Car buyers have pivoted from cars to crossovers and SUVs. And car manufacturers, particularly American car manufacturers, have followed the market, eliminating virtually every vehicle that isn’t a truck or SUV. Ford has eliminated every car except the Mustang. Stellantis is down to the Charger. The only current cars in General Motors’ American lineup are the Chevrolet Corvette and the two Cadillac sedans, the CT4 and CT5.
That could be about to change, however. According to a report, GM will renew its focus on passenger cars as it dials back its all-electric future plans. And those plans may include a new passenger vehicle we have not yet heard about.
Cadillac has already confirmed that a next-generation CT5 sedan is happening, after the current CT4 and CT5 models leave the market after 2026. Now, GM Authority, citing a source, reports that GM is working on “multiple variants” of the vehicle, which it would build at the Lansing Grand River Assembly plant in Michigan. The cars would use GM’s Alpha 2+2 platform, an evolution of the Alpha 2 platform. The CT4 and CT5 use the Alpha 2 platform. That platform also underpinned the sixth-generation Chevrolet Camaro.
GM Authority did not get the scoop on what “variants” meant and how many there would be. But the outlet mentions several possibilities. Variants could mean new coupe and convertible versions of the CT5. In a General Motors context, variants could also mean rebadged versions for different brands. The other possibility GM Authority mentions is Chevrolet getting a version, either a rebadged Chevrolet Malibu or Impala, or a revived Camaro.
There have been rumors, rumblings and a reported movement within GM to revive the Camaro. The sticking point has been the business case. And sales woes, compared to the traditional Mustang’s historic volume, have not helped the Camaro’s case. Other rumors have suggested the Camaro nameplate could return for a new electric crossover.
A four-door, combustion-powered Camaro, sharing a platform, powertrains, and componentry with another vehicle, could be a happy medium for GM. Though purists would almost certainly lose their minds, adding two extra doors could make it a more sellable vehicle to a wider audience. That could be easier for enthusiasts to swallow true sacrilege, like moving to electric power or making it a crossover. It could be a worthy compromise.
The American market has been crying out for more affordable vehicle options. Buyers have nearly twice as many options above $100,000 as under $30,000. That theoretically should open a market for a sedan revival. But American manufacturers would still face the same conundrum that led them to pull mass-market sedans from the market.
Profit per vehicle for sedans is much less than for crossovers or pickups. Sedans have to sell in huge volumes to be a worthwhile endeavor. And unless a manufacturer can undercut (or offer a better value proposition) than stalwarts like the Honda Civic and the Toyota Camry, reviving vehicles like the Ford Fusion or Chevy Malibu will be a tough ask.
Source: GM Authority
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