The Future of Chevrolet

[Flybrian]

Chevrolet

Automotive News / August 21, 2006 - 6:00 am

Aveo: The Aveo will be redesigned for the 2008 model year. The car will be developed in South Korea by GM Daewoo Auto & Technology Co. with assistance from the Pan Asia Technical Automotive Center in Shanghai. The current Aveo is based on the Daewoo Kalos.

Cobalt: GM plans to freshen the line for the 2008 model year. The company no longer is exploring an all-wheel-drive variant that would be aimed at the Mitsubishi Evolution and Subaru WRX. Such a model would be too costly.

Malibu, Malibu Maxx: The Malibu sedan will be restyled and re-engineered and will get bigger for the 2008 model year. The car will be about the same size as the 2007 Saturn Aura.

The 2008 Malibu is expected to introduce Chevy's new design, which is a more upscale appearance. One key styling element will be Chevrolet's new horizontally split grille. A hybrid powertrain will be optional.

Chevrolet plans to drop the Malibu Maxx at the end of the 2007 model year.

Impala: The current Impala will be offered through the 2009 model year. The 2010 model year is a question mark. The GM board has yet to decide whether to restyle and re-engineer the front-wheel-drive car or develop the next generation on a rear-wheel-drive architecture.

If the Impala goes rwd, its name may be discarded, and a slightly higher price may be set. Some GM executives think the larger 2008 Malibu will attract value-conscious Impala buyers.

Monte Carlo: Monte Carlo dies in the 2008 model year. With a Camaro coupe on the horizon, there is no longer a role for this car.

Camaro: The much-talked-about Camaro concept will turn into production reality beginning at the end of 2008; the coupe will go on sale in the first quarter of 2009. Chevrolet has not said whether the rwd car will be designated a 2009 or 2010 model. A convertible is being considered.

The car is being developed on GM's new rwd global vehicle architecture - which Holden, the automaker's Australian operation, is developing for several brands. The four-passenger car will feature an independent rear suspension and V-6 and V-8 engines. GM Vice Chairman Bob Lutz has said GM could sell well over 100,000 units a year.

Corvette: If 505 hp is good, will 600 hp be better?

Chevrolet will emerge with a "super Corvette" for the 2008 model year. The vehicle, code-named "Blue Devil," is expected to have considerably more power than the 505-hp Z06 and a price "well in excess" of any existing Corvette, company insiders say. The most expensive Vette today is the Z06, with a base price of $70,000, including shipping. How much horsepower? The number 600 has been bantered about, although no one at GM is saying.

[NOS2006]

I'd like to disagree on them with a few things.

Impala: I feel it'll be out as a 2008 or '09 model year vehicle. Then they played it safe, but it will be RWD without a name change, and will most likely grow a bit while being a bit more upscale/expensive.

Monte Carlo: I think it'll live again in '09 or '10 as the RWD car it's supposed to be and as a bigger brother to the Camaro, sharing similar, yet less upscale, characteristics as the GTO (larger RWD coupe than Camaro with optional V8).

Camaro: We (seem to) know so much right now, so I'm not going to go on with it. Please see THIS thread for an update on the car...

Corvette: The rumor is set at 650 HP, not a "lackluster" add of only 95 HP. Besides, rumor also has it that the 6.2 LS3 engine will replace the 6.0 LS2 next year only in the Corvette, then later will be applied to applicable Zeta models (Camaro, GTO, any others?).. Then, later, the 6.2 LS3 will be supercharged (and possibly intercooled) to create a LS8 or LS9 engine producing the rumored 650 HP for the "super" Corvette.

They're playing it way too safe with their predictions.. not bold at all (wait, that's Ford's job). Why did they even write this?

Edited August 22, 2006 by NOS2006

[trinacriabob]

While I agree with most, I disagree with the following:

1.

The Impala, or whatever name, ought to go RWD after the end of its model run.

2.

Since the MC has the economies of scale associated with the Impala, it ought to run tandem with the Impala. I disagree that there is no role for it....to kill off both the Monte and not offer a Riviera would mean that NO one at GM is offering a mid- to full-size coupe...the new 'Maro just isn't in the same territory/niche.

3.

The Maxx is going away? (WPBH will undoubtedly be having withdrawals, j/k). I never liked this car, anyway -- it will be seen as the Citation hatchback of the new millenium.

Edited August 22, 2006 by trinacriabob

[mustang84]

I'd love to see a RWD Monte Carlo coupe and would highly consider getting something like that over a Mustang or a Camaro. If it had more interior space, a bigger backseat, but still had V8 power and RWD...I'd be all up for it. I've been in the back of a 1999 Mustang, and there is little room for a 6'4" guy like me. Granted, I'd be driving the car....but I have a disproportionately large number of tall friends (at least six over 6', and one that is 6'9")

Edited August 22, 2006 by mustang84

[Chicagoland]

I don't see this current Impala only having a 2 year run. Also, the 2008 CY production schedule is being locked in NOW. Hence all the announcments for the new Camaro, finally.

Most of the time if someone here says 'its coming [sooner then reports]'. I remember all the posts in the past that claimed the new Camaro was to be sold right now [2007 MY]!

The only clear error in the AN story is the Aveo is new for 2007, not 2008.

Edited August 22, 2006 by Chicagoland

[trinacriabob]

I'd love to see a RWD Monte Carlo coupe and would highly consider getting something like that over a Mustang or a Camaro.

and there is little room for a 6'4" guy like me. 

183278[/snapback]

I think that anyone who has either grown up around or owned "America's sweetheart" - the RWD Cutlass Supreme coupes of the 80s - would love to see them offer a Monte Carlo as you described. I will probably purchase prior to that occurrence as my car is approaching a quarter of a million miles and I would want my next purchase to be on a "tested" platform for a minimum of 2 to 3 years, so I won't be waiting for this to happen.

LOL...I guess being 5'-10" isn't as bad as I thought.

[ocnblu]

The '07 Aveo is only a reskin, not a redesign. The windshield and A-pillars give it away.

The Monte Carlo needs to stay, and the decision should have been made by now on the next Impala.

[Dsuupr]

Let's do some thinking about this "plan" presented by Automotive news.

GM is keeping thousands of employees in Canada to build just the Camaro at approx 100,000 units in late 2008. Does this not make sense to everyone else too?

If GM is going through the trouble to prep the plant for 1 rear wheel drive vehicle, the others have to follow shortly (not in a 1 1/2 years) after for financial reasons. SO, this could mean the new rwd vehicles coming out will be 2010 MY vehicles, but they should be on the streets in 2009.

And what about the mid-size rear wheel drive vehicle Holden is talking about. Could that be a good alternative for more products?

NOTE to GM: Most companies are having great success with small wagons / hatchbacks right now. Please consider a smaller wagon than the HHR. Possibly one with a 1.8 liter engine that gets 40+ mpg.

[CARBIZ]

Well, you guys don't get the Optra 5 or Optra wagon south of the border, but they are selling decently here. The wagon is a true wagon, not a wannabe wagon like the Maxx. My only complaint with these vehicles (Aveo included) is the absolutely HORRIBLE transmissions on these cars. The Malibu 4 cyl gets better gas mileage than any of these vehicles.

If GM is going to redo these cars in '08, they need to do something about the power trains, or Hyundai is going to eat GM-DAT's lunch.

I have no opinion of the Monte Carlo. We still have 2004 models on the lot, brand new! The 30 year olds who would have loved these cars 25 years ago now buy Acura's, plain and simple.

I can tell you boys and girls south of the border that your world will change at $4.50 a gallon, which is what we are paying these days.

Although I think to be competitive, GM needs a couple RWD vehicles (even AWD), I personally don't care about the Camaro - or does anybody not remember why they were axed in the first place?

The Cobalt/Malibu and Impala need to be class leading if GM is not going to be surpassed by Toyota in sales soon.

[Drew Dowdell]

Malibu, Malibu Maxx:

Chevrolet plans to drop the Malibu Maxx at the end of the 2007 model year.

183243[/snapback]

big mistake there Chev, it seems to be selling very well. Anyone have actual numbers on it? Around here, it seems to be about 40% of the sales mix <not counting cars with a green and white E on the trunklid.>

[Robert Hall]

Interesting..if the Monte Carlo goes, what will be the Chevy in NASCAR? I guess they will change the decals to say 'Impala'.

And if the MC goes, what will NASCAR fans stick their #3 decals on?

Edited August 22, 2006 by moltar

[Drew Dowdell]

Interesting..if the Monte Carlo goes, what will be the Chevy in NASCAR? I guess they will change the decals to say 'Impala'.

And if the MC goes, what will NASCAR fans stick their #3 decals on?

183361[/snapback]

Toyota Solara

[!!!TED!!!]

NOTE to GM: Most companies are having great success with small wagons / hatchbacks right now.  Please consider a smaller wagon than the HHR.  Possibly one with a 1.8 liter engine that gets 40+ mpg.

183331[/snapback]

Canada only: http://www.gmcanada.com/english/vehicles/c...ptr_mode_02.jsp

[Robert Hall]

Canada only: http://www.gmcanada.com/english/vehicles/c...ptr_mode_02.jsp

183377[/snapback]

That's the Suzuki Forenza wagon in the US. I wonder if a wagon version of the Cobalt (or the Astra for Saturn) could do well in the US?

Edited August 22, 2006 by moltar

[Matt276]

The Optra is more a 30 MPG car. I mean US gallon. Very far from the Vibe/Matrix.

[ocnblu]

The Forenza is a horrible car. We sold Suzuki at my previous place of employment. Total P.O.S.

[cavalier36]

Chevrolet

Automotive News / August 21, 2006 - 6:00 am

Aveo: The Aveo will be redesigned for the 2008 model year. The car will be developed in South Korea by GM Daewoo Auto & Technology Co. with assistance from the Pan Asia Technical Automotive Center in Shanghai. The current Aveo is based on the Daewoo Kalos.

[/i]maybe they mean the 5 door will be redesigned for 08, the sedan was new for 2007..  id also like to see a three door hatchback version of this car.. they sell it in other markets why not here??  id also like to see a "sport" version.. if we could somehow cram a 2.2L ecotec in there, 147 hp would make the Aveo lightning quick.. 

Cobalt: GM plans to freshen the line for the 2008 model year. The company no longer is exploring an all-wheel-drive variant that would be aimed at the Mitsubishi Evolution and Subaru WRX. Such a model would be too costly.

the 08 cobalt will recieve a minor facelift.. a new Cobalt will appear for the 2011 model year..an upgraded interior, along with new front and rear facias.. we may see a version of the turbocharged engine found in the sky redline to become avaliable, it will only be FWD though..

Malibu, Malibu Maxx: The Malibu sedan will be restyled and re-engineered and will get bigger for the 2008 model year. The car will be about the same size as the 2007 Saturn Aura.

The 2008 Malibu is expected to introduce Chevy's new design, which is a more upscale appearance. One key styling element will be Chevrolet's new horizontally split grille. A hybrid powertrain will be optional.

Chevrolet plans to drop the Malibu Maxx at the end of the 2007 model year.

lets hope GM does this one right.. we need this car to beat the camry and accord at its game..  first of all lets ditch the pushrods and use the 2.4L ecotec, the 2.8L dohc V6 and the 3.6L dohc V6 as the engines.. 

Impala: The current Impala will be offered through the 2009 model year. The 2010 model year is a question mark. The GM board has yet to decide whether to restyle and re-engineer the front-wheel-drive car or develop the next generation on a rear-wheel-drive architecture.

If the Impala goes rwd, its name may be discarded, and a slightly higher price may be set. Some GM executives think the larger 2008 Malibu will attract value-conscious Impala buyers.

I dont see the Impala name disappearing.. it has way too much value.. im all for it going to RWD as long as there was an optional AWD system, without it sales would suffer in the northeast..

Monte Carlo: Monte Carlo dies in the 2008 model year. With a Camaro coupe on the horizon, there is no longer a role for this car.

i dont see this car going away eiether.. this would eiether become a reskinned version of the next GTO, but unlike the GTO it would cost less and have a V6 and cloth seats standard..  or we could make a new FWD coupe off the Epsilion platform.. sort of like a Chevy version of the Pontiac G6 coupe..

Camaro: The much-talked-about Camaro concept will turn into production reality beginning at the end of 2008; the coupe will go on sale in the first quarter of 2009. Chevrolet has not said whether the rwd car will be designated a 2009 or 2010 model. A convertible is being considered.

The car is being developed on GM's new rwd global vehicle architecture - which Holden, the automaker's Australian operation, is developing for several brands. The four-passenger car will feature an independent rear suspension and V-6 and V-8 engines. GM Vice Chairman Bob Lutz has said GM could sell well over 100,000 units a year.

a convertible camaro will come out in the summer of 2009 as a 2010 model.. we could see a concept camaro convertible at the 07 Naias.. 

corvette:[/b] If 505 hp is good, will 600 hp be better?

Chevrolet will emerge with a "super Corvette" for the 2008 model year. The vehicle, code-named "Blue Devil," is expected to have considerably more power than the 505-hp Z06 and a price "well in excess" of any existing Corvette, company insiders say. The most expensive Vette today is the Z06, with a base price of $70,000, including shipping. How much horsepower? The number 600 has been bantered about, although no one at GM is saying.

[Sixty8panther]

Impala will go RWD, that's a no brainer.

The real question is weather GM will "do the right thing"

& designate the long wheelbase Impala the Caprice or

Caprice Classic & make it V8 only! That's what should

happen of the Cookie Executives and Bean Counters

are not running the show any more.

[Matt276]

08 Cobalt receives just a minor facelift!! What, no interior upgrade, no VVT for the 2.2L. Damn GM, is it another Cavalier?

Edited August 25, 2006 by Matt276

[Chicagoland]

"Interesting..if the Monte Carlo goes, what will be the Chevy in NASCAR? I guess they will change the decals to say 'Impala'. And if the MC goes, what will NASCAR fans stick their #3 decals on?"

On their Chevy trucks or Asian cars.

Also, the AN List is not meant to be 'complete'. They do this list every year based on supplier data. Plans change, and they can't list every single change, such as interiors or small engine parts.

[daves87rs]

08 Cobalt receives just a minor facelift!! What, no interior upgrade, no VVT for the 2.2L.  Damn GM, is it another Cavalier?

184940[/snapback]

Nope, it will get more than that.

As far as the outside-I think it gets a new front end-similar the the 08 Bu'

(the tails should stay on the coupe-I hope-but the sedan will get better tails,,,,)

Better cloth seats...an upgraded interior....

And possibly a new engine(s)-as the ecotec gets some major updates...

I almost hate to say like the 06 Impy, but...

I guessing there are going to be a few surprised, as Toyota rolls out a new Corolla...a new Kia-and a updated Civic...

[daves87rs]

The Forenza is a horrible car.  We sold Suzuki at my previous place of employment.  Total P.O.S.

183550[/snapback]

There was a white one on the side of te road last week...

[rkmdogs]

And what about the mid-size rear wheel drive vehicle Holden is talking about.  Could that be a good alternative for more products?

NOTE to GM: Most companies are having great success with small wagons / hatchbacks right now.  Please consider a smaller wagon than the HHR.  Possibly one with a 1.8 liter engine that gets 40+ mpg.

183331[/snapback]

A SMALLER WAGON ??

What are you going to wear on the other foot? People approching 6 ft.tall and getting older do not fold neatly into a small package.

Get real and think about PEOPLE sizes!

[Northstar]

A SMALLER WAGON ??

What are you going to wear on the other foot? People approching 6 ft.tall and getting older do not fold neatly into a small package.

Get real and think about PEOPLE sizes!

185211[/snapback]

Get real and look at the sales numbers. They PROVE that there is a market for such vehicles.

[BB_454]

I would hate to see the Monte go, I have been a die hard Monte Carlo fan ever since 1986 (our first Black SS). I currently have a 02 Yellow SS with Black racing stripes, even though its just a v6 and FWD I think its one of the best looking cars in its segment, and I dont think anyone can dispute its quality. Dont kill the Monte, PLEASE!!!!

[WCCPSGM]

Malibu gets a new horizontal split grill????? How is that new? The current car is the only Malibu that HASN'T had a split grill since it was relaunched. Chevy has some good looking product now, why go back to ugly?