sedan & coupe.
Pontiac RWD sedan.
Maybe a RWD Pontiac coupe
Buick's Encvlave crossover.
Saturn's Aura.
Cadillac's CTS.
Corvette 'GT'
the Outlook crossover (whoever gets it)
and of course, the Solstice GXP and maybe a coupe version.

 

I always hear much bigger talk before GM cars come out than I do after. Most of these super hyped up vehicles ended up being enough to compete, but not, as said, become 'gotta have it' type models that make people stand up and take notice.

The only exception to this I think is the new Vette and the Saturn Sky.

 

Oh yeah, I forgot about the Lambdas, the Aura, the Sky, as others have listed.

 

Check the sig ... 2 - '06 products good enough to pry my wallet open.

We'll see how it goes with the Slostice ... maybe the 5th gen will be "out" and a C6 'vert will be "in" 3 years from now. I'm not getting "warm and fuzzy" feelings about how the 5th gen will get "contented".

 

I think some "gotta have" products are coming. But don't listen to me....I've fallen for that line every time GM says it for at least 15 years....

 

Hence why I made this thread...

I remembered the Malibu, Aura and others when I wrote this, but forgot the CTS. I was ignoring the Solstice and trucks for the moment, and focusing more on the car lineup. poSSum, I'll be the first to admit, I love the TB SS, and the fact you can get a Club Sport Solstice is awesome Not sure how the no A/C aspect of it would work down here, but still...I love the idea...

guion,
I would say '09MY for the purpose of this thread. I don't mean to use this as a GM bashing thread...I just thought it would be interesting to list out what we know about what's coming down the line in the next few years...

What do we know about the crossovers? We have a Saturn, a Buick and a GMC...correct? V6 and V8? What are the engines going to be like? How bad will Pontiac look with a Torrent next to the Buick and GMC siblings?

 

Your post and your sig both have it spelled 'Slostice". Is that intentional?

 

Someone once made the accurate if obvious statement that it costs just as much to design and build a boring car as an exciting car...meaning the development process, tooling and machinery all are employed whether the sheetmetal is sexy or ugly.

Yet you can't sell an ugly car for as much as a sexy car. 1st order of business at GM should be to increase per unit margins. Best way to do that is to build "gotta have" cars

I'm with you Jason, I think GM"s product is much better now than it was 24 mos ago, but still missing the mark that would drive people to showrooms.

 

I hope not, since he ordered the "Slo-stice"

 

I think GM's overall quality has really gone up over the last few years...

But, I admit, there's not a ton of "normal" vehicles that tug at your heart strings right now.

 

Yes "Slostice" is an intentional misspelling. No, I'm not going to wait for a GXP.

 

They don't exist.....