GM reveals future in Viability Report
February 18, 2009 by George Skentzos
As a condition of its massive federal bailout funding, GM has been required to present a restructuring plan to the US department of Treasury to prove it has the resources to pay back its loans.
A side-effect of this report is that GM has been forced to reveal its future product launches to the public which includes known models such as the Chevrolet Volt and Camaro, but also previously unconfirmed models such as the Cadillac CTS Coupe.
According to the report, the new Cadillac CTS Coupe is due to begin production in 2010 in Michigan using a 3.6-litre V6 engine mated to a six-speed automatic transmission.
Initially revealed as a concept, the CTS Coupe uses a 2+2 seating arrangement, sharing only the instrument panel, console, headlamps, front fenders and grille with the sedan variant.
The CTS Coupe has also been designed for a new 2.9-litre turbo-diesel engine being developed for international markets, delivering an estimated 186kW and 550Nm.
With such a strong emphasis placed on fuel economy it is still unconfirmed whether GM will create a flagship CTS-V variant based on the Coupe.
The report also revealed the future direction of GM’s fuel saving technologies, with the development of a dry dual clutch transmission, new four-cylinder LPG engine and additional electric vehicle beginning in 2012.
Long term plans include fuel cell technology, lean combustion/homogeneous charge compression ignition gas engines and third generation hybrid systems for 2015.
In regards to its Australian operations, GM is confident Holden will remain a viable operation in the future largely thanks to the pending introduction of a locally produced small car.
Continued local production has become more challenging due to changes in market preferences. GM‘s local subsidiary (Holden) and the Australian government have developed a plan to bring to market a new, more fuel-efficient vehicle, with project funding provided by the Australian Government in the form of permanent grants. With this support, Holden is projected to be a viable operation, making a positive NPV contribution.
You can view the entire GM report at this link.
Via: AutoBlog
Print it: 
Too little, Too Late…….Goodbye GM and Holden. The bail-outs wont fix the problem, just prolong the inevitable death.
GM were required to do this and did so at the US Congress Hearing last year so that the governmetn could determine whether or not it was in the countrise best interests to give the Auto Industry any financial assistance and if so how much not to mention how.
GM had to show the enquiry what they were going to do with the money
They mentioned the comapnies that they would be keeping – which includes Holden and those that they are planning to offload such as Saab.
They menytioned the new car projects – which included Holdens new small car.. which was given the green light virtually as soon as GM got the money.
The also mentioned the new Engine technology etc which included the new Direct Injection Twin Turbo V6 and Diesel engines which are expected to be featured in the next model Commodore.
The US govt obviously believed that GM were either committed; focussed or at the very least had intentions to do whatever was required to restructure and survive which is why they decided to bail them out.
Its good to see that australia is seen as one of the key parts of the GM Corporation
wheelnut how is you`re vb commedore going anyway or have you sold it to richo?
GM should sell Holden off to a Chinese or Indian consortium, at least the quality and durability would improve.
Maybe the latest rediculously oversized Holden front badge would be reduced from about 300mm in diameter to a 50mm odd sizing, It has turned into a Bogan badge.
Spetty – I didn’t want it, my garage was already full with my NISSAN patrol, MITSUBISHI lancer and TOYOTA hiace…
seriously you people have me all wrong, you think just because i don’t think that holden is the anti-christ like a lot of you do that i must automatically be a commodore driving bogan, but I don’t even own one, the last holden i owned was an astra and it’s the worst car i’ve ever owned! I just happen to judge a brand on its merits, rather then on pre-conceived perceptions based mainly on peoples assumptions over the types of people who drive certain cars, eg holdens, must all be bogans, ignoring how many mums and dads and grandpas etc who make up the majority of private non-fleet commodore owners
Wheelnut…….Just because GM have got some money doesnt mean they are all ok now…….they havent proved anything to the U.S. Gov yet…….how are they going to make a profit and pay the money back anyway? it is a ridiculous situation because the they will will need another 50 0r 60 billion before they are close to being saved……
Holden job losses in the near future will be huge…..
love the bit in the report where the next years salary for the ceo is u.s. $1.00.there is a few banking ceo’s which should have the same salary.no wait.they should be in jail with their new boyfriends…
Direct from GM’s just announced viability plan:
“Asia-Pacific – In light of current market conditions, GM is reconsidering the pace of its expansion in the Asia Pacific region. As such, some of the proposed capacity expansion projects and product programs in the region are no longer financially feasible and will not proceed without financial support from either the respective governments or from other partners. GM is holding discussions with its stakeholders to address the required support.”
So with Holden introducing a new small car, GM-DAT safe with Lacetti Premiere/Cruze, Captiva, Beat/Spark and no doubt a new gen Gentra/Barina, this leaves China and Thailand as the main casualties for expansion.
Sean says: “with Holden introducing a new small car”
But that car IS the GM-DAT Cruze, (don’t let anyone kid you, it’s not a NEW car) so “Holden” could just as easily import it from Daewoo in Korea as build it here.
Ray Vohnn Says:
February 18th, 2009 at 11:19 pm
GM should sell Holden off to a Chinese or Indian consortium, at least the quality and durability would improve.
I sprayed my cucumber sandwich all over the keyboard when I read that one.
But yet again a basic, now old BA Falcon 2002-2005 will still have more power and torque and will still be a better and more drivable car if you keep it from idle to 5000rpm.
This new 3.6L V6 is only really good for anything above around 4500-5000rpm all the way to 6800rpm, anything below 4500 and a garden variety Toyota Camry 3.0L 2002 onwards will mesh it.
Not to mention that the manual BA/BF XR6 non turbo are sweeter to drive than auto versions where you can really feel the torque from a massive 4.0L I6 engine.
And if you were to compare this 3.6 Cadillac with 226kW/370Nm for which you need premium fuels, if you were to put it next to an FG Falcon 4.0L XT model , that car makes 420Nm of torque from just 2500rpm when you run it on RON98 petrol and just over 200kW on RON98.
Still 50Nm over that 3.6L V6, meaning much better driving experience, smoother, quieter and a lot better over all, plus making power at 500rpm less.
Where on a stock XT FG the power of 195kW actually starts at 5500rpm and is constant to about 5300rpm, if on RON98, you get around 202-203kW and it starts even earlier at 5000 and goes all the way to 6500rpm, something that factory never advertised or said anywhere.
Wait till the FG series 2 comes out, we are talking 440Nm and 220kW stock from the factory on REGULAR cheap 91 octane petrol!
that is 220kW with massive 440Nm, or perhaps more than 440Nm.
Try match that TORQUE?
Ford, Ford all the way.
I agree, a stock BA/BF would eat it from 1000rpm – 5000rpm.
Not to mention that a few small mods, re-tuning can make a BA/BF make just over 220kW, yet over 450Nm of torque from a stock motor.
Sock BA/BF still make more torque, which is a shame, 380/383Nm vs just 370 and again shame!