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Kappa + Zeta = Alpha? Another GM RWD platform coming?
Click on the photo for a high res gallery of the Holden Torana Concept
In the past 18 months, GM has brought out two all-new rear-wheel drive platforms at opposite ends of the spectrum. The Kappa platform underpins the Solstice and Sky roadsters, as well as several concepts that have been shown at auto shows this season. At the larger end, the crew at Holden has created the Zeta platform that drives the Commodore/Pontiac G8/Chevy Camaro/2009 Impala and likely more.
Now it's being reporting that there will be a new mid-sized RWD platform code-named Alpha. Alpha would apparently take pieces from the other platforms and be used for future Pontiacs and Cadillacs. The next generation G6 may use this architecture instead of the front wheel drive Epsilon II. For Cadillac, the new car would slot in below the CTS and also replace the much derided BLS in Europe.
If it's done right, such a Cadillac would give the brand a real competitor for the BMW 3-Series and Audi A4/S4, as long as consumers aren't hounded by the memory of other entry-level Cadillacs like the Cimarron. A smaller, rear-drive sedan and/or coupe would fit in much better with Cadillac's current lineup, however, and further help to lower the average age of the brands' customers.
Update: In the comments reader The Other Bob mentioned a Holden concept called the Torana that was unveiled in 2004. The Torana is a mid-sized rear wheel drive car with a turbocharged 3.6L V-6 that just might fit the bill for Alpha. Check out the gallery for some high-res images of the concept.
Gallery: 2004 Holden Torana Concept
[Source: Winding Road]
The Torana Legend Lives Again
Australian International Motor Show, 7 October 2004 : Holden today revived a famous Australian nameplate when it took the covers off a sensational showcar called Torana TT36.
Holden drew on General Motors' global resources to build the hot pink Torana TT36, which is powered by an experimental 280kW twin turbo 3.6 litre Alloytec V6 engine, sports a glass roof and showcases bold directional design themes.
Not for production, this mid-sized hatch concept demonstrates the strength and versatility of Holden's design talent to a worldwide audience and emphasises its ability to react swiftly to changing customer demand.
Torana TT36 highlights Holden's rear wheel drive powertrain engineering expertise and the practical benefits to be gained by sharing GM global suspension and chassis components and modular structural systems.
The new millennium hot hatch pays homage to Holden's Bathurst-winning icon car of the seventies, the Torana A9X. It is 25 years since the revered V8-powered Torana A9X last conquered Mount Panorama and wrote itself into Australian automotive legend.
* Holden Chairman and Managing Director, Denny Mooney, today said he believed the Torana's spiritual successor showed how times continued to change in the automotive industry.
"Torana TT36 represents a revolution in concept car design at Holden. We've unveiled several examples of our design flexibility and build capability in recent years but this car is exceptional for yet another reason," Mr Mooney said.
"All recent showcars have been based on our Commodore V-car platform. Torana TT36, on the other hand, shares many basic structural elements with the latest GM sports concepts and much of its chassis componentry is sourced directly from GM.
"It is the first Holden showcar to merge Australian design and engineering expertise with GM technical resources. Quite simply, for us it is a 'game changer' in automotive design and production.
"Naming the concept car was easy. We knew many fans would immediately call it Torana because it is a high powered, mid-size, rear wheel drive hot hatch. The TT36 stands for Twin Turbo 3.6."
The twenty-first century Torana has slingshot performance potential. Its experimental 3.6 litre twin turbo Alloytec V6, hand-built at Holden's new Port Melbourne engine plant, produces 280kW of power, transferred to the tarmac via a heavy-duty six speed manual transmission.
Ninety per cent of the 480Nm of torque developed is available from just 1600 rpm and the TT36 shares the power-to-weight advantage that helped its A9X sporting predecessor to drive into the record books at Mt Panorama a quarter of a century ago.
The four-seater showcar is finished in luminous, look-at-me pink - dubbed 'ManGenta' by the trend-spotting stylists who created it - contrasted against a slick new-tech interior in minimalist black and white. A panoramic glass roof extends from the steeply raked windscreen all the way back to the hatch and the TT36 sits on 20-inch, ten-spoke alloys.
The project was originally named XP54, reflecting the acronym 'eXperimental Project' and coded 54 in recognition of Holden's so-called Studio 54 design workshop in the outer suburbs of Melbourne .
Holden Design Director, Tony Stolfo, said the showcar's aggressive, sports-oriented frontal treatment recalled its hard-charging Torana heritage while speaking the design language of the here and now.
"It's very performance-driven in terms of the size of the apertures, the air intakes and grille.
The fenders and quarter panels are pumped to accentuate width and stance," he said.
"It also displays some of the key proportions we'll see in future cars generally: front wheels forward, minimal overhang, high belt lines and a high deck. All these elements create strength and purpose and deliver expressive contemporary styling.
"The hatch style gives us a very fast line running over the top, and we've given it strong directional lines. In terms of overall design intent, it's far more sophisticated sports machine than street machine.
"And because it's a vehicle which delivers a really large interior compartment in relation to its exterior size, it shows off our packaging skills, which are a traditional Holden strength."
The Torana TT36 interior is an exercise in black and white contemporary cool, described by Holden's young colour and trim team as 'nu luxury'. Taking inspiration from forecast fashion trends in domestic and industrial design, they gave it smoothly sculptured white leather seats and mirror-gloss finishes in piano black and pearlescent perspex, contrasted with soft-feel textures and black techno-mesh rubber floor covering.
The pink exterior theme is picked up in clever LED lighting effects and a 'retro future' 3D instrument layout that can be customised to the driver's taste. Open the door and a full- length lighting strip integrated into the glass roof radiates a healthy pink glow. Press the backlit central starter button to play twin turbo engine idle music. Touch the interactive infotainment screen to control myriad functions – phone, CD, SatNav, DVD, address book and other Blue Tooth-compatible features.
"The Torana TT36 may be simply for show – but it's not about outrageous technology. We consider that something very close to this concept could be practically achievable in the not-too-distant future," Mr Stolfo said.
"It's a first step towards monitoring public reaction to a type of rear-wheel drive vehicle that doesn't exist in today's General Motors portfolio. It could be designed and produced off a number of GM platforms, taking advantage of the virtual maths-based processes and component sharing which enabled us to build this working concept in a very short space of time."
Holden Torana TT36
Design and Feature Highlights
Exterior:
- Layered, luminous 'ManGenta' paint finish
- Technical aero-theme projector headlamps with bead-blasted clear acrylic indicators and ambient LED pink lighting: matching wrap-around 'circle and beam' tail lamps
- Panoramic glass roof, frameless glass hatch opening
- Ten spoke, 20-inch, hand-cast aluminium alloy wheels in Titan Silver, wheel nut caps and lion brand in gunmetal chrome.
- Matt black Venturi-style rear underplate, housing twin rectangular chromed exhaust tips
- Mirror-mounted repeater LED indicators
- Twin aircraft-style fuel fillers
- Textured mesh grille inserts
- Fog lamps
Interior:
- Tailored white leather seats (8-way electric)
- White leather door trims
- Padded white leather console upper and binnacle hood
- Four-spoke, deep dished leather-rim steering wheel with menu navigation roller controls
- Pearlescent back-painted centre console with integrated grab handles, flowing front to back
- High-gloss white uppers, contrasting with soft-feel matt finish lower trim
- Glossy piano black lower door, front seatback and console accents
- Textured woven 'Rubco' floor covering, rear seatbacks, cargo floor with cross-patterned overlay
- Secure underfloor storage/wet area
- Full-length roof-mounted LED strip lighting with semi-translucent pink lens, LED task lighting
- Pink LED-lit foot wells, armrests, rear sub-woofers
- DVD screens with piano black surrounds, integrated into front seatback head restraints
- Gunmetal chrome Holden ID
- Pink backlit starter button on centre console
- Full-colour TFT touch screen menu-driven display can be set to individual preferences.
- 'Floating' IP dials with clear pink indicators on 3D black background
Australian International Motor Show, 7 October 2004 : Holden today revived a famous Australian nameplate when it took the covers off a sensational showcar called Torana TT36.
Holden drew on General Motors' global resources to build the hot pink Torana TT36, which is powered by an experimental 280kW twin turbo 3.6 litre Alloytec V6 engine, sports a glass roof and showcases bold directional design themes.
Not for production, this mid-sized hatch concept demonstrates the strength and versatility of Holden's design talent to a worldwide audience and emphasises its ability to react swiftly to changing customer demand.
Torana TT36 highlights Holden's rear wheel drive powertrain engineering expertise and the practical benefits to be gained by sharing GM global suspension and chassis components and modular structural systems.
The new millennium hot hatch pays homage to Holden's Bathurst-winning icon car of the seventies, the Torana A9X. It is 25 years since the revered V8-powered Torana A9X last conquered Mount Panorama and wrote itself into Australian automotive legend.
* Holden Chairman and Managing Director, Denny Mooney, today said he believed the Torana's spiritual successor showed how times continued to change in the automotive industry.
"Torana TT36 represents a revolution in concept car design at Holden. We've unveiled several examples of our design flexibility and build capability in recent years but this car is exceptional for yet another reason," Mr Mooney said.
"All recent showcars have been based on our Commodore V-car platform. Torana TT36, on the other hand, shares many basic structural elements with the latest GM sports concepts and much of its chassis componentry is sourced directly from GM.
"It is the first Holden showcar to merge Australian design and engineering expertise with GM technical resources. Quite simply, for us it is a 'game changer' in automotive design and production.
"Naming the concept car was easy. We knew many fans would immediately call it Torana because it is a high powered, mid-size, rear wheel drive hot hatch. The TT36 stands for Twin Turbo 3.6."
The twenty-first century Torana has slingshot performance potential. Its experimental 3.6 litre twin turbo Alloytec V6, hand-built at Holden's new Port Melbourne engine plant, produces 280kW of power, transferred to the tarmac via a heavy-duty six speed manual transmission.
Ninety per cent of the 480Nm of torque developed is available from just 1600 rpm and the TT36 shares the power-to-weight advantage that helped its A9X sporting predecessor to drive into the record books at Mt Panorama a quarter of a century ago.
The four-seater showcar is finished in luminous, look-at-me pink - dubbed 'ManGenta' by the trend-spotting stylists who created it - contrasted against a slick new-tech interior in minimalist black and white. A panoramic glass roof extends from the steeply raked windscreen all the way back to the hatch and the TT36 sits on 20-inch, ten-spoke alloys.
The project was originally named XP54, reflecting the acronym 'eXperimental Project' and coded 54 in recognition of Holden's so-called Studio 54 design workshop in the outer suburbs of Melbourne .
Holden Design Director, Tony Stolfo, said the showcar's aggressive, sports-oriented frontal treatment recalled its hard-charging Torana heritage while speaking the design language of the here and now.
"It's very performance-driven in terms of the size of the apertures, the air intakes and grille.
The fenders and quarter panels are pumped to accentuate width and stance," he said.
"It also displays some of the key proportions we'll see in future cars generally: front wheels forward, minimal overhang, high belt lines and a high deck. All these elements create strength and purpose and deliver expressive contemporary styling.
"The hatch style gives us a very fast line running over the top, and we've given it strong directional lines. In terms of overall design intent, it's far more sophisticated sports machine than street machine.
"And because it's a vehicle which delivers a really large interior compartment in relation to its exterior size, it shows off our packaging skills, which are a traditional Holden strength."
The Torana TT36 interior is an exercise in black and white contemporary cool, described by Holden's young colour and trim team as 'nu luxury'. Taking inspiration from forecast fashion trends in domestic and industrial design, they gave it smoothly sculptured white leather seats and mirror-gloss finishes in piano black and pearlescent perspex, contrasted with soft-feel textures and black techno-mesh rubber floor covering.
The pink exterior theme is picked up in clever LED lighting effects and a 'retro future' 3D instrument layout that can be customised to the driver's taste. Open the door and a full- length lighting strip integrated into the glass roof radiates a healthy pink glow. Press the backlit central starter button to play twin turbo engine idle music. Touch the interactive infotainment screen to control myriad functions – phone, CD, SatNav, DVD, address book and other Blue Tooth-compatible features.
"The Torana TT36 may be simply for show – but it's not about outrageous technology. We consider that something very close to this concept could be practically achievable in the not-too-distant future," Mr Stolfo said.
"It's a first step towards monitoring public reaction to a type of rear-wheel drive vehicle that doesn't exist in today's General Motors portfolio. It could be designed and produced off a number of GM platforms, taking advantage of the virtual maths-based processes and component sharing which enabled us to build this working concept in a very short space of time."
Holden Torana TT36
Design and Feature Highlights
Exterior:
- Layered, luminous 'ManGenta' paint finish
- Technical aero-theme projector headlamps with bead-blasted clear acrylic indicators and ambient LED pink lighting: matching wrap-around 'circle and beam' tail lamps
- Panoramic glass roof, frameless glass hatch opening
- Ten spoke, 20-inch, hand-cast aluminium alloy wheels in Titan Silver, wheel nut caps and lion brand in gunmetal chrome.
- Matt black Venturi-style rear underplate, housing twin rectangular chromed exhaust tips
- Mirror-mounted repeater LED indicators
- Twin aircraft-style fuel fillers
- Textured mesh grille inserts
- Fog lamps
Interior:
- Tailored white leather seats (8-way electric)
- White leather door trims
- Padded white leather console upper and binnacle hood
- Four-spoke, deep dished leather-rim steering wheel with menu navigation roller controls
- Pearlescent back-painted centre console with integrated grab handles, flowing front to back
- High-gloss white uppers, contrasting with soft-feel matt finish lower trim
- Glossy piano black lower door, front seatback and console accents
- Textured woven 'Rubco' floor covering, rear seatbacks, cargo floor with cross-patterned overlay
- Secure underfloor storage/wet area
- Full-length roof-mounted LED strip lighting with semi-translucent pink lens, LED task lighting
- Pink LED-lit foot wells, armrests, rear sub-woofers
- DVD screens with piano black surrounds, integrated into front seatback head restraints
- Gunmetal chrome Holden ID
- Pink backlit starter button on centre console
- Full-colour TFT touch screen menu-driven display can be set to individual preferences.
- 'Floating' IP dials with clear pink indicators on 3D black background
Holden Torana TT36 Specifications
Powertrain |
|
|
Engine |
3.6 L twin turbo Global V6 |
|
Turbo |
Air to air intercooler |
|
Technologies |
Continuously variable valve timing, |
|
Engine displacement |
3.6 L (60 degree engine) |
|
Power |
280 kW |
|
Torque |
480 Nm |
|
Compression ratio |
9.0:1 |
|
Bore x Stroke (mm) |
94.0 X 85.6 |
|
Transmission |
6-speed heavy duty manual transmission |
|
Gear ratios (:1) |
|
|
1 st |
2.66 |
|
2 nd |
1.78 |
|
3 rd |
1.30 |
|
4 th |
1.00 |
|
5 th |
.74 |
|
6 th |
.50 |
|
Final drive ratio |
3:73 |
|
Structure |
|
|
Body/chassis structure |
Lower dominant tube structure |
|
Chassis material |
Steel |
|
Suspension |
|
|
Front and Rear |
Independent SLA suspension |
|
Wheels |
20 x 8 inch ten-spoke aluminium |
|
Tyre size (front and rear) |
245/35 R20 |
|
Tyre brand |
Bridgestone Potenza REO5OA |
|
Steering |
Forward mounted power rack and pinion |
|
Brakes |
4 wheel disc with Anti-Lock Braking System, Traction Control, Electronic Brake Assist, Electronic Brake Distribution, Corner Brake Control and Electronic Stability Program |
|
Front size (mm) |
365 x 35 ventilated discs |
|
Rear size (mm) |
365 x 35 ventilated discs |
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Michael Karesh 4:44PM (3/22/2007)
I've been asking for an affordable RWD compact for years, and now both Toyota and GM may offer one?
Here's hoping it's the next hot segment. Make mine a five-door hatch.
Reply
whofan 4:51PM (3/22/2007)
I hope GM doesn`t go overboard with RWD.
I welcome the return of RWD but its easy to forget until you drive on snow how well FWD performs in all situations.
AWD I think is all around the best answer for a vehicle.
I like RWD, but where I live I have to stick with FWD.
GM don`t build an awesome car that sucks in the winter.
Now days people don`t want to change over to snow tires and back. I don`t want to be driving around with cinder blocks in my trunk.
Reply
Deezee 4:56PM (3/22/2007)
I think this is a good move by GM. The g6 has a nice design, but it isnt as sporty as it looks. Having a RWD version would help things. Also a smaller version of the CTS would be sick. Go for it GM.
Reply
The Other Bob 5:12PM (3/22/2007)
"The next generation G6 may use this architecture instead of the front wheel drive Epsilon II"
That is a dream. See the Holden Torrano concept for my perfect car.
It was recently announced that the plant that produces the G6 here in Michigan is receiving some substantial upgrades. Hopefully it is to produce the above car.
As far as rwd in snow goes, the creation of electronic stability control, ABS and traction control have made all cars pretty damn good in the snow. Shoot, I drive a 2wd pick-up without any weight in the back and without any electronic gadget and I have few problems getting arund Michigan.
Reply
rwdmtparkingonly 5:29PM (3/22/2007)
whofan - I live in Chicago, IL, and I've owned a Nissan 240SX and now I own a BMW 3-series. Neither had traction or stability control and the 240SX didn't even have ABS. Both cars were fine in the snow on all season tires.
Right now ABS is standard on most cars, and stability control and traction control are headed that way. With those features and all season tires any competent person should be able to handle a rear wheel drive car. I'm not sure what you were driving that you needed cinder blocks and snow tires. Also, with most of the country moving to the south we snowbelt residents are mattering less and less.
Pontiac is supposed to be a premium brand in the GM hierarchy, so it shouldn’t have FWD cars. I’m sure they will leave some FWD cars in the cheaper brand lineups like Chevy and Saturn.
Personally I can’t wait for a rwd G6 coupe, I’ll take mine with a 6 speed manual and a turbo ecotech GM.
Reply
glitched 5:44PM (3/22/2007)
My experience with RWD in wisconsin:
Thunderbird with all seasons and no LSD would get stuck in a paved parking lot with one wheel spinning.
240sx with snow tires and LSD could plow snow with the front lip on unpaved roads and not get stuck
Reply
NoNameDenton 5:52PM (3/22/2007)
Since this platform will more then likely be developed in Aussie land I am sure it will be RWD with the ability to have AWD for the snow belt, meaning it will give GM an advantage over many other companies. This is also why Ford is going to Australia to develop future non-Mustang RWD platforms. GM has upped the ante and done it well. RWD with the ability to become an AWD makes allows better design, better balance for the weight and more power, and can be sold in the Snow Belt of the USA and in other countires. I may be a Blue Oval man, but way to go GM on leading the pack for innovative ideas.
Reply
NoNameDenton 5:53PM (3/22/2007)
Since this platform will more then likely be developed in Aussie land I am sure it will be RWD with the ability to have AWD for the snow belt, meaning it will give GM an advantage over many other companies. This is also why Ford is going to Australia to develop future non-Mustang RWD platforms. GM has upped the ante and done it well. RWD with the ability to become an AWD makes allows better design, better balance for the weight and more power, and can be sold in the Snow Belt of the USA and in other countires. I may be a Blue Oval man, but way to go GM on leading the pack for innovative ideas.
Reply
whofan 5:59PM (3/22/2007)
Its beed a long time since I owned a RWD car. I have a truck that I would hate if it weren`t 4WD.
I`ve of people who bought Chryser 300`s who loved them until it snowed. Then the memories of the 1970`s came back.
I live in Michigan`s U.P. we get hit pretty good in the winter and it lasts from November to April.
Reply
Dave 6:18PM (3/22/2007)
I'm sick and tired of people complaining about RWD in the snow. RWD is not the problem, you are. Buy yourself a pair of snow tires and stop your complaining. I drive a 2wd S10 pickup in the snowy tundra called Michigan. With all seasons... yes its horrible in the snow -- it won't go anywhere. But with my snow tires on, its better than ANY fwd vehicle I've ever driven.
And the (2) rear wheel snow tires cost me like $100. Besides that, now I can actually stop in snow too.
I also drive a fwd Saab and put snow tires on that too.
Reply
Alex 6:39PM (3/22/2007)
Pontiac's possible RWD G6 would be a pretty good move. Chevy's Malibu and Saturn's Aura could fight the FWD imports like they were intended, and the G6 could go its own way. The 2007 G6 has little going for it next to the Aura, other than the entry-level 4-cyl model. The supposedly sporty GTP doesn't even offer a stick anymore with the new "high feature" V-6. None of the G6s feel very sporting in the way they drive anyway. The 2.4L I-4 doesn't sound the part, the 3.5L V-6 and 3.9L V-6 sound too rough (not like the snarl of a Nissan VQ 35 V-6 or Accord VTEC V-6), while the 3.6 offers more refinement, but not much more go than the 3.9L. RWD would also demolish the already discounted Dodge Avenger and other sporting family cars, like the Ford Fusion, Mazda 6, or Nissan Altima. GM, here's how it goes; start out with the Ecotec I-4 (refine it a little) for the base and GT, middle out with the high feature 3.6L for the GT and GTP, offer a stick in ever model, then do a GXP with a V-8. The 5.3L already has a tough time fitting in an Impala or Grand Prix, so maybe the 4.8L would work. Hey, 295 ponies isn't much more than a Passat or Camry, but it wouldn't have the torque steer, either.
Reply
AirZurk 6:32PM (3/22/2007)
#4, The GM Orion plant in Michigan is not getting updated to build this car. It only takes a launch team about 4 months to launch a new car. And, the Orion plant is not going to stop making the Epsilon G6, so it doesnt make too much sense to build two different cars on different plantforms in the same plant.
Reply
Carlos 6:31PM (3/22/2007)
I too see problems with this. The biggest advantage to FWD is its interior space - if GM starts coming out with mainstream cars that are tight inside, people are going to continue to buy Accords instead.
Reply
Mattlach 7:12PM (3/22/2007)
As regards Cadillac GM is wasting its money in Europe.
Unfortunately the Cadillac name brings with it too many negative connotations over there to be taken seriously.
GM owns a brand with potential of being taken seriously in Europe if they were to just put some money into developing it instead of letting it stagnate.
Even with its aging platform and FWD the Saab brand has loyal followings over there as well as here. If the brand is that strong, imagine how it could do with a top of the line S4 / M3 competitor in AWD form?
The spending on Cadillac for the Euro market is wasted spending. Dump that money into Saab instead and we could see some very good European sales numbers, and likely not too bad numbers here either.
Reply
quagmire 7:30PM (3/22/2007)
#12, you're right. Orion is getting updated so it could produce the new Malibu. Taking some load off Fairfax and making more capacity for the EPII based LaCrosse which is rumored to be produced there.
Reply
Deezee 7:53PM (3/22/2007)
Damn, the Torana is a good lookin car.
Reply
Tom DC/VA 8:04PM (3/22/2007)
About time. Any major manufacturer should have FWD/AWD platforms in the A through D classes and RWD/AWD platforms in the C through E classes. GM says it would like to think of itself as a major manufacturer.
Reply
Rich 2:24PM (3/23/2007)
I also read the artciles on the Torana that Bob identified. The one article I read discussed something called the "Beta" platform, not the "Alpha". Regardless, GM's focus has been on larger RWD cars using the Zeta platform. With gas hovering around $3 per gallon, smaller but sportier platforms will be the answer for the future. This gives me hope that GM is aware of this fact.
In addition, the fact that GM is experimenting with a twin turbo V6 is very important. I really would like to see how that performs with the possibility of bringing it to the US for use in a CTS coupe.
Reply
MikeW 10:41PM (3/22/2007)
He didn't have winter tires
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=3805684282924641132&q=site%3Avideo.google.com+M3+csl+in+snow
Reply
Victor 10:25PM (3/22/2007)
That would be great! And Torana looks awesome! I only wonder how such small country as Australia which has only 20 million can design and build such advanced and nice looking cars? Ah, they probably do not have 50% of the world damn greedy lawyers.
Reply