GM disbands high performance vehicle operations

[badmatt]

the automaker has disbanded its High Performance Vehicle Operations team, the crew responsible for the line V-series Cadillacs, the Chevrolet Cobalt SS, HHR SS and the V8 version of the Colorado. According to Vince Muniga, a spokesman for the General, "All high-performance projects are on indefinite hold. The engineers are moving into different areas of the organization, and they will work on Cadillacs, Buicks, Chevrolets and Pontiacs."

http://www.gminsidenews.com/forums/f12/breaking-news-v-series-ss-series-engineering-division-disbanded-75664/


All I can say is, ouch. GM had a way of selling themselves on the emotional and nostalgic attachments that people have with their cars. How are they going to do that now? Base model Cobalt with hubcaps? A Camaro with a V6?

After GM and Chrysler came knocking for ANOTHER 21 billion earlier in the week, I think chapter 11 is right around the corner.

[byndbad914]

Hmmm, that CTS-V is the only reason I would ever consider a Cadillac, and frankly I really want to get one - a little out of price range given my racing hobby (I need a big truck which is $$)

edit - work got in the way there :) anyway, if I did not need the large truck for towing I would seriously consider either the Vette or the CTS-V. If I somehow "get over" the road racing, I would get the 550HP Caddy for great street performance with room for friends v. a 2-seater. I have considered selling the race car and the truck altogether and getting the Z06 tho' and just drive to and from the track...

In any event, my point is little organizations like these within GM (and auto mfrs in general) keep their brand interesting and in the public eye - the Vette has been considered a loss-leader for years for example but I wouldn't give two sh!ts about GM if it were not for the Vette and the CTS-V quite honestly. Those two cars are so impressive Top Gear just aired in the US with three American cars to drive at the Salt Flats... hmmm, oddly enough, two were GM, the ZR1 (possibly the best car ever IMHO given bang for the buck) and the CTS-V and the pitiful Challenger that Chrysler didn't even provide.

Had it not been for the team developing the CTS-V, I can guarantee Top Gear wouldn't even utter the Caddy name without some sad fat American pun after it. Instead, Captain Slow ended up loving that car and it outperformed the Challenger in curves and straight line.

[Josh69]

My understanding is that all current platforms will remain as is, aka Camaro will have SS, CTS will have a 'V'. Upcoming models have been canned.

So no new Z/28 is a fair assumption. I also wouldn't be surprised if they didn't update the Vette anytime soon, ala Viper.

But then again, it may just be pandering to the Prius nuthuggers in Congress for their 'Viability plan'

Boring is in, excitement is out.

GM's new plan*:

1) Become Toyota
2) ??

** I stole that from Jalopnik....but funny nonetheless.

[buickfunnycar.com]

This comes as no surprise...GM's gotta get lean...and this is one way I guess.
Until they eliminate all the "legacy" costs involved with building vehicles however,they'll never be on an even playing field with the imports.

[DOOM]

Im wondering if the ZR-1 is going to be a one year deal because of this:question:

[buickfunnycar.com]

Im wondering if the ZR-1 is going to be a one year deal because of this:question:

I honestly think that was the plan...the ZR-1 is the last unbridled high-HP domestic car we'll see...for the unforseenable future at least.

[redfire69]

possibly Saturn too

http://www.iht.com/articles/2009/02/18/business/brands.php

[COYBILT]

History repeats it self

its like the 1970's and early 80s again, well at least for gm.

I hope they get there **** together, considering Chevrolet used to be number one, Ford number two, and pontiac number three in sales.

GM makes Boring everyday cars(everyday cars not being V series), they need to spice them up a little.

Im just worried, The biggest, The baddest,and The Best is going down.:(

[clill]

This kinda sucks for Stielow. He was HPVO..

[camcojb]

This kinda sucks for Stielow. He was HPVO..

yep, it does. :(

Jody

[comp-spec]

Bombshell! GM Performance Dead (For Now) By Brian Lohnes Posted 02/18/09
Automotive News is reporting that General Motors has killed off the GM Performance Division. This is crushing news to fans of domestic performance vehicles and the decision appears to have been made in order to appease the government.

Quoting directly from the AN piece by Jamie LaReau, “All high-performance projects are on indefinite hold," GM spokesman Vince Muniga said. "The engineers are moving into different areas of the organization, and they will work on Cadillacs, Buicks, Chevrolets and Pontiacs."

Outside of the obvious implications regarding the desirability of the GM product line, we think that this means no SS Camaro. This truly is a shocking and frightening development for everyone involved in the automotive hobby, whether you are a GM fan or not.

Again, quoting from the story in Automotive News, “Muniga said there are no plans for high-performance versions of upcoming cars.The move is in the spirit of GM's viability plan delivered to the U.S. Treasury Department on Tuesday. In the plan, GM said its future-product focus is on fuel- efficient cars and crossovers. It also pledged to increase its current offering of six hybrids to 14 by 2012 and to 26 by 2014. GM also boosted its request for federal aid by as much as $16.6 billion.”

‘The High Performance Vehicle Operations unit could be reinstated once GM regains its financial health, GM's Muniga said.’

We’re out of words

[conekiller13]

The overall feeling over at GM inside news is that this is a bit of smoke and mirrors given the bail out situation. The thought is that once the smoke clears the halo car programs will return. Let's hope. :willy:

[Diognes56]

http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/News/articleId=142386

There will be SS Camaro's atleast for this generation. From what I have read (which means nothing) CTS-V coupe is questionable, as is the Z28 :( . It sucks that they are putting the division "on hiatus", but from what I have read (again WMN) they are keeping all of the engineers and having them work with specific brands. So maybe *hoping* they are killing off the official division for show, for now, but not necessarily killing performance cars (maybe just delaying them) and will bring back the division ASAP. I hope Stielow is ok and will still be build bad a$$ cars, for work and pleasure :) .

David