F-Body Europe

In case no one has thought about it, one week from today the plant in Ste. Therese closes for good. Sometime before that, the last FBody will roll of the assembly line. It is a Z-28 destined for the Chevrolet Historical Collection. That will be a sad day for all of us. The end of an era.

Here's a text from f-body.com ... let's hope the performance division does some serious work and has F-Bodies back out in a year or two ...

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GM Performance Division: Full Speed Ahead


Integrated Team To Lead Passion to The Showroom


Warren, Mich. - General Motors has built high-performance vehicles and automotive parts through its many brands for decades. The technological advancements of Cadillac and the power and performance of the Chevy SS and Pontiac GTO brands are just a few examples.

The newly formed GM Performance Division will develop and build performance variants of cars and trucks for the Cadillac, Chevrolet, and Pontiac brands.

"For the first time, all of the expertise will be harnessed within one passionate group," said Mark Reuss, GM Performance Division's executive director. "GM Performance Division is made up of a group of enthusiasts dedicated to delivering must-have vehicles."

The entire team is based at the GM Technical Center in Warren, Mich., and is staffed with 1,000 engineers, designers and technicians. "Our mission is to bring back the GM nameplates around great performance and design," said Reuss, who also oversees vehicle architecture engineering for GM. The architecture group works across the GM Product Development organization concentrating on portfolio integration in the areas of packaging, assembly, engineering and manufacturing.

The GM Performance Division includes second-stage and one-off production vehicles, concept vehicles, parts and accessories for automotive enthusiasts, and high-performance models sold through GM dealers. The organization also strengthens the links between GM Powertrain, GM Engineering and GM Service Parts Operation and creates a training ground where young engineers can learn from and work side-by-side with GM's experienced, performance experts.

The GM Performance Division is led by an experienced team of enthusiasts, including John Wiley, director of second stage and specialty vehicles; John Heinicy, director of high-performance vehicle operations; Mike Liedtke, director of engineering for concepts and show vehicles; and Kip Wasenko, director of design.

The Vehicle Architecture group receives direction from an experienced core unit of individuals, including Gary Edwards, director of the vehicle architecture center, Lee Visci, director of vehicle architecture body-frame integral, Steve Ballentine, director of vehicle architecture body-on-frame, Richard Dichtel, director of vehicle architecture design; and Mark Farmer, director of vehicle architecture competitiveness.

"The total team is made up of people who live and breathe cars and trucks," Reuss said. "They have proven track records working in the vehicle development organization, and are well respected both inside and outside of GM.

"We have people who are passionate about building cars and trucks. I believe GM Performance provides a halo effect for each of our brands and for the entire corporation."

I have read somewhere from a credible source that a new, revamped f-body will come back from non existence into the market in the not so distant future.

just because the latest generation f body is being discontinued don't count f-body dead yet.

The f-body is the soul survivor of an american tradition of inexpensive,sharply focused,highly modify able high performance street muscle, and has been given that recogition, even though it has been critisized as bieng to sharp and too focused (in a niche of it's own) to be functional for the majority of the consumers who want 4 bangers, 4 door wagons, vans and suv's (I think I am going to puke)excuse me I have to hurl..........

Don't count f body dead. It might be gone for a while but there are solid facts from past and present which highly suggests (the odds favor) that f body will return revamped and better than ever.

I don't think it will be gone for long.. It is too much of an icon.

Have you guys seen the prototype drawings for the C6? YUK....

I think that it is going to be a marketing skeem. They have to come back with some thing to keep up with the rustangs within an affordable budget. The corvette is out of the question for the most of us.

If they plan on bringing it back, they better BRING IT BACK, because those new Mustangs ain't no joke!!!

No they are not,but the 4 banger mustangs are.

Design eh?
We're gonna get the Monaro, possibly badged as a big Vauxhall. It's a big ugly Astra with an LS1. The hot hatchers will love the looks. The photos I've seen suggest I won't. I'll enjoy kicking it's ass though and surely a prize for the first kill on one of these??
The new C6 Corvette "artist's impression". Shorter and lighter is good, making it look like a Fiat Coupe is bad. I hope the reality is better.
The Chevrolet SSR. Good business for the Beverley Hillbillies but WTF use is that? Chrysler give us concept Vipers and PT Cruisers based on a 40's hot rod. GM give us a funny lookin' pickup? The Nomad concept was a better idea.
What GM need is some people who not only "understand" cars but can design them as well.
The evidence suggests they don't have them.

Oh my gosh!!!

I think you maybe right!!!

I think there are political undertones here.