GM disbands unit that creates high performance vehicles

[fecurtis]

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/article/2009...NEWS/902189973

[Wannabe6MT]

Well this sucks.

[dmitriylm]

WOW. That's a bit heart breaking considering they produced some really well performing vehicles (even the Cobalt SS can rip on a track).

[Klubbheads]

Originally Posted by dmitriylm

WOW. That's a bit heart breaking considering they produced some really well performing vehicles (even the Cobalt SS can rip on a track).

My exact thought. Besides the vette, which has always been on top of its game, the other cars such as cobalt the the CTS are major competition to other cars in its class. Sad to see that they have to do this.

[SVLRx]

well get your ZR1's now, b/c in 20-30 years, it'll be the last of the BIG HP, high performance chevy's and will be a collectors car... B/c it's been reported that the next vette will be a lightweight car with a small turbo motor instead of a V8

[Wannabe6MT]

Say good bye to performance cars in general... V8s for sure anyways..

[Callaway]

That really sucks...this is one area of GM that I have been really impressed with.

[LightsOut]

Originally Posted by SVLRx

well get your ZR1's now, b/c in 20-30 years, it'll be the last of the BIG HP, high performance chevy's and will be a collectors car... B/c it's been reported that the next vette will be a lightweight car with a small turbo motor instead of a V8

that is also what said about the Mustang, turbo V6

[TwilightBlue]

They need to do something before they asked Uncle Sam for another $16.1B They are slated to cut an additional 47,000 jobs this year. They are trying to sell Hummer and Saab. The future of Saturn is up in the air right now.

[TwilightBlue]

Originally Posted by LightsOut

that is also what said about the Mustang, turbo V6

Let them put the ecoboost turbo in the Mustang, but it will never have that same exhaust growl again.

[IVRY PRL]

That is a massive truck load of fail. Someone find the pic and post it.

[ttrank]

This is no shock to me. They don't make much on those cars because so few are sold compared to the amount of R&D that goes into them.

[Jeff92se]

WTF? They are considering getting rid of Pontaic and Saturn but they KEEP Buick?!?!?!

[ttrank]

Must be a lot more old people than we think!

[TURBOTOM]

The Cadillac V's are great cars, some of the only american cars I would buy.