Chevy Cruze Coupe likely (potential for new RWD Zeta sedan)

[DGthe3]

Originally Posted by MikesZ

But since the 6th gen Camaro will be on the Alpha platform, they could kill Zeta. Zeta will be a waste of resources. The four Chevy models I listed above could easily yield combined sales of over a million units a year, if they get the right attention going forward. Outside of Cadillac, a large RWD sedan is simply a waste of resources.

No, not at all. If you don't want one, fine. But there are plenty (such as police forces) who would hardly consider anything but a large, rwd sedan. Plus, if relative to a fwd car it can be sold at a comparable price, while getting comparable fuel economy, yet deliver superior ride quality and handling, how is it a waste?

[Number 3]

Originally Posted by MikesZ

Yeah, right, a whopping 3241 Commodores sold in January. They're really on fire.

And the rank in the market segment? And the overall sales for the Australian market?

Sometimes share means something too. It's an important car in that market.

[Number 3]

Originally Posted by MikesZ

But since the 6th gen Camaro will be on the Alpha platform, they could kill Zeta. Zeta will be a waste of resources. The four Chevy models I listed above could easily yield combined sales of over a million units a year, if they get the right attention going forward. Outside of Cadillac, a large RWD sedan is simply a waste of resources.

MikesZ, you have to ask one question and one only.............can you make money on it?

It's that simple. Corvette doesn't sell at all, 1/3 of Camaro volumes at best but it is hugely profitable. So there is a balance in the market and if there is room for Zeta products in NA and money can be made then it isn't a waste of resources .................unless those same resources can be applied applied to something that makes even more money.

[MikesZ]

Originally Posted by DGthe3

No, not at all. If you don't want one, fine. But there are plenty (such as police forces) who would hardly consider anything but a large, rwd sedan. Plus, if relative to a fwd car it can be sold at a comparable price, while getting comparable fuel economy, yet deliver superior ride quality and handling, how is it a waste?

The platform that would need to support it would drain resources from other, more important/profitable products. Chevy doesn't need specialty products beyond Camaro and Corvette. Or do you think those should suffer just to support a low-volume RWD sedan? Or should Tahoe suffer because some GM'ers can't give up on the Holden RWD sedan? Or how about Silverado? Should GM go less-than on that to make room for a RWD sedan that couldn't crack 40K units per year last time around? Think about it...

[MikesZ]

Originally Posted by Number 3

MikesZ, you have to ask one question and one only.............can you make money on it?

It's that simple. Corvette doesn't sell at all, 1/3 of Camaro volumes at best but it is hugely profitable. So there is a balance in the market and if there is room for Zeta products in NA and money can be made then it isn't a waste of resources .................unless those same resources can be applied applied to something that makes even more money.

Ding, ding, ding, give the man a seeeegar.

[Stew]

Originally Posted by seeknay2000

Exactly! The first time I really looked at a Pontiac G8 was when they were selling them $6K below MSRP a couple months ago! I never noticed them before. I've never once seen a commerical or ad with Pontiac G8, I've never seen one in person...

If chevy built something similar to a pontaic G8 I'd definitely consider buying one.

Exactly! Always thought it was a Mistake making it a Pontiac instead of a Chevy. With Chevy's history for large rwd performance sedans and it's broader customer base it would have done MUCH better.

[FenwickHockey65]

Originally Posted by MikesZ

Yeah, right, a whopping 3241 Commodores sold in January. They're really on fire.

Again, Australia's best selling car. You can't compare US sales to their sales. 3000+ units is pretty good for Australia.

[FenwickHockey65]

And for everyone who doesn't think a RWD sedan can sell, allow me to steer you towards the boys at Auburn Hills with the Charger...

1998 LH2: 116,801
1999 LH2: 284,483
2000 LH2: 265,710
2001 LH2: 186,662
2002 LH2: 175,894
First 5 years: 1,029,550

2005 LX: 241,359
2006 LX: 297,943
2007 LX: 270,181
2008 LX: 166,631 (not including 17,423 Challengers)
2009 LX: 99,370 (not including 25,852 Challengers)
First 5 years: 1,075,484 (not including 43,275 CY08/09 Challengers)

Yes, RWD cars outsold FWD cars.

[Stew]

Originally Posted by MikesZ

Ding, ding, ding, give the man a seeeegar.

You have to consider too, the R&D work is done for this platform, the biggest part of the developemnt cost is done, it could easily be a profitable platform.

[Stew]

Originally Posted by MikesZ

The platform that would need to support it would drain resources from other, more important/profitable products. Chevy doesn't need specialty products beyond Camaro and Corvette. Or do you think those should suffer just to support a low-volume RWD sedan? Or should Tahoe suffer because some GM'ers can't give up on the Holden RWD sedan? Or how about Silverado? Should GM go less-than on that to make room for a RWD sedan that couldn't crack 40K units per year last time around? Think about it...

One thing is, there really isn't anything currently in the Chevy dealership a RWD zeta would take sales from, so if you can sell 1 million of all those PLUS 40000 Zetas a year and make a profit, why not?

[DGthe3]

Originally Posted by MikesZ

The platform that would need to support it would drain resources from other, more important/profitable products. Chevy doesn't need specialty products beyond Camaro and Corvette. Or do you think those should suffer just to support a low-volume RWD sedan? Or should Tahoe suffer because some GM'ers can't give up on the Holden RWD sedan? Or how about Silverado? Should GM go less-than on that to make room for a RWD sedan that couldn't crack 40K units per year last time around? Think about it...

Its not going to be a specialty product though. If Dodge can manage 100k Charger and 300 sales, GM should be able to accomplish at least as many. And the G8, while not selling well overall, came close to its sales targets while in a down market. And if they cancel the Impala and replace it with a RWD Caprice, I would not be surprised to see 200k sales per year, for that one vehicle and at least another 100k total for its cousins around the world.

To my knowledge, GM doesn't exactly operate on a fixed R&D budget. They don't spend $5B/year regardless of the number of vehicles it gets spread across. Its perhaps $1B per vehicle platform spread over a number of development years. So it wouldn't be stealing money from other areas, the idea (particularly within the new GM) is to make everything stand on its own. If it can't pay for itself, it won't get the green light.

[MikesZ]

Originally Posted by DGthe3

Its not going to be a specialty product though. If Dodge can manage 100k Charger and 300 sales, GM should be able to accomplish at least as many. And the G8, while not selling well overall, came close to its sales targets while in a down market. And if they cancel the Impala and replace it with a RWD Caprice, I would not be surprised to see 200k sales per year, for that one vehicle and at least another 100k total for its cousins around the world.

To my knowledge, GM doesn't exactly operate on a fixed R&D budget. They don't spend $5B/year regardless of the number of vehicles it gets spread across. Its perhaps $1B per vehicle platform spread over a number of development years. So it wouldn't be stealing money from other areas, the idea (particularly within the new GM) is to make everything stand on its own. If it can't pay for itself, it won't get the green light.

Interesting...but how do you add yet another large vehicle into the CAFE mix while trying to maintain your Tahoes, Suburbans, Silverados, Escalades, etc?

[DGthe3]

Originally Posted by MikesZ

Interesting...but how do you add yet another large vehicle into the CAFE mix while trying to maintain your Tahoes, Suburbans, Silverados, Escalades, etc?

Trucks are on a different standard, vehicle footprint yields a scaling factor, and CAFE doesn't use the same mileage numbers as is printed on the window sticker, it uses significantly more generous values. So a large sedan with an EPA rating of say 17/26 it might get a CAFE rating of around 28 mpg combined. If it has an E85 flex fuel capability its rating goes up even further. So while its still not the 35 of the CAFE average, it isn't as hard to accomplish as some people believe.

[Mr. Wyndham]

I hope they do a coupe....SO bad....the car would look great as a coupe, I think. And that's the configuration of 50-60% of Cobalts are around here.

On a RWD Chevy? I hope so. I also hope it's not the Impala -- because sales will tank, almost guaranteed. The Impala target market is not exactly performance-sedan oriented.....The next Impala needs a flagship redesign inside and out, imo, with AWD offered. I don't know how the RWD sedan can fit in....

we'll see, I guess...