4 cam torino
20th November 2007, 09:25 AM
...Sort of, as a pontiac. And after actually reading the whole article, this isn't actually going to happen. LOL. The Magnum is getting axed because it didn't sell well, so why would GM bring in a similar vehicle. And the Ute, while cool, probably not going to be a big seller either. Since they're still trying to create a business case, I don't see it happening.
http://www.drive.com.au/Editorial/ArticleDetail.aspx?ArticleID=45680
Holden’s sportier Commodore ute and wagon variants are set to join the sedan in America to form a rear-wheel-drive performance family for Pontiac.
Industry journal Automotive News reports that three GM insiders have revealed plans to import Holden’s recently launched ute and the forthcoming wagon. The Commodore SS sedan is already confirmed to go on sale in the US in early 2008 restyled and rebadged as a Pontiac G8.
The journal’s sources say GM marketers want Pontiac to become the company’s rear-wheel-drive performance division, and both the ute and wagon meet the criteria.
The models share the Commodore sedan’s ‘Zeta’ rear-wheel-drive platform and are available with the same 194kW 3.6-litre V6 and 270kW 6.0-litre V8 engines that will be offered in the Pontiac G8 models.
The ute and wagon have also both sacrificed some of their predecessors’ cargo-carrying ability to become sportier, more lifestyle-focused vehicles.
The VE Ute has long been rumoured to be US-bound to sit under either General Motors’ GMC or Chevrolet brands – the latter as a modern-day El Camino – and GM has been evaluating left-hand-drive versions this year. Drive wrote in September that the new ute was expected to instead adopt the Pontiac badge.
Holden’s new wagon is due in the first half of 2008 and will be virtually identical to the Sportwagon concept shown at the 2007 Sydney motor show.
The stylish wagon would provide Pontiac with a rival for the 250kW rear-wheel-drive Dodge Magnum that’s based on the Chrysler 300C Tourer.
Former Holden boss Denny Mooney said at last February's reveal of the Commodore-based G8 that the company was working on a long-term relationship with Pontiac.
Pontiac is a local brand only like Holden, and its relatively low annual volumes (for North America) limits investment from financially constrained parent company GM. Modifiying Commodore-based models instead of developing all-new sheetmetal and underpinnings offers a cheaper solution for an expanded range of Pontiac models.
An announcement on the export deal could be made at January’s Detroit motor show, or the following month in Chicago, the venue for this year's unveiling of the Pontiac G8 sedan.
The high Australian dollar could still delay or scupper Holden’s latest export plans, however.
Drive reported in September that General Motors’ product boss Bob Lutz was concerned the US-Australian exchange rate – currently up to 90 cents against the US dollar – could spoil the ute’s business case.
Exports account for about half of Holden’s annual production of 147,000 vehicles from its Elizabeth plant in Melbourne. Up to 50,000 Commodore SS sedans are expected to be exported annually to the US as Pontiac G8s
http://www.drive.com.au/Editorial/ArticleDetail.aspx?ArticleID=45680
Holden’s sportier Commodore ute and wagon variants are set to join the sedan in America to form a rear-wheel-drive performance family for Pontiac.
Industry journal Automotive News reports that three GM insiders have revealed plans to import Holden’s recently launched ute and the forthcoming wagon. The Commodore SS sedan is already confirmed to go on sale in the US in early 2008 restyled and rebadged as a Pontiac G8.
The journal’s sources say GM marketers want Pontiac to become the company’s rear-wheel-drive performance division, and both the ute and wagon meet the criteria.
The models share the Commodore sedan’s ‘Zeta’ rear-wheel-drive platform and are available with the same 194kW 3.6-litre V6 and 270kW 6.0-litre V8 engines that will be offered in the Pontiac G8 models.
The ute and wagon have also both sacrificed some of their predecessors’ cargo-carrying ability to become sportier, more lifestyle-focused vehicles.
The VE Ute has long been rumoured to be US-bound to sit under either General Motors’ GMC or Chevrolet brands – the latter as a modern-day El Camino – and GM has been evaluating left-hand-drive versions this year. Drive wrote in September that the new ute was expected to instead adopt the Pontiac badge.
Holden’s new wagon is due in the first half of 2008 and will be virtually identical to the Sportwagon concept shown at the 2007 Sydney motor show.
The stylish wagon would provide Pontiac with a rival for the 250kW rear-wheel-drive Dodge Magnum that’s based on the Chrysler 300C Tourer.
Former Holden boss Denny Mooney said at last February's reveal of the Commodore-based G8 that the company was working on a long-term relationship with Pontiac.
Pontiac is a local brand only like Holden, and its relatively low annual volumes (for North America) limits investment from financially constrained parent company GM. Modifiying Commodore-based models instead of developing all-new sheetmetal and underpinnings offers a cheaper solution for an expanded range of Pontiac models.
An announcement on the export deal could be made at January’s Detroit motor show, or the following month in Chicago, the venue for this year's unveiling of the Pontiac G8 sedan.
The high Australian dollar could still delay or scupper Holden’s latest export plans, however.
Drive reported in September that General Motors’ product boss Bob Lutz was concerned the US-Australian exchange rate – currently up to 90 cents against the US dollar – could spoil the ute’s business case.
Exports account for about half of Holden’s annual production of 147,000 vehicles from its Elizabeth plant in Melbourne. Up to 50,000 Commodore SS sedans are expected to be exported annually to the US as Pontiac G8s