| It is still not clear whether General Motors will use the | | | | with the plan of creating an upscale Cadillac that can |
| same rear wheel drive platform used for the new | | | | compete with cars such as the new Lexus LS460 or |
| Chevrolet Camaro or an all-wheel drive for its | | | | the BMW 7-series. |
| ultra-luxury Cadillac. GM Vice Chairman and product | | | | Lutz remarks shows one of the new realities that will |
| guru Robert Lutz recently told journalists at the | | | | have a significant influence on the automotive industry |
| Chicago Auto Show that it was a possibility. And if | | | | in the coming years. Capital is becoming scarce and |
| ever it does push through, one thing is for sure, quality | | | | except for Toyota, the cost of borrowing has gone up |
| auto parts and accessories such as GM carpet kits | | | | dramatically for automakers all over the world which |
| are going to be utilized for the ultra luxury Cadillac. | | | | lead them to explore various options that would help |
| Lutz also noted that as part of their global product | | | | them in conserving capital like for instance spinning off |
| strategy, the automaker would have lesser but more | | | | more products from one basic investment which has |
| flexible platforms that would accommodate a much | | | | become the trend among automakers today. |
| wider range of vehicles and designs. And an example | | | | Lutz also mentioned that General Motors is |
| of which is the new Camaro platform which could be | | | | continuously pooling all of its product resources from |
| used for other vehicles. Lutz has also given a hint why | | | | around the world. He said, "It doesn't matter where it is. |
| the launching of the new Camaro is delayed but he | | | | It's all one organization. We've finally realized not every |
| also added that the Camaro is scheduled to appear in | | | | region has to do its own product." He further added |
| 2009. The automaker has extended the utility of the | | | | that even the decisions on the engines to use in which |
| fundamental architecture of the new Camaro so that it | | | | products that traditionally been the responsibility of the |
| could be used as the platform for other vehicles. | | | | regional managers are being shaped by global forces |
| According to Lutz, "What you've got to understand is | | | | now. "One of the answers, which is being increasingly |
| that we've got this modular product architecture kit | | | | adopted in Europe and we plan to use it too, is to use |
| where we have two different lengths of rear | | | | engines in cars that are fundamentally way too small |
| overhang. So we can modify those elements any way | | | | and then turbocharged them. You could envision (the |
| we want. In the case of the Camaro, it's long short. If, | | | | Pontiac G8) with four-cylinder Cobalt engine but |
| for instance, we wanted to do a very large | | | | turbocharged to 270 to 280 horsepower. That's a |
| rear-wheel-drive Cadillac with more than eight cylinders | | | | formula that works great for fuel economy because |
| you could do long, long, long." He also added, "Its like a | | | | when you're not in the acceleration game you're |
| Lego set-you weld them together anyway you want." | | | | cruising along on a tiny, little engine. Trouble is that it |
| But for now GM has not yet released any official | | | | costs about $1400. Nothing is for free. I think we found |
| statement whether they are going ahead with their | | | | with direct fuel injection is we found it boosts power |
| plan of producing an ultra-luxury Cadillac. However, | | | | faster that it boosts fuel economy; I think we would |
| Mark LaNeve, GM Vice President of Sales, Service | | | | have preferred the opposite. |
| and Marketing said that they would like to push through | | | | |