GM Revives Performance Division, Will Focus on Small Cars

I don't understand why you would not have an engineer in charge of your performance division. I have a HHR SS in the family and the car is a brilliant driver, I fear a marketing guy running a performance division. "just slap some stickers on 'er and call it a day"

a 3.5 turbo v6 on the aveo and cruze.

Work on twin or dual scroll turbo on the 3.6L DI engine. It's used in tons of applications.

A twin-turbo V6 Camaro with a performance package. Or a performance package period for the Camaro V6. I think it's in development, but it seems like everything with the Camaro is taking forever these days. What happened to a convertible version? And who knows when we'll see the Z28.

A GS version of the new upcoming compact Buick would be cool, with a hot V-6, AWD, and a manual.

Maybe the reborn GMPD could redevelop the Solstice/Sky chassis, and make a better sports car that can be an entry-level Chevrolet. Or hell, flip the new Aveo chassis around and make an entry-level MR sports car for Chevrolet. That's really gettin' far fetched, but I just wish something daring would happen in the auto industry. Luxury brands continue to develop the products that excite us, while the normal car brands continue on with their usual set of bread and butter cars.

Give me a Miata-fighter that drives just as well and has looks that are sporty and sinister, not smiley and cute!

Take a light FWD car, throw in a massive engine ---> stereotypical ricer "performance" car. "Fast" in the straights, plenty of torque steer, rubbish handling.

There's a reason why most sane car manufacturers don't try to deliver much more than 230hp on the front wheels alone...

Another idiot in charge ...... there goes V

The Camaro is just too big and heavy to float my boat.

An AWD Malibu with the Camaro V6 and a 6 speed manual. (I can dream, can't I?) Hey, if Subaru can do it with the Legacy, why can't a big company like GM?

At least a FWD/AWD Malibu set up like the Fusion Sport-- there is currently no sportiness in the Malibu. The right steering, tires, suspension with a tweaked V6-- maybe even a more powerful 4 cylinder turbo-- would go a long way toward making the Malibu, well... not an SS, but at least an ss.

Building solid RWD/AWD small cars with roomy engine compartments that are easy to work on.

This will give the customer a easier time if they are DIY mechanic or room to swap in a LSx engine or to add on to whatever engine GM puts in.

Coolb944, They made a Miata fighter, the Pontiac Soltice/ Saturn Sky.

Why not just give Bob Lutz the job?

An Aveo SS, maybe?
Life can't get much better...

Drop an LS7 drivetrain into the Solstice chassis.

agnh says:

04:32 PM, 08/24/10

"They made a Miata fighter, the Pontiac Soltice/ Saturn Sky."

The Sky and the Solstice are not up to the level of the S2000 and the Miata.

+1 acbayard, there is more to performance than just engine/car combos. They made some 'performance' models that looked good on paper and just didn't stand up in the real world that well before. Make a car that is more than just numbers, make it fun!

"They made a Miata fighter, the Pontiac Soltice/ Saturn Sky."

I think it was edmunds who did a comparison and track day with both and wrote something along the lines of the Solstice ended up parked and everyone lined up for the Miata. Add to that a top that is much harder to put up or down on the Solstice/Sky and it was a no go. Again, nice attempt, just a final product that isn't up to comparisons.

"not up to the level of the S2000"

heck, Honda can't even make another car that is up to that level :)

@agnh
I acknowledged that GM made the Solstice/Sky as a Miata fighter in my previous comment. I also said they should re-engineer that specific chassis and put it out as a better entry level Chevy sports car. The final part of my comment was an indirect way of saying that the Solstice/Sky were not capable of delivering the same experience to the driver as the Miata, between the mediocre chassis tuning, poor interior materials, gigantic trunk eating gas-tank, and awkward ergonomics. You must have only saw the end of my comment and not took it in context to the rest of it. The things GM had nailed on those cars was the styling and the chassis, but for a lack of the proper tuning and packaging.

Having a civilian edition Capri with a performance package would be pretty nice.

"heck, Honda can't even make another car that is up to that level :)"

YES!

I'd like to see the Malibu offered with the 3.6L DIV6 and some upgraded steering and suspension components. I've driven a few and find the ride and handling surprisingly well balanced – having some more ponies on tap would make it pretty close to fun.

A Cruze SS is a necessity in my opinion, with a 2.4L turbo or something. 250+ horses would be nice.