Chevrolet Nomad Concept
http://www.automag.com/images/StopLight/2004/chevrolet_nomad_2.jpg
Saturn Curve Concept
http://www.saturnspeed.com/images/curve_hood_2004.jpg
via leftlanenews
GM pledges to develop more RWD cars
Following our report on an informal poll by General Motors regarding consumers’ driveline layout preferences, the company has said it will pursue more RWD cars. “GM has been traditionally (and perhaps rightly) accused of ignoring customer input. Too often without that perspective, we’ve offered buyers well-reasoned — but perfectly passionless products,” writes Jack Keebler, GM’s Advanced Concepts Group Director. “As I suspected, the widely divergent thoughts posted indicate that there’s a healthy market for various driveline layouts.” Specifically, he recognizes the demand for more rear-wheel-drive cars from GM. “I promise to work on the creation of a line of small, agile, rear-wheel-drive cars,” Keebler said.

note I remember reading that the Nomad concept did poorly in customer clinics so maybe they've changed their mind somewhat. I don't know if Saturn will do the Curve with and the Sky roadster.

Also there is the Saab 9X concept from a few years ago. While it used awd since the poll the quote refers to featured Saab this car may get done as a rwd car on the Kappa platform instead. Or they may do a new Saab Sonnet
http://www.autopress.be/images/saab9X_07.jpg

"perfectly passionless products"

precisely! :lol:

The Nomad should have come out years ago - I think it originally hit the carshows at the same time that the Aztek did... they obviously picked the wrong one to bring to market.

More SMALL RWD cars is always a good thing - but I hope that they don't forget abotu AWD though. Seems like more and more cars are getting AWD and buyers seem to realy want that technology.

GM cars always find a way to exactly fail to excite me.

GM is going to continue to labor its way through the market. Clueless bastards. Lemme guess, what are they going to put in these vehicles? ... uh... V8??
:huh:

All Hail Subaru!!!

I was 100% chevy until 2003, after selling my '68 SS Camaro in the spring, I'll be 100% Subie. and free of any car payments! :D

^^^ I seriously think that they will start using that 2.0L Inline-4 with Direct Injection in these cars... after all, the Solstice GXP is gonna be using it. On paper atleast, that engine looks like it can take on anyone in terms of technology and power.

small and RWD. I'm speachless. without speach.

the GXP is awfully compelling. Might have to put one in the garage.

Properly built the Ecotech is a nice motor. So is Ford's Zetec. Will they make nicely built motors available here? Let's hope the GXP Solstice means yes.

The Saturn Curve has a great profile.

~~Quentin

Small + RWD = FTW


It's amazingly simple, yet most manufacturers can't quite grasp it. I'm glad GM is making an attempt. :cool:

i think the saturn curve could very well be a savior for gm. even though the solstice was the first in the lineup of the kappas, the curve looks much better IMO. the first time i saw that car in the flesh, i knew it would be a hit. the solstice on the other hand looks a little odd. If GM decides to be smart and use that platform for more cars, it could definitely start a revolution for them. ill take a saturn sky hatchback, with either a turbo ecotec or an ls2, they can decide that for me :devil:

I bet GM wont do it and will continue to screw themselves. I still think the Camaro is gonna end up being FWD with a V6 :rolleyes:

I bet GM wont do it and will continue to screw themselves. I still think the Camaro is gonna end up being FWD with a V6 :rolleyes:

GM is doing V8's in their FWD cars now.

either way it will be worthless unless they go with a LS2, T-56, and keep it right around 3000lbs

The Saturn Curve has a great profile.

~~Quentin
Yeah, it's got that muscular low-slung look with the dish shaped greenhouse. Everything that made the Ford Probe a success.. but missing the thing that made the Probe an eventual failure.. FWD.

If they make that (Nomad/Curve), it will sell.

Nobody has made a good looking, small sporty economy car with enough room for a golfbag since the CRX. We either get aniemic roadsters with no storage space, or egg-mobiles.

Yeah, it's got that muscular low-slung look with the dish shaped greenhouse. Everything that made the Ford Probe a success.. but missing the thing that made the Probe an eventual failure.. FWD.

If they make that (Nomad/Curve), it will sell.

Nobody has made a good looking, small sporty economy car with enough room for a golfbag since the CRX. We either get aniemic roadsters with no storage space, or egg-mobiles.

I agree 100% :)

Nobody has made a good looking, small sporty economy car with enough room for a golfbag since the CRX. We either get aniemic roadsters with no storage space, or egg-mobiles.

... and that is why Neon's replacement is a wagon. I think there is a hole in the product line of carmakers now and the Caliber and this Nomad could very well fill that niche (where the hell is Subaru with a hatchback Impreza?!).

GM (and Dodge) do have to remember that none of these products will be high-volume sellers. They aren't meant to be, but they can make their car lineups way more interesting.

I really don't think of the Caliber as filling that void at all. It isn't sporty, and it's too big to be considered in the class of the Nomad. The Nomad/Curve are built on the Sky/Solstice platform. They're tiny two seaters.. miata sized. The Caliber can fit 5 + luggage.

The Caliber is competing with the likes of the Mazda 3, Ford Focus and Impreza wagon.. It's the same thing as the PT Cruiser is now.... a Neon based 5 door. I don't understand the big deal about the Caliber on this forum or how it got included. :huh:

Too big? It's replacing the Neon... think a wagon version of a Neon - atleat in terms of size. I would think it is almost exactly the same size as the Nomad. Also don't forget that they are goign to make an SRT4 variant of it eventually.... so that wagon will be fastAr than light and time itself.

Also the Solstice and Sky are actually a little bigger than the Miata - that is one reason why they are soo much heavier.

The nomad is a 2 seater the size of a miata. The Caliber is a 5 seater the size of an Impreza. The outgoing neon is actually bigger than the Impreza.

car: wheelbase(in)/length(in)
Neon: 105/174.4
Impreza: 99.4/173.4
Solstice: 95.1/157.2

Remember that the Neon was a "cab forward" design that allowed the wheelbase to be stretched without really making the vehicle any longer. 1" is only a rub-strip on the front and rear bumpers. This allowed the interior to be larger. Very hard to push the front wheels forward with Subaru's drivetrain.

I just laid out the wheelbase and length specs.. there's practically no difference. I was only pointing out that the Neon is actually longer than the Impreza to emphasize that the Nomad in that image is much smaller.

The front wheels of the neon aren't very far forward either. It still has drivetrain limitations. "Cab forward" design was just a fancy way of saying that they put the windsheild way out in front of the driver. It's quite common now (think New Beetle) and nothing to brag about.

http://us.autos1.yimg.com/img.autos.yahoo.com/ag/dodge_neon_se_2005_exterior_4_346x270.jpg

Are you guys seriously arguing that the Impreza, Mazda 3, Focus and Neon aren't all compact cars in the same size class?

Are you arguing that the Nomad, a car the size of a Solstice is in the same size class? It's a sub-compact.

The Nomad has a wheelbase of 107" but a length of only 155"
That's a wheelbase 2" longer than the neon and a length 2" shorter than the solstice.

The Dodge Caliber has a wheelbase of 103.7" and a length of 173.8"
It's roughly the size of the Neon.

http://fp.images.autos.msn.com/merismus/gallery/c457681a.jpg

My dream car returns in just a few years!

I LOVE the new Camaro, but there is nothing 'small' about it.

Ok, they got the small part right, and the RWD part. Now they just need to actually keep weight in check so the small part is worth it.