Chazman

That would be one way. Another way is to continue to make slow, steady, focused progress - building off of the work done over the past 5 years. A problem which GM has, is that it spends billions trying something, and when it doesn't work as well as hoped, instead of just fixing it, they nuke the whole deal and do something else. There's something to be said about fixing what needs fixing and focusing on continuing progress.

I thought that too. But since Zeta is on death watch, the DT7 has been axed, and Sigma's replacement architecture is up in the air, it could go the other way. Maybe PCS might want to put his 2 cents in.

To sell cars and craft it's image. All segments are doing poorly now, (except for Mini Cooper). You need to be ready with relevant product when things turn around though.

No, I don't think that GM should do it like that again. When the CTS first came out, I think that there were those within GM who felt that the CTS couldn't go toe to toe with BMW. The plan - as I understand it - was to create more "value" by selling a 5 sized car at 3 prices. And perhaps, they were right. My '06 CTS lacks some polish in the powertrain refinement and interior departments, compared to BMW. Those areas are much improved with the new CTS though - ESPECIALLY the interior. Anyway, fast forward. It's becoming pretty apparent that if GM wants to offer volume RWD cars in the near future, they'll need to be more CAFE friendly. That means smaller, lighter cars. I can imagine the next gen CTS coming down to 3 Series/C-Class/IS/G37 size. It just makes sense. It would also make financial sense to merge some future products together. Having BOTH Oshawa and Lansing assembly plants SEVERELY underutilized, building two different RWD architectures seems like a financial nightmare to me. Merge architectures with the next version(s) of the CTS (sedan/coupe/convertible/wagon - maybe crossover), and the next Camaro, as Lutz has implied, and you've got something. And I also think that lighter, smaller versions of both, if done really well, can potentially open the door for FAR better global penetration as well.

Cadillac needs some focused leadership right now. Now that Taylor is gone, it seems to be wandering aimlessly. At this point, I see Alpha as absolutely critical for Cadillac, both here and globally. Perhaps work will restart on it after GM declares Chapter 11.

A good start for Cadillac is to be a credible competitor for BMW/MB/Audi - here, in the US. Walk before you run.

My take... California to President BO: "You know, we've got some air quality issues in our urban areas, since we've never really wanted to invest meaningfully in mass transit or anything like that. Anyways, we were thinking that the rest of the country can pay for whatever emission standards our cooky CARB comes up with" President BO: "Now that sounds like a great idea!"

I predict that you ain't seen nothin' yet. This admin has been in less than week... So far... 1) Executive order to close Camp Delta, with NO plan on where to put the worst terrorists in the world. 2) Executive order restricting how terrorsists can be interrogated, now they can only be asked if they want to share any info. 3) Almost $ ONE TRILLION in pork barrel. 4),5),6), some other stuff. 7) Now this.

This will be a loooooooong, painful, 4 years.

And what's supposed to happen then?

Well.......................... I guess it's good to have a goal.

Actually, I think a nice turbo diesel would be pretty cool. But to be honest, once I would see the $5,000 -$6,000 tab for one, I'd probably pass on it.

I can't imagine anyone buying a turbo 3 banger in a two ton car.

Hybrids and diesels cost some bucks. Personally, I'm not that sold on the efficacy of hybrids, I see it as an appeasement to the green folks, who don't know enough to compare cost vs value. Diesels I like, but are VERY expensive to make emissions legal in the US - on top of them being just plain expensive. Plus, diesel fuel is expensive too. I just don't think there's a market for a $35-40,000 base G8 with diesel or hybrid. I think it would also help if G8 sales weren't so soft.

3 years ago, right after the concept's intro and before the Camaro was "officially approved", I had a very long conversation with the head of the program. The purpose was to get my take on certain areas of this car. My very first comment to him, was my concern over using Zeta for Camaro. I was concerned about the high cowl, large size and of course weight. He responded that the cowl would be what it would be, but the rest was not an issue. Not to give out too many details, but it was his belief that the car would come in smaller and quite abit lighter than it actually did. I seriously wonder, if GM management was sold a bill of goods on the capabilities of Zeta?

I agree completely. If GM had released the Zeta Impala, I'm pretty sure that I would have bought one. But a Zeta Camaro just leaves me cold.

Oh, I know bud. I've known that since - when did this site start? - since there was only a handful of us here BS-ing about cars.

Yeah, I feel ya, trust me. Why wouldn't you buy a Camaro or G8? Or did you have your heart set on the ST?

I'm told that talk of a 6th gen Camaro is little more than just that right now-talk. But it's remarkable to me (in a good way) that talk even exists - considering the 5th gen isn't even out yet. So maybe it's just past the "twinkle" stage. But lots more has to happen first. First GM has to keep from melting down, and second work on Alpha has to start again. Beyond that, the 5th gen needs to be successful enough to give the next car a window of opportunity to go through the approval process.

I'm disappointed as well, but I don't want to see the brand snuffed out. I mean first of all, where were all of these big wigs during this car's developement? Why didn't they express these concerns early on? Anyway, water under the bridge now. I just want the Camaro to survive now. Survive, eventhough it's the only Zeta going down a line designed to build several hundred thousand cars. Survive, eventhough draconian CAFE standards are coming. Survive long enough to have an orderly lifecycle and hopefully a better replacement.

I'm told that the Converj Concept is actually the original Alpha styling proposal.

That there is the most newsworthy part. The rest we already knew for a looong time. The other newsworthy part here, (if you are a Camaro fan), is that Lutz actually came out and discussed the 6th gen Camaro. Beyond the fact that the 5th gen isn't even out yet, I've been hearing from various sources that the 5th gen Camaro isn't finding favor with GM management - due to it's large size and weight - and the future of the brand itself was in great jeopardy. A here comes good ole Bob and tells the world that a future Camaro ,(or as he pronounces it Ca- MAH- ro), is being discussed as well as a NEW MORE APPROPRIATE RWD ARCHITECTURE TO PUT IT ON. I don't know why some of you guys are crying. This is the best freaking news I've heard from GM in over a year - even if there is a component of vaporware here, I'll grasp at what I can get.

Nothing new here guys, other than official confirmation that GM is at least talking about a smaller, lighter 6th gen Camaro which will share it's architecture with a "next gen Cadillac sedan". Hallelujah!

I read somewhere that Saturn made a small profit in 1993. The rest of the years were money losers.

But I guess this thread is about Buick...... A reborn, 21st century Riv for Buick, works for me.