REPORT: GM's RWD architecture will downsize and survive
Pontiac G8 GXP in the Autoblog Garage - Click above for a hi-res gallery
General Motors may be lacking the cash to develop any new rear-drive platforms, but reports out of Australia suggest that the existing Zeta platform that underpins such models as the Holden Commodore and new Chevrolet Camaro will carry on for at least another decade.
GM's Australian subsidiary only finished development of the current Zeta platform a few years ago, and it's not about to flush that down the toilet. However the next Commodore, currently sold in the North American market as the Pontiac G8, is likely to downsize for the next generation, anticipated to debut in 2013 and carry on through 2020. Along with the reduced size and heft, the General could use smaller, more efficient, though still powerful engines, employing direct injection and/or turbocharging like the Cadillac and Saab variants of the V6 already used by Holden. As we've discovered with vehicles like the Pontiac G8, GTO and the new Camaro, what's good for the Australian market is, in General Motor's eyes, good for North America, so fans of rear-drive American muscle have some hope to hold onto yet, mate.
[Source: GoAuto]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Tang 4:03PM (4/01/2009)
So something bigger than a Solstice but smaller than a G8?
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Jake B 4:19PM (4/01/2009)
That is a lot of room Tang. Between G6 and G8 is more like it.
Kevin 5:54PM (4/01/2009)
So basically the Chevrolet Camaro. The platform was downsized for the use with that car and its still pretty big and grunt worthy.
BigWill 4:12PM (4/01/2009)
That seems to put the successor around the size of the Fusion or Malibu.
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Aprime 4:14PM (4/01/2009)
Alpha...
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BLS 4:15PM (4/01/2009)
This is a cruel cruel April Fools joke.
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Serge 4:25PM (4/01/2009)
A car the size of the current CTS (about 5in shorter than G8) that weights around 3600lbs with a 5.3L DI VVT LS4 making 400hp and 380lb-ft torque would make me wet myself...
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BoxerFanatic 4:43PM (4/01/2009)
As much as a smaller G8, (maybe "G7" more like the few-year-old Holden Toranna concept 5-door sedan) and a 3-door sleek Firebird would be...
It is too bad that government involvement, black box recorders, built-in unaccountable on-star data modem, and other issues of freedom and private property rights would prohibit me from buying a new GM, and some other new car brands...
Won't buy a Government Motors car. Won't even buy one that reports to them what I do with it.
I hope that changes in the future, as well as getting better in the actual car designs.
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alex 6:31PM (4/01/2009)
you can unplug the onstar antenna really easily. don't let that stop you from buying the car you want
Skybreak 5:09PM (4/01/2009)
This is not a joke - the car already exists in concept form:
http://www.drive.com.au/editorial/articleDetail.aspx?articleID=9369
http://archive.cardesignnews.com/news/2004/041013holden-torana/index.html
Ignore that pink colour scheme and you have a 3.6 litre twin-turbo'd mid-sized RWD car based on the same platform used in the Commodore/G8
I know Holden wants to build this. Will GM let them?
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mkM3 5:27PM (4/01/2009)
Ah the Torana. I remember this car fondly. I remember having a conversation with a GM employee at a bar back in 2004 about this car. I told him they needed to can the plans for the upcoming for the Epsilon based Cadillac BLS in Europe, and instead build the Torana and sell that as a Cadillac in Europe. I still think that would have made a lot of sense. Of course, today, we see the BLS and Cadillac floundering hopelessly in Europe, with plans to pull out of many countries.
This platform would have been (and would still be) a great one for GM. They could build all kinds of cars, maybe something like the Genesis coupe to replace the G6, and even small RWD CUVs.
Ligor 5:20PM (4/01/2009)
sweet
this will be a G37 or slightly smaller car for $28k
that would be nice
but the car better come in at 3400 lbs in base form
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Christopher 5:47PM (4/01/2009)
this is a good thing should GM be allowed to do it. i like the G8, but make something a bit smaller and a few hundred pounds lighter with equally aggressive styling would be really nice. drop in a 3.6LDI V6 and maybe a small V8 with 6sp manual and 6sp automatic with tapshift available on all engines. perhaps rather than the big V8 a GXP variant could use a turbo 6cyl, either the 3.6LDI or the new 3.0LDI tuned to put out power similar to current G8 GT. this could actually make the V8 unnecessary, but i wonder just how less thirsty the turbo 6 would really be compared to the 6.0L V8 if both were driven hard. stay off the gas it could be somewhat more effecient.
another possibilty for a smaller version could be 3.0LDI(255hp/214lb-ft) as base engine, 3.6LDI(304hp/273lb-ft) as mid-level GT engine, and either the V8 or a turbo 3.6LDI (either tuned to maybe 400hp/400lb-ft or close) as a top-level GXP engine
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montoym 9:02PM (4/01/2009)
quote:
- "but i wonder just how less thirsty the turbo 6 would really be compared to the 6.0L V8 if both were driven hard. stay off the gas it could be somewhat more effecient." -
Answer, not much if at all(especially when driven hard as you state). Even as it stands now, the 3.6L DI V6 in the CTS is only 2mpg better than the 6.0L V8 in the G8(both 6spd autos). That's with almost 60 less HP as well and in a smaller car. It's even more interesting when you note that the V8 doesn't have DI or VVT. Add a turbo(or two) to the V6 and I doubt it will become any more efficient. The G8 could legitimately get close to 30mpg while also nearing 400HP just by adding DI and VVT.
That said, I'd still like to see them add a turbo V6 to the line-up in the US, in something other than a Saab.
Frylock350 9:55PM (4/01/2009)
@Christopher:
The overwhelming majority of G8 sales are the V8 GT model. If the car isn't sold with an affordable mid-trim V8 it won't even move 500 units a month. Americans like V8s in their Detroit iron.
Matt 10:54PM (4/01/2009)
For comparison, I have the Aussie competitor to the Commodore, a Ford Falcon. My turbo 6 version will use about the same as the V8s when driven hard. But it is faster :)
toronado455 6:05PM (4/01/2009)
Downsize a RWD platform? I've heard that one before... in the 1970s. But those cars were actually big. The G8 is already so much smaller than anything from that era I don't know how you could possibly make it any smaller.
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Taglane 7:47PM (4/01/2009)
Think Malibu-sized.
Other Man 6:26PM (4/01/2009)
While we're on the subject of RWD GMs:
Does GM not see a "Buick G8" as an opportunity? Give it slightly larger, Genesis dimensions, a LaCrosse-inspired exterior/interior, and the 3.6DI, 6.0L and 6.2L (with quieter exhausts of course) and offer the Hyundai and 2010 300 some real competition.
Guess this could also spell trouble for the Charger performance wise, what with being bigger and heavier by comparison. But that might mean the difference is enough that the two wouldn't be compared as much. Still, I think the G8 is a perfect size for those buyers.
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jgp 9:10PM (4/01/2009)
Eh, I'd say take the Chinese-market Park Avenue and redo the sheetmetal to resemble the new LaCrosse.