Zeta Dead - Camaro Rebirth Miscarries
05-13-2005 | 07:30 PM
#1
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From: Hazard Co. Maryland
Zeta Dead - Camaro Rebirth Miscarries Sorry to say this folks...and I know this is the news none of us wanted to hear but...as the title states, Zeta appears dead, along with any hopes of a new Camaro in the near future. From the July 2005 issue of Popular HotRodding...
This was written by Steven Rupp on page 16.
I'd say that this almost seals GM's fate for heading into bankruptcy. If you haven't done so by now, dump your stocks. I know that I will not look @ another GM car, at least for a long while until the management can pull it's head's out of it's asses and straighten things out. Face it...they have no quality hits, and the hits they do have are inefficently marketed and then they aren't refined as the model ages. Just absolutely disgust when I read this tonight...must be a Friday the 13th.
Sorry, that's how I feel about this, since words can't discribe it.
We have known for a while from our sources in GM that a 2007 Camaro was in the works and that it was going to be based on the Zeta platofrom. Subcontractors have already bid on contracts and things were looking good for our chance to see a new Camaro in the next couple of years. Well, imagine our dismay when the following interal GM memo from Bob Lutz was leaked to us:
TO: Vehicle Line Executives
As part of our efforts to address the current business situation we are facing today, we have had to make some difficult product portfolio decisions. As a result, we are canceling all vehicles planned off of the Zeta architecture. Since the recent announcement of the Global Zeta Development Team and the Gene Stefanyshyn's Global VLE appointment has been widley covered by the media, it is important to proactively position this decission internally and externally. The message should be clear, we are not abandoing rear-wheel-drive vehicles and we will continue to evalutate our future RWD plans.
In addition, we are canceling the Hummer H2 MCE and GMT361/371 right-hand-drive vehicle and delaying the GMT267 Cadillac SRX. There will be other reductions in concept and show vehicles, SVA/HPVO activities and some annual discretionary content.
These cancellations and delays allow us to realign resources to accelerate some of our key strategic high-volume product launches. It is very important that you communicate these decisisons to your teams, and that work stop immediately on the programs affected.
We find ourselves in tough times, but with the entire team working together, we can get through them.
Thanks for your continued support.
Bob Lutz
So, what does this do to hopes for a new Camaro? Well, with Zeta dead we see no chance for a 2007 Camaro. Even if it were moved to another platform the introduction date would have to be moved years into the future. It looks like the Ford Mustang has not only won teh battle, but maybe the war as well. This cancellation hits the performance RWD segment of GM hard. Maybe, if enough mail crosses the big desk at GM things will change. So take a momement and let them know your thoughts about the future of RWD performance cars at GM.
TO: Vehicle Line Executives
As part of our efforts to address the current business situation we are facing today, we have had to make some difficult product portfolio decisions. As a result, we are canceling all vehicles planned off of the Zeta architecture. Since the recent announcement of the Global Zeta Development Team and the Gene Stefanyshyn's Global VLE appointment has been widley covered by the media, it is important to proactively position this decission internally and externally. The message should be clear, we are not abandoing rear-wheel-drive vehicles and we will continue to evalutate our future RWD plans.
In addition, we are canceling the Hummer H2 MCE and GMT361/371 right-hand-drive vehicle and delaying the GMT267 Cadillac SRX. There will be other reductions in concept and show vehicles, SVA/HPVO activities and some annual discretionary content.
These cancellations and delays allow us to realign resources to accelerate some of our key strategic high-volume product launches. It is very important that you communicate these decisisons to your teams, and that work stop immediately on the programs affected.
We find ourselves in tough times, but with the entire team working together, we can get through them.
Thanks for your continued support.
Bob Lutz
So, what does this do to hopes for a new Camaro? Well, with Zeta dead we see no chance for a 2007 Camaro. Even if it were moved to another platform the introduction date would have to be moved years into the future. It looks like the Ford Mustang has not only won teh battle, but maybe the war as well. This cancellation hits the performance RWD segment of GM hard. Maybe, if enough mail crosses the big desk at GM things will change. So take a momement and let them know your thoughts about the future of RWD performance cars at GM.
I'd say that this almost seals GM's fate for heading into bankruptcy. If you haven't done so by now, dump your stocks. I know that I will not look @ another GM car, at least for a long while until the management can pull it's head's out of it's asses and straighten things out. Face it...they have no quality hits, and the hits they do have are inefficently marketed and then they aren't refined as the model ages. Just absolutely disgust when I read this tonight...must be a Friday the 13th.
Sorry, that's how I feel about this, since words can't discribe it.
@ GM, not you Red Shift. 
05-14-2005 | 09:50 AM
#7
The thing with the magazines is their news is obsolete as we have the internet now. That was in the headlines like 1-2 months ago. Magazine info is really for those who still don't know how to get online - or those who don't care to.
I still like to read MT, GMHTP, CHP... and Playboy.
I still like to read MT, GMHTP, CHP... and Playboy.
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05-14-2005 | 09:55 AM
#8
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From: Houston,TX
Gm :-( Ya know, it makes me sad and disappointed to see the direction Gm is going. Not sure if it is bad management or....??? I have to sit and wonder though when Ford went through the huge Tire cover-up and now their vehicles have a fire issue and they are still appear in better shape than Gm?? My family has always been Gm faithful for generations but I don't know what the future holds for me now??? The way it's looking it won't be another Gm but won't be a ford either. Like the last post asks....how can you e-mail these guys??? Maybe they need to start listening to what their consumers want ???
05-14-2005 | 09:59 AM
#9
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From: Houston,TX
One more Thing Well I'll take that back...maybe if Gm doesn't get their **** together I'll take my Vette and my T/A and trade them both to Ford for a new Saleen Corbra ?? Come on GM get your heads out of your asses !!!!!!
05-14-2005 | 11:04 AM
#10
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From: Hazard Co. Maryland
Originally Posted by DMNSPD
The thing with the magazines is their news is obsolete as we have the internet now. That was in the headlines like 1-2 months ago. Magazine info is really for those who still don't know how to get online - or those who don't care to.
I still like to read MT, GMHTP, CHP... and Playboy.
I still like to read MT, GMHTP, CHP... and Playboy.
And some of us don't have time to search the ends of the earth for that stuff. Since I hadn't seen it here, I didn't know. Besides, news is news.
05-14-2005 | 12:02 PM
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From: Phoenix, AZ Hometown: Aberdeen, SD
Originally Posted by LS1 CRAZY
I have to sit and wonder though when Ford went through the huge Tire cover-up and now their vehicles have a fire issue and they are still appear in better shape than Gm??
05-14-2005 | 04:03 PM
#12
Originally Posted by sb427f-car
And some of us don't have time to search the ends of the earth for that stuff. Since I hadn't seen it here, I didn't know. Besides, news is news.
05-14-2005 | 05:02 PM
#13
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From: Hazard Co. Maryland
Originally Posted by DMNSPD
I wasn't saying that to be insulting, but just browsing this forum you pick up on things that are months ahead of our favorite mags.
I know, but I hadn't read it, and I've been reading all the camaro threads (well, at least skimming them) when I have the chance and hadn't seen anything about zeta being dead. Sall good
05-18-2005 | 04:37 PM
#19
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From: Michigan
I am posting a copy of a memo that circulated quickly in late March (3-21-05) and was stopped. I have not posted it becuase I felt like I was sharing info that should not be. I mention it now because High Perfmance Pontiac mentions the same in their August 2005 issue on page 11.
Memo:
To: Vehicle Line Executives
As part of our efforts to address the current business situation we are
facing today, we have had to make some difficult product portfolio
decisions.
As a result, we are canceling all vehicles planned off of the Zeta
architecture. Since the recent announcement of the Global Zeta Development
Team and Gene Stefanyshyn's Global VLE appointment has been widely covered
by the media, it is important to proactively position this decision
internally and externally. The message should be clear ? we are not
abandoning rear-wheel-drive vehicles and we will continue to evaluate our
future RWD plans.
In addition, we are canceling the Hummer H2 MCE and GMT361/371
right-hand-drive vehicle and delaying the GMT267 Cadillac SRX. There will
be other reductions in concept and show vehicles, SVA/HPVO activities and
some annual discretionary content.
These cancelations and delays allow us to realign resources to accelerate
some of our key strategic high-volume product launches.
It is very important that you communicate these decisions to your teams,
and that work stop immediately on the programs affected.
We find ourselves in tough times, but with the entire team working
together, we can get through them.
Thanks for your continued support.
Bob Lutz
Message 2594
Memo:
To: Vehicle Line Executives
As part of our efforts to address the current business situation we are
facing today, we have had to make some difficult product portfolio
decisions.
As a result, we are canceling all vehicles planned off of the Zeta
architecture. Since the recent announcement of the Global Zeta Development
Team and Gene Stefanyshyn's Global VLE appointment has been widely covered
by the media, it is important to proactively position this decision
internally and externally. The message should be clear ? we are not
abandoning rear-wheel-drive vehicles and we will continue to evaluate our
future RWD plans.
In addition, we are canceling the Hummer H2 MCE and GMT361/371
right-hand-drive vehicle and delaying the GMT267 Cadillac SRX. There will
be other reductions in concept and show vehicles, SVA/HPVO activities and
some annual discretionary content.
These cancelations and delays allow us to realign resources to accelerate
some of our key strategic high-volume product launches.
It is very important that you communicate these decisions to your teams,
and that work stop immediately on the programs affected.
We find ourselves in tough times, but with the entire team working
together, we can get through them.
Thanks for your continued support.
Bob Lutz
Message 2594
