GM’s current financial plight (and to be honest, boredom) got me to thinking; they have become renowned for their badge engineering, an inexcusable excess. Yet, they have shown they can build world class automobiles (V-series, new Corvette) and cars with great consumer demand (Escalade, Impala, Hummer H3). Shouldn’t GM be on the road to better places? They can be. I may only be the manager of a piddly little manufacturing company, but it is one that has been profitable every year I have been in charge; and sometimes an outside perspective can help.

So, my plan for saving GM:

Consolidate. Trim. Cut the fat. GM has too many divisions. Too many badge engineered cars that compete more with themselves than with outside competition. And too many products that just don’t fit or don’t compete.
_________________________________________

Buick
They were a great car company that made some true classics. Well, so was Oldsmobile. Unfortunately, they only appeal to senior buyers. And the old folks are more interested in Lexus nowadays. Nix Buick. Gone.

Pontiac
Entry level sport was a formula that worked well. Once. Go back to it. The Solstice (with a little tweaking) is a great car. Or better yet, salvage what is good from Pontiac (read Solstice) and nix Pontiac too. Is it really needed anymore? I say no. Forthcoming G8? I agree it will probably do well. But it does not have to be a Pontiac. See Chevy Impala.

Saturn
This was a great idea. A different kind of car company. A different kind of car. Too bad it was badly planned and poorly executed. And lost a lot of money on top of it. Now that Saturn is back under the umbrella of GM control, they are simply the new Oldsmobile. The Sky is an overpriced Solstice. The VUE is laughable. Rebadge the Aura and get rid of Saturn only as quickly as is humanly possible.

Cadillac
GM has proven with Cadillac that they know how to design and build great cars. The CTS has been a commercial success, and the 2nd generation is bound to put them on the world stage. The DTS may be a joke to enthusiasts, but it is still in demand from the older crowd, and a very nice car indeed. The Escalade continues to thrive. The STS is probably now redundant with the CTS redesign. I am sure it is on the way out. The XLR, while a worthwhile sports car, is facing a German dominated market that is not ready for it. Nix the STS and XLR, add a more sporting DTS option, give the CTS a northstar option, and make the CTS-V a player again. (And yes, offer it with an automatic.) Perhaps bring the Chinese Buick Park Avenue here and sell it as the new Seville.

Chevrolet
Impala. RWD full size sedan. Take the G8 and replace it with real fascias. Fuel-efficient V6, hipo V6, V8, and monster V8 options if you please. Make the name Impala mean something again.

Malibu. FWD midsize sedan. Currently a mockery. Replace it with the Aura. Or something else suitable to do battle with the Camry and Accord. Prove to the world that America CAN build a real family sedan. And offer AWD.

Cobalt. Cancel it. Fast.
Cavalier has heritage. History. Design a new one that will put the Civic to shame. 30 mpg and 0-60 in 7-8 seconds. It can be done. Sedan, coupe and convertible.

Solstice. If Pontiac is gone, make sure to bring the Solstice to Chevrolet. Maybe call it the Corvair. (GM wanted to market this as the Corvette’s little brother anyway.)

Camaro. The 2009 is arguably one of the sexiest cars every designed. Anywhere. Like the Impala, fuel-efficient V6, hipo V6, V8, and monster V8 options if you please. Convertible too.

Blazer. Bring it back a la Acadia. This is a fine CUV. Very few want a body on frame SUV anymore. And those who do, send them to GMC.

Silverado. Since it has a broad customer base, keep it going with simple V6 and V8 versions for the private consumer.

That is it. That is all the Chevys you need. Keep it simple. Chevy does not need 15 models to confuse consumers anymore. But what about the Corvette? Relax. Read on.

Corvette
With the introduction of the C6.5, the Corvette is finally a world-class sportscar. In many parts of the world, Corvette is not a Chevrolet, it is simply Corvette. And so it should be in America as well. Chevy may be America’s apple pie, but Corvette is America’s sportscar. Corvette should be a marque, not a nameplate anymore. It has become much more than that. And it is time all of America (or at least a greater portion of America) can have one.

Base. The time is nigh for the entry-level Corvette to become a reality. 350 hp. Low rent interior. Run-of the mills GM sound system and hvac. Cloth seats. No sound deadening. Hand operated top on the convertible. Coupe (no fastback or targa) starting just over $30k. Convertible around $32k.
Z51. Same as currently on sale. 430hp. Leather seating, luxury interior appointments. NAV optional. Coupe, fastback, targa top, soft-top power convertible, and power retractable hardtop versions. Keep it around $50k-$55k.
Z06. Similiar as currently on sale. 550 hp. Ultra lightweight. No sound deadening. Manual Trans only. Limited Options. Coupe only. Keep it under $70k.
ZR1. The new uber-Vette. The new XLR-V. To take on Mercedes. 650-700 hp. Automatic only. Coupe and power retractable hardtop only. Full leather interior. NAV, high-end sound and infotainment, and every techno-goodie in the GM arsenal. Maybe even ZR1 unique fascias. Go all out. $130k-$150k.

GMC
This should be GM’s truck division. From low-rent workhorse, to high end hauler.
Sierra. Offer the full range of cheap vinyl V6, to luxury leather V8 and turbodiesel and duallie.
Envoy. Continuing as current. And make sure to offer the Envoy Denali (in lieu of the defunct Trailblazer SS). 500 hp to put Cherokee SRT8 in its place.
Yukon/Suburban. The full range of family and luxury SUVs
Acadia. Continuing as current. Offer a 350 hp Denali as well.
Jimmy. Bring back the name and make it a compact SUV to take on RAV4 and CRV. Design and market it correctly!
And let the compact pickup go, for now. The Japs have that locked up anyway.

HUMMER
As wasteful and overpriced as they are, there is demand for them. No sense in fixing what ain't broken.
______________________________________________

That’s it. Maybe I am crazy. If so, let me know.

Interesting...though, at this point, GM is over the "hill" and now it's just making sure they continue putting out better and better products, and just weed out the last few remaining "old GM" remnants. There really isn't much, just things like the W-body cars (Lacrosse, Grand Prix), and then getting things that are "mostly" there re-done again to really crank up the looks and performance.

The trucks are award winning and easily the best on the market for the time being, but still not 100% perfect, the newest of the cars are really, truly dead on, like the CTS and the family of large GM crossovers, the Lambdas, that they still can't meet demand fully with. And others.

They're not still ultimately completely done with anything, but right now, GM is far and away ahead of all the other domestic makers, and even in a lot of respects, beating the pants off several imports just in product alone. There's a lot more to come, and still a lot more to do, but GM isn't in trouble at this point anymore...at least not to the likes of Ford (who will put out one generally good thing, then a mess, then a half-half) or Chrysler (really a disaster on wheels, but hopefully seeing a GM-like turnaround over the next couple of years.

OTHERWISE, I disagree with most of what you "think"...and it very much comes off as the ideas of a misinformed journalist's view on a company that is doing very, very well.

Saturn is doing extremely well, Buick is now alive and burning daylight with the incredible Enclave (which will be lending character to upcoming sedans), GMC is a very "status symbol" truck/SUV brand, Chevy is the brand for everyone with a range that crosses all lines, Pontiac is going to get there with new product soon, and Cadillac, even just based on the CTS and Escalade at this point, is almost guaranteed success, especially with an extended car line that draws on what makes a CTS so good.

Things like the Cavalier, which has history, but a laughable subpar one, AND the Malibu which was just redesigned and is to be out in November--sharing a lot with the Aura, but looking even crisper--comments are just misinformed. Kind of like the "Blazer" idea, too, which is soon to be out as the '09 Chevy Traverse, a large crossover based on the same bones as the GMC Acadia, but with Chevy looks and trim inside and out.

BASICALLY? Some interesting points, but mostly misinformed and not in touch with how well certain things are doing and where the market is and is going, for GM.

I would say what GM needs change peoples perceptions more than anything. There are still a lot of people out there who believe what the Magazines and media have to say, they never here about any of the the problems the Import manufactures have and they alway here when GM has a problem.

Hey the service has a bit more to offer, but I wouldn't say that is just GM that is a lot of companies today.

a company that is doing very, very well.

I guess you and I differ on the opinion of a "company that is doing very, very well." They may just be returning to profitability, but losing over 12 billion dollars in the last 2 years, and still having negative cash flow is hardly what I would call doing very, very well.

I guess you and I differ on the opinion of a "company that is doing very, very well." They may just be returning to profitability, but losing over 12 billion dollars in the last 2 years, and still having negative cash flow is hardly what I would call doing very, very well.

I concur, they could still be doing better...BUT, in the scope of the ever up and down and to the left auto industry, both domestic and import, they are doing quite well as of late. Negative cash flow and all, for the industry lately, it's not all that bad.

Their biggest issues are still the juggernauts known as health insurance and the UAW, still trying to get over the hump of "old" GM vs. "new" more completely, and weed out other little things piece by piece.

I think what "got me" the most by what you were saying was just the product comments. They DO still need to trim things a bit, here and there, and know it. BUT we're now beyond even the question of brands evaporating, and for the very most part, they know exactly where the products are going and need to, and most of the current products are already better than competing models, head to toe. Could a lot still be a LOT better? Yes, but at the same time, many of those already have redesigns 70% here, while the designers just throw a new grille here, and a new color there to slightly liven up the older existing models.

Basically, you just aren't up to date enough with the happenings of GM on the product side, and that's my beef with the post. There are good points and I HEARTILY AGREE on still not being in the black in many regards, but things are going quite well right now, and will only improve.

There's many competitors who can't even come close to saying the same right now, mainly their domestic competitors Ford and Chrysler, AND in many product lines, better than falling stars (even if media outlets and certain "professional" writers won't acknowledge it) like Toyota, for example.

So, for GM, in my view, the list needs to continue as:
1) Product, product, product.
2) Perception, perception.
3) Marketing and dealers.
4) Product...

I'm not a sole fan of any one brand or manufacturer, but each should be recognized equally for all that's good just as much as what is still in need.

All I can say is AMEN to what you said about the Impala JimmyH! At a car show when I bent down to see underneath I was aghast at the lack of differential! I asked the salesman and he said it was indeed a FWD. *spits cabbage* WHAT are you kidding me?! What kinda police service would want this?

PS: Me likey the steering wheel cover. It's a 40 year old product, but I still think those are the classiest looking and most practical.

Now damn it... I probably would have just left this whole thing along had you not gone after Buick. But you did, so now I'm going to have to jump in...

You set about this grand, underlying theme for your restructuring plan, yet when you came to present the individual arguments the whole thing became chock full of contradictions with both the overall theme and between some of the points themselves.



GM’s current financial plight (and to be honest, boredom) got me to thinking; they have become renowned for their badge engineering, an inexcusable excess. Yet, they have shown they can build world class automobiles (V-series, new Corvette) and cars with great consumer demand (Escalade, Impala, Hummer H3). Shouldn’t GM be on the road to better places? They can be. I may only be the manager of a piddly little manufacturing company, but it is one that has been profitable every year I have been in charge; and sometimes an outside perspective can help.

So, my plan for saving GM:

Consolidate. Trim. Cut the fat. GM has too many divisions. Too many badge engineered cars that compete more with themselves than with outside competition. And too many products that just don’t fit or don’t compete.
_________________________________________

Buick
They were a great car company that made some true classics. Well, so was Oldsmobile. Unfortunately, they only appeal to senior buyers. And the old folks are more interested in Lexus nowadays. Nix Buick. Gone.

Aside from being the cornerstone to what would later become the world's largest automotive manufacturer, Buick still holds an important place in the General's lineup. Given the fact that GM has transitioned Cadillac away from a "traditional" American luxury car-maker to a performance oriented luxury car-maker, this leaves Buick to fill that role. Just because you neither like nor see the point of this segment doesn't mean it's not needed. For a lot of the 60+ crowd, their ass dictates car purchases much more than "taught european handling and knock your teeth out performance." My father is a prime example of this - this is a man who has never given any Buick a second look in his entire life, yet now he is seriously considering getting into a new Lucerne. Should GM just up and concede this segment simply because it doesn't cater to a younger crowd? Lexus is a force to be reckoned with not because it prioritizes performance but because it puts emphasis on quiet, comfortable, low-key, conservatively styled luxury. Whether you tend to agree or not, Buick is in the best position to represent this segment for GM. With Cadillac's previously noted move towards performance-luxury, this leaves more than enough room for Buick to move more upscale. There is nothing wrong with having one division take on the likes of BMW and Mercedes and another to take on Lexus since those particular foreign makes cater to two totally different crowds within the luxury market. Buick already has a great starting point with the Enclave and with their rumored products coming down the pipeline they will be able to further solidify their image/position in the marketplace. Again, there's nothing wrong with catering to an older crowd - have you checked the average age of Lexus owners. All that's necessary is continued improvement in product because - product sells. They don't need to completely change perceptions, they just need to emphasize their strengths.

Pontiac
Entry level sport was a formula that worked well. Once. Go back to it. The Solstice (with a little tweaking) is a great car. Or better yet, salvage what is good from Pontiac (read Solstice) and nix Pontiac too. Is it really needed anymore? I say no. Forthcoming G8? I agree it will probably do well. But it does not have to be a Pontiac. See Chevy Impala.

This is one of the few points where I agree with you. I've felt that Pontiac has been a redundant brand for quite some time. They've never done anything to back up their claims as the "excitement" division and they produce. IMO the ugliest cars in the entire company. Some are now saying Pontiac is poised to become the "American BMW," I thought that's what Cadillac was doing. The only sales Pontiac takes away from are those of other GM divisions. Cannibalism is a bad thing and the General's money would be better spent elsewhere.

Saturn
This was a great idea. A different kind of car company. A different kind of car. Too bad it was badly planned and poorly executed. And lost a lot of money on top of it. Now that Saturn is back under the umbrella of GM control, they are simply the new Oldsmobile. The Sky is an overpriced Solstice. The VUE is laughable. Rebadge the Aura and get rid of Saturn only as quickly as is humanly possible.

I disagree with your stance on Saturn and will also use it to point out a glaring omission on your point, and that is your absence of Saab in this whole thing. I think that Saab should be dropped from the NA market completely and be left to compete solely in overseas markets. GM should make Saturn the "American Saab." It's okay to rebadge cars as long as the car's you're rebadging are not offered in the same market. Saturn should be emphasized as GM's low-cost, European-inspired car maker. Keep their price points on par or slightly below similar offerings from Chevrolet.

Cadillac
GM has proven with Cadillac that they know how to design and build great cars. The CTS has been a commercial success, and the 2nd generation is bound to put them on the world stage. The DTS may be a joke to enthusiasts, but it is still in demand from the older crowd, and a very nice car indeed. The Escalade continues to thrive. The STS is probably now redundant with the CTS redesign. I am sure it is on the way out. The XLR, while a worthwhile sports car, is facing a German dominated market that is not ready for it. Nix the STS and XLR, add a more sporting DTS option, give the CTS a northstar option, and make the CTS-V a player again. (And yes, offer it with an automatic.) Perhaps bring the Chinese Buick Park Avenue here and sell it as the new Seville.

Cadillac needs to continue it's trend towards the performance-luxury market and should develop it's entire product line around that focus. They should use BMW as their benchmark for every vehicle. The new DTS/STS replacement should lean more towards the STS than the DTS. The DTS contradicts Cadillac's intended mission and should be left in the hands of Buick, a la the Lucerne (which should be renamed the Park Avenue). The Chinese Park Avenue should come here but be given not to Cadillac, but to Buick as the Roadmaster - with the Chinese Lacrosse coming over as the Buick Regal. Cadillac can not be left to straddle the fence between "traditional" and "performance" luxury. It's either one or the other and GM would be better served to pursue performance with this division.

Chevrolet
Impala. RWD full size sedan. Take the G8 and replace it with real fascias. Fuel-efficient V6, hipo V6, V8, and monster V8 options if you please. Make the name Impala mean something again.

Malibu. FWD midsize sedan. Currently a mockery. Replace it with the Aura. Or something else suitable to do battle with the Camry and Accord. Prove to the world that America CAN build a real family sedan. And offer AWD.

Cobalt. Cancel it. Fast.
Cavalier has heritage. History. Design a new one that will put the Civic to shame. 30 mpg and 0-60 in 7-8 seconds. It can be done. Sedan, coupe and convertible.

Solstice. If Pontiac is gone, make sure to bring the Solstice to Chevrolet. Maybe call it the Corvair. (GM wanted to market this as the Corvette’s little brother anyway.)

Camaro. The 2009 is arguably one of the sexiest cars every designed. Anywhere. Like the Impala, fuel-efficient V6, hipo V6, V8, and monster V8 options if you please. Convertible too.

Blazer. Bring it back a la Acadia. This is a fine CUV. Very few want a body on frame SUV anymore. And those who do, send them to GMC.

Silverado. Since it has a broad customer base, keep it going with simple V6 and V8 versions for the private consumer.

That is it. That is all the Chevys you need. Keep it simple. Chevy does not need 15 models to confuse consumers anymore. But what about the Corvette? Relax. Read on.

Corvette
With the introduction of the C6.5, the Corvette is finally a world-class sportscar. In many parts of the world, Corvette is not a Chevrolet, it is simply Corvette. And so it should be in America as well. Chevy may be America’s apple pie, but Corvette is America’s sportscar. Corvette should be a marque, not a nameplate anymore. It has become much more than that. And it is time all of America (or at least a greater portion of America) can have one.

Base. The time is nigh for the entry-level Corvette to become a reality. 350 hp. Low rent interior. Run-of the mills GM sound system and hvac. Cloth seats. No sound deadening. Hand operated top on the convertible. Coupe (no fastback or targa) starting just over $30k. Convertible around $32k.
Z51. Same as currently on sale. 430hp. Leather seating, luxury interior appointments. NAV optional. Coupe, fastback, targa top, soft-top power convertible, and power retractable hardtop versions. Keep it around $50k-$55k.
Z06. Similiar as currently on sale. 550 hp. Ultra lightweight. No sound deadening. Manual Trans only. Limited Options. Coupe only. Keep it under $70k.
ZR1. The new uber-Vette. The new XLR-V. To take on Mercedes. 650-700 hp. Automatic only. Coupe and power retractable hardtop only. Full leather interior. NAV, high-end sound and infotainment, and every techno-goodie in the GM arsenal. Maybe even ZR1 unique fascias. Go all out. $130k-$150k.

Chevrolet has always held the dichotomy of being GM's bread and butter division and GM's performance division. It's been this way for a long time and it should stay this way. Their bread and butter models should mirror the price points of Saturn but be geared towards the more traditional American car rather than Saturn's european image. The only way the Solstice should remain is by differentiating it as a hardtop/coupe only model, if it is to stay the same it's not only less popular than the Sky it's also redundant and a waste of money, so it should go. Many of the Chevy mainstays should continue with the option of "SS" models. The Corvette is the Chevrolet Corvette and it should remain so. It is the far extreme that retains balance to Chevrolets proven dichotomy. It exemplifies America - it is the American sports car from America's brand. It works, it's always worked. You shouldn't mess with what works.

GMC
This should be GM’s truck division. From low-rent workhorse, to high end hauler.
Sierra. Offer the full range of cheap vinyl V6, to luxury leather V8 and turbodiesel and duallie.
Envoy. Continuing as current. And make sure to offer the Envoy Denali (in lieu of the defunct Trailblazer SS). 500 hp to put Cherokee SRT8 in its place.
Yukon/Suburban. The full range of family and luxury SUVs
Acadia. Continuing as current. Offer a 350 hp Denali as well.
Jimmy. Bring back the name and make it a compact SUV to take on RAV4 and CRV. Design and market it correctly!
And let the compact pickup go, for now. The Japs have that locked up anyway.

You talk of badge-engineering as GM's crux. GMC is a prime example of this . If Chevrolet is to continue making trucks and SUVs then there is no reason to have GMC. If GMC is to remain it must have a dedicated purpose, a "raison d'etre." For this to happen, Chevrolet must stop making trucks and SUVs and focus solely on cars. Personally I like that option and feel that GMC should be GM's "TRUCK" division. But I don't think there will never not be a Chevy truck.. which means GMCs entire lineup will continue to be completely badge engineered, which means it's redundant, which means it has to go.

HUMMER
As wasteful and overpriced as they are, there is demand for them. No sense in fixing what ain't broken.

Again we talk about badge engineering. Save for the original H1(which they stopped making I believe for the public I believe), this is nothing but a completely badge-engineered division that caters to nothing but wanton excess. This is perhaps GMs most useless and wasteful division. There is no need for them especially if GMC is to be the General's "truck" division or if both GMC and Chevrolet are to continue making SUVs. The only possible reason for Hummer to remain is if they become GMs sole maker of SUVs, which will never happen. So once again, they are redundant which means they too have to go.

So basically it seems like your plan revolves around keeping the badge-engineered vehicles that you either like/see a need for and getting rid of the ones you don't like/don't see a need for.

The fact remains that GM is currently brand heavy by two, possibly three divisions, but with the exception of Pontiac none of the other's are ones you say. It's more a matter of removing redundancy from GM's lineup than it is killing divisions you just don't get. You say that GM has too many divisions, yet you want to add a new division and keep brands whose lineups are nothing but redundant...

Not exactly the best move for capitalizing the resources of an international corporation.

http://www.fortunecity.com/tattooine/picard/32/vader/block2.jpg
----^^-------------^^-----------^^
---Spock----------JimmyH-------AmGoff

Stormtrooper slowly goes back into docking bay...

All GM needs is to stop badge engineering, unlike LS1Mike's fairly common and relatively uneducated analysis that people are basically stupid and don't know what's good for them, the complete opposite has proven to be the truth. How do I know this? Scientific analysis? NOPE., Demographic adjusted national survey? NOPE. It's pretty simple, when GM builds a SOLID, GOOD car, PEOPLE *BUY* IT.

The Cadillac CTS has proven to be one of the most miraculous products GM has introduced in decades, and it has a cult-like following already. I would definitely put the CTS up there with the 3 Series when it's time for me to look at a car like that again, and that is saying ALOT.

I don't need to say anything about the Corvette, and ESPECIALLY the C6.

The Buick Enclave only available for a very short-time so far, is already breaking sales targets and in alot of places dealers are running out of inventory! Ha! Imagine that, a GM dealer RUNNING OUT of a given model! The Rainier is no more heavily advertised, or promoted than any of it's other GM counterparts. The *MISTAKE* that GM IS making, in classic GM fashion, is cross pollenating the Lambda architecture to so many different brands. GMC is the brand I would LEAST have expected to see given a Lambda vehicle because it goes completely against the image that brand promotes, AND they do fine on their truck sales alone. But, well, here we go down this road again. Take a winning formula, and then destroy it by diluting it 15 different ways.

A successful GM car is successful because people *ARENT* stupid, and they know a great car when they see it. When GM learns to stop using badge engineering as a form of easy product infusion, they will solve alot of their own problems.

Now damn it...

To rebuke your rebuke :)

I did not mention SAAB because they are not really a GM division are they? I thought they are a GM owned subsidiary.


Hummer, yes they are a waste, complete badge engineering, I would never even consider one. But they sell like hotcakes, and make money for GM. Why get rid of that?

As far as Chevy tucks vs GMC, I think there should be a few simple choices of a pickup and basic CUV at Chevy. They do still have a customer base you know. Like I said, the full range should be handled by GMC. GMC products are the same as Chevy, but seemingly more upmarket. Though I must confess, I have never looked at them.

As for the Corvette, in most other world markets it is not a Chevy (or so I have read). I just think it is now such a great car, it deserves to be its own entity, and I think removing the Chevy name would remove some of its domestic stigma and make it more appealing to MB and Porsche buyers who would otherwise not consider it.


They should use BMW as their benchmark for every vehicle.

No No No :nono: Why is BMW always brought up as the gold standard whenever there is mention of sport sedans? Screw BMW. Overpriced, overrated, and they buy their customers with their 4-year included maintenance.


LS1Mike's fairly common and relatively uneducated analysis that people are basically stupid and don't know what's good for them

He might generalize alot, but he is right about one thing; as I mention above, the car rags have created a myth about BMW that people buy into hook line and sinker. I have to wonder how much MT, RT, CD's royalties are from BMW sales.




Bottom line in all this? I am no expert, and I said so with my disclaimer at the bottom of my post. I was just bored and have been thinking about this, and wondered what all your opinions were. I look forward to hearing some more.

PS: Me likey the steering wheel cover. It's a 40 year old product, but I still think those are the classiest looking and most practical.

Thanks! :thumbsup: going in my sig!

I think you and I are the only ones! I take a lot of flack for it.

All GM needs is to stop badge engineering, unlike LS1Mike's fairly common and relatively uneducated analysis that people are basically stupid and don't know what's good for them, the complete opposite has proven to be the truth.

So a personal assualt good on ya...You are the best moderator on the planet.
:nono: So I don't like imports get over it.

At anyrate my point is, you can't get people into a showroom to even look at anything you are making if people think it is worthless before you even get them in there.

That is why you need to chance perception, so that people will actually consider the car you are producing, step onto the showroom floor and take your product out for a test drive.
No matter what GM makes or what they call it, no one wants it if they think it is crap.

Im still shocked that the Buick Enclave exists at all. After seeing Buick Centieme concept drawings seven years ago, I never thought it would happen. It did happen, and it turned out beautifully. I'm floored.

Jimmy, you must have a LOT of time on your hands.

Jimmy, you must have a LOT of time on your hands.

you dont know the half of it

This is how good GM is doing:

Grossinger Autoplex

New 2007 Pontiac G5's only $11,995 • New 2007 Pontiac G6's now only $13,995

New 2007 Yukons and Denali's take $7500 to$12,000 off!

New 2007 Escalades take $9000 to $12,500 off!

New 2007 GMC Sierra's priced at only $13,995 and get 0% A.P.R. Financing