Future Camaro characteristics and the term "don't care"....are not compatible to my psyche.

 

GM is redesigning the GTO in 2006 anyway, correct?

What if they decide to drop GTO and call the Pontiac version Firebird?

Think about it.

They didn't have an F-body replacement ready. They saw a need for a replacement but they couldn't use Camaro/Firebird name on an Australian built Monaro clone to fill the gap. Since its getting redesigned anyway, and GTO sales have been less than stellar, why not change the name?

Then the 2004-2005 GTO's will become collectors items, and they end up selling every last one.

 

Having a rebadged Firebird as a Camaro didn't stop you before, did it?

How about a counter scenario:

1. A group at GM-Holden Australia want to market a coupe, but there is no money to do one due to a car market too small to support the volume needed.

2. This group insted takes a Holden Commodore sedan, chops the roof line, creates a new "B" pillar structure & related sheetmetal, and the Monaro is born.

3. GM-NA needed a RWD coupe to fill in for a particular obsolete sports car it just discontinued. The small volume Holden produces wouldn't support typical US-sized volume, so GM chooses Pontiac to market the car.

4. The car is essentially a cash cow since it's business structure of being profitable at 15,000 cars over 3 years is now 74,000 over 4. GM doesn't sweat the volume right away because it's making money regardless, and it doesn't want to over burden Holden, possibly having to revise their deal of 54,000 cars over the next 3 years (which GM knows it will be able to sell over the term of the agreement).

5. Holden is charged with creating a entire RWD structure for GM's global operations. NOW Holden has the chance to do the sports coupe they really want since GM-NA wants to use the car as the replacement for their dead and obsolete performance cars.

Instead of thinking that the Holden is going to blow their chance to make the sports car they really would want off of GM-NA's money, suppose GM-Holden uses this chance to create a car much the same as we (and they) would like: a low slung, sporty looking Monaro (not the 55" tall version we have now).

Maybe even this car would have double wishbone front suspension and a rear suspension that does the same as Cadillac's CTSv's, but at a lower cost and simplified design.

This would mean a low slung, sporty GTO that's far more "assertive" looking than the current upright coupe. And if a Camaro shared the same structure, it might be taller, but it would still have the proportions of the 1st gen Camaro.

Don't be so quick to dismiss something we don't quite know about.

 

I think I like that scenario alot.