GM reveals future car road map

General Motors threw itself a party this week, hosting media and consumers in an event to showcase upcoming models and technology. (Consumer Reports did not attend.) Center stage was the 2011 Chevrolet Volt and the bold announcement that it would achieve 230 mpg in the city, based on an upcoming EPA protocol. (Read: “2011 Chevrolet Volt: Fuel economy results may vary.”) GM officials also reaffirmed various brand positioning strategies: Buick will target Lexus, and Cadillac will compete with BMW. Sneak peeks revealed the future products designed for just that purpose.

In the short term, GM’s 2010 model-year changes show a focus on fuel economy and safety. 

Highlights from the GM road map:

Chevrolet alone is introducing 10 new models by end of 2011, including the 2011 Aveo, Cruze, and Volt. The Spark hatchback becomes the entry-level Chevrolet for 2012. The same year, the Camaro line gets a convertible. The C7 Corvette is scheduled as a 2013 model. The Chevy Orlando, a mini minivan, based on the Cruze is also in the plan.

Buick and GMC are adding 10 new entries, including a Buick plug-in hybrid small SUV, based on the Saturn Vue and Regal sedan in 2011. A freshened Enclave will follow the next year. Changes to the large body-on-frame trucks from the various brands are yet to be determined as the company wrestles with upcoming fuel economy standards. Rest assured, full-sized pickups will remain in the portfolio, but the SUV designs and platforms are subject to review.

Cadillac is introducing five new models through 2011. Most notable, Cadillac is taking aim at the BMW 3 Series with a sub-CTS model called ATS that will be offered in rear- and all-wheel drive. A hybrid version is possible.

The Cadillac XTS sedan will replace the DTS and STS for 2012, based on a global platform with front- and all-wheel drive. A premium coupe has been rumored, inspired by the striking, long-hooded Sixteen concept.

Clearly, General Motors has much up its proverbial sleeve. How the products measure up remains to be seen. Many recent GM models have performed well in Consumer Reports tests, though reliability continues to be mixed.

—Jeff Bartlett

Comments

[Cale]

"Buick will target Lexus, and Cadillac will compete with BMW."

This may not strike more readers as remarkable but apparently we live in an age where a company's performance in the marketplace is no longer a measure of their reputation. For crying out loud, GM just got out of bankruptcy protection and is owned, in large part, by the Federal Government and the Unions.

If GM pulls this off, it will be the business world equivalent of GM selling-out tickets to a Bobby Riggs vs. Roger Federer match.

[coolcar]

I wonder what GM's plan is for the Impala...