May9

In the face of $4 a gallon gasoline and stricter CAFE regulations, General Motors is seriously considering divorcing its full-size SUVs from its full-size trucks. GM has been building its big SUVs on truck platforms since 1965, but changing market

conditions could see the automaker's next-generation of full-size SUVs riding on a car-like unibody platform.

The Chevrolet Tahoe, GMC Yukon, and Cadillac Escalade – among others — are up for a redesign and in 2012, and GM engineers are seriously considering switching the SUVs to a unibody platform. Those SUVs currently ride on GM's body-on-frame GMT900 platform, which also underpins the company's full-size trucks.

The switch to unibody construction would up the SUVs' fuel mileage, but would significantly reduce their towing and hauling capacities.

However, GM is considering continuing at least one body-on-frame SUV to satisfy the needs of those who need a heavy hauler.

But with most SUV buyers only needing a fraction of its capabilities and 35 mpg standards looming, some kind of change needs to be made — especially since SUV sales have fallen off 14 percent so far this year. GM already has a plethora of CUVs, thanks to its Lambda range, but we could see room for larger vehicles as the Tahoe and company will no longer be around in their current forms. GM could also downsize its Lambda CUVs over time to make more room for the full-size replacements.

What ever choice GM decides to go with, it looks like the SUV could be facing extinction.

Posted on May 9th, 2008 by livgon
Filed under: Car News For Enthusiasts