The newly unveiled Holden VE Commodore could come to the United States as the next Pontiac Grand Prix, according to drive.com.au. Holden — GM’s Australian subsidiary — has reportedly pitched the plan to the General Motors leadership, and will allow board members and executives to sample the car in early August.
There were previously plans to import the new WM Caprice sedan as a Buick, but those plans were shelved. Holden hopes its new initiative with the Commodore may renew interest in the Caprice as well.
A Holden executive said the 362 horsepower ‘SS V’ model is the most likely VE Commodore to come to the ‘States as a Grand Prix replacement. “Pontiac is already talking about the fact they want to go rear-wheel-drive,” said Holden chariman Denny Mooney. “A brand like Pontiac, in my opinion, could take this car and sell it.”
Converting the car for the U.S. would cost GM around $20 million, Mooney said.
Of course, exporting Holdens as Pontiacs is nothing new. The Monaro was exported as the Pontiac GTO, with only limited success. However, GM has committed to building a retro-styled GTO when it revives the nameplate in the next few years.
Exporting a Holden as a Grand Prix may make more sense, because expectations in terms of styling are different for that car from the GTO. What’s more, the Grand Prix is sold as a practical sports sedan, rather than a two-door muscle car.
07/17, 8:03 AM
posted by:
Anonymous
As long as they keep the Grand Prix name and not change it to G8. I’m all for it.
07/17, 8:18 AM
posted by:
Anonymous
……”Since we can’t build cars here anyone wants – well build them elsewhere, so no one will not want them too.. You know; like the GTO.”
j i m
07/17, 9:15 AM
posted by:
GMrules
Bring it and BMW will be even more pointless. This will be the car to destroy 3-series sales. The C-class, G35, 300C will be lucky to sel 1 car once this thing arrives.
Everything in this class will be “Lot Rot Specials”.
07/17, 9:40 AM
posted by:
GMrules
What Pontiac needs to slap BMW and the rest of the Euro trash around
07/17, 9:44 AM
posted by:
wayne
imagine that pontiac can’t design and build a car so they have to import one……….Chrysler builds their own???? designs them and sells them. Poor GM what a waste……almost killed this morning by a roof panel from a corvette blowing off!!!!
07/17, 9:48 AM
posted by:
snoboardguy21
The comment in this article that bothers me is “GM has committed to building a retro-styled GTO when it revives the nameplate in the next few years.” Is everything produced from now on going to be “retro styled?” Have we run out of new ideas?
07/17, 9:50 AM
posted by:
Me
This will never sell as is. You better have some unique styling to go with that powertrain. Just throwing the twin nostrils on this is not going to work. Do you have a design team? Use them!!!
07/17, 9:53 AM
posted by:
1c3d0g
Excellent.
07/17, 10:16 AM
posted by:
Zan
Its not an import, GM owns Holden. The problem is not the designers of the cars its the morons at the top who make the decisions.
anyway I think this would make a decent grand prix.
07/17, 10:20 AM
posted by:
Piablo
#10, the UAW has basically nickeled and dimed GM into a coma. Near death. That’s half the reason why I don’t appreciate all the dinks on this board that have this absolute hatred towards GM. I don’t get it. Try jogging a mile with a parasite latched onto your legs.
I like this car. I like GM’s new outlook. Maybe they should be the one’s with the “Bold Moves” campaign. I’m not sure what #3 Jim is talking about, but he’s always a GM hater. The reason the Monaro/GTO failed here is because it simply wasn’t a GTO. The car could have been more successful simply if they did not name it a GTO. It’s kinda like “don’t piss on my leg and tell me it’s raining”. This car, fits more into what a Grand Prix is. But my question is, why do they have to use an existing name at all?! If they did, then that cute little thing we call a Solstice would have been a Fiero.
07/17, 10:44 AM
posted by:
Jae
I agree snoboardguy21. That is scary. What’s more they’re talking like in the next few years retro will still be the rage – NOT.
Well said Piablo. The boring styling notwithstanding the previous GTO just could not gain a following. The true diehards hated it but suffered through buying one because it was a GTO.
GMrules: We can only hope. Pontiac will have to do alot to garner sales from the BMW/Infiniti crowd with this car. Pontiac would need to really become a prestige nameplate, you can’t do that while trying to sell Vibes. Beating the 300C/Charger is doable but that is a tall order. I can’t fathom a 3-series/G35 in the same size, weight,power,features classification as a 300c/Charger. To have a car that straddles both would be ridiculous. I think Pontiac should target 1 segment at a time and obliterate it instead of going after everybody at the same time
This “Grand Prix” is nice as is. No stoopid plastic molding, no dumbass nostril scoops, no useless rear wing on a front wheel drive car. Just badge it as a Pontiac and have it ready for MY2008
07/17, 12:28 PM
posted by:
Orlando
whay can’t pontiac just design it’s own cars. if they’re gonna use australian cars then they should keep the name of the car.
07/17, 1:36 PM
posted by:
fromes
I think if it has creative and moderan styling unlike the GTO it will work….lets just hope this really happens, pontiac has needed a car like this for a long time.
07/17, 1:38 PM
posted by:
dsmdriver84
this car will look retarded with a twin nostril grill i hope the dont mod the design tooooooo much — something must be done with the tail though it looks a lot like a mitsu galant
07/17, 2:08 PM
posted by:
Leopold Porkstacker
Certainly a much better looking car than traditional Pontanics. But looks are only sheetmetal deep.
-he who stacks pork
07/17, 3:37 PM
posted by:
2006300C
It better not look like that or it won’t sell any, learn from the GTO, Americans want wildly styled cars not bland boxes.
07/17, 4:52 PM
posted by:
M
^ I agree that car is too ugly to be a Pontiac, it wont sell. CAN’T PONTIAC DESIGN ITS OWN G8 / GRAND PRIX!!?
07/17, 4:54 PM
posted by:
M
I THOUGHT THE G8 WAS GOING TO LOOK SOMETHING LIKE THE G6 CONCEPT ANYWAYS?….THAT CAR LOOKED ALOT NICER THAN THIS BORING BOX!!!
07/17, 6:21 PM
posted by:
mike
This reminds me of a Mitsubishi Lancer, or an old Infiniti G20
07/17, 9:00 PM
posted by:
Kid9000
NO!!!!! NO!!!!!! NO!!!!! If this happens I will be seriously pissed!!!!
07/17, 9:16 PM
posted by:
Jonas
This is a good looking car… But I’m sure Pontiac will find a way to screw it up… Just look at the GTO… Looks like the Monaro’s brother but with down syndrome…
The Monaro had some nice details to the front end, but in typical GM fashion, they don’t pay attention to details and destroyed a good looking car…
I think Pontiac should also just drop the Grand Prix nameplate… I mean does anyone really take pride in their “Grand Prix”? I think a new name would attract new buyers as well as Pontiac/GM fan boys… Just my 2 cents… take it or leave it.
07/26, 1:52 AM
posted by:
anonymos
GMrules, why are you compairing Pontiac to BMW. I know that you know that the M3 can kick the GTO’s ass. Well anyways I like the car and they should bring it stateside, as long as it is a Pontiac.