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G8 and Camaro will be last Zeta-based cars sold in U.S.

 
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Pictured is the Zeta-based powertrain found in the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro

Pictured is the Zeta-based powertrain found in the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro

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There have been all manner of reports about General Motors’ future RWD plans over the past 12 months, with everything from the carmaker merging its Zeta and Sigma architectures for a new super platform to the introduction of a new compact RWD design to be called Alpha. According to latest reports, GM has halted its future development of its Zeta platform and any new vehicles that would have been spawned from it.

The information came directly from vice-chairman Bob Lutz, who revealed to Australian media at this week’s Detroit Auto Show that tougher fuel-economy standards and GM’s current financial crisis were the reasons behind the move.

“The strategy we had a few years ago of basically deriving a whole sweeping global portfolio off the Australian Zeta architecture ... frankly, we have had to abandon that dream,” Lutz said.

This means that GM will likely continuing using its ageing Sigma platform, which debuted back in 2002 in the first-generation CTS, for any future RWD large cars, reports GoAuto. However, there is also a chance that GM will start to adopt more FWD designs. This is a strategy that Ford will also follow, revealing that it too has killed its future RWD ambitions.

Other vehicles affected by GM’s financial problems include a right-drive version of the Camaro as well as the Camaro convertible, which Lutz said will now arrive sometime in 2011 – two years after the launch of the coupe. As for the future of the current Zeta-based Pontiac G8, Lutz said that “it all depends on what we are going to do with the Pontiac brand,” explaining that it was one of the brands currently under review. The others being Saturn, Hummer and Saab.

Finally, Lutz hinted that he would like GM to work with its Holden subsidiary on a new compact RWD platform – Alpha – but admitted that it was “not even in the plan at this point.”
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Comments (7)

  1. By chris Posted: 5/26/2008 11:03am PDT

    I agree,.. seems weird, but large rear wheel drives aren't exactly drivers cars in the first place.. and a midsized rear wheel drive car is just about at the point where the gas is worth the fun.
     
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  2. By Michael D. Posted: 5/26/2008 9:12pm PDT

    That really stinks and is depressing! The current Impala is on an ancient chassis, dating back to 1988, and the Lucerne, like the Cadillac DTS, is basically dating back to the Oldsmobile Aurora chassis from MY1994, even though that underpinning/chassis was cutting edge for it's time. Are the successors going to be based on stretched Epsilon II's, or maybe some form of Lambda?

    What about Cadillac? Is the STS/DTS successor going to still be a RWD Zeta?

    I hope this info is wrong, it's not like Maximum Bob Lutz to sell out like this, fuel prices, CAFE, or not. The is perplexing considering Chrysler has it's successful LX and for is developing a new RWD platform of it's own!
     
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  3. By Michael D. Posted: 5/26/2008 9:14pm PDT

    Sorry, that last line should have read - and Ford is developing a new RWD platform of it's own.
     
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  4. By Ryan Posted: 7/29/2008 12:07pm PDT

    I am so bummed about no RWD. In my optnion that absolutely ruins the car.
     
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  5. ma_NoNameDenton avatar NoNameDenton Posted: 1/16/2009 3:24am PST

    Please tell me the te Alpha platform for a Caddy 3 series car will survive.
     
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  6. ma_NaBUru38 avatar NaBUru38 Posted: 1/16/2009 6:30am PST

    And please a rear-wheel drive Holden Torana / Pontiac G6.
     
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  7. ma_Michael D avatar Michael D Posted: 1/16/2009 9:11am PST

    This indicates to me that a next-generation Impala may be an upsized LWB Epsilon-3, lengthened longer than the ancient W-based Impala and to further it from the Malibu - an Epsilon-2 can support AWD adn V8s. At Cadillac, the current Sigma would have to be rebodied as CTS generations advance and the full-sized Cadillac STS-DTS succecssor (those lined are said to be merged) would either be:

    a) A lengthened LWB Epsilon-2 with AWD on top end vehicles to support a V8 and the 3.6L DI V6 as a base engine.

    b) A lengthened Sigma not unlike the LWB STS version for the Chinese market could underpin the next Caddy flagship.

    The Alpha is up in the air, and the Kappa (Solstice and Sky) is said to go on for one generation. The Camaro would have to be based on the "last" Zeta for some time, and the G8 will depend on how Pontiac is evaluated.

    A lengthened Epsilon-2 based LWB chassis, with AWD, would allow Chevrolet and Cadillac compete effectively with the new Ford Taurus and Lincoln MKS, the Lambda's compete with the Flex and MKT.
     
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