GM plans small sport wagons; exec says industry will move away from sedans
04-26-2004, 08:52 PM
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GM plans small sport wagons; exec says industry will move away from sedans
GM plans small sport wagons; exec says industry will move away from sedans - - By RICK KRANZ | Automotive News - - Source: Autoweek
NEW YORK - General Motors is developing a family of sport wagons that will be smaller than the Saturn Vue.
The vehicles will be built on GM's Theta vehicle architecture, which is shared by the Saturn Vue, Chevrolet Equinox and a Pontiac sport wagon that will debut in the 2006 model year.
Ron Pniewski, GM vice president of planning, said the vehicle family will be produced in the next four or five years. "It is in the planning horizon," he said.
Pniewski added that a Theta vehicle for global markets also is expected. They would be assembled outside the United States.
While the new vehicles will be shorter than the Vue, Pniewski said the width will be similar. He was interviewed at the New York auto show this month.
GM has only one sport wagon, the Vue, to compete with the popular four-cylinder Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4.
The base RAV4, for example, has an $18,990 sticker price, including destination. The base front-drive Vue is priced at $17,495, including destination.
The Equinox, another Theta vehicle, has a V-6 and a sticker price of $21,560, including destination.
Pniewski predicts that in this decade the industry's model mix will shift to fewer sedans and more two-box, wagonlike designs. The attraction is interior versatility. Such vehicles will be developed off the Theta platform.
"The two-box body shape is 25 percent of the market, and they come in every shape and size, price point - that's how I see the world going," Pniewski said.
While Pniewski and others within GM expect the number of sport wagons to increase, some dealers are reluctant to abandon certain sedans. For example, GM is wrestling with how to replace the Sunfire coupe, Pontiac's entry-level car. The issue is whether to offer a sport wagon or a sedan.
Gary Cowger, president of GM North America, said at the New York show that many U.S. Pontiac dealers want the Pontiac Pursuit, the new small sedan that Canadian dealers will receive this fall. Cowger said there is an active debate but there are no plans for U.S. sales of the Pursuit.
The Pursuit will be based on the 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt, which will replace the Chevrolet Cavalier in the United States this fall.
Said Cowger: "As long as (the Pursuit) exists, the debate will go on from the Pontiac dealers."
NEW YORK - General Motors is developing a family of sport wagons that will be smaller than the Saturn Vue.
The vehicles will be built on GM's Theta vehicle architecture, which is shared by the Saturn Vue, Chevrolet Equinox and a Pontiac sport wagon that will debut in the 2006 model year.
Ron Pniewski, GM vice president of planning, said the vehicle family will be produced in the next four or five years. "It is in the planning horizon," he said.
Pniewski added that a Theta vehicle for global markets also is expected. They would be assembled outside the United States.
While the new vehicles will be shorter than the Vue, Pniewski said the width will be similar. He was interviewed at the New York auto show this month.
GM has only one sport wagon, the Vue, to compete with the popular four-cylinder Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4.
The base RAV4, for example, has an $18,990 sticker price, including destination. The base front-drive Vue is priced at $17,495, including destination.
The Equinox, another Theta vehicle, has a V-6 and a sticker price of $21,560, including destination.
Pniewski predicts that in this decade the industry's model mix will shift to fewer sedans and more two-box, wagonlike designs. The attraction is interior versatility. Such vehicles will be developed off the Theta platform.
"The two-box body shape is 25 percent of the market, and they come in every shape and size, price point - that's how I see the world going," Pniewski said.
While Pniewski and others within GM expect the number of sport wagons to increase, some dealers are reluctant to abandon certain sedans. For example, GM is wrestling with how to replace the Sunfire coupe, Pontiac's entry-level car. The issue is whether to offer a sport wagon or a sedan.
Gary Cowger, president of GM North America, said at the New York show that many U.S. Pontiac dealers want the Pontiac Pursuit, the new small sedan that Canadian dealers will receive this fall. Cowger said there is an active debate but there are no plans for U.S. sales of the Pursuit.
The Pursuit will be based on the 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt, which will replace the Chevrolet Cavalier in the United States this fall.
Said Cowger: "As long as (the Pursuit) exists, the debate will go on from the Pontiac dealers."
04-28-2004, 03:29 PM
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This shift to small "sport wagons" is a good idea. They're on target, though the Ponitac Vibe doesn't do nearly as well as the Matrix. Pontiac should get an entry level sedan and wagan, something to compete with the new Mazda 3, which I'm really impressed with. They shouldn't bring the Pursuit here though. That would be a huge mistake... it's just a reskin of the Colbalt, or vice versa. GM's doing well with using the same platform to make very different vehicles (ex. Vue/Equinox). Itd be bad to revet back to "brand engineering" reskinned cars.
05-03-2004, 03:42 PM
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Im glad Small Wagons are coming back.
Yet, i think, all american car companies should stick to vans, trucks and big sedans.
I mean, why would i buy a Vibe, when its just a wagon-ed corolla.
I might as well buy a matrix, take a shit on it, and call it a vibe.
Yet, i think, all american car companies should stick to vans, trucks and big sedans.
I mean, why would i buy a Vibe, when its just a wagon-ed corolla.
I might as well buy a matrix, take a shit on it, and call it a vibe.
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