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Chevrolet studying a response to Ford & Chrysler

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Old 6/27/05, 09:18 AM
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From Autoweek.com:

Chevrolet may offer rear-drive answer in response to successful Ford, Chrysler efforts

RICK KRANZ | Automotive News
Posted Date: 6/27/05

SAN FRANCISCO -- Stung by the success of the Ford Mustang and Chrysler 300, Chevrolet is studying rear-drive cars. The brand could decide this year whether to build more rwd vehicles.

"I think we probably will have more to talk about in the next several months," says Ed Peper, Chevrolet general manager.

The rwd Mustang, 300 and Dodge Magnum are selling well without cash rebates. Ford expects to produce 192,000 Mustangs this year.

And Dodge is expected to resurrect the Challenger name for a rwd Mustang-fighter around 2009.

With the exception of the Corvette, all Chevrolet cars have front-wheel drive.

Asked at a press event here whether a rwd sedan, coupe or Chevrolet Camaro-type vehicle are being considered, Peper said, "We are looking at some of those segments right now."

Peper says he is not sure whether Chevrolet will have a rwd concept car at the Detroit auto show in January.

"The ideas and the concepts are being talked about right now," he said.

General Motors was planning to introduce the first in a family of rwd cars for North America in 2007. The vehicles were planned on a rwd platform code-named Zeta. But the automaker's financial problems forced it to cancel Zeta this year.

Yet GM insiders still expect the company to develop a range of rwd cars, although the platform and timetable are unclear. Already in the pipeline are the Pontiac Solstice, a rwd roadster coming this fall and a sister car, the Saturn Sky, scheduled to arrive next spring. Both were developed on the small rwd Kappa platform.

Chevrolet's last large high-volume rwd car was the Caprice, which was scrapped after the 1996 model year. The sporty rwd Camaro was dropped at the end of the 2002 model year.

Regarding the Mustang, Jim Campbell, Chevrolet car marketing director, says: "I wake up every day knowing that I am spotting Ford 150,000 to 200,000 units.

"Do we want to take that head-on? Absolutely we do. There's an opportunity for a rear-wheel-drive coupe."
Link:

http://www.autoweek.com/news.cms?newsId=102664
Old 6/27/05, 09:22 AM
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shutting the gate after the horse has bolted.......
Old 6/27/05, 09:35 AM
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It wasnt supposed to take a rocket scientist to know that the new Mustang was going to start something.
Old 6/27/05, 11:18 AM
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It looks like Chevy took a while to peice it together
Old 6/27/05, 11:32 AM
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Too little too late for GM While they may sell decently it won't compare with the Mustang. If GM wants to place the blame anywhere it rest squarely on their shoulders.
Old 6/27/05, 11:53 AM
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New Camaro maybe?
But knowing GM it will probably be another version of GTO (similar to Buick Regal GN).
Old 6/27/05, 12:40 PM
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You hear "Camaro" whispered about a little but I think that GM will probably stick with trying to revive other badges. Hey maybe we'll see a new Nova. That would be neat. My friend had 1969 Nova SS when he was younger. Shame he sold it :scratch:
Old 6/27/05, 12:44 PM
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Originally posted by jgsmuzzy@June 27, 2005, 9:25 AM
shutting the gate after the horse has bolted.......
In this case, about 192,000 of them!! You wonder what GM was thinking. Apparently not much, which is why they're in the predicament they are.
Old 6/27/05, 12:54 PM
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Originally posted by scottie1113@June 27, 2005, 2:47 PM
In this case, about 192,000 of them!! You wonder what GM was thinking. Apparently not much, which is why they're in the predicament they are.
Plus the GM products don't look near as nice as the Ford lineup. GM has just gone "plain jane" with the exception of the Vette. And even the C6 isn't that nice. The C4 was the last of the Vettes that attracted me.

IMO Ford and Chrysler have the nicest looking vehicles on the road. Just Chrysler isn't building them too well.
Old 6/27/05, 12:58 PM
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Originally posted by 1999 Black 35th GT@June 27, 2005, 12:43 PM
My friend had 1969 Nova SS when he was younger. Shame he sold it :scratch:
You think that's bad? One of my co-workers friend sold his 1968 Dodge Charger 440 in great condition for $6,000. Best part of that car were side mufflers and of course 440 under the hood. God, if I knew he was selling that I would pay him a lot more than $6,000.
Old 6/27/05, 01:00 PM
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Originally posted by 1999 Black 35th GT@June 27, 2005, 12:57 PM
Just Chrysler isn't building them too well.
:notnice: Most of Chryslers that have smaller engine than V8 stink. :notnice:
Old 6/27/05, 01:15 PM
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Originally posted by Red Star@June 27, 2005, 3:03 PM
:notnice: Most of Chryslers that have smaller engine than V8 stink. :notnice:
Its too bad for them too because most people will buy the base model. Example, V6 Mustangs make up the majority of Mustangs sold. Simply put, if you can't build a quality entry engine, the sales will suffer, which is Chrysler's problem. I really lost all respect for Chrysler after they were bought by Daimler in the mid 90's.

The evidence of the switch is black and white. My friend had a 94 Ram 1500 (pre-Daimler). It was a great truck. Not a problem whatsover, ran for over 200k (got totalled shortly there after when he hit a good patch of black ice ) but anyway, he refused to replace it with a 95 or newer due to Daimler owning the company and their quality issues.

Another downfall was GM's six in the Camaro's, very faulty engines compared to the 3.8 in the Stang which was very strong.
Old 6/27/05, 03:49 PM
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GM really needs to stop:

-"I think we probably will have more to talk about in the next several months," says Ed Peper
-Peper said, "We are looking at some of those segments right now."
-"The ideas and the concepts are being talked about right now," he said.
-Yet GM insiders still expect the company to develop a range of rwd cars, although the platform and timetable are unclear.

And START DOING SOMETHING.

I mean just read the title: "Chevrolet may offer rear-drive answer in response to successful Ford, Chrysler efforts"

They make it sound like it is some form of rocket science. It's a real wheel drive car. Chevy has made millions. As my Dad would say, "GET OFF YOUR AND DO SOMETHING!"
Old 6/27/05, 07:20 PM
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Originally posted by bigred0383@June 27, 2005, 3:52 PM
GM really needs to stop:

-"I think we probably will have more to talk about in the next several months," says Ed Peper
-Peper said, "We are looking at some of those segments right now."
-"The ideas and the concepts are being talked about right now," he said.
-Yet GM insiders still expect the company to develop a range of rwd cars, although the platform and timetable are unclear.

And START DOING SOMETHING.

I mean just read the title: "Chevrolet may offer rear-drive answer in response to successful Ford, Chrysler efforts"

They make it sound like it is some form of rocket science. It's a real wheel drive car. Chevy has made millions. As my Dad would say, "GET OFF YOUR AND DO SOMETHING!"


So F'in true!!!
Old 6/28/05, 01:22 AM
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Originally posted by scottie1113+June 27, 2005, 12:47 PM--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(scottie1113 @ June 27, 2005, 12:47 PM)</div><div class='quotemain'><!--QuoteBegin-jgsmuzzy@June 27, 2005, 9:25 AM
shutting the gate after the horse has bolted.......
In this case, about 192,000 of them!! [/b][/quote]

Finally was waiting for that comment!

I think it will be interesting to see what GM come up with. The Cad CTS and CTS-V have just been launched here selling through selected Saab dealers, we will have to see whether they can sell a decent amount of these vehicles in Europe. That might make them start to look at the bigger picture.......
Old 6/28/05, 02:02 AM
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they're always hinting. they're never DOING

nuff said
Old 6/29/05, 07:51 PM
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I think they just like to keep saying that they're going to check into it to stir intrest in the brand a bit. (and to keep the camaro fanboys hoping)
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