Pontiac badged Commodore to the US is 'go', and Torana being looked at!
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Pontiac badged Commodore to the US is 'go', and Torana being looked at!
Gotta love Bob 
Taken from http://www.drive.com.au/Editorial/Ar...ID=20396&vf=12
Taken from http://www.drive.com.au/Editorial/Ar...ID=20396&vf=12
Commodore begins global tour
Toby Hagon, drive.com.au, 29/09/06
It's official: Holden’s Commodore is heading to America as General Motors forges ahead on a BMW-rivalling compact sedan. Toby Hagon reports.
A Pontiac-badged Commodore will be unveiled at the Chicago motor show in 2007, signalling the start of the Commodore’s global tour.
Speaking at this week's Paris motor show, General Motors product guru Bob Lutz did more than hint that the Commodore would wear a Pontiac nose and badges before long.
“Come to the Chicago auto show and all we be revealed,” said a smiling Lutz, who earlier praised Holden and the new Commodore for being one of “the best vehicles GM has produced”.
Speculation has been rife about Commodores being built in other markets, but nothing has been confirmed to date.
However Lutz’s admission to drive.com.au confirms the rumours that the Commodore could be built in markets such as the United States to provide a large, rear-drive car to help revive General Motors’ ageing vehicles.
The Commodore’s architecture is also expected to spawn many more rear-drive cars within the General Motors world, starting with the born-again Chevrolet Camaro that was unveiled at the 2006 Detroit motor show in concept form.
The Pontiac “Commodore”, which is expected to wear a different name when it goes on sale in the States in 2007, is not the first time a Pontiac has been spawned from a Holden.
Three years ago Holden sent Monaros to the 'States with fresh noses and Pontiac GTO badges to revive one of the most famous nameplates in Pontiac’s history.
Like that car, the rebadged Commodore is expected to get some minor changes, including the classic Pontiac twin-nostril grille.
GM considers Torana
Also at the Paris show Lutz confirmed that General Motors is forging ahead with plans to produce a compact, rear-drive car to rival premium sedans from BMW and Lexus. And it could lead to the revival of the Torana, which was born-again as a concept in 2004.
Lutz admitted a new rear-drive small car is on General Motors’ radar to compete with other dynamically-focussed small sedans such as the Lexus IS250 and BMW 3-Series.
“As we look at rising fuel prices and the success of the (BMW) 1-Series in Europe … we are telling ourselves one of the things we’d like to investigate – and I stress, investigate – is a smaller, lighter, rear-wheel-drive architecture,” he says.
The comments fuel longer-term expectations that the Torana could be reborn as a smaller, more fuel efficient alternative to the Commodore. However, Lutz stressed any such project would not be simply a “shrunken Commodore”.
“The probability of a VE being shrunk is very remote,” said Lutz. “It never works well to take a large architecture and shrink it.”
Lutz also said that any such small, rear-drive vehicle would be designed from the outset with a four-cylinder engine.
While he said a larger engine is a possibility for a such a car, he wanted the small, rear-drive platform vehicle to be initially designed as a four-cylinder.
“It will be smaller, lighter and more agile (than a Commodore),” says Lutz.
Toby Hagon, drive.com.au, 29/09/06
It's official: Holden’s Commodore is heading to America as General Motors forges ahead on a BMW-rivalling compact sedan. Toby Hagon reports.
A Pontiac-badged Commodore will be unveiled at the Chicago motor show in 2007, signalling the start of the Commodore’s global tour.
Speaking at this week's Paris motor show, General Motors product guru Bob Lutz did more than hint that the Commodore would wear a Pontiac nose and badges before long.
“Come to the Chicago auto show and all we be revealed,” said a smiling Lutz, who earlier praised Holden and the new Commodore for being one of “the best vehicles GM has produced”.
Speculation has been rife about Commodores being built in other markets, but nothing has been confirmed to date.
However Lutz’s admission to drive.com.au confirms the rumours that the Commodore could be built in markets such as the United States to provide a large, rear-drive car to help revive General Motors’ ageing vehicles.
The Commodore’s architecture is also expected to spawn many more rear-drive cars within the General Motors world, starting with the born-again Chevrolet Camaro that was unveiled at the 2006 Detroit motor show in concept form.
The Pontiac “Commodore”, which is expected to wear a different name when it goes on sale in the States in 2007, is not the first time a Pontiac has been spawned from a Holden.
Three years ago Holden sent Monaros to the 'States with fresh noses and Pontiac GTO badges to revive one of the most famous nameplates in Pontiac’s history.
Like that car, the rebadged Commodore is expected to get some minor changes, including the classic Pontiac twin-nostril grille.
GM considers Torana
Also at the Paris show Lutz confirmed that General Motors is forging ahead with plans to produce a compact, rear-drive car to rival premium sedans from BMW and Lexus. And it could lead to the revival of the Torana, which was born-again as a concept in 2004.
Lutz admitted a new rear-drive small car is on General Motors’ radar to compete with other dynamically-focussed small sedans such as the Lexus IS250 and BMW 3-Series.
“As we look at rising fuel prices and the success of the (BMW) 1-Series in Europe … we are telling ourselves one of the things we’d like to investigate – and I stress, investigate – is a smaller, lighter, rear-wheel-drive architecture,” he says.
The comments fuel longer-term expectations that the Torana could be reborn as a smaller, more fuel efficient alternative to the Commodore. However, Lutz stressed any such project would not be simply a “shrunken Commodore”.
“The probability of a VE being shrunk is very remote,” said Lutz. “It never works well to take a large architecture and shrink it.”
Lutz also said that any such small, rear-drive vehicle would be designed from the outset with a four-cylinder engine.
While he said a larger engine is a possibility for a such a car, he wanted the small, rear-drive platform vehicle to be initially designed as a four-cylinder.
“It will be smaller, lighter and more agile (than a Commodore),” says Lutz.
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Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 3,132
From: Santa Clara, CA
Re: Pontiac badged Commodore to the US is 'go', and Torana being looked at!
I recently read the tests in the Sep '06 Wheels. I think I'd be happy with a Commodore SS auto. Though even the Omega sounds good to me.
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Posts: 13,713
From: The Golden State
Re: Pontiac badged Commodore to the US is 'go', and Torana being looked at!
Gee.... imagine that... a Pontiac RWD sedan.
Wow... go figure...a Holden VE coming to the US.
Hey.... how about that...it isn't going to take till 2013 or longer as some swore it would.
Whoa... you mean Pontiac isn't going to simply be left alone to flounder.
Anyone else want to doubt me??
Wow... go figure...a Holden VE coming to the US.
Hey.... how about that...it isn't going to take till 2013 or longer as some swore it would.
Whoa... you mean Pontiac isn't going to simply be left alone to flounder.
Anyone else want to doubt me??
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Posts: 561
From: Ventura County, CA
Re: Pontiac badged Commodore to the US is 'go', and Torana being looked at!
I don't know about anyone else, but I trust guionM's word just about as much as Lutz himself.
And that car looks sick. Pontiac will be the **** once more with one of those runnign around. What will it be called? G8? Grand Prix?
And that car looks sick. Pontiac will be the **** once more with one of those runnign around. What will it be called? G8? Grand Prix?
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Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 3,123
From: Melbourne, Australia
Re: Pontiac badged Commodore to the US is 'go', and Torana being looked at!
Anyone willing to estimate cost? 
Recall $AUD 60K Monaro => $USD 30K GTO
est: Therefore $AUD 45K SS => $USD 25K G8
Recall $AUD 60K Monaro => $USD 30K GTO
est: Therefore $AUD 45K SS => $USD 25K G8
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Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 2,801
From: South Bend , IN
Re: Pontiac badged Commodore to the US is 'go', and Torana being looked at!
It would be cool if they called it a Catalina . But .....I would be amazed if its called anything but a G8 .
Wow , I think this is kinda a bigger deal almost than the GTO was for Pontiac . With the Charger and 300C both being a bit on the nostalgic side of styling , it will be interesting to see how a completely contemporary styled domestic RWD does in the US market .
Wow , I think this is kinda a bigger deal almost than the GTO was for Pontiac . With the Charger and 300C both being a bit on the nostalgic side of styling , it will be interesting to see how a completely contemporary styled domestic RWD does in the US market .
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Posts: 766
From: Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
Re: Pontiac badged Commodore to the US is 'go', and Torana being looked at!
Originally posted by guoinM
Gee.... imagine that... a Pontiac RWD sedan.
Wow... go figure...a Holden VE coming to the US.
Hey.... how about that...it isn't going to take till 2013 or longer as some swore it would.
Whoa... you mean Pontiac isn't going to simply be left alone to flounder.
Anyone else want to doubt me??
Gee.... imagine that... a Pontiac RWD sedan.
Wow... go figure...a Holden VE coming to the US.
Hey.... how about that...it isn't going to take till 2013 or longer as some swore it would.
Whoa... you mean Pontiac isn't going to simply be left alone to flounder.
Anyone else want to doubt me??
So, Guy.... what is it exactly yer tryin' to say here?
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Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 131
Re: Pontiac badged Commodore to the US is 'go', and Torana being looked at!
If it is being imported, will most likely be a G8. Can't be a Grand Prix due to the exclusivity that Oshawa has with that name. If it's going to be built at Oshawa, it likely won't be here until 2010 model year and won't be an SS-V clone.
The Torana news is great for Pontiac as well, since they will likely get a sister vehicle. Maybe Pontiac will become an American BMW after all...
Oh, for more confirmation Pontiac is getting "something", read this post from "LFP" (Larry from Pontiac - I met him in person at Mid-Ohio this summer at the Rolex Grand Am race, so I know this is really a GM employee) over at LS1GTO.com:
http://ls1gto.com/forums/showthread.php?t=105964
Now, where have we heard THAT last sentence fragment before?
If imported, an SS-V/G8 (probably ~$32-35k USD) will likely grace my driveway at the end of 2009, next to my '04 GTO (and the wife's new Camaro :-)
The Torana news is great for Pontiac as well, since they will likely get a sister vehicle. Maybe Pontiac will become an American BMW after all...
Oh, for more confirmation Pontiac is getting "something", read this post from "LFP" (Larry from Pontiac - I met him in person at Mid-Ohio this summer at the Rolex Grand Am race, so I know this is really a GM employee) over at LS1GTO.com:
http://ls1gto.com/forums/showthread.php?t=105964
Originally Posted by LFP
Great things are in the works for Pontiac (if you like V-8's and RWD), so keep the faith.
If imported, an SS-V/G8 (probably ~$32-35k USD) will likely grace my driveway at the end of 2009, next to my '04 GTO (and the wife's new Camaro :-)
Last edited by ZaphodBeeblebrox; Sep 29, 2006 at 06:22 AM.
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Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 4,600
From: Pewee Valley, KY
Re: Pontiac badged Commodore to the US is 'go', and Torana being looked at!
Originally Posted by guionM
Gee.... imagine that... a Pontiac RWD sedan.
Wow... go figure...a Holden VE coming to the US.
Hey.... how about that...it isn't going to take till 2013 or longer as some swore it would.
Whoa... you mean Pontiac isn't going to simply be left alone to flounder.
Anyone else want to doubt me??
Wow... go figure...a Holden VE coming to the US.
Hey.... how about that...it isn't going to take till 2013 or longer as some swore it would.
Whoa... you mean Pontiac isn't going to simply be left alone to flounder.
Anyone else want to doubt me??
to the Great GuionM!!!Now get to work finding out about that compact RWD sedan, you know Holden is doing the footwork on that.
Seems as though Pontiac has a pretty bright future afterall!
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Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 10,285
From: Albany, NY
Re: Pontiac badged Commodore to the US is 'go', and Torana being looked at!
Originally Posted by lil_mikey69
My god....if we get anything that looks similar to that SS-V...that could be my next car.