The cover says "EXCLUSIVE" "Reborn Grand Prix on RWD Zeta platform, powered by a 362hp 6.0L LS2, 6-speed auto or manual, based off the Holden Commodore SS-V

I just saw this new issue at Barnes & Noble, it looked like the real deal to me, but if not its a real slick photochop of a Holden. I only had time to skim through the article since it was late and they were getting ready to close. I almost picked up the issue, since it seemed to be out so early, but I promised myself sometime ago not to buy another issue until they changed.

Anybody else seen this, or got a scan of the cover?

 

I got the same mag today. It was more speculation than fact at this point.

 

 

Korea, China, and the middle east all get these cars, and GMNA is till sitting with their thumbs up their asses? Come on GM, the Commodore and Caprice are great looking sports sedans and would do great over here. I think they would have to bring them over though. Why else engineer the cars for either hand drive? Had to cost a pretty penny to do that.

 

As much as I would kill for a high performance rwd sedan for pontiac I must say that I'm praying the real car doesn't look exactly like that chop. That chop looks like a four door pursuit (G5) that's bee hanging out way too much at BALCO.

I can't wait to hear the stories from my father about people wanting to put deposits on the grand prix they saw on the cover of MT this month.

 

1. The car is a photo chop.
2. Not the Grand Prix, but the limited edition Pontiac I've been hinting at for months.

Why can't it be the Grand Prix, and why believe Motor Trend (a car magazine that SHOULD know better) got it wrong?

1. Holden DOES NOT have the capacity to produce a sufficent number of Grand Prixs for the US market. (the factory has a capacity of just under 200,000 annual, includes 160,000 for the Aussie, NZ, & middle east market.... Grand Prix is going to need at least 120,000 alone).

2. The CAW local at Oshawa has an exclusive agreement with the General Motors Corperation to make Grand Prixs at that plant. This agreement is binding as long as the plant is standing, and GM uses the Grand Prix name.

3. Part of the UAW & CAW contract or agreement is that anything made in North America stays in North America. GTO wasn't in production in North America and neither is the El Camino or Roadmaster, so they can be made anywhere. Monte Carlo, Grand Prix, or Lucerne is made here, so those names (or cars that directly replace them) have to be made either in Canada, the US, or Mexico (North America).

Again, automobile magazines that actually are written by people actually familiar with the subject they are writing about know this stuff. Writers that simply cruise the internet, and/or engage in spectulation without taking the effort to look behind the scenes don't.

I've had issues with a MT "Future Vehicle" editor before. I STILL don't believe he knows what he's doing.


GMH and GMNA zetas are different programs. Originally, they were the same, but the US program is better suited to US needs.

We'll probally get 2 Aussie Zetas, but don't expect anything until Fisherman's Bend gets their production ramped up and get initial demand under control. Then they'll have capacity to send some our way. Unfortunately, this will probally take place just before we get our locally produced models (we'll get Zetas from both places if plans turn into reality).

 

Hmm, that CAW agreement sounds very familer, we've been there and done that about 4 years ago.

You can add the editor-in-chief to the list of people who don't know what there are doing at MT, the guy is completely clueless in the automotive world. Soon after he took over the magazine is when it started going down hill, and the reason why I don't buy or have a subscription anymore.

 

So why not build it in Canada along with Camaro, Impala, GTO, and what not?

 

I hope its called G8..and not GTO

 

What Guy said, plus there is something different in the pipeline as far as G8 goes.

 

sad thing is I been so caught up in the Camaro stuff I had no idea hes been hinting at a special Pontiac..umm pm me if you want, just curious and not sure where to look for the hints..so just wondering what it is.

 

I wish MT would quit doing these speculation articles. They wasted a lot of space several issues ago with a Mustang versus Camaro comparison.

 

MT is written for guys still popping zits .

 

They have some good articles, but the future vehicle stuff is very weak. I recall looking at the estimated acceleration numbers in that Camaro v. Mustang article and needing lots of salt before continuing.

Why not just have an article on the new Aussie cars and mention that a lot of that good stuff would be coming here? Btw, did anyone else notice that the current MT editor used to work for Wheels?

 

Read: Watered down and cheaper to produce.