GMI Exclusive: Holden Ute May Head For The US, But It Won't Be A Chevrolet, Says Lutz

[JoeT]

GMI Exclusive: El Camino Rebirth Dead - Pontiac or GMC Ute?

JoeT & MonaroSS
25 August 2007
www.gminsidenews.com

Hope's of a new generation El Camino appear to be dead, according to Bob Lutz.

GM's Vice Chairman of Product Development and Chairman of GM North America broke the news in an email response to GMInsideNews member MonaroSS.

MonaroSS, a photoshop enthusiast, produced a picture of what he thinks a Chevrolet El Camino badged Holden Ute could look like and sent it by e-mail to Mr Lutz with the comment "Hope the new Ute gets a more Chevy look if it goes Stateside."

Mr Lutz, a well known fan of all things Holden, responded by saying "Well, that's what we want to do, but it won't be a Chevrolet!"

This comes just three days after the unveiling of the all-new Holden Ute (Click here to see more). The new Ute is the third Holden product to be based on GM's Zeta/VE platform after the release of the new Holden Commodore and Statesman/Caprice range late last year.

There has been speculation that the Holden Ute would be exported to North America as a revived Chevrolet El Camino for some years. Like the Holden Ute, which has been in production since 1951, the Coupe-Utility El Camino was produced for the North American market for just under 30 years from 1959.

Speculation will now turn to which other GM brands the Holden Ute may be badged under in the US.

Pontiac, the brand that sold the last generation Holden Monaro Coupe in the US as the legendary GTO, and truck brand GMC would have to be the frontrunners.

MonaroSS broke the news in March this year that despite strong rumors Holden was not producing a V12 for a super-luxury Cadillac supercar after similar e-mail correspondence with Mr Lutz (Click here to see more).



VE Ute Confirmed For US, But Not As A Chev

Byron Mathioudakis & Marton Pettendy
29 August 2007
www.goauto.com.au

Holden has confirmed that its all-new VE Ute is ready for export to left-hand drive markets, including the United States, but General Motors' global product chief Bob Lutz has quashed hopes it could become the latter-day replacement for the Chevrolet El Camino.

According to gminsidenews.com, in response to a member's emailed suggestion that the Ute should adopt more of a Chevrolet look if it is sold in the US, GM's global vice-chairman of product development and GM North America chairman Bob Lutz said: "Well, that's what we want to do, but it won't be a Chevrolet."

An announcement is due within the next 12 months and the latest betting is the VE Ute will carry either Pontiac or GMC badges in the US, in an arrangement that would see the VE Ute follow the VE sedan on sale in the US.

In an unpreceded export deal, up to 50,000 modified VE Commodore SS sedans will be sold in the US annually as the 2008 Pontiac G8 sedan from early next year.

Holden revealed with great fanfare its first G8 prototype in June, and GoAuto reader Jesse White has snapped what appears to be a near-final production version of the Holden-built G8 - the first example of the Holden-designed global rear-wheel drive large-car architecture (dubbed Zeta) to be exported outside Australia - on Melbourne roads wearing a Pontiac grille and spoiler, but with 17-inch Holden wheels.

Click here to continue article

All New Holden Ute Is Here!
Chevrolet El Camino Could Return For 2011
Chevrolet El Camino/Holden Ute Rumor: The REAL Cars Are Coming Back!!
New Holden Ute Set For September Debut? US Exports?

The Chevrolet El Camino photoshop MonaroSS sent to Bob Lutz (above),
a Pontiac G8 Ute photoshop by Aych Es Vee (below)
and a GMC Ute photshop by Diesel/_ (bottom)

[TahoeMikeZ71]

I bet it's going to be a Pontiac.

[Ming]

Wow. Does this mean that to strengthen the image of Pontiac and what it stands for that Pontiac=Holden in the same way that Saturn=Opel? If so, I would be fully behind that.

Or are we looking at a GMC Sprint? Obscure? Maybe, but it would have some history behind it, unlike a Pontiac. It would be something to further differentiate GMC from Chevrolet --- AND something that allows BPG dealers to have parts for and experience with working on their Holden-sourced G8's and Sprints on hand in the Service Center? I mean, it has to be better than having a unique car with unique quirks that the Chevy techs have to learn at Chevy dealerships. Keeping the Commodore-based cars in BPG dealerships would seem to make sense from that angle.

Make it a Holden trio at BPG with the Buick Park Avenue!

[Phoenix]

GMC Caballero

[Ming]

Originally Posted by Phoenix

GMC Caballero

Ah, an appeal to the Latino market? Lowrider Utes? Someone with photoshopping skills want to add that DIABLO hood decal?

[Porkfriedrice]

Well i dont know about you but the majority of americans might no think truckcars (utes) are sporty instead of rugged. And a car for a GMC might hurt the image. so. yeah. nobrainer. at least the Camino still has cache with a lot of buyers.

[JBsZ06]

Looks like a cool ride but its never going to be a big seller.

People want 4 seats these days...unless its a sports car.

JMO

[xPUMPx]

this one actually should be a chevy lol
exclusive to that brand too

[Phoenix]

Originally Posted by Ming

Ah, an appeal to the Latino market? Lowrider Utes?

Yeah, maybe Sprint would be a better name. We would have rednecks pronouncing the L.

I don't see why they don't just slap a Mid-east Lumina front clip on it and send it over as El Camino. That would be the cheapest and fastest route.

[Dagan81]

What a dumbass! This is another chance to further link Chevy with its glorious past, and he's screwing it up!

[Kennyboy]

It looks that GM is finality using economies of scale, rather then regional development. Holden-Pontiac, Saturn-Opel, Chinese Buick-American Buick, Daewoo-Some Chevys.

[EllwynX]

Pontiac should be RWD CARS only. No SUV's, no whatever-you-call the El Camino/Ute that's essentially a car based truck.

With the popularity of Double Cab trucks, would anyone really opt for what is basically a low riding single cab truck? How many single cab trucks to you see on the roads nowadays? Not many here.

[KUZCO]

[quote=Phoenix]GMC Caballero[p


exactly chevy doesnt have to get everything throw gmc a bone

[Kappa]

Id say bring it over as the GMC Sprint, but also bring the one-ton and crewman models to. Although I am surprised Chevy is not getting the ute, but atleast one of my fave long awaited models is finally coming to the states.

I have only one question for GM, what took so long?

[Gm786]

I have a gut feeling that it's going to be a Pontiac.