GM ends the SS and V series

[korndawg]

Source: Automotive News special email alert

Jamie LaReau - Automotive News - February 18, 2009 - 5:05 pm ET

DETROIT -- General Motors, focusing on mainstream products in a battle to survive, has scrapped a unit that produced high-performance vehicles.

GM today disbanded High Performance Vehicle Operations, which is based at the company's suburban Detroit technical center, and redeployed its engineers, said spokesman Vince Muniga.

"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."

[86 IROC-Z]

Funny how the SS model cars they listed don't seem to deserve the SS badge.

[DJ Red Barron]

I hate to see the "V Series" stuff go. I had thought about getting a CTS-V in a few years.

[Zapper2003]

Camaro SS? Trailblazer SS?

[DJ Red Barron]

Camaro SS? Trailblazer SS?

TBSS was already gone. I think 09 was the last year of the TrailBlazer with no replacement platform.

I wouldn't figure the Camaro SS to be axed just yet. There are already several thousand pre-sold orders.

[310stanger]

what about the z06 and zr1 versions of the vette. both have handbuilt engines made in gm's performance division.

Maybe now they will start focusing on hybrids that dont weigh 6,000 lbs. make a cobalt hybrid and a malibu hyrbid. Get rid of stupid cars like the HHR altogether.

[86 IROC-Z]

Get rid of stupid cars like the HHR altogether.

My roommate last year drove an HHR.

3am ride home, puked out the window and ended up all over the back half of that side of the car.

I apologized in the morning, but I wasn't really sorry.

[cammed goat]

Sad. Very sad. No V? WTF?! Now I'm even MORE happy I grabbed my Goat when I did.

[FreakV6]

i took this as putting on hold any future high performance cars. didnt figure it would kill current ones.

[rbob93]

They keep jacking around the way they are & GM is gonna have to cancel EVERYTHING!

[SouthernBornThriller]

This is more than likely to please the powers at be that gave them the handout.

Wouldn't be a bit surprised if the only high performance car in GM's lineup in the next few years is the vette (I don't think it's going anywhere....at worst we'll get a few years of garbage vettes ala late 70s - C4).

Just gonna forget all these new car headaches, keep my T/A, drive it for a few more years while I pay it off and save up some cash for a decent dd, then just stick it back in the nice little spot in dad's garage he's been saving for when I'm done with it.

[00z28bubba]

at least they are trying to please majority of the taxpayers who made the bailout available and not wasting the money on a private jet that is only big enough for the board members. it seems they are trying to put the money to good use and get into a routine that is much better for them in the long run. i hate to see the muscle go but i would hate to see these companies go without a fight. which if they gotta drop muscle to get back into the competition then by all means go for it. besides i dont feel like i would ever honestly want to go buy a honda or similar cars.

[The Project]

Now I'll have to save up for that 43mpg hybird I always wanted

Maybe I should get a "Hybrid" sticker for the back of my Camaro

[02cetransam]

why GM... why??? How the heck can I live without the Cobalt SS lol.

[FORD RECOVERY EXPERT]

I say They are on the right track....

[02cetransam]

they need to drop soob and drop saturn



saturn has yet to have a profitable year since they indroduced it.

[310stanger]

they need to drop soob and drop saturn



saturn has yet to have a profitable year since they indroduced it.

is that true? saturn was a good idea, they just didnt execute it correctly. that being said my dad has a saturn that he loves and its been extremely reliable for him. (hes not a car guy). But yeah they arent profitable at all I guess.

Haha soob. Saab is a joke, they dont even design their own shit anymore. Their cars are either subarus or shitboxes with ecotec motors in them.

[The Project]

they need to drop soob and drop saturn



saturn has yet to have a profitable year since they indroduced it.

I thought Saturn makes GM money as well as the highest return customer base. Saturn fans are VERY loyal.

I have two

[basballny2]

agreed with the saturn thing. My dad is a big car guy and his DD is a '93 satrun with 130k miles on it. He loves the stupid thing.

[67CamaroRSSS]

From what I heard they are gonna drop Saturn entirely and reduce Pontiac to "niche" vehicles.....

I'll be back shortly with a link.

Check pg 72: http://treas.gov/initiatives/eesa/ag...turingPlan.pdf