Aratinga

General Motors has announced that it is scrapping plans to introduce new midsize, RWD performance cars based on the Zeta platform in the USA. Exerpt from the full article at the Chicago Tribune :

Zeta was believed to be the platform GM was going to use for the next-generation Pontiac GTO as well as possibly a pair of new Buick offerings, the Velite sedan and convertible, and maybe a midsize, performance Chevrolet sedan.

GM was developing the platform in cooperation with its Holden subsidiary in Australia, which still will use it. GM reportedly had plans to build the cars for North America in the United States, though it now gets the GTO from Australia. GM would not say how much it hopes to save with the move.

Sources said that though GM is re-evaluating just about every product program since cutting its annual profit forecast in half this week, the decision was made in December to halt development.

"We're going to re-evaluate our programs for midsize, rear-wheel-drive products for North America," said GM spokesman Pat Morrissey. "The resources on Zeta are going to be reassigned to other North American products that will have a more significant impact on volume and profit."

The "other products" are full-size sport-utility vehicles due for the 2006 model year and full-size pickups for 2007--cash cows not only at GM but also in the auto industry.

I just hope that this isn't the kiss of death for Bob Lutz and/or Pontiac. Thank you, all you clueless doofuses (doofi?) in 'Murca that wanna drive big ol' honkin' SUVs and pickemups.

Steiner

I was really looking forward to the Buick Velite. I saw the prototype at the SF autoshow and thought "wow...finally...Buick is going to make something for non senior citizens". But alas...

therm8

Profit and sales now is good.

Planning for profit and sales for years to come is better.

Bad move.

LNWLF

Actually, GM has a ton of problems to overcome right now: dwindling market share, costly recalls, a huge oversupply of suv's rotting on car lots, failure to meet sales expectations on "niche" models, the UAW, and healthcare issues.

The cancellation of the Zeta platform may mean that the next generation GTO, and rumored next-gen Camaro are not going to happen (Both slated for roughly 2007-08 introductions); and that is bad for car enthusiasts, whether you're an import fanboy or domestic mullethead.

c2k4-8

I really hate to hear that, was looking forward to a new GTO and the return of the Camaro.

babylou

There is still the next generation Cadillac RWD platform due for release in a 30 months. Possibly GM will now not make this chassis exclusive to Caddy. I also, think GM does not need a RWD low cost car. That market doesn't give a hoot about drive wheels. Large sales of lame Accords, Camrys, Avalons, etc. prove the point.

LucasET

I don't understand. Whatever happened to spending money to make money? Look at Ford with the Mustang. That is an iconic vehicle that has "saved" Ford on more than one occassion. The time would have been right for GM to bring the Camaro back for 2006 or even 2007. Spy shots (not rumors) should have hit the pages of C&D and MT a year ago, and a concept very close to a production model should have debuted in Detroit this year. Instead, we get the Cobalt. It isn't even that everyone in the world would be in the market for a Camaro, but it is a car that people identify as the icon of a brand (along with the Corvette, I know), and if somebody can't quite afford it, he or she might go for what they percieve as the next best thing on the lot, which just might be that Cobalt.
I was looking forward to a new GTO too. I was very disappointed with the design of the current one, regardless of it's capabilities.

My prediction: The sales of large SUVs and "Pickemups" are going to decline steadily over the next 5 years and GM will be in even more trouble.

therm8

Gm really needed/needs a couple of vehicles to break out of the pack. The return of the F-body would help. Perhaps the roadsters coming out will be a start. GM has fallen back into the trap of getting lazy and living off the sales of their trucks and suv's.

LucasET

Yeah, I'm anxious to see what the Solstice does. I think the Saturn roadster (name???) is hotter than the Pontiac. I could see GM being okay if these newer small sporty cars go into production.