As far as the Ute, I think it should be given to Chevy or GMC or it should stay in Australia. This kind of vehicle has a very limited customer base (mostly enthusiasts) and should be offered as a limited edition product at one of the divisions that originally sold trucklets (I think it would improve this product’s sales performance with people who fondly remember vintage El Caminos or Caballeros). Pontiac was never one of those divisions and shouldn’t be now. If Mr. Lutz wants to use Holden as a source for U.S. products, that’s fine. I just wish he wouldn’t use this arrangement to stuff inappropriate products into Pontiac’s lineup. The G8 sedan (and the wagon to a lesser extent) fits Pontiac’s affordable performance “car” image, I don’t think the Ute fits this image.

I would love to see the Zeta platform utilized to create a rear wheel drive coupe and convertible for Pontiac. GM is giving the Camaro back to Chevy. Why can’t GM give its affordable performance car division this kind of brand appropriate product in the form of a new generation Firebire or GTO (although I would want to see it receive its own unique design; not a Camaro with Pontiac badging)? I think the recent GTO’s failure in the U.S. was brought about by inferior, lackluster styling (people were not getting anything that looked special for the price). If a new version was executed properly, I think it would be a successful, attention generating vehicle for Pontiac.

I do wish GM would develop a concrete product strategy for Pontiac and stick to it. It appears as though they are just throwing products at Pontiac to see what will stick. This kind of hit and miss product planning will never create a clear, defining vision of Pontiac with the buying public. I thought giving Pontiac, GMC, and Buick distinct, focused brand images (and corresponding products) was the reason for their consolidation into one dealer network?

As far as rebadging, I always thought that when you took one division’s product and slapped a different division’s badge on the product, it was considered rebadging (even if the products are not offered in the same area). To me, the Pontiac G8 and the Middle Eastern Chevy Lumina are rebadged Holden Commodores, although they are not sold in the same part of the world.

I would have looked hard at the Commodore-based wagon as a replacement for our aging Volvo V70. I want another wagon, but not another Volvo, and I dearly want to buy something from an American carmaker, but they pretend this segment doesn’t exist and it’s stupid. (No, I don’t want a Ford Flux or Ford Eurge, etc.; I want a goddamn station wagon.)

I’ve said for a while that the ideal car to me would be a Toyota Avalon station wagon. Unless Caddy launches a CTS wagon, I guess I’ll look at the ‘09 Toyota Venza.

The Commodore VE Sportwagon. There is a picture of it next to boring in the dictionary. It is the answer to a question that nobody asked. Several months ago, Lutz told us that Pontiac would be the sports sedan brand. A G8 sportswagon would not have been a sportswagon. That it will not be imported is a good thing.

The Pontiac G8 Ute. Are you kidding me? Is this a sports sedan? I don’t think so. Chevrolet and GMC sell a large number of light trucks at lower price and higher profit than the G8 Ute. From a business perspective alone, this is a dumb idea. The US car-based pickup market was born in 1959 and died in 1987. In the 1950’s, trucks with passenger car styling elements were the rage. Today, the truck buyer wants his/her truck to look very butch. What is the market for this thing?

This whole business with Holden seems to be something that Lutz is pulling out of his ass. It was his idea to slap a Pontiac grille and badges on the Monaro and import it. It is his idea to try to sell us a $30,000+ Holden Commodore without XM radio or satellite navigation.

That old gentleman needs to be put out to pasture and replaced by someone who gives GM–and particularly Pontiac–a coherent product plan. While you’re at it, hire some auto stylists and send them to Australia. Holden does a great job of engineering, but they can’t style a car worth a lick. Send some Italians or even Americans Down Under to show them how it is done.

PONTIAC = REAR WHEEL DRIVE PERFORMANCE *CARS*, GM! How many times do we have to remind you?

If you really want to sell a few more Holden utes, badge it as the Chevy El Camino and sell it in VERY limited numbers.

Also meanpants555, Lutz bringing over Holdens and re-badging them doesn’t show that Lutz realizes that Pontiac can’t come up with a winner
Premise 1: Pontiac re-badges holdens
Premise 2: Because Lutz realizes that Pontiac can’t come up with a winner
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Therefore the Pontiac G8 is a winner? It’s a nice looking car but it hasn’t even hit showrooms yet.

The Pontiac GTO was a re-badged Holden and was that a huge success?

Also I don’t think shoppers of an Audi Wagon, or Mercedes or BMW, or Volvo or Saab are going to cross shop with a Pontiac wagon. The G8 wagon was supposed to compete with the Magnum but Chrlysler killed it so Pontiac didn’t have any use for it.

Why would the wagon be more expensive than the sedan? Nothing like a missed opportunity. One day Americans will realize the benefits of a wagon.

Beyong a niche market of Spicolis and myopic 70s long hairs Im not sure who they expect to buy the ute. But I know in the land of OZ the utes are very popular and often used as commercial vehicles, delivery and agricultural as well. Maybe thats the hope here as well. Mexicans love El Caminos and this will make a great landscaper/tradesman ride. Seriously I am not a stereotyping dick, well maybe I am but its reality in So-Cal.