GMI has just learned this evening from a reputable source that the GM Global Product Board greenlighted the next Suburban and Cadillac Escalade ESV to move to the Lambda platform.
There were no votes against the move by board members.
The vote also would call for a contingency move if GM should acquire or merge with Chrysler, LLC. If that were to happen, GM's board has also stated that the next Dodge Caravan will also move to Lambda, while a Chevrolet version of the Minivan would also debut.
By these estimations, the GMT-900 Suburban will last until the 2014 model year.
The reasons behind the move are thought to be aimed squarely at CAFE standards, reducing the number of existing platforms utilized within the corporation, and a shift in general consumer tastes toward lighter unibody vehicles.
Read Article