Pontiac's Glimmering Star of Hope... No, It's Not the Solstice

"Grand Prix- by Holden

GM's Australian outpost wants to follow up the GTO with a sedan


Keeping to the tire tracks of the Pontiac GTO, General Motors's Australian outpost wants to export its new rear-drive V-8 sport sedan to the U.S. as the next Pontiac Grand Prix.

GM's Australian division, Holden, launched its all-new Commodore in July, the first vehicle based on GM's rear-drive Zeta architecture to go into production. The Commodore has been Australia's biggest-selling car for the last decade, but Holden is increasingly relying on exports to ensure that local production of its large sedan remains viable.

The car Holden proposes as the next Grand Prix is based on the new Holden Commodore SS-V, which is powered by GM's new 6.0-liter Vortec V-8 with 362 horses and 390 pound-feet of torque, available with six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmissions and running on 19-inch wheels. Holden shipped a Commodore SS-V, the performance flagship of the new Holden range, to Detroit for a strategy board meeting with high-level GM executives in early August.

The American boss of Holden, Denny Mooney, told Australian media at the launch of the new Commodore that Holden could help with GM's plans to take Pontiac all rear-drive. "I think if you talk to anyone at Pontiac, he'd tell you he'd love a rear-drive performance Grand Prix. The SS-V would make a great Pontiac. But I'm not going to oversell this thing. We're going to send these cars over there and let them speak for themselves.

The SS-V will be driven by GM chairman Rick Wagoner and global product chief Bob Lutz, among others. They also will drive a luxury, long-wheelbase version of the Commodore, sold as a Holden Caprice in Australia. Holden had planned to export the new Caprice to the U.S. as a Buick (the design and engineering were finalized more than a year ago), but those plans were scrapped when GM focused its energy toward a new range of SUVs in North America.

Holden hasn't given up hope of exporting the Holden Caprice to the U.S., but if may now not be sold as a Buick. In Australia, the Caprice, which rolls on a 118.5-inch wheelbase--some 4.0 inches longer than the standard Commodore--is available with a 261-horse version of the 3.6-liter high-feature V-6 as well as the 362-horse V-8. Standard transmission is GM's new 6L80E six-speed automatic, also used in the Cadillac STS and C6 Corvette." -Joshua Dowling

Source: "MOTOR TREND", October 2006

Also... in my own words:

Holden Caprice is sold as the Buick LaCrosse in China, if anyone wants to know. It would be a formidable luxury sedan when equipped with the V-8.

The normal Holden Commodore, which is basically a better-looking, RWD Grand Prix, is sold with either a 241-horsepower or 261-horsepower 3.6 liter V-6, as well as the 6.0-liter V-8 in the SS-V the article features. It's engineered for both right and left-hand drive, so it would be able to be exported to the U.S. with left-hand drive for as little as $15,000,000 going into the project.

I, for one, advise GM to seriously consider it!

opus - 8/24/2006 4:56:20 PM

+3 Boost

Yeah, and the GTO went over so well, let's do it again!! The problem is currency fluctuation!! When originally conceived, the GTO was going to be a high content $24,000-$28,000 performance coupe. Then the Australian dollar went through the roof and it became a $33,000 car. At $25,000 the GTO would have sold, but at $33,000 it sat on the lot. Same goes for these vehicles. People do not think Pontiac when you go north of $30,000. By the way, I have a 2004 GTO, but it was a damn near giveaway lease deal that got me into it.

wwww - 8/24/2006 10:19:13 PM

+1 Boost

they should have marketed the GTO (sedan and sport coupe) as a grand prix instead of making separate designs before. It will bring the brand together better. I guess GM execs aren't very bright.

mstangpny07 - 8/24/2006 11:22:18 PM

+1 Boost

I LOVE how the only Grand Prix I see are sitting at rental car lots. Just look at the interior to refresh your memory.

mstangpny07 - 8/25/2006 12:27:07 AM

+1 Boost

Why didn't you just get the article online and then copy?
Was it up?

keyzi747 - 8/25/2006 1:15:21 AM

+1 Boost

I am and have been a Pontiac enthusiast for years, and if this is supposed to be the new Grand Prix, I will be buying a new BMW for certain! Given a clean- sheet for a new design, this is the best they can do? Come on, this design is absolutely bland at best.

LenV - 8/29/2006 12:47:19 AM

+1 Boost

Just go to the web site at www.holden.com.au & www.ford.com.au see for your self. I test drove the base model Omega last Saturday, and is a terrific car for its price. G'day from down under.
LenV