Quoted from Streetfire -

Hi Folks. There has been plenty of threads on the new GM models here at Streetfire and I look forward to seeing them as they start getting released or at least spied by fellow members.

Well I have some updates from Aus. Lutzy claims the new global 'Holden' RWD Zeta platform will be revealed in Pontiac form at the February Chicago auto show. Heres a com-gen from Wheels mag below. The Pontiac Grand-prix? Very close to the SS Commodore, but I won't be surprised if it looks this similar. With GM trying to be profitable in the current global auto climate, and as the shape and dynamics of the new car are so good, America would be stupid not to use our panels for one of the upcoming cars along with the chassis. GM can make a lot of money off the Zeta.

Some of the traditional guys who hate the whole idea of sharing designs around the world have to realise that if GM don't take advantage of this rear wheel platform none of these cars will be possible, Economically.

There is a VE SS Commodore in Detroit and the GM guys love it. America will have a lot of Holden & Australian imput in most of the new cars. Remember, Michael Simco, the guy who first penned the first VE concept picks is now head of design in Detroit. There are alot of GM guys doing some great things around the world at the moment and alot of them have a Holden history.

The new Chevy Camaro, Comaro convertible, as well as the Impala will all be based on the same platform and the bulk of the engineering work is being done by Holden. Bob Lutz, GM'* product chief, says the new Pontiac GTO
will not be part of the Chicago announcements, but I read Wheels zine while coming back from Sydney tonight and Bob said that now that this is such a global architecture, the next Monaro may come from the States.

So you Detroit guys will be seeing Holden type cars in the future and Australia'* cult muscle car may be based on the next American GTO. And built in the States! So first pics of the next Monaro and GTO will probably be in the Detroit area, BUT does this mean first pics of some of Americas upcoming cars will first be spotted here in Australia? Holden has a great VR 3D design studio so they may do virtual design and just send the files across the Pacific to GM HQ. Confirmation of the GTO/Monaro plan may still be 12 months away.

Other Holden global news is that the WM models so popular in the Middle East in Chevy Statesman & Caprice get up will be manufactured in China and sold as the Buick Royaum (Holden exported the last model Statesmans to China). These models will also be sold in Korea as Daewoos in the future. A Calais is being sent to Europe also but no export deals have been made. GM is also seriously looking at the 3-series sized rwd 'Torana' concept architecture first reveiled several years ago looking like a shortened commodore. Lutz says it is unlikely to be a shortened Zeta platform and may not even be Holden managed.

So those who have a bad taste in their mouth because your muscle cars have foreign input(as well as seeing Corvette engines getting around as family cars overseas), well we Aussies may suffer the same thing with the Monaro, & Holden has just started selling the Hummer 3 over here. But hey, good on GM. Dreams are coming true, maybe not the way we all thought but the other option is the death of many legends. Ford Australia will try the same thing but I feel they are behind the 8ball and don't have the export experience that Holden has but they will try.

http://forums.streetfire.net/attachm...id=15444&stc=1

http://forums.streetfire.net/attachm...id=15445&stc=1

old news

..but the editorial is dead on. Right now, Australia is the only country out there turning out cars that meet our traditional view of a muscle-car.

not a fan of what the rear looks like but what can I say the front is good enough to look at and the only ppl looking at the taillights will be the fords and the civics we have here