Perfect. It's amazing how a quick chop can supplant all that baked in Pontiac distinctiveness .

The one thing I fear is that GM just pockets the cash once used to rebadge the Chevies and that they do not invest them into the smaller lineup. A 4 car lineup will still fail if the 4 products aren't competitive enough.

 

Damn good chop, at first I almost was like CRAP - how did I miss that one! Looks better then the actual Torrent frontend IMO.

 

 

Wow you guys make me feel really good about my chopping skills.

Truth be known is that was REALLY easy. All the Torrent needs is a GMC denali grill and a few new badges. Also the name Torrent would have worked as a GMC. I suggest GM makes it a 1 year run and then transffers it to GMC so they can have a lower end than the Envoy.

 

I was thinking that about Buick.

Pontiac is going to eventially get the next GTO as well as a sedan. I think Buick is out of the RWD picture, though some type of Velite is supposed to still be on the books.

The VE is suppoded to be slightly larger than the current Holdens, and.....
I'm sure you see where 2 different coupes could be sold by the same group.

He helped turn Cadillac around, didn't he?

 

I wouldn't be surprised to see a version, (hopefully with a Buick restyle), of the Holden Statesman imported for Buick.

As far as Pontiac goes, I currently really don't see a RWD sedan for it, anywhere in the foreseeable future. But who knows, anything might happen.

EDIT: This is pure fantasy, but what if Pontiac, Buick and Holden shared the the VZ/VE architecture. And all large B-P RWD's were imported from Aus/Asia?

Doesn't look like Pontiac would want more than about 12,000 GTO's annually, anyway, (by their own admission, when we were thinking Zeta)....and Buick could take a similar number of VZ/VE large sedans as it's halo product.

hmmmm..............

 

I shoulda added "finally... someone near the top who does."

 

Well, well, well....

maybe not pure fantasy...

http://www.theage.com.au/news/Busine...584906012.html

Call me for my 20 step plan, LaNeve.

 

Korea, huh?

 

Are you saying your don't think they should? or GM isn't planning on adding one?

4 door (and reskinned) GTO would make a nice new Grand Prix. Kappa based car would make a nice sunfire replacement.

 

There's been alot of changes regarding GM's RWD program from just last winter. Not nearly as big as originally envisioned.

I wouldn't hold my breath for a new RWD Grand Prix just yet, but Holden is as hellbent as possible on having the new Monaro or a Monaro-like coupe, so that makes GTO or a GTO-like Pontiac likely.

However, despite all these changes, the "have faith" brigade seems to be unscathed so far.

 

By the numbers:

1) Zeta G8 is dead.

2) Holden says they'll continue to produce the current VZ GTO as long as Pontiac can keep a business case.

3) Buick already has a "halo" RWD sedan sold in ROK and China.

4) Moony says a 2nd V-car plant will be built within 2 years. (More VZ/VE volume).

5) Kappa will not spawn anything other than 2 seaters.

6) On a separate subject....things are coming along nicely for the "have faith" brigade.

 

So long as it is done correctly, I think the idea of having the divisions fill a seperate "niche" is a great idea. For example, it would be neat to have a Pontiac or Buick be something other than a re-skinned Chevy (or vice/versa). Some substantial individuality (again, assuming it is done correctly) would be quite nice, I think.

How/why is that?

 

Just want to add something to number 2 & 3 that I never thought to post, and probally isn't that big of a deal (90% of you probally figured this out on your own already).

Charlie pointed out that current GTOs can be made as long as there's a business case, and that's 100% true. The factory revision, as mentioned in the article enables Holden to make 2 separate lines of cars, the new Zeta based alongside the old Omega based lines.

Holden will move production of Fisherman's Bend built Commodore based cars destined for Asia to new facilities either in Korea or China, and will have additional vehicle capacity available for additional exports elsewhere.

Word is has the current GTO extended instead of ending production next year, and possibibly 2 additional models exported here over the next 2 years.

GM-NA really wants to continue having a performance RWD coupe here in the US, and the GTO is the no cost way to do it till other models (plural) come on line.

Mark that as the 1st fairly solid item to come out of our Zeta delay here.

 

Here's a cool Buick:

http://autodeadline.com/detail?sourc...71681&mime=JPG