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Rebirth Of Cool - Holden Coupe 60
John Carey
8 April 2008
www.wheelsmag.com.au
Is Coupe 60 the next Monaro? Or is it destined to be stillborn; an opportunity missed? Here's the real story behind Holden's motor show stunner.
Applaud loud enough and long enough, and General Motors might – just might – consider a Monaro encore. GM Holden’s new chairman and managing director says so. Mark Reuss fast-tracked his move from Motown so he would be able to present the Melbourne motor show’s undisputed star, and best kept secret, the Coupe 60. A few days later, he’s explaining to Wheels what it would take for the two-door beauty to be put into production.
Reuss begins by asking if a car offering the traditional Holden proportions of the Monaro coupe is a money maker. These days, with half of Holden’s production exported, it’s important that the right mix of models is rolling off the company’s Elizabeth, South Australia, production line. “We want to make sure we’re doin’ the right global portfolio,” says Reuss.
“If the business [case] for something like this makes sense, then we’re gonna look at it,” Reuss promises. “If it doesn’t, it probably will live as one of the greatest concept cars ever done.”
Pressed for detail of exactly what it would take to construct a solid business case for production of the coupe, Reuss clams up. “I can’t really speculate on it,” he says, adding that all GM and Holden are interested in right now is gauging reaction to the car.
But then he helpfully itemises the unknowns that stand in the way of a straightforward response. “I can’t answer that because I don’t know exactly what it takes to engineer and tool it,” Reuss says. “[or] what export or import volumes we have, because I can’t answer where we’d make it. I’d love to be able to tell you it’s 60,000 units for the Australian home market and we’re home free, but that’s not reality.”
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John Carey
8 April 2008
www.wheelsmag.com.au
Is Coupe 60 the next Monaro? Or is it destined to be stillborn; an opportunity missed? Here's the real story behind Holden's motor show stunner.
Applaud loud enough and long enough, and General Motors might – just might – consider a Monaro encore. GM Holden’s new chairman and managing director says so. Mark Reuss fast-tracked his move from Motown so he would be able to present the Melbourne motor show’s undisputed star, and best kept secret, the Coupe 60. A few days later, he’s explaining to Wheels what it would take for the two-door beauty to be put into production.
Reuss begins by asking if a car offering the traditional Holden proportions of the Monaro coupe is a money maker. These days, with half of Holden’s production exported, it’s important that the right mix of models is rolling off the company’s Elizabeth, South Australia, production line. “We want to make sure we’re doin’ the right global portfolio,” says Reuss.
“If the business [case] for something like this makes sense, then we’re gonna look at it,” Reuss promises. “If it doesn’t, it probably will live as one of the greatest concept cars ever done.”
Pressed for detail of exactly what it would take to construct a solid business case for production of the coupe, Reuss clams up. “I can’t really speculate on it,” he says, adding that all GM and Holden are interested in right now is gauging reaction to the car.
But then he helpfully itemises the unknowns that stand in the way of a straightforward response. “I can’t answer that because I don’t know exactly what it takes to engineer and tool it,” Reuss says. “[or] what export or import volumes we have, because I can’t answer where we’d make it. I’d love to be able to tell you it’s 60,000 units for the Australian home market and we’re home free, but that’s not reality.”
Click here to continue article
MIMS: Monaro's Back! Holden Coupe 60 Unvealed!
New Holden Monaro Program Depends On Exports - New Pontiac GTO?
New Holden Monaro Program Depends On Exports - New Pontiac GTO?
