Automotive News - August 25, 2008 - (Page 31) AUGUST 25, 2008 • 31 Will GMC overhaul truck offerings? Jamie LaReau jlareau@crain.com There have been news reports that General Motors is canceling some future GMC product plans. Insiders at GM insist that nothing has been canceled — yet. But all GM product plans are fluid right now because of changing market conditions, and that certainly rings true for GMC. Here’s a look at what is in the pipeline for the truck brand. Terrain: GM plans to add a compact crossover, the Terrain, to GMC’s lineup for the 2011 model year. The vehicle would be a reskinned Chevrolet Equinox and essentially replace the Pontiac Torrent. It will be built on GM’s Theta Premium architecture. Acadia: If GM keeps the Acadia, it will be freshened for the 2010 model year with a V-8 engine offered. But it’s possible that GM will decide the Buick Enclave will suffice for the Buick-Pontiac-GMC sales channel and cancel the Acadia. Others say the Acadia’s success could allow GMC to cancel the Yukon. Envoy: No time frame is set, but expect GM to start phasing out the midsized SUV much as it is doing with the Chevrolet TrailBlazer. The Moraine, Ohio, plant, which builds the vehicle, is slated to close in 2010. But some speculate the plant might end production sooner. Yukon/Yukon XL: GM’s executives are reviewing all truck plans, and anything could be changed. One Yukon model may be eliminated. A new model may be developed on the fwd Lambda vehicle architecture. The restyling and re-engineering for the 2012 model year is on hold. Canyon: Sales of the small pickup have been disappointing. But GM thinks a market exists for the Canyon, The Terrain compact crossover, shown in this spy photo, is expected to be part of the GMC lineup for the 2011 model year. BRENDA PRIDDY & CO. and dealers still want it in the lineup. A redesign is penciled in for the 2012 model year. The Canyon could be dropped because of low sales and cost restrictions. Sierra: The 2009 Sierra Two Mode hybrid will go on sale in the first half of next year. GM is counting on the vehicle to help the struggling largepickup segment. Savana: No major changes are planned to GMC’s full-sized van. c The Chevrolet Groove minicar concept, left, may provide styling cues for the redesigned Aveo, due in the 2011 model year. GM downsizes product lineup Jamie LaReau jlareau@crain.com DETROIT — General Motors’ product lineup will be dramatically different next decade. “It’s clear that the size of the American vehicle is going to shift radically, for all kinds of reasons — fuel economy; legislation; the gasoline price, which may or may not come down and may go up over time,” Bob Lutz, GM’s vice chairman of product development, told Automotive News. “So the U.S. fleet is going to be downsized, and I think the U.S. consumer is no longer going to associate size with luxury and price.” GM’s small cars will be developed on two global platforms: the Gamma and the slightly larger Delta compact architecture. The designs and engineering for those frontwheel-drive platforms are done in Korea. GM also has a global minicar platform, but vehicles on that platform will not meet U.S. safety standards for at least five years. eventually replaces the car with the Cruze. The Cruze is due to market in mid-2010 and will be built simultaneously with the Cobalt for a while. Both will be built on Delta. Small Caddy? GM also is considering small cars for Buick, Saab, Cadillac and Saturn. “We are planning a lot of vehicles that sort of assume American customers are going to be willing to pay fairly high prices for very well-done small cars that are premium in every way — styling, power, execution, ornamentation, interiors — and that would naturally carry brands other than Chevrolet,” Lutz said. This year GM added the Opelbased Astra hatchback compact to Saturn’s lineup. The small Opel Corsa subcompact or a small minivanlike vehicle based on the Opel Meriva could join the Saturn family as well. But sources say a small Saturn would not come to the United States until 2013 because of safety regulations. GM revealed a small Saab 9-X hatchback concept at the 2008 Geneva auto show and a 9-4X crossover concept at the 2008 Detroit auto show. The automaker plans to build the crossover in 2009, but the hatchback is at least four years out. Cadillac will get a car priced around $28,000 and sized below the CTS for the 2011 model year. Cadillac will likely debut a “baby” Cadillac concept soon. The car would be a small, reardrive sedan built on GM’s new Alpha architecture. Finally, GM’s board has greenlighted the Chevrolet Volt — a plugin electric sedan — for production in November 2010. There is talk that Cadillac will get the next vehicle to use the Volt technology. Stay tuned. c Bigger Aveo Chevrolet is the logical place for many of GM’s small cars. For the 2011 model year, the brand will get a longer and wider version of the Aveo that picks up styling cues from one of the three minicar concepts that GM unveiled at the 2007 New York auto show. The Delta architecture, which underpins the Chevrolet Volt, could be the basis for several more vehicles for North America, Lutz said. But immediate plans are for replacement products that are slightly bigger than their predecessors because of safety regulations. For example, for 2009 Chevrolet will further tweak the Cobalt before it http://www.izmocars.com/iconsult http://www.izmocars.com/iconsult
Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Automotive News - August 25, 2008 Automotive News - August 25, 2008 Looming cuts worry L-M dealers Bad blood Study: Toyota top U.S. lender How the kid got in the picture Hyundai affiliate to build transmission plant White House names acting NHTSA chief S&P lowers outlook on Sonic, Group 1 Now you can talk back: Join our online community Dodge dealers: We're in a box Company gets a fix-it list for pickups, SUVs from J.D. Power Mahindra delays U.S. launch Dealer Beyer now selling a 2009 Obama Nissan to leap into U.S. commercial-truck fray in 2010 China's Brilliance to show cars in Detroit Lawsuit alleges insider trades by CarMax execs Honda: Dealerships will have Fits more than a month early Infiniti's stylish stretch Cadillac will offer 4-cylinder sedan in '10 Chrysler redesigns new design boss' spot in exec ranks Genesis aims at low-priced luxury Letter to the Editor It's show and tell for auto industry in Washington Price cuts both ways The love affair continues Advance ads cost a lot, but help little Dealer-customer mandatory arbitration works Lithia sheds 2 of its Detroit 3 stores Japan sales slide; output, exports keep expanding L.A. dealers split on taking thumbprints of buyers Picture This With redesigned TL, Acura adds power, awd Personnel Chevrolet adjusts plans for coming decade GM revamps its vehicle lineup to succeed in a changed world Caddy relies on model updates over product development Buick buzzes about China Dismal sales make future of Hummer uncertain Budgets may crimp the lineup at Saturn Dreams aside, Pontiac will rely on small fwd cars Will GMC overhaul truck offerings? GM downsizes product lineup GM's powertrain plan: Less weight, better technology Hummer hopes pickup brings new buyers Dealers 'Ambush' boosts GM Certified DealerTrack adds market price checks Wholesale used-vehicle prices inch up in July Mexico sales up 2.6% in July; '08 near pace of '07 Collectors revive GM classics Honda's new Fit subcompact: Bigger, sportier Survey: Suppliers reconsider business with Chrysler Web site offers vehicle listings from Detroit 3 Nissan trains inspectors to improve quality A bumpy ride for dealer/lawmaker Buchanan Detroit dealers duel over bulk mailing Story links Nissan suicides, work pressure Times change, but supplier talk doesn't Garbage in, good stuff out Creed's creations Automotive News - August 25, 2008 Automotive News - August 25, 2008 - (Page Intro) Automotive News - August 25, 2008 - (Page BRC1) Automotive News - August 25, 2008 - (Page BRC2) Automotive News - August 25, 2008 - Study: Toyota top U.S. lender (Page 1) Automotive News - August 25, 2008 - Study: Toyota top U.S. lender (Page 2) Automotive News - August 25, 2008 - Dodge dealers: We're in a box (Page 3) Automotive News - August 25, 2008 - Nissan to leap into U.S. commercial-truck fray in 2010 (Page 4) Automotive News - August 25, 2008 - Nissan to leap into U.S. commercial-truck fray in 2010 (Page 5) Automotive News - August 25, 2008 - Cadillac will offer 4-cylinder sedan in '10 (Page 6) Automotive News - August 25, 2008 - Cadillac will offer 4-cylinder sedan in '10 (Page 7) Automotive News - August 25, 2008 - Genesis aims at low-priced luxury (Page 8) Automotive News - August 25, 2008 - Genesis aims at low-priced luxury (Page 9) Automotive News - August 25, 2008 - Genesis aims at low-priced luxury (Page 10) Automotive News - August 25, 2008 - Genesis aims at low-priced luxury (Page 11) Automotive News - August 25, 2008 - The love affair continues (Page 12) Automotive News - August 25, 2008 - The love affair continues (Page 13) Automotive News - August 25, 2008 - Dealer-customer mandatory arbitration works (Page 14) Automotive News - August 25, 2008 - Dealer-customer mandatory arbitration works (Page 15) Automotive News - August 25, 2008 - Lithia sheds 2 of its Detroit 3 stores (Page 16) Automotive News - August 25, 2008 - Lithia sheds 2 of its Detroit 3 stores (Page 16a) Automotive News - August 25, 2008 - Lithia sheds 2 of its Detroit 3 stores (Page 16b) Automotive News - August 25, 2008 - Japan sales slide; output, exports keep expanding (Page 17) Automotive News - August 25, 2008 - Japan sales slide; output, exports keep expanding (Page 18) Automotive News - August 25, 2008 - Japan sales slide; output, exports keep expanding (Page 19) Automotive News - August 25, 2008 - Picture This (Page 20) Automotive News - August 25, 2008 - Picture This (Page 21) Automotive News - August 25, 2008 - Picture This (Page 22) Automotive News - August 25, 2008 - With redesigned TL, Acura adds power, awd (Page 23) Automotive News - August 25, 2008 - Personnel (Page 24) Automotive News - August 25, 2008 - Personnel (Page 24a) Automotive News - August 25, 2008 - Personnel (Page 24b) Automotive News - August 25, 2008 - Personnel (Page 24c) Automotive News - August 25, 2008 - Personnel (Page 24d) Automotive News - August 25, 2008 - Personnel (Page 25) Automotive News - August 25, 2008 - GM revamps its vehicle lineup to succeed in a changed world (Page 26) Automotive News - August 25, 2008 - Caddy relies on model updates over product development (Page 27) Automotive News - August 25, 2008 - Budgets may crimp the lineup at Saturn (Page 28) Automotive News - August 25, 2008 - Budgets may crimp the lineup at Saturn (Page 29) Automotive News - August 25, 2008 - Dreams aside, Pontiac will rely on small fwd cars (Page 30) Automotive News - August 25, 2008 - GM downsizes product lineup (Page 31) Automotive News - August 25, 2008 - GM's powertrain plan: Less weight, better technology (Page 32) Automotive News - August 25, 2008 - Dealers (Page 33) Automotive News - August 25, 2008 - Wholesale used-vehicle prices inch up in July (Page 34) Automotive News - August 25, 2008 - Wholesale used-vehicle prices inch up in July (Page 35) Automotive News - August 25, 2008 - Wholesale used-vehicle prices inch up in July (Page 36) Automotive News - August 25, 2008 - Wholesale used-vehicle prices inch up in July (Page 37) Automotive News - August 25, 2008 - Wholesale used-vehicle prices inch up in July (Page 38) Automotive News - August 25, 2008 - Mexico sales up 2.6% in July; '08 near pace of '07 (Page 39) Automotive News - August 25, 2008 - Collectors revive GM classics (Page 40) Automotive News - August 25, 2008 - Honda's new Fit subcompact: Bigger, sportier (Page 41) Automotive News - August 25, 2008 - Survey: Suppliers reconsider business with Chrysler (Page 42) Automotive News - August 25, 2008 - Survey: Suppliers reconsider business with Chrysler (Page 43) Automotive News - August 25, 2008 - Nissan trains inspectors to improve quality (Page 44) Automotive News - August 25, 2008 - Nissan trains inspectors to improve quality (Page 45) Automotive News - August 25, 2008 - Creed's creations (Page 46) Automotive News - August 25, 2008 - Creed's creations (Page 47) Automotive News - August 25, 2008 - Creed's creations (Page 48)
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