GM's idiocy shown in small car "greenwashing" bait & switch

[MetroMPG]

GM's idiocy can be astounding.

This week they revealed 3 "A" segment compact designs at the NY auto show and asked the US public to "vote" on their web site for the one they like most.



http://www.greencarcongress.com/2007...es_t.html#more

Predictably, the stunt generated LOTS of buzz, and nearly 150,000 "votes" in a couple of days.

Then, in another story, Lutz states GM is incapable of increasing fuel economy by 4% a year without adding up to $6K US to the price of its vehicles.

http://www.greencarcongress.com/2007...tz_propos.html

In the same interview, he says GM will build one of the 3 small cars.

BUT...

Quote:

Lutz said that all of the minicars would get in the high 40 or 50 mpg fuel economy range, could be priced starting at $10,000 and could be built in either China or India. The vehicles currently are not being designed to meet US safety requirements.

What a dolt.

[MetroMPG]

I think two of them look very truckish.

It's as though GM is so pathetically desperate that consumers please please please keep buying their big fat profit margin trucks, that desperation is being expressed even in their smallest designs, like some kind of Freudian slip.

Heck it's not just GM - look at DCX's truck-esque Caliber. Its Hornet concept even has truckish elements to it.

Somebody needs to tell the Big 2.5 to truck off!

[AndrewJ]

I think that their sales figures are a "truck off" enough.

I'm waiting with baited breath for the day they'll ask for a government bailout, ala the big airlines, because no-one will buy their guzzlers anymore and their FE compacts are still on the drawing board.

[RH77]

The green model appears to have an aerodynamic design that could offer better FE. Honestly, it looks like a modified Opel/Vauxhaull/Saturn Astra. The second and third look like the PT-Cruiser / Chevy HHR shape that offer 4-doors and poor Cd. I can attest from driving both that the FE stinks on both -- especially the PT.

Regarding the Caliber: what a painfully bad replacement for the Neon! Not even close -- in any similarities. At least the Neon had handling and FE going for it...

RH77

[MetroMPG]

GM has recently said that they will produce the Beat (green model - an no apologies to Honda for stealing their name). But it likely will never see North America.

In defense of the trucklet microcar shapes, space maximization is an, ahem, big issue when you've got such a small footprint.

That said, it doesn't force them to paste such truckish design cues on them.

[MetroMPG]

Chevrolet Beat to go into production for global markets, but not US yet

[roflwaffle]

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

That said, it doesn't force them to paste such truckish design cues on them.

I believe most manufacturers impose larger relative features on their smaller vehicles so that consumers may be more inclined to switch to a "grown up" version (eg Corolla to Camry or Colorado to Silverado) that looks similar but larger when purchasing a more expensive vehicle.

[RH77]

Originally Posted by roflwaffle

I believe most manufacturers impose larger relative features on their smaller vehicles so that consumers may be more inclined to switch to a "grown up" version (eg Corolla to Camry or Colorado to Silverado) that looks similar but larger when purchasing a more expensive vehicle.

"Upsizing" has long been considered an "Upgrade" in the U.S. In the GM world, Why not achieve for a larger Buick or Caddy when you trade-in that Chevy?

When you rent a car, a bigger car is an "upgrade".

When you retire, a Ford Crown-Vic is waiting for you. Bigger, better?

The same goes for the drivetrain. Examine the Honda Fit and the "Jazz" twin offered in the rest-of-world market. We're only offered the larger 1.5L VTEC engine, as opposed to the unique and efficient, 1.2-1.4L i-DSI (dual spark plug per cylinder) powerplant.

So back the the Beat. It will likely be designed and manufactured by GM's Korean subsidiaries. Here we have the Aveo, which is essentially a re-badged Daewoo. In my testing, the 1.6L, iron blocked, short-geared Aveo (sedan or 5-door) gets considerably less FE than a Chevy Cobalt with the 2.2L engine and fully-optioned -- this is in both city and highway operation.

Why? Because it's cheaper to manufacture. The Aveo is actually fun to drive, but offers less creature comforts than rivals and sacrifices engine technology to make a profit. Expect the same from anything Beat-related in the U.S. and Canada.

My advice: "Upgrade to Downsizing" -- but beware of GM's recent "get what you pay for" mentality: Making a profit while downplaying the importance and efficiency of a small car. Examine the actual emissions and FE performance of the vehicle in question. Look at what happened at past models...

Where are the Ford Festivas, Mazda 323s, Suzuki-clones, Honda CRXs and Subaru Justy models of this era? Same for the smaller models of existing vehicles: particularly guilty -- Honda (Civic, Accord) and Toyota (Corolla and Camry)? The Tercel is gone too. The Yaris is a reasonable attempt, but again, the drivetrain is larger.

RH77

[roflwaffle]

Haven't the Tercel/Echo/Yaris always had a 1.5L engine?