GM Re:invention

[Workdawg]

GM has launched a site where you can post questions to Fritz (Tell Fritz) and he'll go through an answer them a lot of them. You can read the answers on the site.

http://www.gmreinvention.com/?brandId=gm&src=gm_com&evar24=gm_com_homepage_rolloverimage

A lot of the questions are really dumb, one about how they need to keep making E85 vehicles just because it will make people feel better about the car even if they don't use E85. One of the other questions mentioned rebadging the G8 as a new Caprice. Fritz replied that he wasn't a fan of straight rebadging product (ironic that the G8 is a Holden?).

The trick is that you only get 255 characters to post your question. Since we've discussed the decision to cut Pontiac numerous times, I was thinking maybe we can work up a good question related to that, within the character limit, and post it under the name MNMazda.com



I'm looking for feedback/improvement upon this (245 chars):

Why cut Pontiac? Rebrand it as the performance division of GM; instead of just a brand that was cannibalizing Chevy products. Cobalt SS is the G5 GXP, G8 GXP, Solstice GXP, Revive the TransAm on the Camaro platform and you’ve got a solid lineup.

Another point I'd want to make is that they seem to be cannibalizing their business terribly. Duplicating models across their lineup so much. They've got 3-4 midsize SUVs and 3-4 larger SUVs. The G5/Cobalt, Aveo/G3, Malibu/G6/Aura... just terrible.

 

[ZoomZoom Diva]

Well, Saturn is gone, so no more Aura...

However, I think you have a well stated question, and you could offer a baser sport and a full-on sport to make better volumes. (like Firebird and TransAm on the Camaro platform). After all, the Mustang makes the money on V6 models, not GT... models.

I've heard the Caprice isn't happening, since the marketing guys have said it wasn't feasible.

 

[Picklz]

If you are trying to limit overlap the Firebird/trans am wouldn't make sense, unless you cut the camaro. And a lot of the overlap you must mentioned went away when they canned Pontiac (G series, Aura). I agree I wish they would have kept Pontiac and they still have more overlap than they should have, but I'm also not sure with the current product line that there was enough to justify Pontiac, why not just have all the cars under the chevy name.

 

[Workdawg]

This sparked a pretty good convo in the chatbox that led to revisions as follows:

Why cut Pontiac? Rebrand it as the perf. division of GM, rather than just a brand cannibalizing Chevy. Cobalt SS as the G5 GXP, G8 GXP, Solstice GXP, revive the Firebird, add sport trim levels and you have a lineup. What’s offered for driving enthusiasts?

I submitted it as above.

 

[Slim]

If you are trying to limit overlap the Firebird/trans am wouldn't make sense, unless you cut the camaro. And a lot of the overlap you must mentioned went away when they canned Pontiac (G series, Aura). I agree I wish they would have kept Pontiac and they still have more overlap than they should have, but I'm also not sure with the current product line that there was enough to justify Pontiac, why not just have all the cars under the chevy name.

+1

The SS badge is their performance division. Now they could certainly do a better job making the distinction of making that the PERFORMANCE division. No Trailblazer SS, or Cobalt SS that's not super/turbo charged. Separate the SS as your performance "brand". It's far more efficient and cheaper to keep cars under one brand and dealership network this way.

Hence the reasoning to cut Pontiac and Saturn among other reasons...Plus the Pontiac name has been sullied over the years to not mean what it used to as far as a more "performance oriented" brand. The cars have been soft and uninspired and that's why Pontiac's sales lagged.

 

[ZoomZoom Diva]

The concern with making it merely a trim level is that it is far more difficult to get the styling and differentiation inside and out that would be part of making a separate enthusiast marque. Proper products and positioning could be used to revive the reputation of the Pontiac brand, and sales did not really lag despite the identity issues.

The point of having different names is you can then offer truly differentiated choices to different segments of the population. Chevy is your mainstream brand, but if you want the top features like navigation or the like, you then move to a Buick which caters to a premium mainstream experience, and if you want a sporty car you buy a Pontiac.

We will need to know what the response is.

 

[Picklz]

if I want a sport car why can't I buy an SS badged vehicle (as long as they don't slap SS on everything like they were doing) vs a Pontiac?

 

[ZoomZoom Diva]

Because it is very unlikely the SS version keeping the same make and model will be differentiated enough in other ways to also provide the right appearance and feel inside and out. I would be surprised if the sheetmetal or interior changed much, for example.

 

[Workdawg]

Looks like fritz skipped my question, despite answering many other stupid questions. He did answer one that was about pontiac, but not specifically about performance cars.

New question, caring less about making it sound good, since he doesn't seem to care.

What's the new GM got for the driving enthusiast (moderately priced)? Is the Camaro it (it’s huge for a coupe).

 

[spek1098]

In The Camaro, A Glimmer Of Hope For GM

Good story, kind of explains why GM isn't focusing/can't focus on muscle cars and gas guzzlers, which I kind of agree with, although I don't like the reason presented.

 

[ZoomZoom Diva]

However, it does not say why they cannot include more distinctive driver-oriented vehicles in their lineup... as a driver's car does not have to be a gas-guzzler or muscle car.

 

[spek1098]

Well that's self explainitory, it's GM