No Mini Camaro in GM’s Future

Customers and employees frequently ask General Motors Co. when its Chevrolet unit will produce a small, $20,000-ish sports car to compete with so-called "pocket rockets" in the U.S. market. GM's response: Forget about it.

Much of the speculation revolves around the Code 130R concept car Chevy unveiled three years ago at the Detroit auto show. But GM has no immediate plans for a production version of that car once hailed as a baby Camaro or any compact performance model, says Mark Reuss, GM's global product development chief.

Reuss tells Automotive News he personally loves the segment and knows GM could develop a great entry. But he says it's tough to make a solid business case for such a model. He cites cost, overlapping vehicle segments and a history of moderate sales that quickly fizzle soon after the vehicle debuts.

But that hasn't stopped an influx of zippy small cars in the U.S. The current field includes Toyota's Scion FR-S and its Subaru BRZ twin, the Ford Fiesta ST and Hyundai Veloster, Coming soon: the Ford Focus RS, Honda Civic Type R and Volkswagen Golf R.

The Sonic RS currently is the sportiest small car in Chevy's stable. It features flashy styling and a tuned suspension but is stuck with the base Sonic's 1.8-liter 4-cylinder engine that makes a paltry 138 hp and 125 lb-ft of torque. By comparison, the Golf R's turbocharged 2.0-liter four-banger kicks out 292 hp and 280 lb-ft of torque.

GM does well in Europe with models such as the 276-hp Astra OPC. But analysts agree with Reuss that cost and complexity issues outweigh the potential benefits for such a car in the American market.