German Tuner/Builder 'Bitter' To Sell Modified Holden Statesman

[GM LS-X]

Originally Posted by HEVguy

So why doesn't Opel have a decent large sedan anymore... Is it market demand doesn't require it? Or is it a gap they need to fill? If it is the latter, then why not bring the statemen production to the EU as an Opel?

I allready told you when the Commodore came out and I'll do it again:
Opel likes to be "Green" and a large V8 sedan doesn't fit this Image.

[asim]

Lmao...bitter is the tuner/builder's name. When I first read the title I thought it was talking how the tuner was bitter to sell these modified Statemans. I wonder if they do modified Commadores too, since we are going to get the G8 here in America.

[DanCBJMS1988]

Originally Posted by GM LS-X

I allready told you when the Commodore came out and I'll do it again:
Opel likes to be "Green" and a large V8 sedan doesn't fit this Image.

What if the V8 engine happened to be flexi-fuel?

[Zomsky]

GM Opel plan to base their next "big" car around the Epsillon II platform....
I suspect this is to protect their own interests, as Opel Germany has been awarded the homeroom for Epsillon (global Large FWD) just as Holden has been awarded Zeta.......

I assume they would prefer GM to pour investment dollars their direction.

A Torana size RWD platform, now there is something Opel can't ignore. Pull your finger out GM and let Holden Build it!

[DanCBJMS1988]

^ If that's true, then why is Vauxhall planning on importing Holden Commodores to the UK?

[rkuk2k]

To increase brand value and exposure, as they did with Monaro.. Everybody loved the Monaro (as well as VX220 infact). They were cars to help you forget the mid 90s disasters that were Vectra, Omega, Frontera etc for reliability and customer satisfaction..

Plus, Commodore is only coming here as a HSV version, can't remember which! Its basically the flagship of the brand to raise enthusiasm and target a customer base that would definitely not have looked at Vauxhall previously! I only hope there aren't massive discounts like there were for Monaros after a few years over here as this, whilst good for someone like me who wants a lot of car for little money is unacceptable to someone who has just invested £30k on a brand new niche car only for it to be work 50% in 1-2 years

[JoeT]

Holden V8 Bittersweet

Barry Park
20 February 2007
www.drive.com.au

The WM Caprice, Holden’s flagship long-wheelbase luxury sedan, could soon be sold in Europe. But it won’t be the Caprice as we know it.

Instead, it will be a reskinned, re-upholstered and retuned version of the Caprice sold as a Chevrolet Caprice Royale in Saudi Arabia.

The Caprice will be the second Australian car that Bitter Cars, a specialist modification workshop based in Dusseldorf, Germany, will use to create a niche model for sale in the European Union.

An attempt two years ago to turn the Monaro, sold in Britain as the Vauxhall GTO, into a low-volume collectible car (below) failed after Holden decided to pull the pin on the coupe, Bitter Cars founder Erich Bitter told Drive from Germany yesterday.

Click here to continue article

Holden WM Caprice

[Zomsky]

I think that having Aussie ex-pat Kevin Whale steer Vauxhall for some time before heading to China also helped Holden's cause in the UK.....
I can't wait to hear what Jeremy Clarkson thinks of the VE....

Has he driven one yet i wonder?

[rkuk2k]

Not yet