GM's dropping Saturn, Pontiac to become niche brand - Page 2 - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

Angrybird 12 · 02-16-2009, 11:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FenwickHockey65

Not always. For the most part, North American designs are limited to the US/Canada. GMT-based trucks are almost NA exclusive, Lambdas are NA exclusive, a few American designs (CTS, Corvette) are sold in other countries, but for the most part, GM NA designs cars for North America only.

However, there are exceptions...

The Pontiac G8 is nothing more than a rebadged Holden Commodore imported from Australia.

The Saturn Vue, Saturn Astra, and Saturn Sky all have Opel counterparts, the Opel Antara, Opel Astra, and Opel GT.

Buick in the US and Buick in China will be sharing product in the future. For example, the Buick Regal in China, a rebadged Opel Insignia, will be brought stateside as the Buick Regal here.

Chevrolet's becoming a global brand, so expect to see Asian-designed Chevrolets on US soil soon, such as the upcoming Chevy Spark.

The Vue and Astra are Opel designs the Vue is built over here but the Astra is built in Austria and imported.
The Sky of course is an American design and imported Over in Europe as the Opel GT and in Korea as the Daewoo G2X all are built in Whilmington Del.

Iroczlover · 02-16-2009, 11:44 AM

GM Insider Reported that the Camaro would never be put in production right after GM said that they were putting the Camaro in production in 08, CAN YOU BELIEVE WHAT GM INSIDER SAYS???????????????? NOoo

PQ · 02-16-2009, 11:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Iroczlover

GM Insider Reported that the Camaro would never be put in production right after GM said that they were putting the Camaro in production in 08, CAN YOU BELIEVE WHAT GM INSIDER SAYS???????????????? NOoo

Maybe change the name?

'The GM Guesser'

FenwickHockey65 · 02-16-2009, 11:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Iroczlover

GM Insider Reported that the Camaro would never be put in production right after GM said that they were putting the Camaro in production in 08, CAN YOU BELIEVE WHAT GM INSIDER SAYS???????????????? NOoo

GMI also reported that the Buick Regal would be brought stateside from China.

In a few weeks, GM approved the Regal for NA.

Not to mention that a few people in the upper echelons of GM management know of us and apparently frequent the site...case in point, Mark LaNeve, Bob Lutz...

*The_Blur* · 02-16-2009, 12:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FenwickHockey65

GMI also reported that the Buick Regal would be brought stateside from China.

In a few weeks, GM approved the Regal for NA.

Not to mention that a few people in the upper echelons of GM management know of us and apparently frequent the site...case in point, Mark LaNeve, Bob Lutz...

Maybe Camaro5 should buy GM Insider's website and merge the forums since we have the superior inside informants.

PQ · 02-16-2009, 12:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The_Blur

Maybe Camaro5 should buy GM Insider's website and merge the forums since we have the superior inside informants.

.....................

t3chfr3ak · 02-16-2009, 12:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FenwickHockey65

Not always. For the most part, North American designs are limited to the US/Canada. GMT-based trucks are almost NA exclusive, Lambdas are NA exclusive, a few American designs (CTS, Corvette) are sold in other countries, but for the most part, GM NA designs cars for North America only.

However, there are exceptions...

The Pontiac G8 is nothing more than a rebadged Holden Commodore imported from Australia.

The Saturn Vue, Saturn Astra, and Saturn Sky all have Opel counterparts, the Opel Antara, Opel Astra, and Opel GT.

Buick in the US and Buick in China will be sharing product in the future. For example, the Buick Regal in China, a rebadged Opel Insignia, will be brought stateside as the Buick Regal here.

Chevrolet's becoming a global brand, so expect to see Asian-designed Chevrolets on US soil soon, such as the upcoming Chevy Spark.

So from this I hope all of those people saying "buy american" really are not. There really is no "big three" anymore. The big three have their fingers on other makers. Ford-mazda, jaquar, ford europe. GM-Opel, Saturn, Holden, Saab, Vauxhall. Dodge-Mercedes, ..........

TheCaptain · 02-16-2009, 01:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The_Blur

...

The Sky is a wonderful car. That car should be redesigned as badged as a Chevy Stingray for heritage and style. Shoehorn the LLT in there for a performance V6.

I'm all for that! I love the Sky way more then the Solstice!
I think i would get Mallet to drop a nice LS3 and 6L80E or something, in it!

stovt001 · 02-16-2009, 01:47 PM

I think this is a good thing. For GM to really be able to market its cars well and right-size itself for the new market conditions, it really needs to be down to pretty much Chevrolet and Cadillac. A mainstream and luxury brand is simply the easiest way to go to have clear market shares and differentiation. I understand keeping the BPG channel just because it is so expensive to kill a brand, but when cash flow improves it might be a good idea to cut them too.

Shadow-phoenix · 02-16-2009, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by irpq11

Wow. Daewoo? I didn't even know that still existed. And what the heck is a Vauxhall?

here's a couple pics for ya...
the first is an '04 GTO.
the second is an '04 Vauxhall Monaro VXR.
the third is an Opel Speedster.

SS4EVER · 02-16-2009, 01:52 PM

^ Right, the Holden Monaro was re-badged as a Vauxhall Monaro, and it was also sold as Opel I believe before it came stateside in 04 branded as the Pontiac GTO.

And the Opel Speedster is, was basically the pre-courser to the present day kappa platform that the Solstice, Sky are based off of...

Speaking of kappa's those too sadly won't be seeing the light of day in a couple years... :(

Only car from Saturn that I would ever consider owning would be a Saturn Sky Redline. But that's just the enthusiast in me speaking....

Thing with Saturn is that it competes with Chevy, and Pontiac hardcore. The only thing Saturn was good for was re-shaping the way most people thought of GM products especially in the service department. Have to admit from owning one Saturn their service was a lot friendlier and easier than all the Chevy's and Chevy dealers that i've been to. But that's personal experience mostly.

I personally won't be sad to see Saturn go, if Pontiac goes though then I'll be sad....

stovt001 · 02-16-2009, 01:57 PM

Saturn dealers are known for being GM's best. Now the trick is simply to replicate that service at Chevy and Cadillac dealers. Difficult to do given franchise laws.

TheCaptain · 02-16-2009, 01:58 PM

As long as the Sky stays as something else, most of the Saturn's are rebadged Chevy's or Pontiacs.

LarkVille · 02-16-2009, 02:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The_Blur

The Sky is a wonderful car. That car should be redesigned as badged as a Chevy Stingray for heritage and style. Shoehorn the LLT in there for a performance V6.

Correct. I want a rebadged Sky the way you mentioned, plus a hardtop version of it. Do it, GM.

02-16-2009, 11:44 AM	#16
Iroczlover The Krazzy bytch Drives: Which car I have 9 vehicles? Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Yelm, wa, Hell if I think about it to much Posts: 7,919	GM Insider Reported that the Camaro would never be put in production right after GM said that they were putting the Camaro in production in 08, CAN YOU BELIEVE WHAT GM INSIDER SAYS???????????????? NOoo __________________ Heart breaks everyday when you cant take care of your family because you are unemployed, cant give your family what you want or what they need I am not a man I have boobies. Cars are like women, If you treat her rough shes going to complain & you will hear about it. If you treat her right she will purrrrrrrrrrrrr Current cars owned , 72 Skylark vert,86 fiero GT Sold , 87 Iroc-z (sold), 90 Vette Vert SOLD , 95 Z28, 99 Silverado K1500 Totaled, 2010 CGM Camaro 2ss/rs (had to sell & I hate it ) ,2012 Cruze LT repoed. Current current list lol 2006 Silverado 2500hd.

02-16-2009, 01:47 PM	#23
stovt001 Drives: 2006 Cobalt, 2004 Taurus wagon Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: California Posts: 3,812	I think this is a good thing. For GM to really be able to market its cars well and right-size itself for the new market conditions, it really needs to be down to pretty much Chevrolet and Cadillac. A mainstream and luxury brand is simply the easiest way to go to have clear market shares and differentiation. I understand keeping the BPG channel just because it is so expensive to kill a brand, but when cash flow improves it might be a good idea to cut them too. __________________ "It's kind of fun to do the impossible" - Walt Disney There's a great big beautiful tomorrow shining at the end of every day There's a great big beautiful tomorrow Just a dream away

02-16-2009, 01:52 PM	#25
SS4EVER Camaro Convert... Drives: 2006 Cobalt SS Supercharged Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Metro Detroit, Mi Posts: 595 View My Garage	^ Right, the Holden Monaro was re-badged as a Vauxhall Monaro, and it was also sold as Opel I believe before it came stateside in 04 branded as the Pontiac GTO. And the Opel Speedster is, was basically the pre-courser to the present day kappa platform that the Solstice, Sky are based off of... Speaking of kappa's those too sadly won't be seeing the light of day in a couple years... :( Only car from Saturn that I would ever consider owning would be a Saturn Sky Redline. But that's just the enthusiast in me speaking.... Thing with Saturn is that it competes with Chevy, and Pontiac hardcore. The only thing Saturn was good for was re-shaping the way most people thought of GM products especially in the service department. Have to admit from owning one Saturn their service was a lot friendlier and easier than all the Chevy's and Chevy dealers that i've been to. But that's personal experience mostly. I personally won't be sad to see Saturn go, if Pontiac goes though then I'll be sad.... __________________ 4 life! Currently Driving: 2006 Cobalt SS Supercharged

02-16-2009, 01:57 PM	#26
stovt001 Drives: 2006 Cobalt, 2004 Taurus wagon Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: California Posts: 3,812	Saturn dealers are known for being GM's best. Now the trick is simply to replicate that service at Chevy and Cadillac dealers. Difficult to do given franchise laws. __________________ "It's kind of fun to do the impossible" - Walt Disney There's a great big beautiful tomorrow shining at the end of every day There's a great big beautiful tomorrow Just a dream away

02-16-2009, 01:58 PM	#27
TheCaptain N7 Spectre Drives: 14 ATS Performance 3.6L AWD Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Moosomin, Saskatchewan, Canada Posts: 2,734 View My Garage	As long as the Sky stays as something else, most of the Saturn's are rebadged Chevy's or Pontiacs. __________________

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Not Good, GM wants another 16 or is it 9 Billion to Survive.	Scott@Bjorn3D	General Automotive + Other Cars Discussion	226	02-20-2009 04:13 PM
Restructuring Brainstorm for GM	The_Blur	General Automotive + Other Cars Discussion	15	12-29-2008 02:01 AM