It seems GM is getting ready for a major gasoline passenger-car comeback after laying quite heavily on an electrification push in recent years. The automaker is working on a wider rear-drive family of vehicles based on a new performance platform according to reports. The next-generation Cadillac CT5 is set to be among these, while at least one other passenger vehicle is in the works for the U.S. market a notable change for GM’s Michigan Lansing Grand River Assembly plant, where the current Cadillac CT4 and CT5 are due to end after the 2026 model year.
That updated platform could enable this aggressive Chevrolet, Buick, and Cadillac plan. According to industry outlets, we could be looking at three rear-wheel-drive GM vehicles a new-gen Cadillac CT5, a seventh-gen Chevrolet Camaro, and a new Buick. GM’s move indicates that the automaker is adapting to a much softer market reality with less electric vehicle adoption than forecast, increased costs for electric vehicle development, and revised production plans for electric vehicles, all of which combined, give GM room to keep making internal combustion engine and gasoline-powered vehicles.
1. General Motors Is Preparing a New Generation of Gas-Powered Cars
Buick already has a new all-electric SUV to show off next year, but GM looks to be ramping up plans for a much more exciting second act for its gas-powered passenger cars. Industry observers expected the shift away from sport sedans with combustion engines, but now GM is believed to be working on an expanded rear-wheel-drive portfolio of passenger vehicles. The new Cadillac CT5 has been confirmed, but GM is also rumored to have at least one other passenger car planned using the new performance architecture, which is tied to the GM Lansing Grand River Assembly plant in Michigan. The current Cadillac CT4 and CT5 are retiring after 2026, providing more opportunities for additional output at Lansing Grand River.
GM’s Upcoming Gas-Car Strategy:
- Next-generation Cadillac CT5
- Additional passenger car development
- Updated rear-wheel-drive platform
- Lansing plant production requirements
- Continued internal combustion investment
The first vehicle will not be the only luxury sedan built on the new platform. GM Authority reported that sources close to GM are working on several iterations of the evolution of the alpha 2-2 architecture being refined for use by multiple different vehicles. According to the site, at least one more passenger car for the U.S. market is planned. Having another vehicle share the platform would minimize idle time at the plant in Lansing and allow the engineering cost of the platform to be spread across multiple models without spending a fortune developing a completely different vehicle architecture. This would be a notable foray into the conventional passenger car business.
2. The Alpha 2-2 Platform Builds on GM’s Rear-Wheel-Drive Heritage
The Alpha 2-2 platform is a further development of GM’s proven rear-wheel-drive vehicle engineering architecture. Its previous iterations, the first-generation Alpha platform and Alpha 2, were praised by car writers and driving enthusiasts for their handling. The structure has previously been used for the sixth-generation Chevrolet Camaro and the previously available Cadillac CT4 and CT5 sedans. It provided GM with a flexible structure upon which to base performance cars at the entry level and luxury sedans in the premium class of vehicles. The updated platform is designed to support rear-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive cars.
Alpha Platform Background:
- Original Alpha architecture
- Improved Alpha 2 evolution
- Updated Alpha 2-2 platform
- Rear-wheel-drive capability
- All-wheel-drive compatibility
And since the platform will be used in rear-wheel-drive cars or all-wheel-drive cars, there was immediate speculation as to which GM brand would get the second model. Buick hasn’t had a specific performance or luxury rear-wheel-drive vehicle in at least 30 years, so it would seem to fall to Chevrolet or Cadillac. But later reports indicate GM is exploring a multi-brand approach with Chevrolet, Cadillac, and Buick, which would use a common engineering platform but develop vehicles that have different brand identities. The platform could become a foundation for a more varied lineup of American passenger cars.
3. GM Reportedly Plans Three Rear-Wheel-Drive Passenger Cars
General Motors is said by Automotive News, quoting sources from within the automotive industry supply chain, to be working on three rear-drive passenger vehicles. The program is said by Automotive News to consist of a new Chevrolet Camaro that would follow the current model, a new Cadillac CT5, and an entirely new Buick sedan. All three cars are understood to be designed off the same Alpha 2-2 architecture. The move to an all-new sedan platform architecture would enable GM to cost-justify one set of engineering work among all three vehicles, but to satisfy three different sets of customer requirements.
Three Reported GM Models:
- Next-generation Chevrolet Camaro
- New Cadillac CT5
- New Buick sedan
- Shared Alpha 2-2 platform
- Multiple customer segments
The new lineup that has been reported would assign GM’s divisions various marketing roles in the passenger-car market Chevrolet as an upgrade of the more sporting performance-focused model Buick as a lower-cost buy for customers who want comfort and sophistication, and Cadillac with the elite competition in the premium sport-sedan segment. It could help GM hold on to a share of several passenger-car segments without duplicated major engineering costs. And the common architecture would facilitate the company’s manufacturing plans by offering another potential block of volume at Lansing. While the reported plans for Buick and Camaro are not broken out as real product launches, the reporting based on suppliers points to a fact-based, coordinated development effort.
4. Cadillac Confirms a Return to Gas-Powered Models
GM is shipping its new gas-powered vehicles to Cadillac showrooms. During its second quarter earnings call, Barra said GM plans to start shipping the new generation of Cadillac internal combustion engine vehicles in the spring and into 2028. The Cadillac gas-powered vehicles are set to launch along with the company’s electric crossovers and Escalade SUV. This is notable because GM previously stated that Cadillac would only sell electric vehicles by the time 2030 hits, which this new update contradicts.
Cadillac’s Upcoming ICE Lineup:
- New-generation gasoline-powered vehicles
- Launches beginning the following spring
- Continued launches through 2028
- Electric crossovers remain available
- Escalade remains part of lineup
Cadillac also explicitly listed new versions of the CT5 sedan, XT5 midsize SUV, and the axed three-row XT6 SUV on its list of future gasoline models. These models further prove that Cadillac isn’t just planning to focus on passenger cars for its revised approach. Instead GM is making it clear that traditional internal combustion engines will be preserved on key models of the luxury brand’s lineup, which is a factor of the changing market environment and demands from consumers for alternative powertrain options. The carmaker isn’t leaving behind gasoline cars altogether but will develop a line of electric and gas-powered vehicles for buyers to choose from.
5. Financial and Regulatory Changes Are Driving GM’s EV Strategy Shift
GM’s new strategy comes amid dramatic financial and regulatory shifts in the auto industry. GM has had $10.9 billion in EV-related charges since the second half of 2022, and after sluggish consumer adoption of electric vehicles and U.S. regulatory changes, GM is pulling back on its previous electrification strategy. The data provided also indicates that more lenient emissions standards and the end of support for EVs have affected the automaker’s choices to ramp up production of conventional gasoline engines, including more of its V-8s.
Reasons Behind GM’s Strategic Adjustment:
- $10.9 billion in EV-related charges
- Slower consumer EV adoption
- Changes in U.S. regulations
- Eased emissions standards
- Expanded gasoline engine production
These changes have led GM to have a more cautious approach to its future car lineup. While it will still push ahead with electric vehicles, it is also boosting its internal combustion engine portfolio. GM now acknowledges that customer adoption might not follow the pattern it initially assumed, and therefore it will continue to support gasoline-powered cars as well as investing in production of traditional engines. The move also demonstrates the financial pressure involved with the manufacturing of EVs and keeping current operations open, leading GM to have a more product-focused approach and a manufacturing one.
6. GM Is Reconfiguring Manufacturing for Gas-Powered Vehicles
GM also shifted production plans to accommodate the new attention to internal combustion vehicles. Mary Barra said the company plans to restore sizable manufacturing operations in the United States starting next year. A key aspect of those plans is to ramp up production of full-size SUVs at a Michigan assembly plant that had been slated for electric vehicle assembly. Currently, the Cadillac Escalade, Chevrolet Tahoe, Chevrolet Suburban, GMC Yukon and GMC Yukon XL are assembled at Arlington Assembly in Texas. The manufacturing changes suggest a ramp-up in production capacity.
GM Manufacturing Strategy:
- Significant manufacturing onshoring
- Michigan assembly plant expansion
- Full-size SUV production increase
- Previous EV manufacturing designation
- Continued U.S. vehicle production
This plan is central to GM’s larger objective of keeping production high at its plant network. GM says growth in gasoline-powered models would allow it to more efficiently use current manufacturing capacity as it develops its EV strategy. Lansing Grand River will play a key role, as the company’s next-gen CT5 and a rumored next-gen Camaro could keep that plant busy. The Michigan SUV plant would come as GM builds some of its critical full-size models. This shift to different kinds of vehicles indicates the automaker is altering more than its lineups it’s changing its manufacturing footprint too.
7. The Chevrolet Camaro Could Return as a Four-Door Performance Sedan
Arguably the most anticipated of GM’s reported product plans is a new Chevrolet Camaro. Several reports suggest that GM brass have approved a successor to the iconic muscle-car nameplate, possibly a seventh-generation model. Assembly is to kick off at the Lansing Grand River plant in fall 2027, concurrently with the next-gen Cadillac CT5, according to internal planning. A combined annual production of 60,000 to 70,000 units for both vehicles is reportedly being targeted. The next Camaro could, however, be entirely different from the familiar two-door coupe from years past.
Reported Camaro Return Details:
- Seventh-generation Camaro plan
- Potential four-door body style
- Rear-wheel-drive platform
- Expected production in fall 2027
- Shared Lansing manufacturing facility
According to reports, the new Camaro might eschew the heritage two-door body for a four-door performance sedan. An internal-combustion powertrain and rear-drive layout would offer enthusiasts an alternative to stepping up to the C8 Corvette, which is said to start at around $70,000. And getting rid of the rear drive link might stop short of turning the Camaro into a crossover. Having a four-door Camaro might also woo buyers seeking performance in a more practical passenger package. The rumored body style change could alienate traditional Camaro enthusiasts, but it might provide another route for GM to revive the nameplate as part of the company’s new car plans.
8. Buick Could Get a New Rear-Wheel-Drive Luxury Sedan
The Buick sedan nameplate is another revealing detail related to General Motors’ plan for sharing platforms across brands. Automotive News reports GM’s new rear-wheel-drive four-door for the U.S. market could be the first since 2004, when GM adopted a rear-wheel-drive platform for its models targeted for higher-end consumers. It would be a step forward for Buick, which currently only offers crossovers such as the Envision. Given the market conditions for traditional sedans here in the U.S., production may not be high Automotive News reported volume would likely be limited to 10,000 to 20,000 a year. The point of the model is to provide what’s been missing from the lineup for a long time a premium, traditional sedan.
Reported Buick Sedan Plans:
- New rear-wheel-drive four-door
- U.S. market development
- Shared Alpha 2-2 platform
- Expected annual production of 10,000-20,000
- Premium comfort and refinement
The Buick will be aimed at a different customers than the sporty Chevrolet or upscale Cadillac vehicles. GM’s common engineering approach would let it use the same platform with a slightly different character for a different audience, with the Buick being more quiet and refined, more focused on executive comfort and leisurely cruising. The limited production outlook of the vehicle also suggests the challenges that conventional sedans face in the United States. Still, a rear-wheel-drive sedan would provide Buick with another unique product aside from its crossover vehicles and allow GM to better leverage its new platform.
9. Chevrolet, Buick, and Cadillac Will Have Different Roles
The three-car GM has said it plans to develop based on the same platform, insiders say, would appeal to different customers. According to people who have been briefed on the project, the trio would be arranged into a clear tier. The sportiest and most aggressive offering, would be a four-door Chevrolet Camaro, enthusiast-focused, wailing through gritted teeth. Buick’s entry would focus on quieter operation, and a smooth ride to please executives. And, of course, the Cadillac CT5 would be GM’s flagship luxury sport sedan, in a battle with the world’s best.
GM’s Proposed Product Hierarchy:
- Chevrolet Camaro for performance
- Buick sedan for comfort
- Cadillac CT5 for luxury sport
- Shared platform architecture
- Distinct customer profiles
The move also positions GM shoulder-to-shoulder with rivals investigating alternative business plans for four-door performance cars. Ford is thought to be contemplating a range of other body styles for the Mustang family, and it has previously trademarked the name Mustang Mach 4. Dodge has also rejuvenated its musclecar portfolio with the Charger SIXPACK sedan, which suggests that internal combustion four-door performance sedans still have a place in the market. GM’s decision to keep gasoline-powered engines on the Alpha 2-2 architecture also gives it an alternative avenue to compete in this new market segment. The shared architecture could allow the company to keep development costs in check while still offering various driving experiences across its brands.
10. GM’s Design Leadership and the Future of American Performance Sedans
General Motors is beefing up its styling leadership with an eye on its upcoming next-generation passenger-car range. Hussein Al Attar, who styled the burly exterior of the last-generation BMW M2, has left BMW to join General Motors. According to BMW Blog, Al Attar has joined General Motors as the head of its Advanced Design Studio in Pasadena, California. Bringing experienced design talent from around the globe to the table could signal GM’s desire to give its future gasoline-powered sedans a more unique visual brand. It also might be part of GM’s larger strategy to sell eye-catching upcoming passenger cars.
GM Design and Future Developments:
- Hussein Al Attar joins GM
- Former BMW M2 exterior designer
- Advanced Design Studio leadership
- Pasadena, California design location
- Focus on future combustion sedans
GM’s larger plans come in the context of other recent industry news, such as Hyundai’s Palisade software update, Toyota’s 2027 Land Cruiser pricing, and Ford’s recall of 3,170 Maverick and Bronco Sport vehicles for defective passenger airbag detection sensors. BMW announced a partnership with Rimac for the joint development and production of a battery system for the upcoming i7. Mercedes-Benz celebrated the production of five million SUVs at its Alabama plant while McLaren has teased upcoming plans for its future model line-up. In this industry context, GM’s suggested rear-wheel-drive range signals a new start on classic American cars.
