GM considers marching Chevy Beat mini-car into U.S. market

Sorry, but to convert the mileage numbers between UK & US gallons here is a helpful converter program:

http://www.tdiclub.com/misc/conversions.html

So 53.3 MPG in Britain = 44.37 mpg US.

Still very good no matter how you slice it.

Can't they bring back that wonderful Chevy Vega?

Didn't most of them explode?

CONSIDERING?

JUST DO IT PEOPLE...before GM becomes history. How many people need to lose their jobs before someone makes a decision over there?

Wow...GM figures out we need small fuel efficient cars. Great work. I never thought of this. Brilliant.

Spector wrote:

HA! I remember how when GM held that online survey, for Model A, B or C or whatever and the "Beat" was picked -- GM kept saying how the thing would not be sold in the US market at all. It was strictly for Asia and other markets.(Which is bizarre, considering they asked American consumers to pick it....). But now, out of desperation, they are scrambling to come up with a small, hyperefficient car that Americans are now DEMANDING. Well gee, maybe instead of reinventing the wheel, GM could just consider sending over some of its smaller European Opel models and also some of their small block diesels? The 2009 Saturn Astra is the same as the Belgian Opel Astra after all. Or hey, maybe that mothballed GM partnership with FIAT needs a second look? FIAT builds fabulous modern, efficient and fun cars in Europe.
Leave it to GM to waste time reinventing everything (like the Volt...). The proposed Beat looks great, but does GM even have the luxury of time left to develop it?

Sigh. I'm afraid your entire assessment of knuckleheadedness GM's management is tragically accurate.

politwriter wrote:

Can't they bring back that wonderful Chevy Vega?
Didn't most of them explode?

You're thinking of the Ford Pinto, which had a problem with the gas tank rupturing and filling the passenger compartment with flames in a rear-end collision. The Vega was more famous for being the world's first (unintentionally) biodegradable car--leave one parked by the side of the road (after the engine puked, which they had an unfortunate habit of doing), and the car would rust away to nothing in no time. Or, if you were unlucky enough to have one whose engine actually ran beyond the end of the one-year warranty, you could enjoy the drafts coming through the floor and doors as they rusted away before your eyes...

As for the Opels... many of GM's "American" passenger cars are built on Opel platforms. The Saturn Ion and Chevy Malibu are both Opels beneath the sheet metal, and I think there are a few others built on Opel platforms as well. GM, showing its usual corporate wisdom (perhaps better spelled as "Whiz-Dumb"), has put most of its US product development money into trucks and SUVs the last several years.

Wake up GM (and the rest of the US)! We're never going to see gas prices below $3.50 to $4.00 again. So it's time to re-align your priorities. If GM is going to retain market share it is going to have to come up with SEVERAL low-cost, high mileage alternatives.
Pull your heads out of your petuties (GM)and go back to the practice of being world leaders instead of "also rans!"
I have always bought American cars and have always had mediocre experiences with them. The last car that I bought was a Mitsubishi (after considerable thought) and I have to say without reservation that it is the best vehicle that I have ever had. And Mitsubishi is just an average import!!!
WAKE UP AMERICA!!

Skep Tackle wrote:

Wake up GM (and the rest of the US)! We're never going to see gas prices below $3.50 to $4.00 again. So it's time to re-align your priorities. If GM is going to retain market share it is going to have to come up with SEVERAL low-cost, high mileage alternatives.
Pull your heads out of your petuties (GM)and go back to the practice of being world leaders instead of "also rans!"
I have always bought American cars and have always had mediocre experiences with them. The last car that I bought was a Mitsubishi (after considerable thought) and I have to say without reservation that it is the best vehicle that I have ever had. And Mitsubishi is just an average import!!!
WAKE UP AMERICA!!

I drove American cars for years and they always started having problems at 50000 miles and basically falling apart. So I bought a used Honda with 50000 miles. It ran like almost new for about 60000 until it was hit by another car. Donated it for a tax deduction and bought another used Honda with 50000. Same story except I sold after 50000 and decided to buy a new Honda. Five years later, it still looks and runs like new. I still see my second Honda being driven by the guy who bought it from me 5 years ago. Yes it is 16 years old and has some outward signs of age but he says it still runs well.
I used to be a Chevy man but now I am a Honda Man.

Boy, if Ford and GM would shift some of the smaller cars they make for other countries this would be very different!

US citizen wrote:

Boy, if Ford and GM would shift some of the smaller cars they make for other countries this would be very different!

BELOVED G.M. is changing to the times and for the good of the whole,toooo booot!!!Onward!!GOD Bless....eh.....

The best cars for the average JOE are from Toyota,Honda,Mazda,Mitubishi,S ubaru,Suzuki et al.! If GM,Ford and Chrysler cared so much for their life time customers,they wouldn't be in this predicament that they're in now! Buy JAPAN INC.!!!!!!!!!