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G E N E R A L M O T O R S

GM ‘hits the sweet spot’ in its new-vehicle rolloutsMike Colias

mcolias@crain.com

eneral Motors’ new-vehicle cadenceis finally at full speed, after the com-pany’s 2009 bankruptcy crimped de-velopment plans for several years.

GM says that new or redesigned models willaccount for 90 percent of its North Americanvehicle lineup by 2016. Included will be a top-to-bottom overhaul of its truck lineup, whichincludes some of GM’s best-selling and mostprofitable nameplates.

Its full-sized pickups, including heavy duties,will continue to roll out through year end and

the first half of next year. The next generation ofbig SUVs, including the Chevrolet Suburbanand GMC Yukon, should arrive in early 2014 —the first redesign of the pricey, body-on-frametrucks in eight years.

In late 2014, the redesigned Chevrolet Col-orado and GMC Canyon will debut. By then,GM will be the only domestic automaker still inthe compact pickup segment; Ford and Ramhave stopped making their smaller trucks.

In 2015, redesigns are due for two of Chevy’smost popular vehicles: the Cruze compactsedan, which is sold globally, and the Equinoxcompact crossover, which has done well in a

fast-growing segment. The vehicles will sharethe latest version of GM’s global Delta platform.

Cadillac should continue its busy develop-ment schedule, with 10 new or redesigned vehi-cles planned by mid-2015. Among them: alarge, rear-wheel-drive sedan that would lineup against the BMW 7 series and Mercedes-Benz S class, and a small crossover.

In a recent report, Bank of America auto ana-lyst John Murphy sums it up this way: “GMproduct launches for model years 2014 to 2017should drive improved market share and sup-port pricing, as GM hits the sweet spot in itsproduct cycle.” n

What do the terms mean?● Freshen: Minor changes to interior and exterior, such as newgrille, fascia, front and rear lights or seat surfaces.

● Re-engineering: Significant engineering changes, such asrevised powertrain, chassis, suspension, center stack or interior.Often includes some new sheet metal.

● Redesign: New platform, powertrain, interior and sheetmetal. Engine and transmission could be carried over.

● New: A nameplate added to lineup.

28 • JULY 22, 2013

G

Pickups lead Chevy, GMC convoyMike Colias

mcolias@crain.com

hevrolet and GMC have begun atop-to-bottom overhaul of theirtruck lineups, which include

some of the highest-volume,most profitable vehicles that GM sells.

The truck onslaught follows a three-year period during which Chevy’s carlineup has been overhauled with well-re-ceived entries such as the Sonic subcom-pact and Cruze diesel. But more cars areon the way, too: The Corvette Stingray,Chevy SS performance sedan and a re-engineered Malibu are slated for launch-es in the second half of the year.

Several models of the Chevy Silveradoand GMC Sierra 1500 will arrive at deal-erships later this summer and fall, join-ing the 5.3-liter V-8 crew cabs that beganshipping in late May. After that, the re-designed heavy-duty 2500 and 3500 willland in early 2014. Those will be followedby the next-generation Tahoe, Subur-ban, Yukon and Yukon XL SUVs, inspring of 2014, and the redesigned Col-

orado and Canyon mid-sized pickups bylate next year.

Here are highlights for Chevrolet andGMC’s 2014-16 models.

Spark: An electric version of the minicarwent on sale last month in California andOregon for the 2014 model year. The twostates, with their tough emissions stan-dards, tax credits for electric cars andgreen-minded cities, are often the first toget new electric vehicles.

Sonic: The subcompact debutedas the redesigned Aveo replace-ment in fall 2011. It would be duefor a freshening or a re-engineer-ing for the 2015 model year.

Cruze: A redesign had been ex-pected in late 2014 or early 2015,but Reuters reported last weekthat the launch has been pushedback one year. GM’s best-sellingcar globally will be among thefirst vehicles launched on thenewest version of its global com-pact vehicle platform, namedDelta. A late 2014 launch would

have been a speedy redesign for the Cruze— about four and a half years — since theU.S. model’s debut.

The 1.8-liter base engine likely will bereplaced by a new 1.5-liter. Following thelaunch of the redesign, the addition of aCruze hatchback ora coupe is apossibility.

Volt: No major changes are expected tothe plug-in hybrid before a redesign ar-rives in late 2015 as a 2016 model. GMaims to shave several thousand dollars incost from the next-generation Volt, whichcurrently stickers for nearly $40,000. GM

probably will downsize the1.4-liter, four-cylinder

engine to improve

Major car launches, revamps also in tow

C

Buick LaCrosse freshen Mid-sized crossover debut? Verano redesign Regal freshen Enclave redesign

Cadillac CTS redesign ATS coupe debut ATS V-series debut CTS-V-series redesign LTS debutELR debut Small crossover debutEscalade redesign SRX redesign

Chevrolet Spark electric debut Camaro Z/28 debut Sonic freshen Equinox/Terrain redesign Cruze redesign Malibu re-engineering Tahoe/Yukon redesign Colorado/Canyon redesign Volt redesignSS sedan debut Suburban/Yukon XL redesign Camaro redesignCorvette Stingray coupe Silverado/Sierra 2500 & 3500 Traverse/Acadia redesignand convertible redesign redesign

Camaro freshenSilverado/Sierra 1500 redesign

2ND HALF

LAUNCH TIMELINE FOR GM’S 2014-16 PRODUCTS2013

1ST HALF 2ND HALF 1ST HALF 2ND HALF2014 2015

and GMC

2014 BUICKLACROSSE

2014 CHEVROLETSPARK EV

see CHEVY, next page

2014 GMC Sierra 3500 HD Denali

Mike Colias has coveredGeneral Motorsfor AutomotiveNews sinceDecember 2010.

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