This new CEO Akerson does not seem to be a car guy at all, and that concerns me as a GM fan and enthusiast.
Quote from Detroit News:
"Akerson, who became CEO Sept. 1 and board chairman Jan. 1, already is weighing in on new vehicles. He recently greenlighted the next generation of the compact Chevrolet Cruze, but vetoed a new engine for a sports car set for production in 18 months."
http://detnews.com/article/20110606/...#ixzz1OVCSwJ6h
Sure it doesn't specify what type of engine he vetoed and what direction he prefers, but reading the comments below has me concerned as a Corvette and Camaro fan and for us as performance enthusiasts.
Another comment from the CEO:
"In a recent meeting with engineers, for example, Akerson pressed them to explain the logic behind putting a big 6.2-liter engine in an unspecified car whose competitor has a 4.4-liter turbocharged engine. The engineers replied: "Well, we want to be able to beat the other guy."
Akerson responded: "I don't think the average buyer is going to buy an eight-cylinder, 530-horsepower (car)." His point: Decisions must be supported by a solid business case, and not just for bragging rights or as a marketing tool."
http://detnews.com/article/20110606/AUTO01/106060339/Akerson’s-battle-plan-for-GM#ixzz1OV89SLS4
Newsflash, people who buy these type of cars are not your "average buyer" and care about performance and bragging rights within the segment! This isn't the a Toyota Corolla demographic.