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GM VSS-F Vehicle Set Platform

VSS-F, or Vehicle Strategy Set – Front, is the name of an upcoming automotive architecture that will underpin next-generation, front-wheel-drive and front-wheel-drive-based all-wheel-drive cars from General Motors.

Note that VSS-F will not underpin crossovers (CUVs) built using a unibody construction. Instead, those vehicles will ride on the GM VSS-S platform set.

Overview

The VSS-F platform, or more appropriately the VSS-F vehicle set, is part of GM’s objective to consolidate platforms, reduce complexity, and simplify engineering and manufacturing processes in order to realize significant cost savings and enable the company to deliver better-differentiated designs more quickly to customers around the world. In that capacity, the VSS-F platform would replace all of GM’s front-drive, transverse-engined car platforms with a single set. This single set that will, in turn, have several subsets for differently sized vehicles.

GM’s vehicle sets will employ common components and structures, which will save engineering, purchasing and tooling costs. In theory, the undertaking will also enable GM to better tailor individual models to regional markets and specific sectors. For instance, a small car in China would share many basic parts but not sheet metal with a mid-size car for sale in America.

Development

Development of the Vehicle Set strategy was started in the 2013-2014 timeframe by GM CEO Mary Barra when she headed GM’s product development department before succeeding Dan Akerson as CEO in January 2016. The project is currently lead by GM Executive Vice President of Product Development, Mark Reuss.

Subsets

It is believed that the VSS-F set will have several subsets to underpin differently-sized vehicles. It is currently unclear what these subsets are.

  • VSS-F A for vehicles in the A segment such as the Chevrolet Spark
  • VSS-F B/C for vehicles in the:
    • B segment such as the Chevrolet Sonic
    • C segment such as the Chevrolet Cruze and Buick Verano
  • VSS-F D/E for vehicles in the:
    • D segment such as the Chevrolet Malibu and Buick Regal
    • E segment such as the Chevrolet Impala and Buick LaCrosse

Vehicle Applications

VSS-F will underpin future front-drive or front-drive-based all-wheel-drive cars with a transverse powertrain orientation. The first vehicle on VSS-F is scheduled to be launched by the 2020 calendar year.

Here are the vehicles we expect VSS-F to underpin:

Platform Replacement

GM VSS-F will succeed transverse-engined, front-drive and front-drive-based all-wheel-drive car platforms, including:

  • GM Gamma platform, which underpins:
    • Chevrolet Sail
    • Chevrolet Spark
    • Chevrolet Sonic
    • Chevrolet Trax (since this is a crossover, it will likely switch to VSS-S)
    • Chevrolet Onix
    • Chevrolet Prisma
    • Chevrolet Cobalt
    • Chevrolet Montana
    • Buick Encore (since this is a crossover, it will likely switch to VSS-S)
  • GM D2 platform, which underpins:
    • Chevrolet Cruze
    • Chevrolet Cavalier
    • Chevrolet Volt
    • Chevrolet Equinox (since this is a crossover, it will likely switch to VSS-S)
    • GMC Terrain (since this is a crossover, it will likely to VSS-S)
    • Buick Envision (since this is a crossover, it will likely switch to VSS-S)
    • Chevrolet Orlando (discontinued)
  • GM E2 platform, which underpins
    • Chevrolet Malibu
    • Buick Regal
    • Buick LaCrosse
    • Cadillac XT4 (since this is a crossover, it will likely switch to VSS-S)
  • GM Super Epsilon platform, which underpins:
    • Chevrolet Impala
    • Cadillac XTS

Other GM Vehicle Sets

VSS-F will join three other General Motors vehicle sets, including:

GM Vehicle Set News

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