GM Drops High-Performance Unit

In other words, development of high-performance vehicles that are generally low-volume and marketed toward car enthusiasts is now “indefinitely suspended,” according to GM spokesman Vince Muniga.

As it promised in the viability plan it delivered to the Treasury Department, GM will turn its attention to manufacturing fuel-efficient vehicles, promising 14 hybrids by 2012 and 26 by 2014. Naturally, this proposed slimmed-down business model doesn’t leave much room for niche-filling cars like the Chevy Cobalt SS. Keep in mind that this pertains only to new development, so models like the Cadillac CTS-V will continue to be sold throughout their life cycle. For the CTS-V, that could easily be three model years.

None of the engineers who worked in the department were laid off.

After the jump is a list of the models impacted and the ones, like the Camaro SS, that aren’t affected.

HPVO Models
Cadillac XLR-V
Cadillac STS-V
Cadillac CTS-V
Chevrolet Cobalt SS
Chevrolet HHR SS
Chevrolet Colorado V-8

Models Designed Outside HPVO
Chevrolet Camaro SS
Chevrolet Corvette, Z06, ZR-1