Anyone have any info on the "Zeta" platform?

[Mark B]

I have heard here and other places that the new Camaro may be on this platform. Do we know anything about it yet? Links?

[Joe K. 99 Zeee!!]

Here's a good post from someone in the know at cz28.com...

"The Zeta is essentially the sigma, but done in a more cost efficient manner. Zeta is a modular chassis which has numerous components that can be essentially mixed and matched to make a variety of vehicles.

"One example may be a couple of rear floorpan sections, one longer than the other, enabling a short wheelbase and a long wheelbase vehicle be made off the same chassis. Another example may be a relatively short and a relatively tall firewall, which can spawn both a sports car and a full sized sedan. There may even be 2 different types of rear axles, one for performance cars, another for less demanding use.

"The Sigma chassis didn't really have this versatility, and turns out to be a relatively expensive chassis primarily because of the changes needed to make a car of different proportions or different dimensions off that chassis. The issue isn't that the car has independent rear suspension or SLA front suspension. On a per-car basis, the difference is only a few hundred dollars or little more. But to take a chassis and alter it costs alot more. It's reasonable on Cadillacs because GM can charge so much. But on a Camaro that averages under $25,000, at perhaps 30,000 cars per year, it's a loosing gamble. That's why Camaro was never put on Sigma, although on the surface it seems reasonable.

"Holden, on the other hand, is all but a global expert on making modular chassis that enable them to create an entirely new car structure by designing & incorperating a structure segment on a chassis. Zeta is this idea taken to an extreme, in which the structure is engineered from the very start as a building block (or "Leggo", if you will) chassis in which GM can make a large number of RWD cars of varing dimensions and purpose for little money.

"Most if not all Sigma suspension components should be the same or nearly the same as the Zeta. Though the current but new Holden AWD system is engineered to fit into the current "V" car, it's also engineered to fit into Sigma and Zeta as well."

[Joe K. 99 Zeee!!]

Another good description:

This new chassis "Zeta" is a modular chassis. It essentially is a chassis that has various components that can be simply welded in for different lengths, widths, and body configurations, much like a Lego block set. An example would be say the rear footwell section. That could be stamped for a short coupe, a large sedan, or a UTE. On the assembly line where the floorpan is assembled, whatever piece is needed is welded in, depending on the model. This way, a large variety of vehicles can be made on the assembly line from the same group of parts. This is Holden's specialty, and why they got the assignment.

Another example of what Zeta is, think of the Ford's Fox chassis. That was a extremely advanced chassis when it came out. Most cars built on it was bigger & lighter than it's predecessors. Fox was the basis of everything from budget Fairmonts to top level Lincolns, and plenty of cars in between. It was made in different lengths, widths, and carried everything from base 70 horse 4 cylinder engines to the current 420 horse blown Cobra.

As far as the Zeta suspension & driveline components, that will come out soon enough. Keep in mind that outside of Corvette-XLR, GM is going to have only one set of components for their RWD cars. If you take a good look at the Kappa & Sigma components, you pretty much have seen some pieces of Zeta.

In short, "Zeta" is more a structure than a new set of components, which like the Solstice, will be primarily off the shelf with new parts developed only where necessary.