Rear drive is back at GM--and not just at Cadillac. GM's new rear-drive Zeta platform will make its debut in Australia in April 2006 with the launch of the all-new Holden Commodore sedan and Monaro coupe. But the versatile Zeta--which will be built in long-wheelbase form for Holden's upscale Statesman and also with all-wheel drive for its crossover and pickup models--also is scheduled to spawn a bunch of American GM cars besides the new GTO. They include:
• Pontiac G8: A rear-drive sport sedan designed to replace the front-drive Grand Prix and the recently discontinued Bonneville.
• Chevrolet Chevelle: A midsize Chevrolet coupe tipped to revive this classic nameplate
• Buick Velite: A halo car based on the 2004 New York show convertible concept; originally meant to be a Chrysler 300-fighting sedan appearing in 2007.
In addition, GM is said to be working on a smaller rear-drive platform that fits between Kappa and Zeta. The genesis behind this new platform is a concept car, called the Torana TT36, designed and developed in Australia by Holden. Developed under the codename XP54, scale clay models of the car were shown to GM product czar Bob Lutz, design chief Ed Wellburn, and North American engineering VP Jim Queen in February 2004.
Holden boss Denny Mooney pushed the idea of what Holden sources call a "unique lower dominant structure" (i.e., platform) designed to "expand the GM parts bin." Known by some sources as Beta, this platform is now believed to be a live program that could be used for the following:
• Holden Torana: A smaller rear-drive car designed to fit below the GTO-size Commodore sedan. The TT36 concept was a five-door hatch powered by a 375-horse twin-turbo version of the new high-feature 3.6-liter V-6.
• Chevy Camaro: One of the most iconic names in the Chevrolet pantheon. The smaller Beta platform would distance the Camaro from the GTO and actually take the nameplate back to its ponycar roots. GM promised the Canadian Auto Workers it wouldn't build a new Camaro unless it was in a Canadian factory, so it's either a Great White North plant or a new name.
• Pontiac G4: A little brother for the G8, though where this might fit against the G6 is unclear. So how about ditching the meaningless numbers and call the G8 the Le Mans and the G4 the Tempest and leave the G6 for the ladies?