In contrast, look at Mercedes, BMW and Audi. Each has an AMG, M, or R(S) model just as chevy used to have an SS for each model - Dodge copied with the R/T - Ford, well they had various high perf names. Anyway, it seems detroit, and especially Chevy has completely forgotten what made them great in the last golden age of autos. They are starting to return that greatness with cars like the GTO, CTS-V (gotta close my eyes and open my ears on this one), and of course the Z06. But they have a long way to go. I hope they don't stall along the way by falling all over themselves about making Malibu Maxx's and Avelahci in stead of performance cars.

 

Completeing the hi-jacking of this thread:
I don't think it will take ten years for the ricer performance croud to figure out that they can spend $30-40k PLUS the cost of the car and still not out perform a bone stock Z06. Even Japan is coming back to RWD - look at the Infiniti G35s and the 350Z. All are fine handling, good performing cars. I have never been so tempted to buy Japanese as when I drove the G35. There is no reason that GM couldn't replace the Gran Am and its cousins with a great RWD 4 & V6 powered car that could perform as well and sell in high volumes for much less than the G35.

I believe that the more, higher performance cars that GM makes, the better the Corvette line will be.

 

People talk like rear-wheel drive is dead. Only among the cheap cars and the domestics.

I almost wrote that the return of rear-wheel drive is in full swing, but it's past that -- rear-wheel drive is already returned about as much as we're going to see it.

Rear-wheel drive is a prime differentiator between premium cars and family cars. Honda has proven that front-drive cars can have 95% of the satisfying vehicle dynamics found in rear-drive cars, and that's as far as family cars (and pocket rockets) ever need to go.

All of the premium car lines save Acura already represent in the rear-drive (or all-wheel-drive) realm. Even staid Volvo is already on the bandwagon. Chrysler will be the last with the next 300, and SAAB, well... they're SAAB.

If GM gives us a couple of affordable niche rear-drivers, that's great, but it's pretty clear the meat-and-potatoes of the market will be front-drive for a decade or more, certainly as far as I dare say we can see. GM's XV8 is about front-drive packaging, Camry and Accord certainly don't need to switch axles to improve for their mission profile, and I doubt cost-conscious Ford will make Taurus a pusher. The only wildcard is Dodge's next big sedan, and they might see rear-drive as their next zig-when-the-industry-zags move. They need something as an encore for Cab Forward.

As much as I like the idea of affordable rear-drive sedans, I think it would be a mistake for GM to switch their mainstream platforms. GM's problems won't get solved that way; if anything, going to rear-wheel drive would just be a misdirection ploy. GM needs to focus on the Accord and Camry and not stop until they've nailed it.

Excitement is easy, but first they need to build a quality appliance. Just look at this thread. Do we question that C6 will perform well? We might quibble over just how extreme the motor ought to be, but Corvette performance is a given. No, we wonder about the interior.

I believe that the better the next Malibu's interior and fit and finish, the better the Corvette line will be.

.Jinx
Hijack thwarted :-)

 

:iagree:

Very well said, Jinx! :thumbs:

 

It was an interesting excursion, but thanks for bringing this thread back home.

 

DODGE:

Ram SRT-10
Neon SRT-4

FORD:

Lightning
GT
And arguably, the Thunderbird and SVT Focus

CHEVROLET:

Corvette