General Motors is considering reviving the “Nomad” nameplate for its Lambda-based Chevrolet crossover, according to Edmunds. Slated to arrive for the 2009 model year, the Nomad would share a platform with the GMC Acadia, Saturn Outlook, and Buick Enclave.
GM first used the Nomad name for a station wagon produced in the 1950s and 60s. It was later used for a trim package on Chevrolet’s full size van offerings in the late 1970s. GM also used the name for two concepts — both sports cars — in 1999 and 2004.
In December, Automotive News reported GM was planning to add the Lambda Chevy to its lineup after a $700 million renovation at the Spring Hill assembly plant. The plant is currently used for a number of Saturn vehicles, including the Saturn Ion and Vue. Production of the Vue will move to Mexico, while the Ion will be discontinued.



03/27, 11:17 AM
posted by:
Me
I like the idea. What else are you going to use that name for???
03/27, 11:18 AM
posted by:
jonstew
looks nice enough but why does GM have to disgrace another classic name from their past by putting it on something like a 4 door crossover? Come on GM, naming vehicles can’t be that hard.
03/27, 11:22 AM
posted by:
deutschetouring1337
This Just in Mazda drops Wankel in favor of new LMP1 turbo 4 cylinder with 500bhp/542ilbs-ft.
Also Hondas current F1 V8 is producing same HP figures as the rest of the F1 grid at lower rpms without having to push spec! Also BMW Sauber has now the 2nd fastest computer in the world for CFD research!!
03/27, 11:28 AM
posted by:
Aston Martin
Rubbish.
03/27, 11:29 AM
posted by:
RLX02
Using a classic name isnt going to make a car sell. Take a look at the malibu or impala.
03/27, 11:41 AM
posted by:
atomicbri2007
Crap if you ask me. I mean here we go again, let’s rebadge everything we are producing and offer this vehicle across every marque we own and disgrace an old classics name. A 4 door Nomad?? And a cross over?? I mean the little Nomad concept back in 2004 wasn’t half bad and it was based on the Kappa which meant rwd…. here is link to pic for those who forgot.
http://www.seriouswheels.com/2004/2004-Chevrolet-Nomad-Concept-FA-Studio-1024×768.htm
NOW Chevy has decided I guess to can that idea and REBADGE this Soft-ute. NO!!!! Please GM spare us from this crap….
03/27, 11:41 AM
posted by:
CTS DRIVER
PLEASE GM DONT RUIN THE NOMAD NAME, SAVE IT FOR SOMETHING ACTUALLY WORTH THE HERITAFE.
NOVA NAME….KILLED IN THE 80`S
GTO…….KILLED
MALIBU….KILLED
IMPALA….KILLED
PLEASE RETHINK THIS GM
03/27, 11:42 AM
posted by:
cookie4me
They should have built the damn minivan. You would think they would want at least one division pushing sliding doors. That segment isn’t going away they just conceded they can’t compete in it. SUV or crossover vs minivan? minivan wins every time for cost and practicality and people buy on those merits. I think GM will re-think this once the new Chryslers hit the showrooms.
03/27, 11:42 AM
posted by:
atomicbri2007
Ok that link crapped ot (like GM!) here is another go at it….
http://www.seriouswheels.com/cars/top-2004-Chevrolet-Nomad-Concept.htm
03/27, 12:03 PM
posted by:
GARY
I guess it’s better than Monza, Chevette, Vega, or Citation. They could call it the Nomen….. Rosie O’Donnel would love it.
03/27, 12:07 PM
posted by:
55amg
Crossovers, Crossovers, Crossovers. i dont give **** about the name but enough crossovers. everyones making crossovers
03/27, 12:29 PM
posted by:
gbb
Gary…..yep this fukkin thing is a CITATION! Just another example of an auto that I will never understand why people buy. Pointless.
03/27, 12:30 PM
posted by:
oclynx
I agree with all the guys complaining with that “serial-name-killer” action of GM.
It’s hard to bring back great names if the context doesn’t agrees with the time that name used to “live”. It’s risky to bring back the same idea from old less expensive fuel times, but you can surelly bring te design ideas back with no problems. I, of course, woul’d love to see those big v8’s running all around, but It’s quite obvious that I wouldn’t even think about having one in my brazilian garage (expensive to buy, expensive secure and tributs).
As someone up said, 2004 Nomad was a nice car whose design was even nearby to a small sketch I’ve done in my notebook, after seeing some old Nomads pics (even being a coupe and fastback enthusiast). It has the essence of old Nomad, what I could compare to the new Camaro, whose relation is the same to it’s ancestor.
I can, also, agree with “55amg”: why a crossover? Excuse me but: damn, when will it stop? I’m not really interested in popular cars, but what happens in Brazil is quite ridiculous: accessories are bringing appearence of off-road cars to Chevrolet Celta (also sold as Suzuki Fun), Ford Fiesta and others alike. I use to say you’ll need to, soon, look for those cars in a psychiatric clinic: they’ll be depressed after finding out they cannot go off-road. Without talking about how the original designer might feel by seen those things attached to their cars.
C’mon: off-road is nice, but nothing is nicer to go off-road than a Baja or a WRC car, who does looks more like a city car than those fake off-roads.
See ya!
03/27, 12:38 PM
posted by:
global_lightning
Am I the only one who likes this idea???
‘Nomad’ would resonate with Baby-boomers who first rode these in their childhood and would now buy these for their families.
This beats the crap out of ‘letter-soup’ naming (Look, it’s the Chevy GT-WXYZ-32DD) and the bland pseudo-latin names (Lumina?) that Marketeers seem inthralled with.
03/27, 12:53 PM
posted by:
gbb
An auto that looks like that doesn’t resonate with this boomer, my youngest son is 33, I drive a Dodge Magnum cause it reminds me of the Nomad my dad (91 years old) had. Just name it something other than “Nomad” plueeeeeeeze if it is going to look like THAT.
03/27, 1:07 PM
posted by:
Blakkarr
These days cars come a go. Name marks like GTO, Impala, Monte Carlo, Nova, and more from GM will find life again. Sadly I think for most reading this, the damage is done, or so you would have me believe.
The next generation of GM cars to bare these names will likely force a great many people to ignore those posers of the past 10-20 years.
On the Subject of the Nomad, face facts, the vast majority of people still don’t think wagons can be hot rides. Despite the Magnum, the vast majority of wagons are little more than family haulers and ass-draggers. That being that they are big and slow or small and weak. There has been very little middle ground. GM likely does not see a business model for a Magnum-like sports wagon at this time. That doesn’t mean they won’t in the near future.
But honestly, a Hot Lambda with a kickin’ V8 and performance tuned AWD and suspension could make a resounding case to call it Nomad. Remember a big company like GM has to sell to more than just enthusiasts, they have to sell to as many people as possible.
We will have to wait a see.
03/27, 1:15 PM
posted by:
PrimeGTP
GM has the Saab 9-3 and 9-5 Sportcombi models for the small wagon market. I quite like them more than Volvo’s offerings, and DCX’s Magnum and R-Class that look like they were stolen and retrimmed from a funeral home. I’d rather see more work put into perfecting those even more than yet another friggin’ Lambda rebadge. SUVs and Crossovers are so overdone it’s ridiculous, I don’t see why GM feels the need to have 30 of them. Even Chevy’s Malibu Maxx, while far from perfect, was at least *something* for this segment. Here’s hoping a new rear-drive version under a different name is developed. Please GM, NO MORE SUV/CROSSOVERS!!
03/27, 1:17 PM
posted by:
Egbert Souse
I love every one of those 1-light bulb GM’s that drive by me every day
03/27, 1:35 PM
posted by:
hockeygod1331
Four crossovers, one for every division..WTF is GM thinking? Stop it and build some consumer demand!
03/27, 1:38 PM
posted by:
TOZO
Just call it a Trailblazer and get it over with!
03/27, 1:40 PM
posted by:
PrimeGTP
I think perhaps the Camaro’s reception was TOO good, so much so that GM now thinks all it has to do to sell cars is recycle old nameplates..
03/27, 2:12 PM
posted by:
Me
LOL. Egbert, I noticed that too. The full-sized trucks are the worst. Can’t they fix that glitch? Bulb supplier?
Got to agree with Hockeygod. I can understand 2-3 models given GM’s size, but damn. I could see GMC (which should be absorbed into Chevy) needing one. Saturn, they have the Vue, but they were the first out with this platform and the Outlook is bigger, so okay. Does Buick need a crossover? Enclave does replace the aging Redezvous and Rainer in one fell swoop and does have quite different sheetmetal. So okay it’s a go. Now it’s chevrolet’s turn. It’s gonna happen anyway, I just hope they differenciate it enough from the rest of it’s platform mates.
03/27, 3:27 PM
posted by:
S-60-driver
What is GM thinking???!!! Keep making lame mistakes after lame mistakes after lame mistakes……
Ford is looking better than GM. Ford smartly decided to call its new crossover “Flex” over classic “Fairlane”.
GM, are u taking notes???
03/27, 3:41 PM
posted by:
PrimeGTP
I think that’s going a bit overboard, S-60. It’d take a lot for Ford to look better than ANYTHING. And the “Flex” is pointless regardless of name. Let’s not forget the Taurus Incident as well.
03/27, 3:59 PM
posted by:
Bush
Let’s not forget the Pontiac Safari which was a rebadged Chevy Nomad in 55-57. I wouldn’t put it past GM to do that also.
03/27, 4:01 PM
posted by:
maximus
notice the question mark at the end of the title. Is is out of confusion or bewilderment?
03/27, 4:15 PM
posted by:
NSmist
So this must mean an end to vehicles such as the Buick Reineer and Rendezvous (excuse my spelling, can never get either of those right). Well at least their leaving their mark on the economy by supporting good ol’ Mexico.
03/27, 4:30 PM
posted by:
Cooper
This is a good idea. The original Nomad was a utility version of their sedans. That is exactly what a crossover is. The name fits like a glove. Also RLX02 you need to check your facts the highest selling American made sedan is the Impala.
03/27, 4:33 PM
posted by:
S-60-driver
PrimeGTP-
no, i meant Ford’s looking better than GM in naming its crossover. I’ll accept any name over “Fairlane”. Its disrespectful to use classic name for a new car thats not even close to the original car.
As for the Taurus name, i don’t think its such a big deal. It was a sedan and its using the name on an another sedan.
03/27, 4:56 PM
posted by:
jackdev73
Hey RLX02, the Impala actually sells quite well and the new Malibu looks very promising.
03/27, 5:46 PM
posted by:
RLX02
The NEW malibu looks promising, not the previous generation which was a typical fleet car. I dont know where you live jackdev73 or Cooper but here on the west coast, american sedans aren’t selling at all. The only ones that are, are the chrysler 300 and the magnum/charger. Even though the impala might be the highest selling american sedan, its not making much of a dent in accord/camry sales.
I know in the south and middle america they sell better, but over here…they’re just rentals.
03/27, 5:56 PM
posted by:
1c3d0g
Sigh…why does GM want to make so many variants of the same damn cross-over? Variety is good and all but this is really pushing it!
03/27, 6:16 PM
posted by:
specialk1098
why is this site never updated any more, i mean there used to be like a new page every day what is going on????
03/27, 9:25 PM
posted by:
F451
I have a feeling that if GM does bring back the Nomad it will be nothing like the other models that share the platform. Come on now, I don’t believe GM is that stupid.
03/28, 8:21 AM
posted by:
HoosierHero
This is a great name.
Nomad- “someone who does not lead a settled life but moves from place to place”
This thing will be migrating from car lot to car lot a long time.
03/29, 5:44 PM
posted by:
autonutt
Piablo — you’re the one who doesn’t get it! “4 door people hauling wagon based on a car platform”?!?! Don’t you even look at the pics on the page links you post? The original Nomad concept was a wagon variant of the Corvette, and the production Nomad was a 2-door wagon variant of the ‘55-’57 Chevy, NOT a 4-door people hauling wagon. I’d much rather Chevy stay true to the heritage and use the Nomad name on a kammback coupe version of the Sky/Solstice, much like the recent concept. The Trailblazer replacement should be called.. Trailblazer.
03/31, 5:45 PM
posted by:
Leftlane
test
03/31, 6:45 PM
posted by:
meekin111
They should make a real wagon nomad, based on the upcoming holden commodore wagon, sporty yet practical