I want Chevy to do something completely bat-E36M3 crazy

Dear Chevy,

Please drop the 2.0L turbo lump destined for the new Camaro into the Spark, or even the Sonic, driving the rear wheels. Price it in the high 20s-30K and make it limited numbers. Show us that you have a sense of humor and a giant sense of fun. Laugh with us, laugh at the Fiesta ST, VW GTI, Cooper S, and Abarths. You used to do things that were outside of the box in smaller, more creative platforms, the Corvair, the Fiero. I'm not even suggesting that you develop a mid-engine DI 4 pot monster (not that I don't think that you'd find success if you did with the trick magnetic suspension tricks you now love to use). But I implore you, do something shocking in a small package with this great little lump of thunder that you've created.

 -The small car buying public that purchases small cars for fun, not because we don't or can't spend more then $21k on a new car

Chevy kind of did that with the Solstice/Sky sports cars and the Cobalt SS around 11 or so years ago. People must not have bought them enough to keep them manufacturing them, at least with a high performance Cruze. Plus, I don't think they would be able to beat Ford with their Fiesta St and Focus ST.

I like the "driving the rear wheels" part.

In reply to captdownshift:

Buick says give them a call: Verano Turbo As far as the other Solstice/Sky and the Cobalt/HHR SS go, the platforms went away (same thing that happened to the Grand National/GNX back in the 80's). The Verano is basically a luxury version of the Cruze, so the only thing stopping a Cruze SS from happening is GM corporate not wanting to step on Buick's toes. I think it would be great to have that engine in a Spark or Sonic, maybe one day somebody will build one for SEMA

So...you want them to build a heavier version of the Miata or Frisby twins? That's what they did with the Sky/Solstice which died along with Saturn as part of their restructuring process.

Wish all you want, but we aren't the people most car company's build cars for and therefore we are just the fringe lunatics who want cars that don't make them much money to build.

What is the smallest car GM builds that they put AWD in? That's the best bet for a minimal engineering nutty project.

I wonder if this will turn into 5-6 pages of E36 M3ting all over GM . . . . . . .
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Probably. Stay tuned.

I am not sure not selling was the problem for the cobalt ss, etc. I have gone to the dealer and asked about some of those type of cars, and they pretty much say the only way to get one is to order it, there aren't enough available to keep on the lot. I don't think I will miss gm much when the whole company is gone.

In reply to DeadSkunk:

That's a key part of the formula. It'd be more 318Ti with an M3 swap then Frisbee twin.

I would say that Chevy's affordable crazy car is the Cruze diesel. No normal driver tells me that they want to buy a diesel powered car.

Plus, Chevy does offer 2 crazy performance cars with the C7 Z06 and the Camaro Z/28, even though they're not affordable.

Please build this:

Keep it under 3000#, give it around 250hp and sell it for just under $30K. I love the idea of a Chevy 1-Series type car. The new Camaro, Mustang and Challenger are all way too big. Give me a nicely sized performance machine that is reasonably practical. Pay homage to the past and call it the Chevy III, or Nova, or bring back the Chevelle moniker. Just make sure it has tons of performance for the dough.

My Cruze with a turbo and 6 spd is reasonably fun, tho it powers the wrong wheels. If a 2.0t were available, things would get interesting quick. Even as it sits, all factory stock and stuff, its a quick car. The aftermarket already has a lot of options to tart them up for a pretty reasonable lump of dough. All in all, after about 6 months of ownership, Im very impressed, and would buy it again if given the chance. That said, a Regal GS is near the top of my short list, and a Z28 is in there too...but yeah, affordability and all that chatter makes those a different discussion all together...

Joe Gearin wrote: Please build this: Keep it under 3000#, give it around 250hp and sell it for just under $30K. I love the idea of a Chevy 1-Series type car. The new Camaro, Mustang and Challenger are all way too big. Give me a nicely sized performance machine that is reasonably practical. Pay homage to the past and call it the Chevy III, or Nova, or bring back the Chevelle moniker. Just make sure it has tons of performance for the dough.

makes me sad that I can only plus juan this post a single time...

In reply to Joe Gearin:

I saw that concept at the Detroit show a couple or three years ago. That's the right idea, although the styling looked a little awkward. I'd like a little choice in rear wheel drive cars ,about the power to weight ratio (well, maybe a bit higher) that my MINI CooperS has with a couple of mods. I was a teen when all the small cars were RWD and you could have a lot of fun with them. Some of that is rose tinted glasses nostalgia, but with modern power plants a <3K pound vehicle could be very entertaining.

Mr_Clutch42 wrote: Plus, I don't think they would be able to beat Ford with their Fiesta St and Focus ST.

The Sonic RS turbo is a pretty good match for the ST versions, especially with a mild tune.

So Joe,

You want them to build the Fox Body mustang only with a chassis that doesn't flex when you look at it?

That Datsun/Nissan 510 homage concept would be another one to add to the mix.

You are asking for an FRs with a real engine.

The problem with this is that the total market volume for such a car does not even register on GM's radar. In the GM world, the Miata would be a limited edition low-volume product. What you are asking for is not in the GM DNA.

I'd actually prefer a sedan. Think e36 / e46, 1st gen Mazda6 sized 4 door and coupe with a turbo 4, 6 speed manual and RWD.

NOHOME wrote: You are asking for an FRs with a real engine. The problem with this is that the total market volume for such a car does not even register on GM's radar. In the GM world, the Miata would be a limited edition low-volume product. What you are asking for is not in the GM DNA.

Wait, you're saying GM has never done limited edition low volume?

Hate to tell you but, not gonna happen:

'General Motors product chief Mark Reuss: "No business case yet for small performance car"'

Link to article via Automotive News

What would be nice is take the Cadillac ATS and put a Chevrolet badge on it. Done no more engineering required than GMC does on Chevy trucks

mazdeuce wrote: What is the smallest car GM builds that they put AWD in? That's the best bet for a minimal engineering nutty project.

The ATS, I think.

I would have bought an Encore with that engine.

I'd be happy if they simply stuffed the LNF in the Sonic hatch.

I thought they already had done something batE36 M3 crazy.