The enemy of performance cars is weight, which also happens to be the foe of fuel economy. With stringent fuel economy standards coming, and consumers demanding ever more performance from their cars, GM needs to come up with some clever solutions to keep cars fast-yet-efficient. A lot of hope is pinned on the upcoming rear-wheel drive Alpha platform, which will underpin both the next-generation Camaro and a baby Cadillac CTS called the ATS.

However, a report on GM Inside News sheds light on the drama and issues surrounding development of the Alpha platform. GM has put the upcoming platform on a “crash diet” to lose 500 pounds before going to production. So what happened?

To understand fully, you have to go back to the beginning of development of the Alpha platform. The initial plan for the platform was inspired by GM executive sensation Bob Lutz, who envisioned a light-weight premium platform powered by four-cylinder engines. The platform was designed with a very specific suspension setup for 4-bangers, but it seems that Cadillac executives insisted that a V6 powerplant also be an option, adding weight to the platform.

Then Cadillac also demanded the option for all-wheel drive, adding even more heft. On top of that, Cadillac also demanded an expanded version of the platform, called Alpha+, that could accommodate a twin-turbo V6. As a result of all this additional weight, the near-perfect geometry of the original multi-link suspension has to be cast aside. Not only that, but the original weight goals have been exceeded by 500 pounds (total weight is close to two tons now), costs have overrun, and GM has a less-than-ideal platform to go forward with. And if this platform is going to underpin the Camaro, where’s the V8 engine option?

In order to shave that much weight, GM’s engineers will have to get creative and possibly integrate some lightweight (and expensive) materials like aluminum or magnesium, driving costs up even further. Sounds like a hell of a mess GM has on their hands, but hopefully they can get it sorted out before 2013, when the platform nears road-ready production.