GM to shrink to four core brands in North America

[Homeslice]

Originally Posted by TIGGER

To be honest,I'm only skimming this thread but am I to understand that some of you think that shared parts and platforms is a BAD thing? If I ran GM EVERY FUCKING GM CAR would use the same alternator,battery,window motor,starter,sunroof,etc. It is completely retarded for a Chevy car to use a different battery if it has power windows or not.

We're not talking about simple shared PARTS like alternators, etc........We're talking about shared PLATFORMS which = the stamped floorpan, firewall, shock towers, etc. Once you make a decision to use the same platform for multiple models, it means that certain factors that affect driving dynamics will be fixed:

1) Where the engine is mounted
2) Where the suspension is mounted
3) Where the steering rack is mounted
4) What TYPE of suspension it has (strut versus double wishbone for instance)

This is why Mazda used a totally unique platform for the RX7, because they knew that using a platform shared with one of their sedans would not produce the sportscar driving dynamics they were looking for.

[Cutty72]

Originally Posted by Homeslice

This is why Mazda used a totally unique platform for the RX7, because they knew that using a platform shared with one of their sedans would not produce the sportscar driving dynamics they were looking for.

The new miata shares the RX-8 platform.

[Homeslice]

I was talking about the RX7...........That car was bulit on the "F" platform (FA, FB, and FC were the 3 generations of RX7's) and it was not shared with other Mazda products.

[Cutty72]

Originally Posted by Homeslice

I was talking about the RX7...........That car was bulit on the "F" platform (FA, FB, and FC were the 3 generations of RX7's) and it was not shared with other Mazda products.

I know... just wanted to throw that out there.

[101lifts2]

Originally Posted by Homeslice

We're not talking about simple shared PARTS like alternators, etc........We're talking about shared PLATFORMS which = the stamped floorpan, firewall, shock towers, etc. Once you make a decision to use the same platform for multiple models, it means that certain factors that affect driving dynamics will be fixed:

1) Where the engine is mounted
2) Where the suspension is mounted
3) Where the steering rack is mounted
4) What TYPE of suspension it has (strut versus double wishbone for instance)

This is why Mazda used a totally unique platform for the RX7, because they knew that using a platform shared with one of their sedans would not produce the sportscar driving dynamics they were looking for.

You are referring to cookie cutter stuff like GM does, which most OEMs do not do. Most take an existing platform and modify it enough to get a different animal...but so does GM, but to a much lesser extent.