As mentioned in another thread, its worthwhile to update the current rumors going on about the Zeta chassis at GM from the GMI Boards:
GM’s proliferation of the VE/Zeta platform also seems to be experiencing upheaval.
It seems that GM has all but official cancelled the RWD Impala (GMX551 program). GMI learned of this shortly before the recent articles with Lutz's commentary, but we were waiting to hear back from our insiders. Apparently there were people who sit on the GM Global Product Board who never liked the idea of the Impala moving to RWD, partially because of the success of the refreshed W-body model. The new CAFE standards were the icing on the cake for the case against a RWD Impala.
How this will settle is still up in the air. We have not heard much of the “Chi” platform (essentially a Lambda platform, but in a FWD application) for some time. In fact most of us think it is dead. However, could a project like this be revived if GM has killed a RWD Impala? There is also rumors that the next generation EpsilonII platform can be stretched and widened to accommodate an Impala – but will the Malibu (which is certainly larger than the car it replaced) cannibalize Impala sales between now and the next-generation, tarnishing the nameplate? Not to mention how it will affect possible future police/government car sales.
This will be a close call for GM; again demonstrating how government regulations can change so much in a short period of time.
But we can be critical of these decisions as well.
Though non of us are insiders, one wonders, why is it that GM is pulling back from some of these RWD endeavors while domestic competitors like Ford are moving forward with their plans for a new family of RWD products? And it is already confirmed that the new LY family of RWD products will be coming from Chrysler (the Challenger is supposed to be the first of the LYs). Since CAFE is based on “averages” is it possible that Ford’s future product mix will include significantly less trucks/suvs/etc to offset the expectant mileage from a “Huntsman/Orion” family of products? We already know that a number of future Ford products are planned from this platform --- why Ford and not GM? A recent article pegs use of a RWD vehicle to a loss of 1-MPG vs. a similarly sized FWD product. Cannot GM overcome this problem through AFM, DI, smaller engines with turbo-chargers, multi-speed automatics or "DSG" style transmissions, hybrid technology, HCCI ingition, etc?
Is any of this on the table or was GM's decision made in light of these current/emerging technologies as well? Can GM afford to let Chrysler and Ford move forward with their mass-market RWD programs and sit on the side-lines?
So, lets try to lay this out in simple bits and pieces from the past few weeks/months talk at GMI...
- The Camaro is going on unchanged and will be built at the Oshawa, Ontario plant as it has always been planned. The Monaro/GTO is semi-officially dead, the Camaro being a
true global replacement for the mid-size coupe...
Seeing duty in North America, Europe, Australia and even Asia. There are rumored "green" versions of the Camaro rolling about, including a Two-Mode hybrid model, however, details are not solid as of yet.
- The RWD Impala is semi-officially DEAD. No RWD Zeta (other than the Camaro) for Chevrolet, it seems. There have been people inside Chevrolet who have said it both ways on GMI, but the current line says that "it aint gonna happen." Too bad really, people were counting on it.
Note that it may get the new "Chi" platform, or be based on a HUGE version of Epsilon-II (read Vectra/Insignia/Aura/everything mid-size at GM).
- A RWD Buick is not out of the question, but it won't happen for a while. The Velite was green-lighted, then turned down, but may come back.
The Lucerne may go RWD, but that depends on Cadillac.
- Cadillac will use Zeta to replace the STS and the DTS, but details are scarce and unconfirmed. We know the Ultra V8 program is dead, so no one even knows what will power it.
- Rumor has it that Zeta production of non-Camaros may move from Oshawa (due to increased production and labor costs)
to the already booming plants in Lansing, Michigan that already build the Lambda crossovers and Sigma-I/Sigma-II Cadillacs. This would split production between Australia, Canada and the United States, and rumors have flown that the
Michigan plant could build Aussie-only models as well.
- What other Zeta models are coming? The G8 is here now-ish. There will be a G8 ST by the end of the year (read Ute), but the Sportwagon has been axed in the US. The GMC brand will likely get its own version of the Zeta chassis to replace
both the GMT900 Sierra and GMT355 Canyon, to further separate it from the Chevrolet lineup. GMC may even replace its GMT900 Yukon with a Zeta-based crossover, which would be a new Holden Adventra of sorts.
- Oh, and what is going on with Alpha? Alpha, so far, is still going on. But, no steel has been laid for the final design as of yet. Its based on Zeta, obviously much smaller (think of the relationship between the Y-Body and Kappa), and much more of a lightweight design. Confusion exists because development should be further along if it is a 2011/2012 due date, and furthermore, if
Alpha and Kappa will merge to form the basis of not just 3-series fighters, but also small sports cars, possibly including the next Corvette.
- Damn the EPA. They did it. They made it complicated. So now we wait for GM to make their moves...
The Firebid/Trans-Am has always been better than its Camaro sister (minus my 1990 model Camaro 
)--from day one to the last day. 
) wisdom is once again killing the fun by legislating musclecars WE THE BUYING PUBLIC WANT out of your hands. And this is also the US automaker's faults for not spending the MONEY for R&D to develop alternatives to lazy low-revving V8's--and giving the people the CHOICE. If you had to choose between a rubbish-in-everyway 4/6cyl or a V8 that made good noises and tiremarks...honestly which would you choose? The GNX/T-Type and the Trans-Am GTA were anamolies in that arguement because GM finally did something right--and then promptly killed it because it was "hurting Corvette sales". **** you GM. I don't blame the buying public because they can only buy what's available...with exception to pig-headed overly patriotic hicks who have a closed mind when it comes to anything that comes from or is influenced by something non-American. The same people who won't buy modern "Japanese" cars because "they're not American" when some of them are designed and built in America for Americans.
