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General Motors discussions
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they cannot develop a Saab truck in the US, and Chevy midsize in Europe...
Or develop an Opel Agila (or whatever) in Korea.. that is what they do not understand...
Saab / Opel / Holdem (or pick another) needs to develop their own cars... picking a platfrom from the GM offerings and fine tune it for their use, and built the car they need for thei application.
Better yet... have them all come together and Co-develop the platforms together, so it fits the needs of each one of the applications..
Example: email to Brand managers, from GM.. We will be developing a new subcompact (A-segment) platform wanna be part of it, and use it in the future? Have a team of 5 engineers come to XY center ... next month. Sincerely, you GM (end of example)
If GM is still not able to figure out how to share platforms .. in 2006 ... it has not right to survive.. Lutz needs to resign.. along with Wagoner...
Igor
I am confused by your comment. How do you think it works?
Having all parties (Brands) that want to use the given platform be involved in the developemnt.. so if let's say SAAB wants to make sure a turbo 5 cylinder (or something) fits in there.. it will. Or if some ofthe brands want to make sure it can do AWD, or can be rebuilt for RWD,, it can do that to.
As I said before.. read up on the development of the C1 platform.. it is the best example of platform engineeting I know of. All interested parties (Ford, Mazda, Volvo) were involved and had input, by both bringing their best skills and by making sure the plafotm meets ther needs.
Ford brought the C170 suspension setup, Mazda worked on chasis tuning (and developed the 4 cylinder MZR/Duratec) and Volvo worked on the safety of the thing.
Volvo also made sure their 5cylinders and their AWD will work in it. Lastly Ford made sure bunch of it can be used in the "non-platform" RWD application for the Mustang (the 'Stang is not built on any platform, just uses bits from several of them.. bunch of it from C1).
That is how platform engineering works.. not by having Daewoo develop a car and then just alter the sheetmetal and call it Chevy, Suzuki, Pontiac, Opel/Vauxhal, and G-d forbid a Holdem or Saab.
Igor
Chevrolet brand is "the" creme de la creme of GM. It accounted for about 60 percent of 2005 sales. There is no way that GM would scrap "Chevrolet" brand.
.. there I explain how I believe Platfrom engineering should work.
And while the example is in hinsight, FoMoCo was smart to work the way they did in early 2000's.. that a great example was great market understanding.
Igor
Igor
The whole point of the contest was to test the interchangeability of the parts that were used in the three Cadillacs. European manufacturers did not use interchangeable parts, each car was built with parts that were individually fitted to the car. Repairs were impossible without taking the car to someone who could fashion a replacement part.
So, Standard of the World meant only that Cadillac's were built with interchangeable parts, as were most other American made cars. Standard of the World does not mean that Cadillac was the best luxury car in the world.
Now this system has only been in use about 5 years but before that there was very little architecture sharing between continents. And where there was it had problems. One example is the last minivan developed. Ended up being engineered so that it did not work well on either continent. Too samll for US and too big for Europe.
I think GM needs to bring their production capacity (meaning factories and workers) into balance with the number of vehicles they can sell at prices that are profitable. Higher prices->lower sales. Lower prices->higher sales. Need to balance the price and sales volume to a profitable level. The retired people should expect to pay something for their health care.
I know that is hot it WAS.. but the quote does not give me confidence that it will change.
Igor
Even us FoMoCo fanboy stopped doing that.. as I said before.. UAW is not helping, but it is not the one o blame.. especially in response to my comment about how GM dumped all of 2005 MY just to get rid of it because NONE of the models was AT ALL attractive to buyers...
This is not only about csapacity.. this is about producing cars people want.
Once again .. I am not saying UAW does not play part, but profit margins are results of more than overcapacity.
Igor
At the same time I'd say at least 30% the new GM cars I see on the road here have the little green "E" sticker on the trunk lid(Enterprise Rent-a-Car)
I wish someone would ask that old ego-maniac Lee Ioacoca what his thoughts are reguarding the current state of the auto business. It might be worth a laugh, or he might have something to say that made sense? He truely loved the attention. Is he still busy selling battery powered bicycles? Bill C.
I will say that GM's lineup of vehicles could probably be better, but it is really guess work as to what consumers will buy. I want a nice station wagon like the BMW 3 or 5 -series.
However, the winning of the award is part of what built Cadillacs reputation as the worlds best built car, and what originate the whole "Standard of the World" legacy. Lelands demand of lower tolerances is why they were the best built.
Leland actually went into business building Cadillacs, then a midpriced car, because he could not sell Oldsmobile the newer, better engine that he had designed.
Loren
P.S. Safeway is gonna want their name back, I would think.
The above quote is taken from the Chicago Tribune.I post it as just one of the many reasons GM has more problems than a Mr. Lutz can make excusses for, and as an example of why I see a much different future for GM than GM itselfs seems able to admit. Bill C.
Loren
We'll have the people who chose not to save during their worktime and who chose trips to Disneyworld every year and flights to Europe will be expecting the taxpayers to take care of them inancially as well as their healthcare needs.
A company just locked out their union in Middletown, Ohio, at AK steel. That's going to set a tone for Delphi and GM workers when they watch how that is working. The company has replacement workers already and management running the steel mill instead of negotiating with the union.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Nobody would probably know where the LaSalle name came from. I'd name it Calais. Remember Cadillac used that name in the 70's (early 80's?)
Caddy already has CTS, STS, DTS, XLR and all are tied together with styling theme. You can easily tell that these are Caddies. Lucerne has no ID with Caddies and would diminish Caddy name. If GM drops Buick brand, Lucerne could be an Avalon competitor and would be a plus as the top range Chevrolet which is lacking at this time. If V8 models priced in high 20's, would be very attractive. Chevrolet Lucerne name sounds prestigous. Think that LaSalle name is stodgy and has old-fashioned sound.
Hense, The 1903 Model A Ford;
and 1903 Model A Cadillac;
Although, like I said before, the caddy was much better built (and it sold better).
As for LaSalle, well most people didn't even know what Archie and Edith were singing in their opening them song, so they actually had to re-sing it every few years to try and pronounce "Gee our old LaSalle ran great". I'm guessing today the LaSalle would be even less recognizable. Beverly LaSalle, anyone? :P
I think the Cutlass Calais was renamed Cutlass Salon for 1985-88. Can't remember for sure though, as Olds tended to switch around their trim levels on occasion. In 1978-79, Cutlass Salon denoted those clumsy "aeroback" models.
One thing that GM beats every vehicle manufacturer present and past is discarded names. Wonder if they have a department that keeps track of these. For Caddies in recent decades: Allante, Brougham, Calais, Catera, Cimarron, Deville, Coupe De Ville, Eldorado, Eldorado Biarritz, Eldorado Brougham, Eldorado Seville, Fleetwood Eldorado, Fleetwood, Seville, Sixty Special. Would imagine that GM has a lock on these names. Didn't Chevy get in trouble for using the Baretta name?
Wonder if Caddy will do retro concept car (in Camaro vein) to bring back tailfins of 59 model or some aspects of themes from past? Think that Caddy won the tail-fin wars. Don't all styles eventually get recycled just like mini-skirts for women? Lots of goofy themes going on styling wise with some German makes and Subaru fish grille. Maybe we will see some really elegant styling from GM in coming years?
I would bring back the name DeVille and Eldorado. What's with all these letters now? Is the car more hip, or Euro flavored when the letters are put on the Caddy? And what is wrong with the name Seville? STS sound more like a medical condition than anything else. Oh well, better than Sephia.
Loren
:-P
(Amusing and entertaining, BTW)
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
I'm certain that this has been covered before . . . Actually, Buick was trying to project a name with a European influence or flair. Although it may also be a Safeway dairy product, the name that first comes to my mind is the English spelling of the city of Luzern, Schweiz (Switzerland). The English-translation or version is Lucerne. As one who has spent some time in this beautiful city, Buick's choice is not a bad one!
Take a look: http://www.lucerneguide.ch/
Classy name. The Swiss state and lake existed before Safeway. Glad Buick did not rehash Roadmaster. But, they still dipped into some Harvey Earl tacky gimmicks such as fake portholes. Wonder if BMW would ever try something other than 3,5,7 series names. But, because of their reputation, people would buy anyway even if a 3 series were renamed something else. Names can mean a lot to an image. Look at woman in Supreme Court recently - she changed her name. So do most actors, actresses. Its part of the whole image, including looks, styling (cars).
Although I recall reading at least one article that dealt with GM hiring replacement workers, just in case.
It's gonna get interesting in 2006 with this issue.
GM is talking about putting the new world order Camaro into production plus is planning several other moves like tomorrow is just tomorrow, and finances or not GM will move forward. I guess that's how they have to work it, why plan to fail, eh?
2021 Kia Soul LX 6-speed stick
Here, by category, are the issue's best performers. Changes from last year's Top Picks list are noted:
-- SEDAN (Less than $20,000/Small Sedan): Honda Civic. The new Civic ($17,000 to $20,000) has a roomy interior, a comfortable ride, and good handling and fuel economy. Manual- and automatic- transmission versions get 31 and 28 mpg overall. The hybrid gets 37 mpg overall. Curtain air bags are standard and crash-test results are impressive. (Last year's Top Pick for Small Sedans was the Ford Focus.)
-- SEDAN ($20,000-$30,000/Family Sedan): Honda Accord. The Accord provides an excellent balance of comfort, roominess, and handling. Each model provides good fuel economy for its class, with the four-cylinder and V6 models getting 23 and 24 mpg overall. The Hybrid delivers quicker acceleration and moderately better gas mileage of 25 mpg overall.
-- SEDAN ($30,000-$40,000/Upscale Sedan): Acura TL. The TL is among the highest-scoring sedans and provides a near-ideal blend of comfort, convenience, and sportiness -- all at a reasonable $33,700. It handles well and delivers a controlled, quiet ride. The interior has excellent fit and finish. The TL is quick, while still getting a commendable 23 mpg.
-- LUXURY SEDAN: Infiniti M35. The M35 provides an excellent balance of performance, comfort, and handling. Available in rear- or all-wheel drive, the V6-powered M35x (about $50,000) is as capable threading a twisty road as it is cruising on the highway. A $69,000 V-8 powered M45 model is also available. (Last year's Top Pick was the Lexus LS430.)
-- FUN TO DRIVE: Subaru Impreza WRX/STi. The rally-car inspired Impreza WRX and its high-performance STi variant (about $25,000 and $33,000, respectively) prove that consumers don't have to spend a lot of money or give up practicality to get a fun-to-drive sports car. Both cars blend quick acceleration and very agile handling with the practicality of four doors.
-- SUV (Less than $30,000/Small SUV): Subaru Forester. The Forester is a good vehicle and a good value-about $23,000 for the 2.5X. This car-based, all-wheel-drive SUV handles nimbly and rides comfortably. The Honda CR-V ($24,000) is a very good runner-up, with more room and standard electronic stability control.
-- SUV (More than $30,000/Midsized SUV): Toyota Highlander Hybrid. The Highlander Hybrid ($35,000 to $40,000) is a well- rounded SUV that delivers quick acceleration, a comfortable ride, and a third-row seat. Its 22 mpg is impressive for a midsized SUV. This hybrid and its near twin, the 23 mpg Lexus RX400h ($50,000), are the only SUVs to achieve an excellent overall score in CR's testing. Another excellent choice, with a better third-row seat, is the Honda Pilot ($29,000 to $35,000). (Last year's Top Pick for Midsized SUV was the Lexus RX330.)
-- MINIVAN: Honda Odyssey. The Honda Odyssey ($26,000 to $37,000) leads the minivan class with agility, refinement and interior flexibility. Electronic stability control and curtain air bags are standard. The interior is well-crafted and comfortable. The Toyota Sienna ($25,000 to $39,000), another high scorer, is quieter, rides more comfortably, and offers all- wheel-drive, but is less agile.
-- GREEN CAR: Toyota Prius. For the third year, the $23,000 gasoline/electric hybrid Toyota Prius is CR's pick, thanks to its excellent 44 mpg overall fuel economy. It is certified by the California Air Resources Board as a near-zero-emission vehicle. With a roomy interior, reasonable performance, and the versatility of a hatchback, the Prius is a good alternative to a midsized sedan.
-- PICKUP TRUCK: Honda Ridgeline. The Honda Ridgeline ($28,000-$35,000) redefines the pickup, combining the comfortable ride and agile handling of a car-based chassis with a good payload capacity. The roomy cab features nice details and is easy to access. It even offers a weather-tight trunk in the bed. For consumers who want a longer bed and more towing capacity, Consumer Reports suggests the Toyota Tundra.
The problem with the above statement is that even if GM had brilliant engineers and managers, they only seem capable under the GM structure to save one product name at a time. They run from one fire to another, and now they have no money to spend so there forced to think and share on the cheap.Pontiac will get it's version of the Cobalt, Saturn to get it's version of the Soltice,etc. Something borrowed and nothing new. Who are they fooling? Bill C.
Go over to the new Civic forum, and just see how many people are unhappy with their 2006 Civic, especially the infamous "Lug Bug" problem.
Although I'm not necessarily a fan of GM products, I don't think CU gives Detroit iron a fair break. It really never did, and most likely never will.