GM puts a hold on rear-wheel-drive cars

In a recent interview with Chicago News Tribune, GM’s vice chairman Bob Lutz said that they will be putting future rear-wheel-drive cars on a hold. Two important rear-wheel-drive vehicles in the work are the Chevrolet Camaro, that is due to go into production in late 2008, and the replacement for the Chevrolet Impala in 2009.

 “We’ve pushed the pause button. It’s no longer full speed ahead,” Vice Chairman Bob Lutz revealed in an interview.

While GM may be putting rear-wheel-drive on the back burner, this doesn’t mean that the production for the Camaro will be delayed. “It’s too late to stop Camaro, but anything after that is questionable or on the bubble,” said Lutz.

Lutz pointed out that the main problem with putting rear-wheel-drive vehicles into mass production is due to the heavier weight of the cars which take a toll on fuel economy. Lutz told Chicago New Tribune that GM will decide the fate of these models when the government figures out how to proceed on CO(-2) levels and updated CAFE standards.

Oh, and it also depends on if GM figures out a way to get better fuel economy from rear-wheel-drive cars rather than pointing fingers at Bush.

Source: Chicago News Tribune