GM's FWD vs. RWD poll: and the winner is...
All of the above. Or
more accurately, FWD, RWD and AWD. Jack Keebler, Director of GM's Advanced Concepts Group, is back on GM's FastLane
Blog with his take on the results of last week's informal survey of buyer preferences for future drivetrain
architecture.His take on the FastLane readers' comments is that there is a "healthy market" for "great-driving front-, rear-, and all-wheel drive cars and trucks." In other words, the right drivetrain for the intended purpose of the vehicle. Judging by the Autoblog comments here, I think we would all agree.
His closing comment should put a smile on a lot of readers' faces - he promises to develop "a line of small, agile, rear-wheel-drive cars."
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Cut 7:00PM (7/04/2006)
No bad )
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SubaruWRC 12:37PM (1/24/2006)
What GM needs is a small to medium displacement (2.0L-2.5L) turbocharged AWD (true AWD) platform to compete against Subaru, Mitsubishi, and Dodge (SRT4). There is a huge performance market that GM is missing out completely. Plus, getting into Rally, would add much needed credibility to GM's performance line and image (nobody cares about the Chevy Cobalt).
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jrhmobile 8:05PM (1/24/2006)
If only this would happen in the next 2-3 years. I personally maintain that the "real" reason Americans went to trucks in such a big way in the '80s and '90s was becuase automakers deserted RWD for FWD econoboxes, midsize and, eventually, luxury cars. And the development -- and success -- of plusher, more "sophisticated" trucks, minitrucks and SUVs was a stopgap that kept those buyers in the fold.
If GM could build a latter-day 2002/1600 sedan with two or four-door options (and an "active lifestyle vehicle/station wagon), they'd clean up.
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garrett Levy 3:15PM (1/25/2006)
I drive a Caddy CTS, and it's not a small car. It seats 5 as easily as the Chrysler 300. The Lincoln LS is even bigger. GM doesn't have to think small. They need to keep expanding the horizon until a big part of their lineup, even the bread and butter sedans are RWD!
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