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GM Gamma Vehicle Platform

Gamma is the name of a global General Motors vehicle architecture designed to underpin subcompact (B-segment) vehicles. The platform made its debut in the 2000 Opel Corsa C and was later used for a wide variety of General Motors vehicles.

Gamma was created from a unique collaboration between General Motors and Fiat. As a result, both automakers developed the platform as a common basis on which to build both GM and Fiat vehicles.

GM engineering for the first-generation Gamma platform was mostly performed by GM’s Opel subsidiary in Germany. Gamma II was engineered by GM Korea.

The first generation of the Gamma platform, also known as GM4300, was released in the fall of 2000 in the Opel Corsa C. It was an iteration of the GM4200 platform used in previous-generation Opel Corsa models.

The GM4200 platform had a 2,465mm (97.0-inch) wheelbase. By comparison, Gamma I wheelbase was longer, spanning 2,491 mm (98.1 inches).

Vehicles using the Gamma I platform include:

  • 2000–2006 Opel Corsa C
  • 2001–2010 Opel Combo B
  • 2002–2010 Opel Meriva A
  • 2003–2011 Chevrolet Montana
  • 2004–2009 Opel Tigra TwinTop B

While the original Gamma I platform was developed by GM’s Opel subsidiary in Germany, responsibility the Gamma II successor was transferred to GM Korea. GM’s strategy is to eventually use Gamma II as the underlying platform for all of its subcompact vehicles globally.

Notably, Gamma II is GM’s first front-drive architecture to be capable of supporting passenger cars and crossovers, as neither Delta nor Epsilon are capable of doing so. Instead, Delta platform requires the Theta platform for crossovers derivative while the Epsilon platform requires Lambda platform.

Vehicles using the Gamma II platform include:

  • 2010-present Chevrolet Spark, Holden Barina Spark
  • 2010-presentnext generation Chevrolet Sail
  • 2011-present Chevrolet Aveo/Sonic, Holden Barina
  • 2011-present Chevrolet Cobalt
  • 2012-present Opel/Vauxhall Mokka, Buick Encore
  • 2012-present Chevrolet Spin
  • 2013-present Chevrolet Onix
  • 2013-present Chevrolet Prisma (second-generation)
  • 2013-present Chevrolet/Holden Trax

Concept vehicles using the Gamma II platform include:

  • The Gamma platform has several notable elements, including:
  • Front, transversely-mounted engine placement
  • Front-wheel drive and support all-wheel drive
  • Independent front suspension, semi-independent twist/torsion-beam rear suspension
  • Support for four-cylinder and smaller engines
  • High flexibility capable of supporting cars and crossovers/CUVs and MPVs
Gamma Platform Vitals
TYPE: UNIBODY WELDED STEEL BODY
SIZE: SUBCOMPACT (B-SEGMENT)
SUPPORTED VEHICLE TYPE: CAR AND CROSSOVER/CUV
LAYOUT: FRONT-ENGINE, FWD AND AWD
POWERPLANT LAYOUT: TRANSVERSE
PREDECESSOR: GM4200
SUCCESSOR: G2XX

The Gamma platform supports a wide range of GM’s four-cylinder and smaller Ecotec GM engines.

Gamma I

  • 2000–2006 Opel Corsa C
  • 2001–2010 Opel Combo B
  • 2002–2010 Opel Meriva A
  • 2003–2011 Chevrolet Montana
  • 2004–2009 Opel Tigra TwinTop B

Gamma II

  • 2010-present Chevrolet Spark, Holden Barina Spark
  • 2010-present generation Chevrolet Sail
  • 2011-present Chevrolet Aveo/Sonic, Holden Barina
  • 2011-present Chevrolet Cobalt
  • 2012-present Opel/Vauxhall Mokka, Buick Encore
  • 2012-present Chevrolet Spin
  • 2013-present Chevrolet Onix
  • 2013-present Chevrolet Prisma (second-generation)
  • 2013-present Chevrolet Trax/Holden Trax

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