General Motors Puts High-Performance Models on Hold

As part of a broader attempt to prove the company’s viability and to concentrate on operations that could bring it back to profitability in the next few years, General Motors yesterday announced it decided to suspend the High Performance Vehicle Operations unit. According to Autonews, company spokesman Vince Muniga already confirmed the report and explained that all employees working at the Detroit-based technical center will be transfered to other organizations belonging to the automaker.

"All high-performance projects are on indefinite hold. The engineers are moving into different areas of the organization, and they will work on Cadillacs, Buicks, Chevrolets and Pontiacs,” Muniga was quoted as saying by the aforementioned source.

In essence, the High Performance Vehicle Operations unit was responsible for building limited-edition of low-volume models boasting much more features than the mass-production vehicles and especially aimed at improving the company’s image. The most important models designed by the center are Chevrolet Cobalt SS, Cadillac V-Series and V8 Colorado.

In addition, there are no plans to create high-performance flavors of the current or future models, as this kind of cars do not make sense during economic recession, Muniga added. General Motors clearly mentioned in the viability plan submitted to the government on February 17 that it plans to rely on fuel efficient models and crossover that could bring it back to profitability in two to three years.

But even so, the High Performance Vehicle Operations unit may be brought back to life once the automaker revamps sales and brings its finances above the floating line.

"These guys are pretty good at what they do. They are moving into different areas to work on core products,” the GM spokesman said.GM