Hard To Believe

[Camino LS6]

...just how much things have changed in less than a year.

If the world had not blown-up, the G8ST would just now be hitting the market.

And I'd be trying to figure out how to come-up with the money.

I'd also be willing to bet that Saturn would have been gaining some sales back by now.

The Solstice coupe would have been a pretty hot property too, I'd think.

What else have we lost?

What could/would have been?

[Camino LS6]

One thing I hope GM is keeping in its back pocket is the Hummer HX concept. The concept was brilliant and spot-on for what I see as a vulnerable portion of the market.

I just hope it doesn't get tossed to the wolves with the Hummer brand.

GM needs to keep it for themselves.

Edited December 1, 2009 by Camino LS6

[Blake Noble]

The HX does have potential to be an excellent product for GMC.

[A Horse With No Name]

The largest thing we have lost IMHO is the technology lead for the "new world order" or how things will be in ten, twenty, fifty years et al.

China, India, Germany, France, et al are taking the lead on alternative energy. We need to get away from drill baby drill to windmills, windfarms, safe nuclear power, Solar, biofuels, et al.

We are loosing our leadership position in the world, which scares me far more than what we have lost.

Also, we've dug ourselves so far into debt that we won't be able to recapitalize to move forward. Fifty years ago we were the people who responded to Sputnik by putting a man on the moon. Right now we're trying to respond to our crises by putting a mom into a mall to shop...we've fallen SO FAR IMHO.

Okay, off the rant.

More sadly than anything, I wish GM had kept a lead in excellent small trucks, with a world class S-10 replacement.

Wish the Malibu came with more bodystyles, a la the G6.

Wish Buick had a full lineup in place before they killed Pontiac. Was getting the Miata washed at the car wash today (usually wash it myself) and the woman behind me was getting her CTS washed. We started taling cars, and we both talked about how hot the new Lacrosse is. Woman is probably my mothers age, and I'm 44. She didn't want to buy the new LaCrosse because she thought of Buicks as "Old Peoples Cars." She's been a GM customer since the 1960's and she doesn't see a Buick as youthful enough for her....hmmm.

We've lost the next generation of hot rodders and customizers and racers. Seems like the younger generation is moving away from cars. I have three teenage children, and seems like a whole lot of their friends are just not into cars.

My two cents.

Chris

[Camino LS6]

Well that broadens the scope of my questions a bit.

[A Horse With No Name]

Getting back to GM...a version of the Retro 1953ish Nomad built on the Kappa platform.

THAT car idea keeps me up at night.

Chris

[Camino LS6]

I loved the Kappa Nomad, but it was never seriously considered for production.

The intent of my topic was to think about what didn't happen due to our economic disaster and GM's bankruptcy.

The plans that "Old GM" had that now will never be.

Edited December 1, 2009 by Camino LS6

[A Horse With No Name]

Sorry, I'm a little bit ADHD today.

Chris

[GMTruckGuy74]

Well, the redesign for full-size trucks has been pushed back; hopefully GM doesn't go back to the 10+ year periods again (1973-1987) and (1988-1999) for truck redesigns.

Compact/Mid-size pickups are not a priority with GM anymore, so the Canyon/Colorado redesign may no longer exist.

With the stabilization of the CUV market, I guess the days for the Tahoe/Yukon/Escalade are numbered. The Suburban/Yukon XL will live on, but I can't see the shorter versions lasting past 5 years if people continue to purchase the current crop of larger CUVs instead.