GM's Quadrasteer, four-wheel steering option will soon go the way of Quadraphonic audio systems and McDonald's Triple Quarter Pounders with Cheese. The company announced the system will not be offered on its upcoming generation of pickups and SUVs, expected for the 2007 model year.
Only 16,500 trucks had been fitted with the system since it was introduced in 2002 as a $4000 option, created to shorten the turning radius of Chevrolet Silverados and Suburbans (and GMC Sierras and Denalis). Industry watchers blame GM's exclusive arrangement with Delphi, the system's supplier, for keeping component costs high and unit sales low — despite a price reduction of roughly half during the past year. That and the lack of a fire-engine-style rear steering wheel, which would have been way more fun.
GM to drop Quadrasteer as option for full-sized pickups [AutoWeek]
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