GM disbands unit that creates high-performance vehicles

[NFS4]

General Motors, focusing on mainstream products in a battle to survive, has scrapped a unit that produced high-performance vehicles.

GM on Wednesday disbanded High Performance Vehicle Operations, which is based at the company's suburban Detroit technical center, and redeployed its engineers, spokesman Vince Muniga said.

"All high-performance projects are on indefinite hold," Muniga said. "The engineers are moving into different areas of the organization, and they will work on Cadillacs, Buicks, Chevrolets and Pontiacs."

The unit created low-volume vehicles for GM's divisions designed to appeal to enthusiasts and bolster the company's image. Products included V-series Cadillacs and the Chevrolet Cobalt SS, HHR SS and a V-8 version of the Colorado.

Muniga said there are no plans for high-performance versions of upcoming cars.

The move is in the spirit of GM's viability plan delivered to the U.S. Treasury Department on Tuesday. In the plan, GM said its future-product focus is on fuel- efficient cars and crossovers. It also pledged to increase its current offering of six hybrids to 14 by 2012 and to 26 by 2014. GM also boosted its request for federal aid by as much as $16.6 billion.

The High Performance Vehicle Operations unit could be reinstated once GM regains its financial health, GM's Muniga said.

"These guys are pretty good at what they do," Muniga said, "They are moving into different areas to work on core products."

http://www.autoweek.com/articl...0218/CARNEWS/902189973

 

[Kabob]

Wow, and either a result or in spite of asking for another $14 billion too.

 

[zerocool84]

Makes sense but damn, they just came out with the new Cobalt SS that kicked everything else's ass. Would have been some good PR for them for the coming years.

 

[punjabiplaya]

<sigh>

 

[LOUISSSSS]

so GM now cuts everything that was cool about them. guess now they're just stuck with lower reliability vehicles and lower resale value (compared to their japanese competitors)

 

[Fenixgoon]

the Cobalt SS and CTS-V are definitely class leaders. Not sure about the Solstice GXP / Sky RL, but then when the Camaro SS comes that might set a standard as well. and the G8 is probably the best bang for buck sedan in the 30-40k range.

*cries* 🙁

 

[zerocool84]

Originally posted by: Fenixgoon
the Cobalt SS and CTS-V are definitely class leaders. Not sure about the Solstice GXP / Sky RL, but then when the Camaro SS comes that might set a standard as well. and the G8 is probably the best bang for buck sedan in the 30-40k range.

*cries* 🙁

At least the Camaro SS stays. They'll have to keep it to compete with the Stang.

 

[Ktulu]

This sucks. At least the folks aren't being let go. They might have good insight on how to make their current bread and butter products better (as long as the accountants stop medalling with the designs).

 

[PricklyPete]

A sad day as these really were GM's best products. But hopefully these bright chaps will infuse some quality into GM's more pedestrian products.

 

[ponyo]

Not only is this the end of Cobalt SS and CTS-V, it's end of ZR1 and Z06. Closing of High Performance Vehicle Operations is likely the signal of the end of the Corvette line in the future. It's not looking good for GM.

 

[Ktulu]

Originally posted by: PricklyPete
A sad day as these really were GM's best products. But hopefully these bright chaps will infuse some quality into GM's more pedestrian products.

Another bright spot is that this should open up more funds for R&D

 

[Vette73]

Originally posted by: LOUISSSSS
so GM now cuts everything that was cool about them. guess now they're just stuck with lower reliability vehicles and lower resale value (compared to their japanese competitors)

To bad fanyboys like yourself can;t see that GMs reliability is at or above most asian car makers.

 

[Strk]

Originally posted by: LOUISSSSS
so GM now cuts everything that was cool about them. guess now they're just stuck with lower reliability vehicles and lower resale value (compared to their japanese competitors)

Honda killed the S2000 and the NSX revival.

In other news, you're still a hack. Do you get joy out of passing off the this tiresome, uninformed drivel?

Originally posted by: Naustica
Not only is this the end of Cobalt SS and CTS-V, it's end of ZR1 and Z06. Closing of High Performance Vehicle Operations is likely the signal of the end of the Corvette line in the future. It's not looking good for GM.

I'm sure they'll bring back certain performance vehicles once they get back to profitability.

 

[SparkyJJO]

Originally posted by: Naustica
Not only is this the end of Cobalt SS and CTS-V, it's end of ZR1 and Z06. Closing of High Performance Vehicle Operations is likely the signal of the end of the Corvette line in the future. It's not looking good for GM.

Corvette won't stay away forever.... I'm no pro at any of this, but it strikes me as a survival method that once things are back to being stable again the vette would return, hopefully along with some more performance lines too. I hope anyway.

Originally posted by: Marlin1975

Originally posted by: LOUISSSSS
so GM now cuts everything that was cool about them. guess now they're just stuck with lower reliability vehicles and lower resale value (compared to their japanese competitors)

To bad fanyboys like yourself can;t see that GMs reliability is at or above most asian car makers.

Unfortunately, how he thinks is how a lot of people think. Otherwise, the big 3 wouldn't be in as much trouble as they are right now.

 

[marvdmartian]

While it sucks that it will keep them from developing new cool ultra-car designs, the bottom line is that their return on the investment of keeping that team of (what I assume are) high priced engineers churning out low volume sellers was probably pretty low. I'm sure these guys will still think up cool stuff on their own, hopefully someone at GM will pay attention to those ideas and incorporate them into mainstream models. 🙂

 

[BUTCH1]

Originally posted by: Marlin1975

Originally posted by: LOUISSSSS
so GM now cuts everything that was cool about them. guess now they're just stuck with lower reliability vehicles and lower resale value (compared to their japanese competitors)

To bad fanyboys like yourself can;t see that GMs reliability is at or above most asian car makers.

He probably drives an '86 Accord W/fart can and thinks he can keep up with a 5.0..

 

[punjabiplaya]

I was never a fan of American cars. However, in the last ~5 yrs, American cars, especially GM and Ford have been quite good. The sad thing is that most people don't realize and are stubborn. Japanese cars have gotten boring, dull, and soulless while Euroboxes have become so techno-oriented that everything breaks. I guess we'll all have to buy Hyundais now... (sarcasm for those of you without any gray matter).

 

[GuitarDaddy]

Oh damn:Q Very, very sad day. How can they think this is a good move

As a long time chevy fan and owner I can say this will irrepairably damage their rep. They can't compete as a generic econobox maker. Their hotrod and racing heritage is the main reason they have kept the customers they have.

Most of the vehicles I've owned and driven for the last 15yr came through that division🙁

Make's me want to mothball the SS I'm currently driving

 

[StageLeft]

Damn that is fairly significant.

I'm sure they'll bring back certain performance vehicles once they get back to profitability.

Sweet, I'm going to start saving up for the 2019 Corvette!

 

[Viper GTS]

Wow that is sad news indeed. Is there any chance that the Corvette will survive this butchering? I mean I can see axing performance versions of the HHR (wtf?) but losing the Corvette?

🙁

Viper GTS

 

[Bignate603]

Originally posted by: LOUISSSSS
so GM now cuts everything that was cool about them. guess now they're just stuck with lower reliability vehicles and lower resale value (compared to their japanese competitors)

I'm astounded at the amount of fanboyism that can be crammed into one person.

 

[AdamK47]

Originally posted by: Bignate603

Originally posted by: LOUISSSSS
so GM now cuts everything that was cool about them. guess now they're just stuck with lower reliability vehicles and lower resale value (compared to their japanese competitors)

I'm astounded at the amount of fanboyism that can be crammed into one person.

I'm not. There's a severe lack of non-Asians on any of his social network pages. He's one of THOSE insular culture asians.

 

[Jabbernyx]

🙁

 

[LOUISSSSS]

sales per division of cars speaks for itself. if they're not selling, they're not profitable; then cut.
GM is doing what they think will keep them alive. that IS the honest truth. isn't "patriotism" being a fanboy? i see that all over these forums.

and for that guy above who commented on what he thinks i drive; i drive an 05 accord v6. got a problem? it hasn't been to the dealer or shop once in the past 4 years.

 

[LTC8K6]

Exactly the wrong move, imo.