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2003 SEMA Show: General Motors
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| General Motors Showcases Performance Plus |
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| Updated |
Mar 17, 2005 19:41:50 |
| Rating |
 170 ( 68 +40% ) | | Author | Tara Baukus Mello |
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Description:
General Motors has kicked its performance efforts up a notch with over 40 vehicles gracing the GM exhibit at the 2003 SEMA Show, including a large number of concept vehicles as well as models destined for production in the near future. The exhibit also highlighted the ever-expanding GM Accessories line, which will exceed 1,000 parts by the end of 2004. Here's an overview of GM's efforts to reach the performance enthusiast.
Cars
Just barely a year old, the GM Performance Division displayed three high-performance vehicles that will arrive in showrooms in early 2004. Saturn will launch its new Red Line models with Red Line editions of both the ION and the VUE. The Saturn ION Red Line quad-coupe will feature a 205 horsepower, 2.0-liter supercharged Ecotech four-cylinder engine with suspension that evolved from the specially prepared ION Red Line that recently set a land-speed record. Styling changes to the production ION Red Line include new front and rear fascias, a rear spoiler and a mesh-screen grille.
Also new in Saturn's stable is a VUE Red Line, which features a 250 horsepower, 3.5-liter V-6 engine that was produced by Honda for Saturn. Available in both front-wheel and all-wheel drive, the VUE has a lower ride height and stiffer springs to reduce the center of gravity and body roll, while sport steering increases responsiveness. Exterior styling changes include custom front and rear fascias and rockers as well as 18-inch wheels.
The GM Performance Division will also introduce vehicles from Pontiac, Cadillac and Chevrolet. The Pontiac Bonneville GXP will come with a 275 horsepower 4.6-liter DOHC V-8 engine and a performance-tuned handling package with four-wheel independent suspension. Cadillac's CTS-V will be GM's entry into high-performance luxury. The CTS-V will feature a 5.7-liter V-8 engine mated to a six-speed manual transmission, producing 400 horsepower and 395 lb.-ft. of torque. Chassis refinements include a StabiliTrak system with four driver-selected settings and performance-tuned stabilizer bars, bushings, springs, shock absorbers and steering. A line of V-Series accessories will also be offered for those who want to customize their vehicles.
The Saturn, Pontiac and Cadillac performance models will all arrive in early 2004. GM Performance Division's next entry will be a Chevrolet TrailBlazer SS for the 2006 model year. Based on the TrailBlazer SS concept shown at the 2002 SEMA Show, the production model will feature a Corvette-inspired V-8 engine, 20-inch wheels and a lower suspension than the current model.
Accessories
Recognizing the importance of accessories in customizing vehicles, GM has turned up the heat on its Accessories division. Just two years ago, GM Accessories offered a mere 150 items. By the end of 2004, the division is expected to offer over 1,000 items for the automotive enthusiast to customize his vehicle. Among the new items are 20-inch wheels for the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra, as well as 17- and 18-inch custom wheels for several 2004 model GM cars and trucks. Customized interior trim kits are also arriving on the scene, with kits in the Pontiac Grand Prix, Grand Am and Sunfire as well as the Chevrolet Colorado and TrailBlazer seen on the SEMA Show floor. The GM exhibit was also the place for the Accessories division to test reaction to a number of products not yet set for production. Items being considered for production included a new cargo rail system for the GMC Sierra as well as a sliding roof rack system that can be pulled down and retractable side steps for the GMC Yukon.
Engines
For enthusiasts looking for more power, the GM exhibit had a wide range of performance products. On both ends of the spectrum were new Ecotech four-cylinder supercharged engines and a new 620 horsepower, 572-cubic-inch big-block engine showcased in Jay Leno's recently rebuilt 1955 Buick Roadmaster. GM also featured two engines with its Displacement on Demand (DOD) technology, which deactivates cylinders in the engine when they are not needed in order to improve fuel economy. The fourth-generation Vortec 5300 small-block V-8 with DOD will debut on the 2005 Chevrolet TrailBlazer EXT, GMC Envoy XUV and the Buick Rainier, while the 3900 V-6 engine will be the first six-cylinder powerplant to use DOD, beginning with the 2005 Pontiac G6. GM said that it would have two million vehicles with DOD technology on the road by 2008.
© 2003, Tara Baukus Mello, All Rights Reserved. |
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