GM Puts RWD thoughts on hold

[SVT5LITER]

Detroit News, 04/12/2007

General Motors Corp. is holding off on plans for virtually all new rear-wheel drive cars in response to the threat of far stricter fuel economy standards from the federal government. Concerned that heightened mileage requirements will penalize the automaker for producing new versions of high-performance rear-wheelers, GM is halting all but a few of the vehicles in its future lineup. While GM wouldn't give specifics, the move could mean consumers will never see a rear-wheel replacement for the full-size Buick Lucerne and Chevrolet Impala sedans or a small rear-drive Cadillac compact. Still in the works, however, are a Chevy Camaro sports coupe due out next year and the Pontiac G8 sedan, which is being developed with GM subsidiary Holden in Australia.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

[9GUY9]

This would be a great opportunity to rip on GM, but then I look at what the blue oval has done lately

[Outrun]

GM and Ford better get off their asses and make some cars that are cool looking and have power to back it up, or they can continue to lose money to companies like Nissan/Infiniti, Toyota/Lexus and Acura/Honda.

[SVT5LITER]

It sux

[SmithEvo]

I'm going to buy a civic

[SAMSONite]

Now GM Global is considering a RWD compact overseas. I bet all the research that went into a RWD platform here will go overseas to Australia or somewhere without rapist emission and fuel economy laws. Fuck government. Consumer demand should dictate fuel economy.

[sport the war]

Now GM Global is considering a RWD compact overseas. I bet all the research that went into a RWD platform here will go overseas to Australia or somewhere without rapist emission and fuel economy laws. Fuck government. Consumer demand should dictate fuel economy.

The goverment should have no control over what we buy. I'd like to have a factory built race car.

[ScotWithOne_t]

I don't really understand why they think RWD is so much worse than FWD for emissions. How much extra drivetrain loss is there in a RWD vs FWD? They built AWD cars, and those have even worse parasitic loss still.

It's just as well though. Nobody really cares about RWD except for enthusiasts, which is a very small niche market, and for that they have the Vette, Camaro, and Ford has the Mustang(s). Most people in northern climates want FWD, because it is easier to control in snow, so the market for FWD is bigger than the market for RWD. It's all just business.

[SAMSONite]

I don't really understand why they think RWD is so much worse than FWD for emissions. How much extra drivetrain loss is there in a RWD vs FWD? They built AWD cars, and those have even worse parasitic loss still.

It's just as well though. Nobody really cares about RWD except for enthusiasts, which is a very small niche market, and for that they have the Vette, Camaro, and Ford has the Mustang(s). Most people in northern climates want FWD, because it is easier to control in snow, so the market for FWD is bigger than the market for RWD. It's all just business.

You're right on AWD. But GM doesn't really make any AWD cars (correct me if im wrong). Bob Luts said that RWD cars typically weight more (30% I think he said) therefore they get worse gas mileage. I think the decision was made based on fuel economy more so then emissions. Although now that the Supreme Court ruled that Co2 is a pollutant and the EPA can control it, it’s to there benefit to lower fuel consumption. IMO.

[dupcla]

Now GM Global is considering a RWD compact overseas. I bet all the research that went into a RWD platform here will go overseas to Australia or somewhere without rapist emission and fuel economy laws. Fuck government. Consumer demand should dictate fuel economy.

This is probably the dumbest thing I've read on here for a long time...

[68GTO]

Thank you Al Gore. You're a F***ing Moron.

Again, this Global warming CRAP is about penalizing the powerful nations so that non-prosperous nations can make a money/power grab. That's it. Period.

[2 beer]

I dont know what the fuck RWD and performance has to do with economy. I work on 300 horse 3.5 liter rear drive cars all day long The G37 coupe comes out this summer and thats a 330 horse 3.7 GM and Ford are becoming more lame every day. They cant build shit anymore. At least chrysler has the 6.1 hemi.

[SAMSONite]

This is probably the dumbest thing I've read on here for a long time...

Are your parents siblings?

[dupcla]

No but your's must have been with that logic. The US is not the only country in the world that has emissions laws and fuel economy requirements.

As 2 beer wrote you can have performance/reliability/emissions requirements with performance and good gas mileage.

And demand is driving this. People dont want to have to pay 50 bucks everytime they are at the pump.

[Grenade]

Doed that mean the new GTO is toast?