why doesn't gm just bring the ssx to the states, it would be a great car to fight lost sales from audi. the performance is better and the car looks better, also, why does the australians get a better looking GTO? and also do you think that the y series (hrt 427) could come here as a y body?

 

SSX is just a concept at the moment - no word on whether it will be built yet.

Y series is the whole HSV ranges (sedan, ute and coupe) - HRT427 is a 50-only road/race special.

 

I don't know exactly what sales GM is loosing to Audi, or which Audi the ssx would win sales from, but it is a great looking concept.

As for the 427 HSV, check the price on one of those babys.

 

I think it would be impossible to market a high-end performance sedan with a "hatchback" body style. Americans associate hatches with econoboxes. Is it any wonder that Saab has finally ended the production of the 5-door sedan bodystyle? Personally, I'm surprised that the Hyundai Elantra GT 5-door has sold as well as it has.

Take away the mechanical upgrades and AWD, and the SSX is a lame, pointless design exercise. The nifty Cross8 concept, due for production this year, has far better chances for success, both here and in Australia.

 

The ssx wont make production soon because it would take about 2 years to get into production. Holden will be using a new platform in about 2.5 years. Join the dots and you have why they wont produce it on the current platform.

 

Some things will be carried over to the new chassis, though. Look at that brand new AWD system. That wasn't designed for just 2 years of production.

 

The AWD system will carry over for sure. A bit of info on the AWD system, Holden didn't have enought money to develop both left and right hand drive versions at the same time. So they are developing the RHD version first and the LHD setup once they have finished with RHD. Apparently Holden where disappointed that the LHD version wasn't ready as they would have liked to use it for export markets

 

If Holden plans on exporting to the United States, the delay in a LHD version of the AWD system is a serious error in planning. The Monaro/GTO can never be more than a short-term niche product, scavaging sales from an abandonned market segment. However, Holden does have the upcomming Cross8 crossover vehicle, something with tremendous potential. In addition, an AWD Commodore wagon fashioned after the Audi Allroad would also have a reasonable opportunity for success.

 

The problems that Holden face in exporting to the US are far less technical and far more political (read UAW). I doubt the delay in LHD engineering will be anywhere near as bad as negotiations with the unions ...