Anyone for Holdens (Err, Pontiacs :umm: )

[TheNewMonaro]

Holden's cat out of bag - SS off to America
Joshua Dowling Motoring Editor in Detroit
January 9, 2007

http://www.smoothcar.com/wp-content/uploads/cars/holden-ve-ss-v-series/001.jpg

AUSTRALIA'S biggest-selling car, the Holden Commodore, will be exported to the US, it has been unofficially confirmed at the Detroit motor show.

The announcement was not due to be made until the Chicago motor show next month, but the worldwide head of product development at General Motors, Bob Lutz, gave away more than he was supposed to during a news conference.

Just minutes after Holden officials refused to answer questions about the Commodore's export program, Mr Lutz revealed details about the deal.

The Commodore SS, a V8- powered sports sedan, will be sold as a Pontiac from late this year or early next year.

Holden expects to export 30,000 Commodores annually, about half what it sells locally.

"We are seriously planning to import a lot of Commodore SS sedans as Pontiac G8s," Mr Lutz said, adding that Holden could export up to 50,000 Commodores a year if the model was priced correctly.

Mr Lutz said the export of the Holden Monaro as a Pontiac GTO from 2003 to last year (during which 40,000 of the V8 coupes were sold) brought Holden's expertise to the attention of its parent company, General Motors in North America.

"We are yet to officially announce it," Mr Lutz said of the Commodore export deal, once he realised that he had made a faux pas.

He eventually admitted that selling the V8 version of the Commodore in the US was such a logical thing to do as it filled a void in Pontiac's line-up.

"While [the Monaro's] export program may not have fulfilled all of our hopes and dreams in terms of profitability and volume, it did break the ice on global programs."


http://www.smh.com.au/news/business/holdens-cat-out-of-bag--ss-off-to-america/2007/01/08/1168104921065.html

Get an SS-V in silver, or a Calais. :cool:

[TheNewMonaro]

Actually if you get any HSVs get a Clubsport R8 in Evoke with the Senator boot lid.

[5.0THIS]

Note to GM: Please dont fuck up the looks of the car in it's transformation to a pontiac.


Off with the Holden badges, put some Pontiac badges on, voila. :thankya:

[Hunter98TA]

Originally posted by 5.0THIS
Note to GM: Please dont fuck up the looks of the car in it's transformation to a pontiac.


Off with the Holden badges, put some Pontiac badges on, voila. :thankya:

They will change the nose to incorporate the signature Pontiac Split Grill. It has been around for 60 years and i doubt they will change it.

[Potent68]

Why do I fear this won't last either? Build a damn plant here in the states to build the car so you can sell a normal number to justify sales. And for the love of all things automotive do not ruin the looks of that car. :mad:

Is this going to be a RWD or FWD? :think:

I'm glad to see it coming, but damn.....I worry about the execution of it.

Tom

[CT Morgan]

Originally posted by Potent68
Is this going to be a RWD or FWD? :think:

Tom

That Holden is a RWD platform. It would take a complete rework to transform it to FWD and that's not going to happen. :cool:

Come on now GM... give her some aggression when you convert the body! *crosses fingers*

And it better have some decent options... i.e. sunroof and navigation.

[MapleRed]

:cool:

[Nate's4.6]

very :cool:


I have always been a fan of that car. Hopefully little changes.

[OCHO CINCO]

Originally posted by 5.0THIS
Note to GM: Please dont fuck up the looks of the car in it's transformation to a pontiac.


Off with the Holden badges, put some Pontiac badges on, voila. :thankya: :stupid2:

[triggerjerk]

I'm afraid low import numbers will mean a big price tag for the car:(

[CT Morgan]

Originally posted by triggerjerk
I'm afraid low import numbers will mean a big price tag for the car:(

That certainly wasn't / isn't the case for the GTO. :dunno:

[Hack Job]

the front looks alot like a protoge5... but I like how those look so :shrug:

hopefully they don't "bland" it out too much to make it a pontiac. I like it.

[Zger]

I thought the Commodore SS was going to be brought over as a Chevy Impala SS. Either way, I am going to buy one of these when they get here. I came real close to getting a left over 06 GTO when I found out that the 4 door was headed to the states. I can wait for it.

[Harmon Rabb]

unfortunately, they'll get rid of the nice holden nose and throw on a tired ass pontiac grill :Picard:

[triggerjerk]

Originally posted by CT Morgan
That certainly wasn't / isn't the case for the GTO. :dunno:

True, but add on 4 doors and alot more options (the gto didn't have any) and you're looking at a near 40g pricetag probably.
Will people throw down that much for a pontiac sedan? :dunno:

[Sandman]

Is this car going to stay RWD? Does it have the LS2? What car void is this this supposed to fill?

[Sandman]

Originally posted by CT Morgan
That Holden is a RWD platform. It would take a complete rework to transform it to FWD and that's not going to happen. :cool:

Come on now GM... give her some aggression when you convert the body! *crosses fingers*

And it better have some decent options... i.e. sunroof and navigation.


You know that is NOT going to happen. The people at Pontiac will have to give that car the "Pontiac Style" that is sooooo fuckin boring. They did it to the GTO :(


Doh, Berman beat me to it :o

[krispycobalt]

Originally posted by Berman
unfortunately, they'll get rid of the nice holden nose and throw on a tired ass pontiac grill :Picard:

:werd:

[carpenter]

I assume this will be the G8?

[Hobbes]

It looks nice now, but I'm sure Pontiac will bland it down with their boring nose and panels.

[StealthZ06]

Originally posted by Berman
unfortunately, they'll get rid of the nice holden nose and throw on a tired ass pontiac grill :Picard:

That's being a tad bit pessimistic don't you think? You haven't even seen it and already you hate it (the grill).

[Harmon Rabb]

Originally posted by StealthZ06
That's being a tad bit pessimistic don't you think? You haven't even seen it and already you hate it (the grill).

look what they did to the gto. why should i believe they'll be any smarter this time? :nosulk:

note to gm: don't fucking change anything. just remove the holden badge and put on a pontiac badge. nothing else required. oh and make fucking sure nav is an option. no nav = lost sales.

[WCFields]

Originally posted by CT Morgan
That certainly wasn't / isn't the case for the GTO. :dunno: What do you mean? That was the exact case for the GTO...Lutz even sid he was dissappointed at the pric epoint due to brining it over here.

[DrFrag]

hmm so they're going to announce it officially at the chicago show? :hmm:

hopefully they will have a production car along with said announcement :xfings:

[Sir Ringo]

Sweeet :rockon: I was already pretty sure it was gonna happen, but confirmation is great. I've always thought that was an awesome car from the moment I saw it :cool:

[Boss Hogg]

Originally posted by triggerjerk
True, but add on 4 doors and alot more options (the gto didn't have any) and you're looking at a near 40g pricetag probably.
Will people throw down that much for a pontiac sedan? :dunno:

I will if it has the right options. Perfect for when my M35 lease is up.

[1badls2goat]

the car is RWD, has a detuned LS2 making 362 horsepower, and looks amazing. Yes, pontiac will uglify the front end, and since it's coming in as the Grand Prix, they're going to make it cheap too, by getting rid of all the nice Holden options, as they did with the Monaro-GTO conversion, like navigation, sunroof, dual climate zones, etc.

Basically, Holden is amazing, American GM Division=teh homoghey

[StealthZ06]

What exactly is "detuned"?

[Sturmovik]

The Commodore SS doesnt have the LS2, it has the 6L 'L98' - its a modified version of the Vortec 6000. Only the HSVs get the LS2 (with 400hp).

Not sure what engine you guys will get though.

[carpenter]

Originally posted by 1badls2goat
the car is RWD, has a detuned LS2 making 362 horsepower, and looks amazing. Yes, pontiac will uglify the front end, and since it's coming in as the Grand Prix, they're going to make it cheap too, by getting rid of all the nice Holden options, as they did with the Monaro-GTO conversion, like navigation, sunroof, dual climate zones, etc.

Basically, Holden is amazing, American GM Division=teh homoghey


As a Grand Prix replacement and the fact that it is a 4 door car.. I can't see them getting rid of sunroof, Nav and dual climate. I can see a top of the line one coming in at 35-36K

[1badls2goat]

:shrug: I still think they might. Hell, I know the GTO was not meant to be the luxurious car of Pontiac, but it sure as hell had the ability to be if they just left it the way it was and raised the tag a little bit.

I understand what you're saying, but I don't trust GM when it comes to nickel-and-diming everything. They're bound to remove some kind of nice feature. Even if they don't though, it'll still be ugly in the front.

[jr. gong]

Originally posted by Sturmovik


Not sure what engine you guys will get though.

The LS3 :drool:

[Harmon Rabb]

Originally posted by 1badls2goat
:shrug: I still think they might. Hell, I know the GTO was not meant to be the luxurious car of Pontiac, but it sure as hell had the ability to be if they just left it the way it was and raised the tag a little bit.

I understand what you're saying, but I don't trust GM when it comes to nickel-and-diming everything. They're bound to remove some kind of nice feature. Even if they don't though, it'll still be ugly in the front.

fucking $20k civics come with nav. this car better have nav.

[DustinWS6]

I wish we could get all of Holden's cars over here :(

[1badls2goat]

Originally posted by Berman
fucking $20k civics come with nav. this car better have nav.

:werd: I feel the anger about my GTO :(

[1badls2goat]

Originally posted by DustinWS6
I wish we could get all of Holden's cars over here :(

:werd: w/out the ugly Pontiac front ends.. lucky australian bastards http://www.ls2.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=490187 :(
they get all the stuff. No wonder Men's Health rated them the happiest people in the world. Haha japan was the least happy on the chart. America was like the 2nd or 3rd to least happy.

[CT Morgan]

Originally posted by WhiteLightn
What do you mean? That was the exact case for the GTO...Lutz even sid he was dissappointed at the pric epoint due to brining it over here.

The GTO was/is NOT expensive for the car you get. What are you smoking? At list, it's only a tad more expensive than the WS6's were in 2002. :boggled: And it's considerably more car.

We'll just have to wait and see on the pricing.

[CT Morgan]

Originally posted by Berman
fucking $20k civics come with nav. this car better have nav.

Damn right!

[TheNewMonaro]

Originally posted by Sandman
Is this car going to stay RWD?

Well considering you'd have to redesign the whole thing to make it FWD I think you're safe.

Commodore is RWD, always has been.

[TheNewMonaro]

Originally posted by Berman
fucking $20k civics come with nav. this car better have nav.

You can get them with nav, what happens with the US version is up to Pontiac I would imagine.

[1badls2goat]

Originally posted by TheNewMonaro
You can get them with nav, what happens with the US version is up to Pontiac I would imagine.

:yup: which might go either way. They cheapify everything that's imported.

[SphyNxXx]

Originally posted by carpenter
As a Grand Prix replacement and the fact that it is a 4 door car.. I can't see them getting rid of sunroof, Nav and dual climate. I can see a top of the line one coming in at 35-36K

They are saying it will be a new car, dubbed the G8, not a Grand Prix. It can't be a GP because GPs move too many units to bring its production levels down to 30K/year.

[1badls2goat]

:cool:

[Sandman]

Originally posted by TheNewMonaro
Well considering you'd have to redesign the whole thing to make it FWD I think you're safe.

Commodore is RWD, always has been.


Sweet, one more possibility for a V8 RWD platform for me :yup:

I just want to make sure that it doesn't get Pontiacized :no:

[krispycobalt]

Originally posted by Sandman
I just want to make sure that it doesn't get Pontiacized :no:

Its going to be a Pontiac...so yea, its gonna get Pontiacized:

*snip* balls hit the floor...."heres your new car"

[DAFFYDRUNK]

Cool car.
But yea... The lame-ass Pontiac kidney bean grill has to go, and the thing needs an LS2 with either a 6 speed or the new 6 speed auto. The 4 speed auto has to go. Needs a sunroof, auto climate and nav options. People will pay for this kinda car. Whether GM realizes that or not is another story. Hell, I'd even consider a 6 speed auto and I'm a die hard M6 freak. If they could load it up with all that and keep it under $38k I think it would do well...

[Sandman]

Originally posted by DAFFYDRUNK
Cool car.
But yea... The lame-ass Pontiac kidney bean grill has to go, and the thing needs an LS2 with either a 6 speed or the new 6 speed auto. The 4 speed auto has to go. Needs a sunroof, auto climate and nav options. People will pay for this kinda car. Whether GM realizes that or not is another story. Hell, I'd even consider a 6 speed auto and I'm a die hard M6 freak. If they could load it up with all that and keep it under $38k I think it would do well...


Well - I'll take the LS2 and 6 speed ... and you can have the rest of that bullshit :D

[1badls2goat]

Originally posted by DAFFYDRUNK
Cool car.
But yea... The lame-ass Pontiac kidney bean grill has to go, and the thing needs an LS2 with either a 6 speed or the new 6 speed auto. The 4 speed auto has to go. Needs a sunroof, auto climate and nav options. People will pay for this kinda car. Whether GM realizes that or not is another story. Hell, I'd even consider a 6 speed auto and I'm a die hard M6 freak. If they could load it up with all that and keep it under $38k I think it would do well...

I agree. So basically, they needa keep it the way it came from Holden. They already have a perfect car. And it already has a LS2 btw. It's just detuned to 362 hp

[DAFFYDRUNK]

Originally posted by 1badls2goat
I agree. So basically, they needa keep it the way it came from Holden. They already have a perfect car. And it already has a LS2 btw. It's just detuned to 362 hp

Might be detuned, but I'd be it's "detuned" in a similar fashion as a regular LS1 TA vs ram air TA would be compared. Probably puts out well over 330 rwhp. Not complaning.... Just figuring it will be in the ballpark as a 400 hp Ls2...

[ill deuce]

do all holdens all look the same:umm:

[jmd]

Here come the butthats calling an external Pontiac Holden "ugly, so it sucks" even when it's a world beater. :(

[DAFFYDRUNK]

Originally posted by jmd
Here come the butthats calling an external Pontiac Holden "ugly, so it sucks" even when it's a world beater. :(

I dunno. I think alot of the GTO haters around here got over the attitude. If not, they simply need to drive one.
Personally, I can't wait to see this thing at a local dealership. Of course it will probably come with the obligatory $5k markup the first few months...

[1badls2goat]

well i drive a GTO and I can tell it's not ugly IMO, but it's definitely ugly compared to the holden and HSV versions

[TheNewMonaro]

Originally posted by ill deuce
do all holdens all look the same:umm:

http://www.holden.com.au//images/uploads/gallery_images/new_astra/Coupe/img_Coupe_01.jpg

http://www.holden.com.au//images/uploads/ve_gallery/img_ssv_side.jpg

http://www.holden.com.au//images/uploads/gallery_images/rodeo/gallery_03.jpg

http://www.hotrod.com/featuredvehicles/841large+2002_holden_ute_ss+top_front_left_view.jpg

etc.

[CT Morgan]

Originally posted by 1badls2goat
well i drive a GTO and I can tell it's not ugly IMO, but it's definitely ugly compared to the holden and HSV versions

That's the key right there. The GTO isn't a bad looking car. It's just so subdued. And when you compare it to the HSV or VXR (UK) versions it just leaves you wondering "WHY on Earth??"

IMHO at least. :)

[Harmon Rabb]

Originally posted by jmd
Here come the butthats calling an external Pontiac Holden "ugly, so it sucks" even when it's a world beater. :(

if you want to be a world beater, you need the looks. the Holden's have them. a pontiac-ized holden, sadly, will not.

if you can honesty look at a Monaro and a GTO and think that was a good decision... i have no words for you :o

[Sandman]

Originally posted by jmd
Here come the butthats calling an external Pontiac Holden "ugly, so it sucks" even when it's a world beater. :(


I don't think anybody here is really saying that it's ugly or that it sucks or whatever. They're saying that Pontiac is going to fuck it up, which more than likely will happen.

Look at the downgrade the Monaro got to become a GTO - and it'll happen with the Commodore as well. All I'm saying is anything Pontiac touches turns to brown.


:shrug:

[Sandman]

Originally posted by Berman
if you want to be a world beater, you need the looks. the Holden's have them. a pontiac-ized holden, sadly, will not.

if you can honesty look at a Monaro and a GTO and think that was a good decision... i have no words for you :o



Uuumm yeeeaah.... soo I'm just gonna go ahead and have to agree with you on that point... yeah..


Pontiac started with this :
http://cache.jalopnik.com/cars/images/holden_monaro_last.jpg


... but sadly, then they went and did this :
http://car-reviews.automobile.com/images/cars/ArtImages/27033/alt04.jpg


... when they should've done somethin close to this :
http://www.pfyc.com/mm5/graphics/new/gt1234.jpg
http://www.pfyc.com/supportfiles/gt1234_1.jpg

[kasim]

Originally posted by StealthZ06
That's being a tad bit pessimistic don't you think? You haven't even seen it and already you hate it (the grill).

Not really its more of a fact.

They are gonna have to keep it with the pontiac family, honey comb and all

[Boss Hogg]

I want the Holden Caprice.

http://www.holden.com.au//images/uploads/gallery_images/caprice/img_caprice_03.jpg

[Sleep]

Ford should reply with one of these from Australia.
http://www.fpv.com.au/media/19324/hero_gt.jpghttp://www.fpv.com.au/media/29632/hero_force8.jpg http://www.fpv.com.au/media/19380/hero_typhoon.jpg

[TheNewMonaro]

Originally posted by Sleep
Ford should reply with one of these from Australia.
http://www.fpv.com.au/media/19324/hero_gt.jpghttp://www.fpv.com.au/media/29632/hero_force8.jpg http://www.fpv.com.au/media/19380/hero_typhoon.jpg

Never happen, not engineered for LHD. Next one will be though.

[JohnnyLS2]

Sweet car, but it will look like crap with the Pontiac front end. And, why call it the G8? So it can share the same shitty images of a G5 and G6?

[JohnnyLS2]

Originally posted by Sleep
Ford should reply with one of these from Australia.
http://www.fpv.com.au/media/19324/hero_gt.jpghttp://www.fpv.com.au/media/29632/hero_force8.jpg http://www.fpv.com.au/media/19380/hero_typhoon.jpg

Those are pretty sweet. What are their specs? How much power and what do they run? (if possible, convert to HP/TQ) :lol:

[HOTCIVIC]

Originally posted by Sleep
Ford should reply with one of these from Australia.
http://www.fpv.com.au/media/19324/hero_gt.jpghttp://www.fpv.com.au/media/29632/hero_force8.jpg http://www.fpv.com.au/media/19380/hero_typhoon.jpg

:drool:

[JohnnyLS2]

Originally posted by Boss Hogg
I want the Holden Caprice.

http://www.holden.com.au//images/uploads/gallery_images/caprice/img_caprice_03.jpg

Fuck yea, that's what I'm talkin' about. It better come with the 6.2L LS3. :cool:

[Sturmovik]

Originally posted by JohnnyLS2
Those are pretty sweet. What are their specs? How much power and what do they run? (if possible, convert to HP/TQ) :lol:

They come with either a 390hp/380ft-lb 5.4L DOHC, or a 360hp/404ft-lb 4L Turbo Inline 6.
The V8 is a little bit slower, due to weight and less torque, the Turbo 6 has run 12.9s. (the Turbo 6 makes full torque from like 2000rpm)
Up the boost a little and hello 11s :drive:

[5.0THIS]

Originally posted by Sturmovik
They come with either a 390hp/380ft-lb 5.4L DOHC, or a 360hp/404ft-lb 4L Turbo Inline 6.
The V8 is a little bit slower, due to weight and less torque, the Turbo 6 has run 12.9s. (the Turbo 6 makes full torque from like 2000rpm)
Up the boost a little and hello 11s :drive:


You can just imagine Ford NOT bringing the turbo 6 powerplant if the car ever made it here. Probably only the V8 option :rolleyes:

[Kurupted WS6]

Originally posted by Boss Hogg
I want the Holden Caprice.

http://www.holden.com.au//images/uploads/gallery_images/caprice/img_caprice_03.jpg

:eek: that looks sweet. :cool:

[CT Morgan]

Originally posted by 5.0THIS
You can just imagine Ford NOT bringing the turbo 6 powerplant if the car ever made it here. Probably only the V8 option :rolleyes:

Isn't Ford already planning to implement a turbo version of their 3.5 V6? Obviously it's not the same platform or anything, but is an indication that they might not be afraid of turbo applications. I doubt we'll see any of those actual cars on US soil though.