GM scraps FUN cars...
 

GM disbands unit that creates high-performance vehicles
By Jamie LaReau, Automotive News | 02/18/09, 5:14 pm et
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.

:eek:

Too bad most people aren't impressed with GM's "high performance" vehicles.

Cobalt SS? HHR anything? V-8 Colorado? These products will not be noticed or missed.

...

This is a good move for GM. Cut the flashy and produce a stable flagship line.

I remember when they closed the Van Nuys GM plant that made Firebirds and Trans Ams. After Smokey and the Bandit came out I loved driving past that plant.

They haven't had a car that captured much of anything in decades.

Even the brands they bought they mismanaged into bland and boring.

Very unfortunate...wonder if it includes the Corvette. When I was in the carmarket this past summer, I was very impressed with the Pontiac G8 GT after driving it. It's a beast, but what surprised me the most was the flat and tight handling. I had it on the short list for 2010 when my lease car goes back, I hope they decide to keep it (Ford has a nice, new 2010 Taurus SHO that looks pretty hot and has good numbers.)

Pontiac G8 is from Holden in Australia, where all cars are cool. And the only car on the chopping block that anyone will miss is the CTS-V. If the 'vette were in that group, the whole article would have been about it.

GM made fun cars? I just figured they put a bigger engine in the same old piece of shit, they actually needed a special division to come up with that crap, no wonder they're so fucked financially.

The CTS-V is cool I suppose, but Caddy's are still an old peoples car, no matter what engine you shoe horn under the hood.

They should try no competing against themselves so much in every segment. Whatever they sell in Chevy, they feel compelled to do the same for Pontiac (Cobalt, Pursuit). Or with trucks, they sell it as a Chevy, then they need a GM version (Colorado, Canyon). They're constantly competing against each other with thew same old crap.