New Holden Monaro Program Depends On Exports - New Pontiac GTO?

[JoeT]

Holden's MkIII Monaro Depends On Exports

James Stanford
6 March 2008
www.goauto.com.au

The prospects of a Holden Monaro entering a new generation via the awesome Coupe 60 concept now rests on the Australian manufacturer securing an export deal.

GM Holden’s new managing director Mark Reuss told GoAuto at the Melbourne International Motor Show last week that if the Coupe 60 was to be put into production, a substantial amount of its projected sales volumes would have to come from overseas.

“It would need to have a healthy export volume somewhere; I mean, 50 per cent of our volume right now is export,” Mr Reuss said.

“To keep the business viable and to keep Holden sustained with manufacturing, we want to export, that is part of it.”

Holden will have its first chance to gather support for a Coupe 60 project at a General Motors internal conference in Orlando, US, next month, where the vehicle’s future as a new member of the Pontiac stable will be high on the agenda.

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MIMS: Monaro's Back! Holden Coupe 60 Unvealed!
Holden Coupe 60 To Become A Pontiac?

Monaro's Back! Holden Coupe 60 (above) and
with Pontiac G8 styling (below) by camaro_freak

[Xeper]

I hope they are able to make a business case with it. The design alone is eye catching... Im sure its not that big of a deal to create a two door of an existing vehicle versus a new one all together (Camaro).

Anyone else notice it has no B pillar?

[377Z]

Based on how most Pontiac dealers handled the GTO, maybe this should go to another division, like Buick. Maybe then they could also kill two birds with one stone and actually sell it with some content in the US, unlike with the GTO where most of the cool features were not available here. I do believe it could sustain a higher transaction price as a Buick vs. a Pontiac. I

NOT in the vein of a GN barn burner, but perhaps as a Riviera--a well appointed luxury coupe.

Either way, wake me up when its in a showroom (I'm sure that'l be no sooner than 3-4 years if ever).

[HoosierRon]

Let's all go to Orlando.

[tamatt27]

Originally Posted by HoosierRon

Let's all go to Orlando.

I agree. As much as I love the idea of the 2-door coupe coming back to Pontiac, I just think the Coupe 60 is very ill-proportioned.

[milton112c]

Originally Posted by HoosierRon

Let's all go to Orlando.

Im down.

[ZvetteGuy]

The Monaro is just so sweet looking... it looks like a total challenge to the highly praised BMW M5 and New M6... I am totally loving it... if it would come here via the GTO... I think that it would do well... but, considering the high cost of oil... it may not sell as well as it could (unless you stuck a 4 cylinder with hybrid technology and electric motor assists on every wheel

Anyhow, plainly said... I LOVE IT..

[nascarnate326]

If GM could get it into their heads its not a volume car, and monitor dealers I think it could work. Kind of like the plymoth prowler, very low numbers.

[skylark68]

Pontiac or Buick would be a good choice for this one. It makes a lot of sense as a G8 coupe.

Of course, knowing the way things are, GM will give it to Saturn.

[Jedi]

Keep the pontiac version and give me the Holden!

[Rick_VT]

Why does it have to be a GTO if it goes to Pontiac, why saddle it with so much expectation like the last one, just let them make up a new name for it and let it start from scratch, if its not a GTO then they could also sell it with a 3.6DI motor and maybe turbo version to in it to help keep costs down instead of having to put a huge V8 which everyone would expect if it was a GTO.

The Buick option would also be good to cause of the potential to seel at higher cost and more profit but that would also potentionally lessen amount of sales compared to a cheaper Pontiac version.

I just hope to hell they make it

[NoNameDenton]

Originally Posted by Rick_VT

Why does it have to be a GTO if it goes to Pontiac, why saddle it with so much expectation like the last one, just let them make up a new name for it and let it start from scratch, if its not a GTO then they could also sell it with a 3.6DI motor and maybe turbo version to in it to help keep costs down instead of having to put a huge V8 which everyone would expect if it was a GTO.

The Buick option would also be good to cause of the potential to seel at higher cost and more profit but that would also potentionally lessen amount of sales compared to a cheaper Pontiac version.

I just hope to hell they make it

I agree with this, and the turbo and DI motors would have good milage and bring Pontiacs fleet fuel economy up

[Skank Boy]

The GTO moniker wouldn't be a good match for this car in its current form (I still feel the design is way 2 tame) . If GM were to Americanize it more then I could see the name sticking,but if the car ends up with just a front end treatment like the G8 and G8ST then G8 coupe (or something similar) would be better suited in this particular situation.......(just my 2 cents).

[nascarnate326]

Originally Posted by NoNameDenton

I agree with this, and the turbo and DI motors would have good milage and bring Pontiacs fleet fuel economy up

I agree with that too, I just hope it has a name and not G#.

[atomicshark]

Originally Posted by 377Z

Based on how most Pontiac dealers handled the GTO, maybe this should go to another division, like Buick. Maybe then they could also kill two birds with one stone and actually sell it with some content in the US, unlike with the GTO where most of the cool features were not available here. I do believe it could sustain a higher transaction price as a Buick vs. a Pontiac. I

NOT in the vein of a GN barn burner, but perhaps as a Riviera--a well appointed luxury coupe.

Either way, wake me up when its in a showroom (I'm sure that'l be no sooner than 3-4 years if ever).

Although I understand your sentiment, I must point out that most Buick dealers are also Pontiac dealers. Therefore, the handling of a new Monaro based Buick will be very similar to the way the 04-06 GTO was handled.