Sitting here in Boston, enjoying some rainy weather, I received a call from my mother-in-law: Chevrolet had just left me a voicemail. Some back story here...Firstly, "mom" has my cell phone because she is only visiting the U.S. for a few weeks before returning to France. Secondly, I have been awaiting word from Chevrolet regarding an "incident" I had with a member of its PR group of few weeks ago.
Enough history, however, let's get down to the facts. Recently, the WSJ had published an article that stated that plans for the MPV-7 (Orlando) here in the U.S. have been suspended. I was rather shocked to read this because I had thought of the Orlando as pretty much a lock for the U.S. market. I had a number of conversations with Chevrolet Chief Ed Peper about the project over the past year and he had always been very enthusiastic about the vehicle.
My initial inquiries about the project were rebuffed, but I finally have been able to get through to Terry Rhadigan, Director, Chevrolet Communications and we had a brief conversation about the MPV-7/Orlando project.
A couple things to note. Firstly, nothing has been officially confirmed or denied. As it stands, the Orlando is officially a concept and its production plans have yet to be confirmed. Unofficially, we know that the vehicle will be built, in fact we've seen it driving around. Secondly, since the vehicle's production status has not been confirmed, there have been no official announcements about where it would be produced. Unofficially, the MPV-7 was shown in a leaked UAW document last year and it was scheduled to be produced at GM's Hamtramck, Michigan facility.
The important thing for you to take away from this post is that according to Rhadigan, Peper is still as excited about the product as he has been all along. Plans for future vehicles are being checked and double checked like never before. Just because the MPV-7 project has been pulled from one plant in the U.S. (again, never officially confirmed in the first place) it doesn't mean that it couldn't be produced in another U.S. facility. The MPV-7 could also be imported for U.S. sale from other facilities around the world that will manufacture the vehicle whether or not it is sold here.
As Mark Twain might have said, "The News of the MPV-7's Non U.S. Market Viability Has Been Greatly Exaggerated" Says Rhadigan of the Orlando's chances in the United States: "Stay tuned." As for me? I'm going back out into the rain to enjoy my vacation, but as for the Orlando in the U.S.? I believe that Chevrolet needs a smaller seven seater than the Traverse and the Orlando will fill the bill nicely. In other words, I'm still going with "lock."
Monday, September 29, 2008
Chevrolet: WSJ "Jumped the Gun" on MPV-7 / Orlando U.S. Plans
Friday, September 19, 2008
Gack! Somebody Shoots My White Whale!? Orlando Not For U.S. Sale?
Update: Strike one! I just got off the phone with a less than cooperative Chevrolet rep. Sigh. Basically I got the line "The Orlando is just a show car. No plans have been announced. The WSJ report is purely speculative."
We've seen the mules of this vehicle driving around. We know they are going to make the MPV-7 somewhere...Let's not insult anyone's intelligence about it only being a show car. The question is where will it be built and for which markets? Unfortunately, the rep I spoke with was not willing to play ball and in fact seemed galled at my call. That's a pretty rare occurrence, but it frustrates me whenever it does happen.
Not to fear, I'll continue to dig around on this story.
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In a strange turn of events, the WSJ is reporting that plans for the Chevrolet Orlando (Delta MPV-7) in the U.S. have been suspended. According to UAW documents leaked last year, the MPV-7 was scheduled for production at GM's Hamtramck, Michigan facility. Now those plans have apparently been scrubbed.
I'm not quite sure about all of this, as I was pretty sure that the small, seven seater had a place at the table as a little brother to the Traverse. As you know, I've been following this vehicle with a lot of interest, so I'm still not quite ready to say goodbye. I would imagine that the Orlando, or whatever the production version will be called, could still be imported to the U.S. from elsewhere. It would seem to me that a really fuel efficient, nicely styled family hauler would be a lock! I'm going to do some digging around over the next few weeks and see if I can find out any more information about this story.
Tuesday, September 09, 2008
My White Whale: The Chevrolet Orlando Concept aka MPV-7
And so it appears. The car I've long blogged about. The vehicle I've peppered Ed Peper (say that three times in a hurry) with so many questions about. This is the concept is what I believe to be the fabled (well, fabled at least in my mind) Delta-based MPV-7: the little brother to the Traverse. My hopes are that this vehicle, with the right powertrain, could deliver terrific mileage to go along with seven seat capacity. Amazing mileage numbers are certainly capable with the concept's turbo diesel engine, but I doubt that we'd see that configuration for our market. However, a small displacement, direct injection, turbo mill could also yield fine results.
Since they are related, I've pasted the spy-shot of the Chevrolet Cruze's interior so that you can compare and contrast. Obviously, the spy-shot is of a higher trim level, with navigation and other festoonery but they are pretty darn close: definitely in the same family.
Below is GM's official press release:
The Orlando show car, making its world premiere at the Paris Motor Show in October, is a clear indication that Chevrolet is considering an expansion to its portfolio with a seven-seat multi-purpose vehicle with distinctive sport utility-like design, adaptable seating and impressive interior space.
Based on the recently announced all-new Cruze compact sedan, the Orlando show car carries Chevrolet’s signature design language into a new vehicle segment. It explores the potential of combining the versatility attributes of a sport utility, a family van and a wagon in a single execution.
Chevrolet Orlando cuts a distinctive silhouette, replacing conventional monocab proportions with a more defined contrast between the hood and windshield lines. With flared fenders instead of a flat side-body, Orlando has a muscular stance that gives it the appearance of a sport utility vehicle, yet it offers dynamic ride and handling, excellent fuel efficiency and easy entry thanks to its car-based architecture.
Inside, the five-door Orlando is designed to meet the needs of families and those who need plenty of seating capacity with adaptable, theater-style seating in three rows that comfortably accommodate up to seven occupants. Whenever load carrying becomes a priority, the spacious cabin can be quickly transformed into a large cargo area. A generous 2760 mm wheelbase and wide front and rear tracks provide Orlando with outstanding interior roominess.
Chevrolet’s latest-generation 2.0-liter turbo diesel, developing 150 hp and 320 Nm of torque, provides a powerful and fuel efficient powertrain.
Following the recent announcement of the all-new Cruze sedan, the Orlando show car promises another page in Chevrolet’s product portfolio and another step in Chevrolet’s plan to offer customers around the globe impressive value, quality and fuel efficiency.
Wednesday, August 06, 2008
Chevrolet MPV-7 Spyshot
Monday, November 26, 2007
GM Delta II: One Platform To Rule Them All
I've spoken a lot about GM's forthcoming Delta platform replacement, primarily focusing on the Chevrolet MPV-7 that will slot beneath the Traverse crossover. This week Automotive News has published an article about the new platform and how it will smooth out a lot of kinks in GM's global platform sharing model. The problem is this, each time GM has used Delta, in vehicles such as the Opel Astra and Chevrolet Cobalt, it modified the platform so that Opels could not be produced on a Chevrolet assembly line. With the new platform, let's call it Delta II, a next generation Opel Zafira could roll down the line right behind a Chevrolet MPV-7. GM could take advantage of exchange rates, such as exporting Opels manufactured in Michigan or quickly add production from another factory if demand takes a sudden upswing.
Automotive News cites a number of vehicles projected to be spawned from Delta II:
Chevrolet Volt
Minivan-like vehicle for Chevrolet in 2009
Seven passenger minivan that will replace the Opel Zafira
All-new Saturn Astra in 2009 or 2010
Daewoo-badged model for South Korea
Chevrolet for Europe
Premium Buick for China
Unnamed models for Africa and South America
Possible Saab model
Chevrolet really doesn't like the "minivan-like" moniker, describing its future vehicle as being more crossover/sporty in nature. Certainly the minivan sector's spiral of death has something to due with GM's sensitivity. As for the Saturn Astra, I really get concerned with quotes such as this one from vehicle line director Peter Mertens
Specifically my worry is that North American versions of vehicles such as the Astra will be decontented. For example, the Saturn Astra has Express-Down, Express-Up power windows while it's upmarket brother the Aura does not. This is just one disparity that comes readily to mind, but a fact is that Europeans are willing to pay more for their small cars. The MINI is starting to change automakers' perceptions of what Americans are willing to pay for, but I'm quite concerned that the domesticated next gen Astra will become a stripped, sedan version of its former well equipped, hatchback self. I'd like to be proven wrong on that account.
"Regional brands and models will be differentiated by powertrains, safety features, standard equipment and chassis tuning. If you drive them next to each other, you will certainly see there is a difference in chassis performance between an Opel and a Chevy or between a Buick and a Chevy. Each is engineered to compete against very specific competitors."
Thursday, November 15, 2007
Ed Peper on Chevrolet MPV-7, Beat, Groove and Kappa
The overall impression I got from Ed was that he was pretty upbeat on bringing the MPV-7 here. The vehicle would have a lower entry price and combined with the better mileage would seemingly be hitting the two keynotes that Chevrolet is trying to stress: value and economy.
Given that the MPV-7 is going to be built here in the USA regardless of whether or not it is sold here and combined with the fact that GM is now engineering all of its vehicles to meet US safety standards, I don't think it's that big of a risk for Chevrolet to take a stab at the market.
Now, the question turns to the second top vote getter, the Groove. GM had intended all along to build the Beat. I think that move was telegraphed by the very similar looking WTCC concept shown in Paris. However, given the very strong showing by the Groove in the online poll, I think that GM is strongly considering building it. When Ed was talking about the Beat, he would say things like "I think they have tremendous potential in the marketplace." Notice the "they" and not "it", seems like he's referring to more than one model, no?
On a final topic, I asked about a Kappa sports car for Chevrolet. When the first Kappa concepts appeared, there was the Chevy Nomad, a station wagon that apparently didn't clinic very well. After the Solstice and Sky appeared, there were rumors of Chevrolet getting a little convertible of its own, perhaps called Stingray. The rumors died down and I hadn't read anything lately, so I posed the question to Ed. The basic answer: CAMARO! It's the feeling of management that between the Camaro coupe and convertible and the Corvette coupe and convertible they have their bases covered. No Kappa for you!
GM wants you to know that they paid my way for this trip.