Report: GM�s Alpha platform may be unusable

A controversy is brewing at General Motors as the Alpha platform, a rear-wheel drive platform that it has been developing for small cars, has gained so much weight and has received so many changes that it may be unusable. GM has been working on this platform for several years now. Sources say that this platform is at a crossroads as it has deviated so much from its original plan that the fate of the entire platform is at risk.

The development of the Alpha platform had encountered several hurdles, one of which is Cadillac�s late acceptance. This led to a comprehensive re-engineering of the entire platform so that it could accommodate more technologies like a V6 engine and all-wheel drive.

These revisions made the total final curb weight of the Alpha platform to reach almost 4,000 lbs � about 300-500 lbs heavier than planned. Its weight gain and the changes done on the platform to accommodate various vehicles threw off the originally purpose-developed multi-link suspension that had previously achieved �near perfect geometry.� As a result, the original geometry was not usable anymore. Reports say that GM has chosen to use chassis tuning instead of redeveloping the geometry to achieve optimal figures. [source: LeftLaneNews via GMInsideNews]