Whoa!
Please see my comments below.......
Quote:
Originally Posted by stovt001
http://www.leftlanenews.com/no-trans...r-pontiac.html
So we've known for a long time that the Trans-Am wasn't going to happen. But Pontiac was still supposed to get more RWD performance models beyond the G8. Well once again it sounds like GM has dropped those plans, because of the stupid lie that they can't meet the new CAFE regulations without killing off all their projects. Never mind everyone else is preparing RWD performance cars (even TOYOTA!). Never mind that Pontiac was supposed to be somewhat niche and lower volume. Never mind that GM is getting major credits for E85 capability. Never mind that RWD only takes away 1-2 mpg. Never mind that not every car has to hit 35 mpg. Never mind that they have years to get there. Nope, this is GM back to its old bad habits, taking the easy way out and killing off the good stuff then blaming other people because they don't care about making it happen. It seems like the Camaro is the last performance car we'll see out of GM that someone actually cared and put the effort into. What a way to go out, and if this was going to be the last great car from GM then we certainly have a good one, but still, this is just getting to be too much. Ford is developing some really cool V6s, ones I actually wouldn't mind owning. Honda and Toyota even have some RWD performance cars on the way. Mazda is developing the next RX8 or something similar. What do we get from GM? Excuses and project after project axed. CAFE is stupid, yes, but it affects everyone. Yet while everyone else is innovating to deal with it, GM is just sitting on their hands crying about it. You all know how much I loved the idea of the Alpha platform, and its just a kick in the gut every time they come closer to fully canceling it along with all of their other cool plans. Pretty soon GM will be making nothing but Aveos, blaming CAFE all day long while everyone else is making the performance cars we all love. If this is the way GM is headed, I'll be jumping ship after the Camaro.
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First of all -- no one has killed off projects. Work has been stopped on projects.....for a good reason: our stockholders INSIST that we act with prudence. (and if you have a 401K or any retirement plan -- you are a GM Stockholder....) It would be foolhardy to continue working on every new project UNTIL we can figure out how we will get to an eventual 35mpg by 2020.......
Second -- I think it's completely inappropriate for you to make comments that it's a lie we can't hit CAFE numbers. We WILL hit them -- but as Bob Lutz says - "we don't know what we don't know...." -- meaning that the law changed -- BUT THE RULES STILL HAVE NOT BEEN WRITTEN...and therefore, NO manufacturer knows how to hit the number as of yet. It's kinda like me saying to you "I want you to drive down the street-- but I haven't decided just HOW I want you to drive down the street." So you assume that I want you to drive down the street on the right hand side of the street -- but my eventual rules say "it is illegal to drive on the right hand side of the street"....
See where I'm going with this?
You wrote:
".......Ford is developing some really cool V6s, ones I actually wouldn't mind owning. Honda and Toyota even have some RWD performance cars on the way. Mazda is developing the next RX8 or something similar. What do we get from GM? Excuses and project after project axed. ..."
OK -- first of all, I don't recall seeing you in any of our product planning meetings -- so you don't know that ANYTHING was axed. I can't even follow your logic to the Ford V6 thing....which has nothing to do with RWD.
Then you wrote:
"........Yet while everyone else is innovating to deal with it, GM is just sitting on their hands crying about it......."
Sooooooooo..........tell me which company has anything like the Equinox Fuel Cell vehicle?
Who is the leader in E85 -- not only with numbers of cars out there and available -- but with technology behind it to make E85 a reality across the nation as a true solution that can be done TODAY......
Who offers a better Hybrid SUV to meet the needs of those who NEED to tow-- or NEED to carry up to 8 people or who NEED 4wd?
-- and by the way -- that Tahoe2mode Hybrid that I'm referring to gets 20mpg city and 22 highway -- which, if you do your research is the same or better than a new Toyota Camry 4 cyl.
Then there's the Volt -- I could go on for days......
The list could go on -- but you, sir, are very much misinformed.
I'm sorry if I seem harsh -- but you levelled some pretty harsh accusations against GM -- and you did not have your facts straight.
We have a lot at stake at GM -- you can be assured that people are working harder than ever before to turn GM around -- how 'bout giving us a break and perhaps asking a few questions before blasting us?