See main article: GM T platform. The General Motors T-car was a platform designation for a worldwide series of rear-wheel drive, unibody subcompact cars. It was GM's first attempt to develop a small car to be sold internationally with engineering assistance from Isuzu Motors of Japan, and GM's Opel Division of Germany. GM's European Divisions Vauxhall and Opel, and Australian Division Holden were already producing small vehicles for their respective local markets, but subcompact car production wasn't being done by GM in North America until the introduction of the Vega earlier. Subcompacts from international divisions were being offered in North America as captive imports.
A stretched version of the platform was developed by Opel to create the mid-size (extended sub-compact) 'U-Car', which formed the basis of the Opel Ascona B and Vauxhall Cavalier Mk1
The T-platform was superseded by the T80 platform, whilst the J-body platform replaced the U-Cars - with both the T80 and J-body platforms being front wheel drive.