Holden was quite open about having a a new Monaro and GTO designed but not approved. Holden is involved with all volume RWD vehicles (Oz as well as the US), and is currently involved in "some work" with the Camaro. There is a design proposal in which they have a version based on the Camaro structure that as I've last heard wasn't approved (and neither is Camaro ). From what I'm gathering, the sheetmetal is completely different from Camaro.

GM wanted to make all coupes in one factory in the "old Zeta", and I believe they still intend to.


I'd still put money on early 2008 as 2009MY, but it does seem that GM is putting everything they can muster into getting the Camaro out quickly, maybe even before Chevy's sedan.

So I'd say no telling. But for a change, I mean it in a good way.

Though I disagree somewhat about GTO being a flop (18,000 cars in retrospect was extremely optimistic compared with the sales numbers of WS6 T/As, Cobras, and Mach 1s), the rest of your points......


The Charger and the Daytona have shown that there is a strong market for a high performance RWD sedan, even if it uses a performance name from over 35 years ago. Keep in mind we are esentially talking about a wider $30,000 Cadillac CTS-v. Pretty much the same performance and handling as the current car.

Now. Tell me that isn't going to sell.

 

I could accept that as well. They'd have to get the styling right, however, both for the sedan and GTO package. A design that was nastalgic with an emphasis on rwd power (with longer hood) would work [same formula as Charger].

Pontiac needs to embrace its history (in character and styling) to recover. The current "clean" design approach quiets the clad-bashers but is also producing cars with little to no character (the voluptuous Solstice excluded).

 

Here's what I don't understand. If Holden can make the business case for the Monaro viable on 5k units/yr for 3 years, then why can't Pontiac have a high performance coupe GTO based off of the G8/GP/Tempest-whatever the hell they decide to call it? Using the hard points of the Camaro architecture, I am quite sure they could come up with a distinctive product aimed squarely at the M3, that would not be a badge engineered clone.

If you want a retro named muscle sedan, I submit that Grand Prix or LeMans/Tempest would work quite well. PLUS, that would then leave the opportunity for the GTO to resume as the aforementioned M3 fighter (which would be especially sweet if they were to do the car with distinctly American (*that's USA) styling.).



*There seems to be some point of contention about the USA calling ourselves America (ns), so I thought I would clarify.

 

Thank you. This is what I've tried to say as well, though I might not have verbalized it as well as you have. I'd love for a Firebird return, but if Pontiac can get a high performance coupe/sedan that can battle with the likes of M3's etc, I'm all for it. Pontiac needs some muscle in its lineup, and it needs it fast.

 

4 door GTO = 4 door Charger = SUCKS

 

GM-Holden under Peter Hanenberger and his recent predecessor ran Holden entirely different than GM-NA does.... or how Holden is now run under Dennis Mooney.

Holden managed to do the Monaro for $65 million. Holden managed to get the GTO certified for the US for something like $112 million. By comparison, redoing the nose on Camaro cost at least $250 million. In short, they managed to do a whole model for the US for $73 million less than a new nose on an F-body.

The only issue about doing a Pontiac based on a Camaro is how do you avoid canabalizing sales and how do you put distance between the 2. It's going to cost far more to market a separate Pontiac "Camaro" than it's going to cost to actually make it ($100-200 million per year is probally is on the low side).