General Motors is phasing out its Quadrasteer four-wheel steering option on full-size US-market pickups and SUVs, according to WardsAuto.com. Take-up rates reached only 1.4% in 2004, the report said, citing GM’s figures.
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WardsAuto.com said GM will discontinue the Delphi-developed and supplied steering technology as an option by the end of the 2005 model year – the feature will not appear on the next-generation GMT900 full-size vehicles, which go into production next year.
According to the report, the expensive Quadrasteer option was extremely popular with a small number of buyers but was not profitable – GM dropped the price to $US1,995 last year.
Citing its own sales data, WardsAuto.com said that, in 2004, GM sold only 5,502 vehicles equipped with Quadrasteer – most of them Sierra half-ton pickups.
The report noted that internet chat rooms make it evident that Quadrasteer, which Delphi first supplied to GM in 2002, has established a cult-like following. The technology, which provides compact car manoeuvrability in a full-size pickup, is proving popular with owners because it takes the fear out of tight parking spots and is also helpful for towing trailers.
WardsAuto.com said that, within Delphi, Quadrasteer’s future appears in question, although the supplier has attempted to sell the technology to other vehicle makers as well.
The report added that Delphi has now dispersed the engineers who worked on Quadrasteer at a facility in Saginaw, Michigan, although the supplier hopes to reassemble the team in the event new customers emerge.
