Bob Lutz Says VE Is “A Magic Vehicle”, Pontiac Deal Under Way

**JoeT** · 08-08-2006, 02:44 AM

Lutz Approves

Bruce Newton
8 August 2006
www.drive.com.au

Holden’s $1 billion VE Commodore now has a fan at the very top of parent General Motors, Vice Chairman Bob Lutz describing it as “a magic vehicle” after his first drive of the SS-V sports sedan flagship.

Lutz's comments weren't made in a sanitised press release, but in an email sent to Holden managing director Denny Mooney after he sampled a production version of the new VE 6.0-litre V8 at GM's Milford proving ground outside Detroit.

The support of Lutz, who heads up GM's global vehicle development program, is a crucial win for Holden, which is negotiating to export a high performance version of VE to the USA as a Pontiac as early as 2008.

"I thought the car was an extreme pleasure to drive," Lutz wrote. "Compliant, yet very, very responsive. Excellent steering feel and weight, very neutral handling, with neither limit understeer nor limit oversteer in evidence. This car redefines "neutral".

"It seems never to be caught off balance, no matter what the driver does in terms of messing up the entry to the corner. The car seems to say 'I've never seen it done this way before, but, OK, I can handle it!'.

"It's a magic vehicle.

"And I also congratulate GMH on the interior gloss and grain, as well as switch gear feel and quality. We've improved a lot in the US, but this is still way, way better."

Lutz's high praise will be greeted jubilantly within Holden. The VE is very much its own design rather than an adapted European or US platform.

The core rear-wheel drive architecture developed by Holden will underpin a variety of vehicles to be manufactured in Australia, Asia and the USA.

It is expected a reborn Chevrolet Camaro sports coupe based on the Aussie-developed underpinnings will be confirmed soon for production in the North America.

But Mooney is also chasing completely built-up export from Australia to the USA to supplement existing deals that will see VE variations go to the Middle East, China, Korea, Brazil, the UK, South Africa and New Zealand.

Holden did have an export deal to the USA, the Monaro selling there as a reborn Pontiac GTO. That deal is now defunct, but as first reported by drive.com.au several weeks ago, Mooney is back in negotiations with Pontiac.

While he first publicly talked about SS-V replacing the ageing Pontiac Grand Prix front-wheel drive sedan, Mooney's sights have moved upmarket after further negotiations in the USA in the last 10 days with the brand's general manager John Larson.

That's because Holden would have the capacity to supply no more than 20,000 cars per year from its Elizabeth assembly plant. That's a drop in the sales bucket for a mainstream car in the USA.

So with such constrained ability to supply and a $20 million bill to legalise VE for US highways Mooney wants to sell Pontiac a more upmarket car. This dovetails neatly with the brand's stated ambition to sell only rear-wheel drive vehicles down the track.

"My thinking is you do an SS or even an HSV - a high margin, low volume car image car. Kick ass, high performance, high content. You are not trying to do big volume but it is a great image car.

"This is an image car, a retail car, great car.

"So the volume won't be high by their standards, but it's enough demand from my standpoint. If we can be at 2008, 2009, 2010 when the car here is three, four years old, is starting to decay on our local volume and we had that extra demand… it helps keep the plant running at 100 per cent utilisation, which is what I want.

"There is no question when I look at our plant capacity and then look at demand two, three, four years down the road that I would love to have one more good-sized export program to guarantee we have more demand than supply," Mooney said.

New VE Commodore SS could be USA bound soon

MrMax · 08-08-2006, 02:57 AM

Great news. I can't wait.

Carman14 · 08-08-2006, 03:05 AM

Oh great, more low volume, high priced cars! How about building the thing in America and selling a bunch of them at decent prices?

TahoeMikeZ71 · 08-08-2006, 03:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Carman14

Oh great, more low volume, high priced cars! How about building the thing in America and selling a bunch of them at decent prices?

We don't even know the prices yet. This thing would be great as a Pontiac I think.

mikmak · 08-08-2006, 03:27 AM

Funny that Gm said no thanks a few years ago. I think the HSV idea is good but imagine HSV trying to supply 20000/year + local demand! More factories please!

demonv8 · 08-08-2006, 03:44 AM

A 4 door RWD performance sedan...could work...

ZvetteGuy · 08-08-2006, 03:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoeT

Lutz Approves

"And I also congratulate GMH on the interior gloss and grain, as well as switch gear feel and quality. We've improved a lot in the US, but this is still way, way better."

It is expected a reborn Chevrolet Camaro sports coupe based on the Aussie-developed underpinnings will be confirmed soon for production in the North America.

I just love the offerings that Holden has... and, their styling is awesome... the interior... simply stunning... the new body style and powertrains.... simply the best... bring it over to the States and make sure that the image is something to brag about if it comes out as a Ponti or the Chevy.... we need it....

GO GM!!! Bring it on..... Bring it HERE!!!

powervette · 08-08-2006, 04:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoeT

But Mooney is also chasing completely built-up export from Australia to the USA to supplement existing deals that will see VE variations go to the Middle East, China, Korea, Brazil, the UK, South Africa and New Zealand.

wtf?
No Europe?
I would love to see this being sold as Chevy (just like the Chevrolets in the Middle East)

Puckman27 · 08-08-2006, 05:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TAHOE LT

We don't even know the prices yet. This thing would be great as a Pontiac I think.

Any Holden would make a great Pontiac here. GM should do the same thing w/ these 2 divisions as they are doing w/ Saturn/Opel/Vauxall right now.

Aych Es Vee · 08-08-2006, 05:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by powervette

wtf?
No Europe?
I would love to see this being sold as Chevy (just like the Chevrolets in the Middle East)

last time Holden tried to get Opel to sell the Monaro, Opel said to Holden that they dont want to sell large V8 sedans/Coupes or something like that

sigma · 08-08-2006, 05:39 AM

Please god, bring that car over here. 20,000 units priced correctly (and provided they don't stick it with a legendary name badge) will do fantastic overhere.

1) It's a guarenteed sell-out. They will move every car they make provided the dealers don't get greedy (and GM should lean on them to make sure that doesn't happen. Dealers should have to sign a deal promising not to sell it for more than say 10% above MSRP).
2) A huge image boost for Pontiac in the sports car world. They have nothing credible that will be in production next year except the Solstice. This changes the equation.
3) It will help staff and mechs here in the US become familiar with Zeta before the show goes live, so to speak. Think of it as beta testing the platform for North Americe.

There really are no downsides to this.

**JoeT** · 08-08-2006, 06:33 AM

How about 'Pontiac SS' - Works for me.

_GTO_ · 08-08-2006, 06:36 AM

IT LOOKS VERY Similer

good to bo pontiac again

kenman923 · 08-08-2006, 06:46 AM

I love the look of the next G8.

**JoeT** · 08-08-2006, 07:33 AM

A new spy pic of the 'Pontiac SS'

08-08-2006, 02:44 AM	#1 (permalink)
JoeT GMI's Holden Moderator Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Wollongong, Australia Drives: 2003 Holden Monaro CV8 Posts: 4,854	Bob Lutz Says VE Is “A Magic Vehicle”, Pontiac Deal Under Way Lutz Approves Bruce Newton 8 August 2006 www.drive.com.au Holden’s $1 billion VE Commodore now has a fan at the very top of parent General Motors, Vice Chairman Bob Lutz describing it as “a magic vehicle” after his first drive of the SS-V sports sedan flagship. Lutz's comments weren't made in a sanitised press release, but in an email sent to Holden managing director Denny Mooney after he sampled a production version of the new VE 6.0-litre V8 at GM's Milford proving ground outside Detroit. The support of Lutz, who heads up GM's global vehicle development program, is a crucial win for Holden, which is negotiating to export a high performance version of VE to the USA as a Pontiac as early as 2008. "I thought the car was an extreme pleasure to drive," Lutz wrote. "Compliant, yet very, very responsive. Excellent steering feel and weight, very neutral handling, with neither limit understeer nor limit oversteer in evidence. This car redefines "neutral". "It seems never to be caught off balance, no matter what the driver does in terms of messing up the entry to the corner. The car seems to say 'I've never seen it done this way before, but, OK, I can handle it!'. "It's a magic vehicle. "And I also congratulate GMH on the interior gloss and grain, as well as switch gear feel and quality. We've improved a lot in the US, but this is still way, way better." Lutz's high praise will be greeted jubilantly within Holden. The VE is very much its own design rather than an adapted European or US platform. The core rear-wheel drive architecture developed by Holden will underpin a variety of vehicles to be manufactured in Australia, Asia and the USA. It is expected a reborn Chevrolet Camaro sports coupe based on the Aussie-developed underpinnings will be confirmed soon for production in the North America. But Mooney is also chasing completely built-up export from Australia to the USA to supplement existing deals that will see VE variations go to the Middle East, China, Korea, Brazil, the UK, South Africa and New Zealand. Holden did have an export deal to the USA, the Monaro selling there as a reborn Pontiac GTO. That deal is now defunct, but as first reported by drive.com.au several weeks ago, Mooney is back in negotiations with Pontiac. While he first publicly talked about SS-V replacing the ageing Pontiac Grand Prix front-wheel drive sedan, Mooney's sights have moved upmarket after further negotiations in the USA in the last 10 days with the brand's general manager John Larson. That's because Holden would have the capacity to supply no more than 20,000 cars per year from its Elizabeth assembly plant. That's a drop in the sales bucket for a mainstream car in the USA. So with such constrained ability to supply and a $20 million bill to legalise VE for US highways Mooney wants to sell Pontiac a more upmarket car. This dovetails neatly with the brand's stated ambition to sell only rear-wheel drive vehicles down the track. "My thinking is you do an SS or even an HSV - a high margin, low volume car image car. Kick ass, high performance, high content. You are not trying to do big volume but it is a great image car. "This is an image car, a retail car, great car. "So the volume won't be high by their standards, but it's enough demand from my standpoint. If we can be at 2008, 2009, 2010 when the car here is three, four years old, is starting to decay on our local volume and we had that extra demand… it helps keep the plant running at 100 per cent utilisation, which is what I want. "There is no question when I look at our plant capacity and then look at demand two, three, four years down the road that I would love to have one more good-sized export program to guarantee we have more demand than supply," Mooney said. New VE Commodore SS could be USA bound soon

08-08-2006, 02:57 AM	#2 (permalink)
MrMax 3.9 Liter V6 Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 766	Re: Bob Lutz Says VE Is “A Magic Vehicle”, Pontiac Deal Under Way Great news. I can't wait. __________________

08-08-2006, 03:05 AM	#3 (permalink)
Carman14 2.5L Iron Duke Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 19	Re: Bob Lutz Says VE Is “A Magic Vehicle”, Pontiac Deal Under Way Oh great, more low volume, high priced cars! How about building the thing in America and selling a bunch of them at decent prices?

08-08-2006, 03:27 AM	#5 (permalink)
mikmak 7.0 Liter LS7 V8 Join Date: May 2005 Location: Pacific Paradise, Australia Drives: VZ Wagon and JSII sedan Posts: 8,033	Re: Bob Lutz Says VE Is “A Magic Vehicle”, Pontiac Deal Under Way Funny that Gm said no thanks a few years ago. I think the HSV idea is good but imagine HSV trying to supply 20000/year + local demand! More factories please! __________________ You start a conversation you cant even finish it. You're talkin a lot, but you're not sayin anything. When I have nothing to say, my lips are sealed. Say something once, why say it again?

08-08-2006, 03:44 AM	#6 (permalink)
demonv8 3.8 Liter V6 Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Down Under Drives: LS1 SS Commodore Posts: 459	Re: Bob Lutz Says VE Is “A Magic Vehicle”, Pontiac Deal Under Way A 4 door RWD performance sedan...could work... __________________ 2002 VX SS Commodore 5.7Ltr. Tuned to 400bhp!

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08-08-2006, 05:39 AM	#11 (permalink)
sigma 6.2 Liter Vortec V8 Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: In the Galactica CIC Drives: 2005 Chevy Malibu Posts: 2,559	Re: Bob Lutz Says VE Is “A Magic Vehicle”, Pontiac Deal Under Way Please god, bring that car over here. 20,000 units priced correctly (and provided they don't stick it with a legendary name badge) will do fantastic overhere. 1) It's a guarenteed sell-out. They will move every car they make provided the dealers don't get greedy (and GM should lean on them to make sure that doesn't happen. Dealers should have to sign a deal promising not to sell it for more than say 10% above MSRP). 2) A huge image boost for Pontiac in the sports car world. They have nothing credible that will be in production next year except the Solstice. This changes the equation. 3) It will help staff and mechs here in the US become familiar with Zeta before the show goes live, so to speak. Think of it as beta testing the platform for North Americe. There really are no downsides to this. __________________ "The best committee is the committee of one" -Bob Lutz

08-08-2006, 06:33 AM	#12 (permalink)
JoeT GMI's Holden Moderator Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Wollongong, Australia Drives: 2003 Holden Monaro CV8 Posts: 4,854	Re: Bob Lutz Says VE Is “A Magic Vehicle”, Pontiac Deal Under Way How about 'Pontiac SS' - Works for me. __________________

08-08-2006, 06:36 AM	#13 (permalink)
_GTO_ Walking Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 11	Re: Bob Lutz Says VE Is “A Magic Vehicle”, Pontiac Deal Under Way IT LOOKS VERY Similer good to bo pontiac again

08-08-2006, 06:46 AM	#14 (permalink)
kenman923 6.2 Liter Vortec V8 Join Date: Feb 2005 Drives: 2009 Acura TSX Posts: 2,632	Re: Bob Lutz Says VE Is “A Magic Vehicle”, Pontiac Deal Under Way I love the look of the next G8. __________________ Current: 2009 Acura TSX Gone but not forgotten: 2001 Saturn L300 1993 Saturn SL2 1986 Nissan Sentra

08-08-2006, 07:33 AM	#15 (permalink)
JoeT GMI's Holden Moderator Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Wollongong, Australia Drives: 2003 Holden Monaro CV8 Posts: 4,854	Re: Bob Lutz Says VE Is “A Magic Vehicle”, Pontiac Deal Under Way A new spy pic of the 'Pontiac SS' __________________

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