In order to cut cost, General Motors will merge the rear-wheel drive Zeta and Sigma platforms, a new report finds. The Zeta platform currently underpins the Pontiac G8 and the upcoming Chevrolet Camaro, while the Sigma platform is exclusively used for the Cadillac brand (CTS, SRX and STS).
According to Motor Trend, the first car to bow on the merged platform will be the 2011 Cadillac STS/DTS replacement. Following that car’s launch, the new platform will underpin several other models.
Despite the semi-revival of the rear-wheel drive car, don’t expect the Chevrolet Impala to make the switch from its current front-wheel drive setup. Although the Impala shares the sales floor with the hot-selling Malibu sedan, it continues to be one of Chevrolet’s top sellers. Instead, the Impala will likely move to the Epsilon II platform that will underpin the next-generation Buick LaCrosse.
However, a rear-wheel drive Chevy sedan is not completely out of the question as the new Zeta/Sigma platform will underpin six models on three different wheel bases, including:
- The next-generation Chevrolet Camaro, and possibly the Holden Monaro and a G8 coupe
- The next-generation Cadillac CTS coupe. Although the next-gen car will have the same wheelbase, handling will be improved thanks to a forged-aluminum suspension
- The next-generation Pontiac G8/Holden Commodore, and possibly a Chevrolet model — although not the Impala
- The next-generation CTS sedan. Unlike the coupe, the sedan’s wheelbase will be stretched by 1.4 inches, but will use the same forged-aluminum suspension
- A longer wheelbase version of the Zeta/Sigma platform will underpin the Holden Statesman/Buick Park Avenue in China (essentially long wheelbase versions of our Pontiac G8) and possibly even a rear-wheel drive Buick Lucerne.
- The aforementioned STS/DTS replacement will also ride on the extended platform, but will get a forged-aluminum suspension and longer overhangs.
As we have reported before, the new platform will also underpin Cadillac’s upcoming 3-series fighter and will replace the Euro-spec BLS. To help further spread costs, Holden, Pontiac and Chevrolet could get models based on the small Cadillac platform.
05/05, 6:27 PM
posted by:
tripleonefive
Nice move GM Save that money lol
05/05, 6:32 PM
posted by:
El Aleman
Please build a rear wheel drive Impala!!! Don’t waste the perhaps greatest name in american car history like that..
05/05, 6:59 PM
posted by:
A4
A rear wheel impala would sure be nice… once the malibu gets its name out i think itll be a smart move.
05/05, 6:59 PM
posted by:
johnnycanuck
Chevy has no sense of history other than the Corvette. They toss names around like old pairs of socks, pulling one out of the hamper when it suits them. They’re better now than in the past, (Corsica?) but this would be a good lineup:
FWD compact: Nova
FWD mid size: Malibu
RWD full size: Impala
They can call those Daewoo tin cans whatever they want. Real Chevy customers don’t care anyway.
05/05, 7:50 PM
posted by:
autonut
johnny, chevy customer do buy Chevy badged Daewoo. Definitely not Fords or Honda. Brand identity keeps Ford and GM in business. Let’s face it, both companies have a lot of trucks to sell and not a lot of cars. And if you don’t read posts of pro-jap or against-jap posters on this forum, but read car magazines reviews, not all those cars are that great and beat competition on their merit. Brand identity or brand patriotism is very strong.
In y experience FWD Impala is the best American branded car and I am not all that sure that it needs to be RWD. The last RWD Caprice was not that hot and definitely not better then current FWD.
05/05, 8:36 PM
posted by:
zoomzoomr
Impala to move to Epsilon II? That doesn’t make ANY sense, considering the LaCrosse, Opel Insignia and Saturn Aura will be using that platform.. not to mention the next-generation Malibu! I would think if the Impala were to stay FWD it would have to move to the larger platform of the Buick Lucerne and Cadillac DTS. But considering the iffy nature of Pontiac’s future, it would make more sense to build the next Impala on Zeta.
05/05, 10:53 PM
posted by:
johnnycanuck
autonut: the Impala is a very good car, but the Malibu is now so close in dimensions there is very little to distinguish the two. The last RWD Caprice was Motor Trends car of the Year in 1990 so how can you say it was not a success? Sorry, even I still can’t swallow that. You’re probably right though, the Impala has been a steady seller for years in its front wheel drive guise so why change a good thing.
05/05, 10:54 PM
posted by:
howsmydriving
Sigma, smegma, it’s all the same.
05/06, 12:58 AM
posted by:
steve333
They can keep the Impala FWD and also make a new Caprice RWD.
I would rename the Aveo Metro (which is what it should have been called in the first place), when GMDAT actually produces a small car that isnt a POS.
05/06, 2:04 AM
posted by:
bigp
just bring something with an chevt badge to kick the dodges ass to loose to the new ford thats coming soon
05/06, 7:53 AM
posted by:
carstuff
In y experience FWD Impala is the best American branded car and I am not all that sure that it needs to be RWD. The last RWD Caprice was not that hot and definitely not better then current FWD.
..
..
The last Caprice did not sell that well in the end because of gas mileage. A RWD Impala will not happen because of the new CAFE. It was in the program but now way could GM meet the new rules.
05/06, 9:14 AM
posted by:
xyunya
This will work only if GM dos not screw it up. GM does have a tendency to do just that. It cost 1 billion to develop a car/architecture. It does not cost any less to a develop a dud then a winner.
05/06, 9:52 AM
posted by:
RaineMan
I don’t see how a RWD Impala would be any less fuel efficient than a FWD one.
Heck… if they can stuff the 260hp LNF 4-banger into the Camaro… why not use it in Impala? 260hp… 260tq… nice wide power band. Could replace a lot of V6 engines.
The new Malibu and Impala are practicly clones anyways. Ofcourse I see tons of new Impalas on the road (the cops around here love them) but why not make one of the two something different?
05/06, 10:00 AM
posted by:
DeansterTJ
One of my buddies is a radiologist, he nets literally thousands of dollars a day but drives around in an Impala. We go for coffee, and he literally daydreams about his next Impala. He could buy anything he wants, S600s, A8s, 760s, you name it, but he’s in love with the Impala.
In his defence, it’s quite the smooth ride.
05/06, 10:40 AM
posted by:
Need4SSpeed
yeah I just had an uncle and one of my friend’s father both just buy Impalas within the last 2 months. As long as they are selling GM doesn’t care.
05/06, 10:46 AM
posted by:
kgm777
Yeah, and I knew an orthopedic surgeon in CA who drove an ancient Toyota Corolla that you could hear blocks away as its old belts squealed. Some people think of cars only as a means of getting from point A to point B.
I’d like to see a new Caprice coupe.
05/06, 12:32 PM
posted by:
jumpoffit
i still want a ‘64 (six fo’) impala on dayton wire wheels , hitting switches for my bitche$ – the impala needs to be a boat again- come on Chevy do it for La Raza!!
05/07, 6:55 PM
posted by:
DialM4Speed
Impala’s and Malibu’s are little more than people movers. There’s no need to make them rear drive. You want rear drive then get a G8 or Camaro. And please don’t bring back the Caprice! Look forward not backward!