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So we they debut the triplets at NY auto show. Then, proceed to never design the cars to withstand US crash standards? WTF! Then, on top of that, we get to keep the Cobalt, without an update, but put in the Cruze. If the Cruze will get 40+ then I wouldn't be surprised to see a similar powered Beat get close or over 50.

WTF is wrong with GM?

 

Lutz has long said he sees no American market for microcars. Whether 4.50/gallon gas is changing those attitudes, we'll have to wait and see, but those three concepts (of which Beat is coming to production) were developed under that preliminary attitude.

I think a lineup of Cobalt, Cruze and Volt will cover the compact/fuel efficient market pretty well. I can't think of another division that sells more than 3 distinct compacts in the U.S. market. Cobalt could really use an interior revision and maybe an outer facelift though.

 

GM needs more quality small cars. Astra is the best they have and even that is started to look dated next to some of the new stuff out. Plus the Astra has terrible transmission gearing that kills its efficiency. Astra A4/1.8L = 30mpg Malibu A6/2.4L = 33mpg. Why would I want an Astra when I can get a nicer interior and better mileage from a Malibu.

Beat wasn't the best choice for the US market anyways. GM should build the Groove as the next HHR and use that Turbo 1.4L.

 

Remember that gas wasn't quite the issue as it is now when these cars were first being designed. It will have to wait till they are being redesigned anyways in order to make it worth the costs to make it US compatable.

Personally i'd rather see the US and european standards combine so that cars can be built for either at the same time. If it wasn't for the U.S. having to have different standards than the rest of the world then this wouldn't be much an issue. Are the cars in Europe really that bad?

 

This is what I don't get. European crash standards are very, very close to US standards right now. About the only thing I can tell that's different is upcoming rollover standards. In some ways, Euro standards are more strict than ours (Pedestrian crumple zones, anyone?).

I think it was not just shortsighted by not making the Beat capable of quickly and easily being able to meet US standards (or like the Holden VE and WM, engineered to meet US standards from day one), but I also wonder what moron decided to unveil those 4 Chevrolet concept minis at the New York City International Auto Show, have the public vote on the car they would most like see produced and buy, then after the show is over, and after the voting is done, say in effect "Oh... we wern't actually planning to have those cars available in the US. We're making them for the Asia and maybe European markets only. Maybe we'll sell some future next generation versions here next round. We're always 'studying' the market"

WTF!!!! GM DESERVES to have lost 60% of it's stock value in less than 12 months with moronic moves like this. Not only was the whole purpose of the NY unveiling and voting a complete fraud & waste and maddening to those that saw the car and voiced their opinions under the expectation that the winner would be available here, but GM didn't even make the chassis compatable with US standards even though the chassis obviously was barely beyond a computer program when shown.

GM has shown they are capable of making great specialty cars. The G8, Solstice, & Corvette are great cars. The Cadillac CTS especially the CTSv is top drawer. The Camaro looks to be a winner in defiance of the floundering car market (if the current Challenger order rate is an indication). But GM's reaction time to changes in the market and judgement about expediency to react, not to put too fine a point on it, completely sucks.

GM had wakeup call over 3 years ago when truck sales first tumbled to speed up getting cars to the marketplace. Mustangs and Chrysler LX cars had been burning up the charts for months. GM with the money it had at that time and it's claimed newly created ability to bring new vehicles from idea to marketplace within 18-24 months combined with GM's so-called "Globalization" should today leave us with a General Motors that could at the very minimum do what Ford is doing (using excess capacity at truck plants to build cars from Europe here).

Yet, here we are. While Ford made the decision to set up a line for the Euro Fiesta and next gen Focus here in the US in a matter of a month or two, 2 years after the the Beat was shown and as it heads for production, GM says it can't sell it in the US till the next generation comes along in another few years because this one doesn't "meet US safety standards"?

Sorry for the rant, but this whole Chevy Mini car story is something that just really irks me.

 

im with you 100% Guy. This really pisses me off. I see about 3-5 smarts a day already not to mention other tiny cars like the yaris. Dont even ask me how many prius's I see (more than any other car on the road).

How could GM possibly not see this issue with gas prices? people have been complaining about gas prices for the past 2 years. thats before they even released the set of micro concepts.

And I really dont buy that it would take 2 years to bring it up to crash standards. they say they can design and engineer a car in 18-24 months but to just make it a little bit stronger or whatever would be needed it would take 2 years. BS.

I used to have a lot of faith in Lutz and the rest of the crew but now it just seems like a bunch of monkeys are running the show

 

I don't get why they can't sell the Cruze here the same time they sell them in Europe. Cobalt was great compared to a 2002-2005 Civic, but it just doesn't compare to what is on the market today. Ford, Honda, Toyota, VW have all since put out newer and better cars in this the hottest segment of the market.

Volt will be great PR for GM. But it won't be an affordable volume leader. That is were a 40mpg Cruze/Cobalt needs to come in.

 

YOU HAVE TO BE ****ING KIDDING ME!

And this after the news of the Fiesta coming here? Yes, you are right, someone at GM needs to be shot.

 

Didn't we see something earlier saying that the Cruze and Cobalt would be sold side-by-side for a few years? I wouldn't panic gang, didn't autoblog also say the Z28 was dead?

 

hrm, hrm...
So...I will agree with you, Guy -- that US crash standards should have been in mind from day one with this car, but I don't necessarily blame them for not expecting a huge market for this thing in the US. However, it seems there ARE plans to bring it here, just not yet. If there weren't, I'd think Lutz would have been very careful in using 'US' and 'next generation Beat' too close together in a conversation.

And then there was this:
So Chevy will get Cruze, AND a Cobalt...(I wish the Cruze will replace that godforsaken Aveo...) Given the fact that we're not getting a mini-car just yet, I'd say the Cruze is a good supplement in the meantime. Why? Because it get's BETTER fuel economy than a Smart Car, yet it is bigger and more practical.

 

The Cruze is going to be placed (and priced) between the Cobalt and the Malibu... not the Cobalt and Aveo.

 

I stand corrected, but this is still good news to me.
It should find a home amongst those who want compact-car frugality AND Malibu quality.
But they'd do well to watch the pricing, or else it might have a hard time competing with the import compacts.

 

IMO, Cobalt is a good car. It desparately needs a restyling though, because it was a dated design when it came out. Compare it's styling freshness with the current Honda Civic. My sister told Scott at the Cobalt unveiling in LA some years ago that it looked barely different than the Cavalier, and that was back in late 2003....nearly 5 years ago already.

The Cruize is supposed to be the same size as cobalt, which leads me to believe it's replacing Cobalt eventially. But a Cobalt sized vehicle isn't what we're talking about. This is the Beat



It was shown at New York's 2007 show with these cars:



GM ran this vote:

http://media.gm.com/us/gm/en/news/ev...20Overview.htm

But then not only failed to make the chassis US capable while it was still on the boards (or in the computer), which would have at least made it capable to be adapted quickly for US sales if not able to be imported in modest numbers here (afterall, BMW's Mini and did GM's market research for them as Toyota's Yaris is doing now), but they now say they can't get the car here for at least another 2 years.

Ford will likely have the fully US reg compatable Fiesta here within 18 months.

Ford just decided to bring the car here last month.

 

I'm not saying it wasn't poor judgment to not make the Beat US-spec...I just don't think it's a huge loss.

When they get this Cruze out -wherever it's placed in the lineup- it will be a bigger, more capable car with greater mileage than a Smart Car (as I'm sure some reviewers will be quoting). That should do a good job in opening up people's eyes to Chevy's fuel economy. Then, within a close year or two of that (~2011) I'd expect the next-gen Beat to make it here. If it doesn't...well, suffice to say, it'll make the decision to build the Aztec look like a stroke of brilliance.

 

Is the Beat not coming here because Saturn is getting the Corsa?

The current Corsa didn't meet US specs but Lutz specifically stated that the next generation (gamma cars) would be able to be sold in the US. IIRC this was around the time that GM announced the Astra for sale here.

Could GM be trying to split the market here: Old, outdated but cheap Aveo on the low end/New, modern and moderately higher priced Corsa on the high end (yet still below Cobalt/Cruze)?