Renault/Nissan went to GM via Cancer Kirk's request. I am now correct in my assumption that GM would never do this alliance. I think GM & it's board of bystanders tanked this deal upfront asking for a very unreasonable amount of cash (they think $$ is the sole cure for their woes).

However, Ford is in worse position and falling fast with Toyota & GM about to introduce new full size pickups and drop F Series sales significantly (Ford's last bastion of easy profit). Ford is desparate and smaller so they'd require less money and they noted after the GM alliance deal was announced it was a better idea that Ford discuss with them.

We also have to note that GM & Ford talked about possibly aligning - which may make the most sense as they can work to have a combined 25% market share and do the following:

Make Pontiac an actual performance focused division: move the Corvette there and soley keep the Solstice (get rid of the Sky and Saturn), put some more Holden's in there at an affordable price and move the Mustang over and cancel the Camaro. Add a FWD hot hatch that actually has capability and not a rehashed corporate platform with a s/c bolted on and ss badging. Give it a real SVT treatment as they can do wonders with suspension tuning and handling. Make RWD the focus and performance. If they are really smart sell bare bones raceready cup cars and support a tiered amatuer racing series starting with fwd hot hatchs moving up to rwd v8 powered sports cars. (like Mini Cup - Porsche Super Cup)

Make Chevy the people mover - sell family focused sedans, wagons and CUVs. Get rid of any truck based derivatives.

Make Ford the low end car lot with Aveos, Cobalts, focii, hybrids and other frugal focused cars.

Make Cadillac the luxury / prestige division and move the town car over. No rebadged corvettes or the like. No more rebaged trucks either.

Make a GMC/Ford derivative the pickup & truck based SUV division. Move the rapper suvs over here and keep trucks where they belong. This would be the rugged division for macho men and dainty women who need big suvs to feel legit.

Make Volvo the euro flavored sedans and coupes for families (not Saturn...what are they thinking)

Kill off Buick / Mercury / Lincoln / Saturn
Sell off Jaguar / Aston / Saab / Rover