evok

A GTO does not need a Monte Carlo for a business case, it just needs other zeta/rwd sisters for GM to pull it off. The GTO's problem is the Camaro and the Camaro's problem would be the GTO. Here is the issue. When developing the Camaro business case, the product mix is a significant factor. This refers to the premium GM will charge for the LSx option over the V6 or other high performace variant. That profit will factor into the whole program and balance the questionable profit at the lower end of the product mix. So now, if GM decides on a GTO for Pontiac, those sales begin to eat into the profitable sales range of the Camaro, especially at the highly profitable price point. Those 10-15k highly profitable sales lost to a potential GTO on a less profitable vehicle could very well make or break the Camaro. Any other additional coupe variant, if it be Chevelle or Monte Carlo will only eat into the Camaro's sales. So any additional coupes off zeta that is priced along side the Camaro ANY WHERE near the price point threatens the profitablity of that program. And if GM decides to develope a GTO and push the price point higher, than the Pontiac begins to encroach on Cadillac and their coupe. A GTO is possible off of zeta, the key factor will be to cut development (tooling) to offset any lost Camaro sales and most likely that means, a GTO would be a limited volume vehicle and a higher price point than the current vehicle or GM will change the formula completely so that it does not compete directly with the Camaro on concept at all. With that statement I refer more to the Dodge Charger type of approach where there will be a G8 and a GTO will be just a model of that body style. But in that case, it would not be a coupe as we currently know the GTO.

He just sounded way to happy!

By the sounds of it, he got himself an H1.

Nah - I think Croc took CD/BP up on his advise from a while back. hmm

Go back and read it again. Again the article was an excellent read the second time around. It posses the question, "What does GM and Ford do in the misized SUV segment, when: 1) Both companies are heavily leveraged by those vehicles. 2) Sales drop off a cliff. The BW aticle is sound analysis back up by hard data. I can not dispute any opinions or judgements in the article because when the authors do opion or occasionally use colorful words here and there, it is back up by the sales data. There is no disputing that GM just put out a stop work on the NG GMT 360s and there is a crash GMT561 lambda program to cover themselves in the midsized segment as the market transitions OUT of BOF midsized suvs. There is no disputing that a 40% reduction in midsized SUV sales hurts GM and Ford a heck of lot more than the competition. That is hundred of thousands of vehicles compared to say only thousands for Toyota or Nissan. The significance is apparent when the volume is so much greater for GM and F.

The Camaro is what they will call the 2 door companion to the the Impala. GM does not need and can not support another silly 2 door rwd vehicle in the portfolio. Where is the volume to come from? Especially if there is a replacement for the GTO and a sigma based coupe for Cadillac. Not to mention a rwd Challenger from DCX. The coupe/2 door market is small and lacks appeal and staying power in the market.

Yea sorry about all the words I used on the V8 subject. Did I confuse ypi?

But it sells a lot more now. Man - I really wish GM had programs on 20 year old cars. Then your opinion to me might be of value. But nahh... it is the usual toilet paper that it is.

Send that to autonews.

Don't forget: http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/artic...PDATE/606130411

Yea - intentional at that.

No doubt - The world economy is so complex and inter-woven - it is never one simple factor. Think of how 70usd/barrel is absorbing the deficit spending by the government. It is keeping the dollar a float.

GM already announced the plant closure in 08 I think.

Ven/enzl: For CAFE, any EPA changes will no alter the results. It is my understanding, any changes to "an" EPA MPG test in the EPA suite of tests will be for consumer information not CAFE.

No they have not. Testing is the same.

Sorry but that is not the case.

Cingular for me but thanks for the heads up.

No $hit, that pisses me off with my car. And on top of it my Onstar number is out of state i.e. not a local number.

Coupe market is dead and has been for some time. There is not enough volume to justify a heavy product mix towards rwd coupes at GM. GM just in the last few days axed the NG mid sized ute program. It is not wise for a company to spend resourse on a small market when there is limited volume and profits.

http://biz.yahoo.com/bizj/060616/1303729.html?.v=1

Without getting into the science of speculation: 1) GM is strapped for investment cash. 2) GM would have to invest in many more products to compensate for the lost Pontiac volume in the B-P-GMC Division to balance that. 3) RWD is cool in theory and support it but it is no gurantee for success of the Pontiac brand. 4) GM does not have a suitable rwd platform below zeta. 5) GM is strapped for investment cash.

Bigger question is, what will that do to the value of the dollar. The dollar is the world currency when it comes to the energy trade. Less, demand for oil means less demand for the dollar.

Hmm maybe!

That we will leave to GM's marketing gurus. But the intent is for the vehicle to be a direct replacement for the Lucerne. Not a niche high end program like GMX283.

Date is wrong, volume is correct estimate. I am surprised but assured the dates I have are correct. DTS appears to have been rethought out from the info used in that article. Lucerne is moving onto zeta with the expected published volumes in the article.