GM's product czar Bob Lutz shows zest for Zeta architecture



By BRUCE NEWTON 20 February 2004

GENERAL MOTORS product czar Bob Lutz has forecast a "huge" future for the new Holden-developed VE Commodore architecture, predicting it will underpin a minimum of 400,000 cars worldwide. And Mr Lutz’s estimate on build numbers is regarded as conservative within Holden.

Mr Lutz is at the head of a heavyweight GM delegation visiting Holden this week which also includes world engineering boss Jim Queen and design chief Ed Welburn.

The group was given an in-depth tour of the VE, the Zeta architecture and various spin-off concepts at Holden’s Fishermens Bend headquarters on Monday.

"Holden has a major, major, major role to play in at least one worldwide architecture," Mr Lutz said at a press function on Tuesday at Holden’s Lang Lang proving ground.

"It’s potential could be huge. We’re talking rear-wheel drive, all-wheel drive, V6, V8. Some of the plans are still very fuzzy, but if you look at the European potential, the Asian potential, Holden and the United States and it could be 400,000."

At least some of GM’s plans for the architecture codenamed Zeta – which will be first employed under a production car when the all-new VE Commodore is launched in the first half of 2006 – could be announced as soon as the second quarter of 2004.

That date was mooted by new Holden managing director Denny Mooney on Tuesday.

The announcement could coincide with a Zeta-based Buick convertible show car tipped to be unveiled at the New York auto show in April, although that concept is far from confirmed.

Holden sources say it is more likely that Zeta’s global role will be first announced in Australia. The Zeta architecture will be manufactured in Australia under VE Commodore, its derivatives and exports, in the US under Buicks, Chevrolets and Pontiacs, and is also under consideration to underpin a forthcoming Opel large car and the replacement for the Saab 9-5 luxury model.

The first foreign model expected to emerge is a Buick flagship sedan late in 2006.

Holden already exports Commodores, Monaros and long wheelbase cars as Chevs and Pontiacs to various export markets, the best known being the Pontiac GTO.

The difference with Zeta is the architecture technology would be primarily exported for overseas manufacture and the sheetmetal on top would not necessarily bear any resemblance to any Holdens.

Asked about Mr Lutz’s 400,000 build estimate, Mr Mooney responded: "It could be more than that, 400,000 isn’t even two plants. You’ve got to remember a plant in North America in a two-shift operation will run about 240,000 units, a three-shift operation will do over 300,000.

"I think that (Lutz estimate) is conservative."

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Buick Boost: Holden engineered platform is set to play a vital role in the repositioning of Buick in the US.



By BRUCE NEWTON 26 February 2004

STRUGGLING US brand Buick is set to be the first North American recipient of Holden’s Zeta architecture.

General Motors has plans to reposition Buick as its direct opposition to Toyota’s luxury brand Lexus. Holden technology will play a key role in making that happen.

First signs of the co-operation should come in April at the New York auto show with the unveiling of a convertible concept expected to be called Velite.

But Buick will have to wait until 2007 before being able to exploit the architecture with a production car. And according to GoAuto sources in the US that won’t be all, with the production convertible set to follow it on to the market in 2008.

As you can see from the launch schedule reproduced below, Zeta will also underpin Chevrolets and Pontiacs in North America. And the list we have obtained is by no means complete.

Zeta has been developed by Holden for the VE Commodore and its derivatives but, as part of GM’s global architecture strategy, the technology will be exported internationally to underpin a new generation of vehicles. Zeta can be formatted in rear-wheel drive, all-wheel drive, with V6 and V8 drivetrains and in a variety of wheelbases.

Last week, during an Australian visit, GM product czar Bob Lutz put the worldwide opportunities for Zeta at about 400,000 units per annum, but that is a very conservative number.

Zeta production is expected to start at the Buick plant in Oshawa, Canada, in 2006. In 2002 215,727 Buick Century and Regal models were built there. Add the potential for a second US plant, Fishermens Bend production and possible European use (Saab and Opel), and the Zeta total climbs beyond 500,000.

So why Buick first? Because it’s in a much weaker state than Chevrolet or Pontiac. Last year it sold 259,348 vehicles, a 30 per cent slide from 2002.

GM plans to reposition Buick more upscale with higher prices, more standard equipment and options not offered on current models. "It will be American premium luxury,” GM North America president Gary Cowger told Automotive News this month.

"When you think about Buick, you’ve got to think about going right head-to-head with Lexus – only (with) American premium luxury, distinguishing itself with very tasteful executions of interiors, getting back to more classic designs."

The first step in Buick’s resurgence came at the Chicago auto show when the all new mid-size LaCrosse was revealed.

Replacing the Regal and the Century, the LaCrosse was one of Mr Lutz’s first projects when he re-joined GM. He killed the original proposal and closely managed the exterior and interior styling re-designs.

Significantly, Mr Lutz’s previous utterances about Holdens that will sell in the US have not only included the Monaro as GTO and the SS Utility as a Chevrolet El Camino, but also the long wheelbase Statesman as a reborn Buick Roadmaster.

ZETA ROLL-OUT

2007 Buick luxury sedan
2007 Pontiac GTO
2008 Buick convertible
2008 Pontiac Grand Prix
2008/09 Chevrolet coupe and convertible
2009 Chevrolet Impala
2010 Chevrolet Monte Carlo

 

That is great to know!!! I just want a Camaro!!!

 

Hmmmmmm, so that new Buick concept car could very will be the next gen camaro....

 

I'd say the "third Zeta plant" to be built in the U.S. may be the Camaro platform. The new GTO is more likely to be built on the Buick platform.

 

They're all the same thing, there's no "Camaro" or "Buick" platform. The Velite concept they trotted out is built on the 2006 Commodore's structure, that structure is the Zeta. It can accomdate a range of vehicles like the Sigma they use for Cadillacs.

 

So by this, I am assuming that a new design for the GTO will be in 2007...

 

Umm, okay. Then I'd say the Camaro will be built on the American Zeta platform and the GTO on the Canadian Zeta. Is that clear enough?

 

You assume correctly sir. About time too. The current Monaro/GTO while a great car is based off of the VT II architecture.

And while I'm here wishing they'd replace the W-Body Impala with a rear driver already and get to work on a 5th Gen Camaro, I really do understand the need to assist Buick in restructuring their lineup as a priority. With the Cadillac turn around almost complete (only one vehicle left to go), the next maker down the hierarchy is Buick. I can only imagine what Lutz will do with the nameplate. The speed with which Caddy has done an about face is frickin ludicrous. And what an about face. I don't think there's a derivative of an art & science cadillac that I don't like (except for the Escalade which isn't really my cup of tea). If GM goes one step further and converts the current crop of cars underpinned by Epsilon to RWD/AWD in the next decade, my faith will have been restored. Bob Lutz

 

Canadian Zeta?