GTO....$1bn Monaro export jackpot

[terrine]

January 04, 2003

HOLDEN has hit a $1 billion-a-year export jackpot in the US.

American rev-heads went wild at the Los Angeles Motor Show yesterday for the made-in-Australia Monaro badged as a Pontiac GTO.

The crowd cheered as the drapes were drawn on two high-gloss show cars – one yellow, one red – which will relaunch the legendary 1960s brand when it goes on sale across America later this year.

Buyers immediately rushed to place orders for the car.

The reception was everything General Motors and Holden had hoped for to justify ambitious plans to ship 18,000 GTOs a year to the US.

Bob Lutz, GM's global product development chief who set in train a plan to export the car, said: "The public's interest in the GTO has been everything we hoped it would be, and more.

"This car is a strong statement from both Pontiac and GM that we are determined to re-energise the car market with vehicles that command attention and excite the customer's senses."

The GTO, GM's high-emotion performance car badge which debuted on the 1964 Pontiac Tempest, has not been used since 1974.

"We have considered bringing the GTO back a number of times, but we never had the right product," Pontiac general manager Lynn Myers said.

"We knew it had to be a V8, rear-wheel drive and offer outstanding performance, but, until GM's leadership team looked at the Holden Monaro, nothing really fitted that formula."

With an announcement at the show that the GTO would go into production at Holden's Elizabeth, South Australia plant in September, the facility assumed a high-profile global position in GM's production network.

news.com.au

r/peter

[chups]

does anyone know the web site for the LA motorshow?

[admin]

Try this........http://www.laautoshow.com/debut.asp

[chups]

thanx admin. and will we be seeing a model of this car or will Aa make it for the US?

[zeitgeist]

Originally posted by terrine
American rev-heads went wild at the Los Angeles Motor Show yesterday for the made-in-Australia Monaro badged as a Pontiac GTO.

The crowd cheered as the drapes were drawn on two high-gloss show cars

Buyers immediately rushed to place orders for the car.

"The public's interest in the GTO has been everything we hoped it would be, and more.

..and excite the customer's senses."

r/peter

Of COURSE we're excited! After a steady diet of FWD V-6 automatics, wouldn't you be excited?

I hope the public's reaction gives the other domestic automakers pause to think.

BC

[a9x]

check this link out click on the GTO for the flash presentation
[URL=http://www.pontiac.com/pontiacjsp/passion/conc ept/main.jsp[/URL]
_

[GRPIII]

when is the aus version going to come out with gear selectors on the steering wheel?

[Graeme]

I've just had a look at the Pontiac website, and interestingly there is no mention of the new GTO as being Australian developed or built.
I wonder what the compliance plates will ultimately reveal ?

Also, looks like those of you who want to dress up your old VT Commodores now have another new nosecone with which to play !!

[ZORAK]

Here is some better coverage:
Pontiac Hopes to Capture Import Intenders With Its GTO (http://www.cars.com/carsapp/latimes/?srv=parser&act=display&tf=/features/autoshow2003/coverage/la/posted/cover age_01_03_05.tmpl)

[chups]

goto this site (http://www.cars.com/carsapp/latimes/?srv=parser&act=display&tf=/features/autoshow2003/coverage/la/posted/cover age_01_03_05.tmpl) (same link as Zoraks) and you will find

"The revived GTO is based on the Holden Monaro and will be built by GM’s Australian affiliate Holden Motors. Production is scheduled to begin in September with the car earmarked to hit showrooms in November or December."

[mustang1966]

Does anyone know what the GTO will be going for?

[Bathurst205]

They said that the price will be between 55 to 60 thousand Aussie dollars. So what ever the exchange rate is in US dollars. Whatever that exchange rate is, it will still be alot cheaper for the US buyers.

Also saw an interview with a motor writer from some US mag. He said that 18000 of these cars will not be near enough to support demand. Apparently California dealers have already ordered the first 18000. As he said, "and thats only one state out of 50."

[mustang1966]

Even as a die hard Ford fan it is going to be great for Holden, and Australia to export a car. I wonder how they will meet the demand for the US Market and if it is going to affect Australian production models.

I guess the pricing is simular to the failed Capri effort where people wondered how a car built here, converted to LHD and shipped O/S was still cheaper than the same car sold here.

[ZORAK]

I think most pople in the US that are interested in this car know it is an Aussie car and that actually adds more appeal to them.

I also agree that they will have a hard time getting enough cars to meet demand.

Z.

[zeitgeist]

I think it's the first time most of them ever HEARD the word 'Holden'. I've an HSV GTS poster hanging in my cube and an SV99 as wallpaper. No one knows what they are.

I think the Monaro and GTS noses look better, but the Pontiac is still tastefully done.

Poor, poor Capri. I still see one out and about occasionally.

BC

[ZORAK]

zeitgeist I didn't say that they knew what they were, I said most know that they are produced in Australia and know it is a GM product.

Did you know that there are in excess of 1,000 Aussie produced cars landed in the USA every month?

Z.

[zeitgeist]

Zorak -

Sorry about that. After I wrote that, I realized how it might have been interpreted. My apologies.

I think we're #2 on your export list (vehicle-wise, that is).

Was there ever something called the Kelpie (sp) Cargo? It was some sort of pick-up truck that had a tilting bed, IIRC.

Back in '89 or '90, the town in which I lived was supposed to build some large plant to manufacture them. I could've sworn the car was originally from OZ.

BC

[ZORAK]

NP zeitgeist :)

Have never heard of a Kelpie (spelling is correct, it is a type of dog) Cargo but that is no my scene :D

Z.

[Three_o_seven]

It looks to me like they wanted to keep a hint of past GTO models in the nose area (maybe to bring back familiar memories to the US public) as there is a strong emphasis on the split grille which Pontiac were so famous for.

[ZORAK]

More photos here (http://gm.wieck.com/forms/gm/*query?gto&source=all)

[Esses]

Yeah, poor Capri. A good idea spoilt by bad quality control. It wasn't a bad car really, even if it didn't look anywhere near as good as the original Capri of the 60's & 70's. Hey, I'm old!
I once read a comparo on the Capri & the Mazda MX-5. It concluded that the Capri was a nice sporty convertible & the MX-5 a great little sports car. Says it all, really, especially as the Capri was based on Mazda mechanicals!

[brchi17]

Yea, its' just a pitty that the Capri didn't get made in RWD like its' MX-5 sibling. If this had of happened, I think we may have still had the little car still being built.
cheers.

[zeitgeist]

Years ago, Car & Driver did a comparison and put the Capri ahead of the Miata in some aspects (more power, I believe), but overall, it fell short.

I bought a Miata last year. It had been years since I'd driven a RWD car and I had forgotten how much fun they can deliver.

BC

[GRPIII]

RUMORED PRICE 32000 TO 35000 US DOLLARS

[v8coupe]

Originally posted by zeitgeist

I think the Monaro and GTS noses look better, but the Pontiac is still tastefully done.

The front bumper on the Aussie version looks great and suits the car. I feel the U.S version has ruined the cars style.
I wonder how many will buy the car and import over a Holden or HSV bumper for it?

[zeitgeist]

Originally posted by v8coupe

I wonder how many will buy the car and import over a Holden or HSV bumper for it?

Interesting question. Obviously Pontiac wanted maintain model recognition when it grafted on its identifying nose. Given that requirement, I think it could've been a lot worse.

I guess it will depend on whether or not people are buying it because it is a Pontiac rather than a cool, never-seen import.

I, myself, would fit the latter group.

The bigger question is whether or not we could even do it. They said many changes were made. It might not fit.

BC

[ZORAK]

I heard mounting points were changed to meet US crash standards.

Imagine the lawyers having a feeding frenzy when someone did this and then had an accident and the car was found to be modified in such a way as to make it unsafe or maybe less safe cause no car is "safe" in an accident?

Knowing how the Yanks work everyone from the guy that fits it, the importer, the shipping company, the Customs officer and HSV themselves would probably be dragged through the courts!

[zeitgeist]

I also noticed that your turn indicators are on the front side panels, whereas on the GTO, they are in the front/side skirting.

Too bad they weren't built into the headlight assemblies.

In any event, some cutting/wiring would definitiely be involved to meet local lighting laws.

BC