Don’t Expect A Chevrolet ‘Pocket Rocket’ Anytime Soon
11
Sponsored Links
Chevrolet knows there’s a market for the “pocket rocket,” but has no definitive plans to fill the void for such a car in the near future. This comes off the heels of the 2012 Chevrolet Code 130R concept, leading many to believe Chevrolet was readying a car to rival the likes of the Scion FR-S.
According to a new report from Automotive News, don’t expect such a car to come to fruition anytime soon. Mark Reuss, General Motors Global Product Development head, has gone on the record noting such a hole in the Chevrolet lineup, but says a car such as the 130R is simply not in the cards.
When asked about a small-performance vehicle, Reuss is genuinely conflicted on the idea, saying “I love those things. We know how to do them really well,” adding that he often fields the same question from customers and GM employees.
While Ford readies its Focus RS for U.S. consumption, Honda prepares the Civic Type-R and well-established vehicles such as the Golf GTI scoop up generation-Y buyers, Reuss says there isn’t much of a business case for an all-new vehicle, and quickly points to disappointing FR-S/BRZ sales. Sales of the small, rear-wheel drive sports-coupe fell 29 percent this year through April.
“Capital is not a black hole,” Reuss said. “On those cars, the price point begins to approach the segment of the next car up. We would spend a lot of money and resources, and what are we really doing?”
Chevrolet says its currently content with offering minor performance packages for the Chevrolet Sonic RS, which increase horsepower and torque slightly, without spending thousands of dollars.
While we don’t expect anything in the near future, keep the faith pocket-rocket fans. General Motors could easily tap the 2015 Opel Astra OPC for a budget-performance car, pushing 276 hp from its 2.0-liter turbo-four. As for the future, Reuss has us hopeful.
“The real question is: Is that a big priority? For now, no,” he said. “Forever? I wouldn’t say that.”
- Sweepstakes Of The Month: Win a 2023 Corvette Z06 Convertible. Details here.
Sponsored Links
and GM will only think about. global ford fiesta st-focus st-focus rs-golf gti-golf r but today not POLO GTI AND POLO R ?
Code 130 was a hideous design that screams 2002!
Buick could do such a project basing it on Astra seeing as it’s a white space brand.
Then again, this isn’t a big profit segment and is probably something a niche brand should handle.
This was the purpose of a niche Pontiac but that ship has long since sailed.
VW GOLF GTI CLUBSPORT
http://www.autobild.de/artikel/golf-gti-clubsport-test-sitzprobe-marktstart-und-preis-5761067.html
and media talks ford fiesta rs to
think gm
I think there lineup is good as it stands, 130r might just cannabalize camaro v4 sales and the money spen developing it could bring greater return elsewhere. It’s not like chevy needs it to establish a sports car market. They already have great products to fill it out from the SS, camaro and corvette
I think Chevy could use a roomy Accord Coupe fighter, but that’s just me.
I think that the Camaro 2.0T IS the Code 130R, it is alpha based and has the preferred engine choice from ATS where the Code 130R had a performance variant of the Cruze’s 1.4T.. If People can get over the stigma of owning a Camaro without a V8 there could be a very happy group of Camaro 2.0T tuners
Well here is the trouble. They try to keep the Camaro priced low and even with the V6 you can get a 300 HP plus car for well under $30K,
Now take a low volume smaller platform that will have added cost and then add the Turbo 4 to it and you load up the car and you are in the same market segment. I would love to have a smaller car like this with a Turbo 4 but they have a legitimate issue here with pricing and spacing.
Now I do believe they could an should do a Sonic with a larger more powerful turbo also a Buick bases on the Astra OPC would have been a nice fit here.
I think they could do a Sonic at a price and make it fast enough to be interesting.
It is sad they never replaced the Cobalt SS but today it would be as much as the Camaro V6 or even more.
If Chevy had Europe with a small car then they could leverage the smaller platform out easier but with no Europe there would be little profit here.
I am hoping if and when Cadillac looks small they may share a platform with Chevy for a smaller coupe.
Yes.. a really quick, nimble, close to 300 bhp Hot Hatch would be nice.
It’s was sad to hear that GM has no intention of introducing a sport compact like they did in the past with the Cobalt SS / HHR SS. There is a market for these cars and for younger car enthusiast’s like my self I am disappointed that they didn’t make a Cruze with a more powerful engine and a manual transmission on the LTZ with the RS package. Since I like to do performance modifications to my cars I had bought a 2015 Honda Civic SI. Being an employee I was hesitant to buy a car from another manufacturer. But I wanted something fun and practical, and the Civic SI fit right in. P.S The Camaro is too big and didn’t want a Rear wheel drive. I really miss the Pontiac line up, but am hopeful the next gen Cruze might have a higher output engine as an option. Just wanted to put my two cents in, hoping GM reads these posts.