GM Copying VW And Toyota With Modular Platform Technology

This idea is great, providing the consistent and repeatable parts are outstanding, noteworthy, or at the very least, solidly good. Otherwise you'll find the same vague steering (or some other undesired quality) shared across a number of model lines.

Aside from a few very welcome exceptions like the Corvette, GM isn't usually known for "outstanding" or "noteworthy" (in a good way).

@TheSteve...clearly you've never driven a CTSV then.

Indeed - General Motors was using shared "platforms" among its number of makes since before WWII. It is a cost saving idea when the cars are of similar size, quality level, and power. (Example =- full size Chevy, Pontiac, Olds, and Buick cars shared a platform - WHile Cadillac shared a platform with the High end Buick and Olds cars)

How that makes better-differentiated designs possible is a question mark though. It tends to make the cars more similar than different - note how VW is using some platforms among a number of its different marques. I wonder how they are going to get that "Wunderkind" at Cadillac to play along!

But - the opposite of the Cadillac out of a Chevy is the problem. Obviously - the Cadillac will require premium construction in a platform that might not be there for the cheaper chevy. Example - they have to take costs OUT OF THE ALPHA platform to make the new Camaro. So - these "platforms" must have MORE flexibility in construction to address the intended cost level of the car - or people like skytop won't buy it - and that means that there will really be a few basic structures with LOTS of different options on them.

The idea that all GM trucks and cars can be built from 4 basic platforms - does not seem possible to me though - I suspect this will not happen

There is NO REASON for GM NOT to have world platforms. The Spark and Adam should NOT be on separate platforms, etc. With the exception of Cadillac and Corvette, ALL of GM's products are mainstream to near-premium. The sooner this happens the better. The one certainty is that the GM products will have better durability and reliability than VW.

Don't forget Ford consolidating its platforms as well. It is a good business model. They need less platforms (very expensive to develop). It can streamline the business and make manufacturing easier.

Modular platformed? That GM speak for making a Cadillac out of Chevy with new badging and stupid high prices.