In this article, it puts in print what I posted a few days ago about Holden not being able to export the UTE ne El Camino to the US because of the 25% tarriff on trucks.

Also mentioned:

* That $60 million development for Monaro was in Australian dollars! The real cost to develop & start up Monaro was $34 million US! The engineering cost (the rest was manufacturing) was roughly $15 million The 1998 Camaro's new nose cost $12 millon, just to give you a comparison. It's also made to be profitable selling only 5000 units annually for just a 3 year period (less than the number of GTOs we'll be getting in one year!

* Also pretty states in print (finally) that Holden is the likely source for future RWD components.

* Hints that a smaller than Commodore RWD car may be on the way.

* Again confirms in print that GM/NA is still intrested in getting the UTE to the US as an El Camino.

* The way GM may get around union issues here on importing Holdens, is exporting Trailblazers or other models to Australia.

The whole article: http://www.auto.com/industry/holden19_20021219.htm

Here's a story on how GTO came about. It's short, but interesting:
http://www.auto.com/industry/monaro19_20021219.htm

It confirms that Holden was looked to provide a Commodore based Buick in 1993, and then Monaro was 1st looked at as a Camaro, after GM announced the f-bodies would be discontinued. The person initially sent to Holden from GM/NA for the Buick Commodore, e-mailed Bob Lutz, suggesting Monaro as a reborn GTO. That's what got Lutz looking at Holden's line.

 

Does this mean that we might see the GTO for less than $35K or so? Maybe in the same price range as a Z28?

 

DOH, how can it be $12,000,000 for a front bumper, does that include the redesigned hood?? Most of the price is probably how much it cost GM to get the plans from Chrysler.

 

You know, why don't they just import the UTE as the UTE.

Along the same lines, why don't they just import the Monaro as the Monaro.

 

This would certainly settle online debates, and it's a good idea. Don't know why they didn't go with this?

 

too bad because all they would have to do is put pontiac badges on it.

 

I think the age old question needs to be asked about the El Camino/UTE.....Is it a car or is it a truck???

Maybe that could be a way around the 25% tarriffs????

 

Yeah, why don't they bring over the cars with Aussie names that Americans have never heard before.

Why call it an El Camino, which is the first thing anyone would think of when they saw it? Call it something else, I don't like my cars ever changing!

Why bring the name GTO to a car that completely seems to signify the way the old GTO was? Let's just call it something completely new to the American audience!

 

Because you're giving the cars a much better chance at success using names that people identify with. They basically market themselves, why spend the extra money to make the public aware of what a "Monaro" or "Ute" is...

 

I agree. People in the USA can readily identify with "GTO" and "El Camino" but not the other names. Both the new candidate vehicles are worthy recipients of the names.