Building the Chevy Camaro has been Axed!

Smartie Panse · 2007-03-25T15:23:55+00:00

Future: '08 Pontiac GTO Spared, But That's AllWhat the GM Future looks likeBy Todd LassaPhotography by the ManufacturerGeneral Motors's plans for a rear-drive Buick Velite sedan, convertible, or anything else are officially dead. The murder also affects any rear-drive Chevy coupe, Camaro, Chevelle, or otherwise. While development of a new Zeta platform was scaled back months ago, the decision to pull the plug on these new cars is much more recent. The only sub-Cadillac/ Corvette rear-drive program going forth (beside Pontiac Solstice and Saturn Sky) is the next-gen GTO, expected for the 2008 model year.GM sources say the Holden's Zeta rear-drive platforms aren't considered refined enough for rear-drive Buicks and Chevys to compete with the Mercedes-based Chrysler and Dodge LX models or any other modern competitor. Cadillac's Sigma platform, meanwhile, is too expensive for GM's mainstream brands.Meanwhile, GM is yet again reorganizing its divisions. Cadillac, Hummer, and Saab continue as the company's premium troika (it considers Saab near-luxury). Even though Hummer H2 sales plunged after its first year, with the new H3 and more product on the way, the division is designed to thrive with relatively low volume. Saturn continues as a warm-and-fuzzy Toyota, Honda/Acura competitor as it moves upmarket.GM plans to morph as many as possible of its individual Pontiac, Buick, and GMC dealers into three-brand combos. A Pontiac-Buick-GMC dealer doesn't have to be full-line, like Chevrolet, says marketing chief Mark LaNeve. The plan is to shape GM into eight "tightly focused" brands. "If those brands aren't focused, you don't need them," LaNeve adds.But the reality looks set to fall short of the rhetoric. GMC, for example, is relying on its expanding Denali line, which is really just a trim level, to distinguish itself from Chevy trucks. And while Pontiac builds a largely front-drive performance lineup and Buick builds a front-drive (except for the Rainier) "quiet luxury"...

Mar 25, 2007 29 Replies

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John Horner 19 years ago

Yep, I went looking for the original and couldn't find it.

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John Horner 19 years ago

I stand corrected. Odd that M/T didn't have it available when this thread started.

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John Horner 19 years ago

Not surprising. I don't think it ever sold worth a hoot and the current generation didn't deserve to.

John

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80 Knight 19 years ago

It's just temporary. GM has announced that it will bring the Monte back with it's Zeta brand rear-wheel drive platform.

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Steve W. 19 years ago

Nope the NASCAR spec "car of tomorrow" is next years car They will be identical bodies with the auto manufacturers engines and decals. No manufacturers parts used. See

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Harry Face 19 years ago

Lee,

The Bonneville is around 309,149 miles.

harryface

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Lee C. Carpenter 19 years ago

Sweet!

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Joe 19 years ago

Very true. With the COT, it's no longer a problem. They can call it Silverado if they want to.

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Joe 19 years ago

Well, I'm sorry - I was wrong too. However, it's clearly still not news. It hasn't proliferated anywhere on the internet as far as I can tell, and it seems very unlike everything else in the news. For instance, there's really not any indication that there is a 2008 GTO coming. They'd have to start building it in about 4 months. Where is it? There's apparently no such thing. Years ago, there was a 2008 GTO in everybody's head. Today, the G8 is clearly going forward, so how is Holden's platform not refined enough for a Chevrolet? It's good enough for the most expensive Pontiac? The article doesn't really make any sense TODAY. I can't find a date on it - My guess is it's a two-year-old article.

I guess we'll see.

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Joe 19 years ago

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Okay - here we go: something with a date, but Bob Lutz himself.

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That Motor Trend article was from when the Zeta platform was cancelled in

2005. Everybody remember that? I don't know much about the motor trend website, so I won't comment about the age of anything else on that page. I think they've abandoned that part of their site, but you be the judge.

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