GM’s new city car will offer a high level of finish and sophistication, according to new Vauxhall/Opel boss Nick Reilly.
The car was inspired by the 2004 Trixx concept car, but development was shelved until Reilly revived the project. He said that buyers are now willing to pay more for a city car if it’s well finished and sophisticated and offers a wide choice of options, as shown by the Mini, Fiat 500 and Toyota iQ.
“We’ve learnt how to make money on small cars in Asia,” said Reilly, referring to the Korean-developed next-generation Corsa platform that is likely to underpin the car.
The company is confident that it can turn a profit by using this chassis combined with higher list prices and more option sales. A battery-electric version is also planned, which will be the firm’s first pure electric model.
Reilly also said that GM can avoid the need to co-develop the car, in contrast to Fiat and Ford (Panda/Ka/500) and Toyota and PSA (Aygo/107/C1).
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Re: GM city car will go upmarket
Hehe yes, I could imagine that :o) I think it could work -it would certainly confuse quite a few greeny eco warriors - a Hummer, smaller and perhaps as economical as their Prius' lol
Re: GM city car will go upmarket
I like the idea. Give it a big Hummer style chrome grill, but i would call it the Hummer Tonka
Re: GM city car will go upmarket
They could stick a Hummer badge on it? Could call it the Hummer Ranchero, with an Airmatic damper system to raise ride height and 4 mini electric motors at each wheel to make it 4wd. That would give it its own USP , Sort of like a go-anywhere microcar :p