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PostPosted: Tue Jan 13, 2015 7:57 pm 
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Joined: Fri May 31, 2013 2:42 pm
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Saw this article in todays Drive section of the SHM.

http://www.drive.com.au/motor-news/conf ... 2n5k1.html


Confirmed: Holden's next Monaro

Stephen Ottley
Published: January 13, 2015 - 1:49PM


•Read all the latest news from the 2015 Detroit motor show here

Holden will have a new V8-powered, two-door sports car as its hero model after the locally-built Commodore is pensioned off in 2017.

General Motors International boss Stefan Jacoby has confirmed the top-secret new car in an interview with Australian media in Detroit today, but kept any further details under wraps

"We will bring a Holden sports car in the future, in the near future," Jacoby revealed.

But the German, who oversees General Motors operations throughout Asia-Pacific, Europe and the Middle East, wouldn't reveal exactly which model it will be.

Asked if it will be an existing model in GM's portfolio – which includes the Camaro and Corvette – Jacoby was non-committal.

"No, maybe something else," he said.

"It will be something which truly fits the requirement of a true Holden sports car."

He went on to add that it will "most likely" have a V8 engine and will arrive after the Elizabeth manufacturing plant closes in 2017. While a V8-powered two-door coupe follows the formula set by the iconic Monaro, Jacoby ruled out reviving the nameplate.

While Jacoby's comments about a 'current model' rule out the existing Camaro and Corvette models, both are due for replacement in the near future. The Camaro is expected to sit on a new platform shared with the Cadillac ATS and debut in 2016 in the US.

Chevrolet has also been caught testing a mid-engined replacement for the current Corvette – using a Holden Ute body for the test mule - that isn't expected to be in showrooms before 2018.

One car Jacoby did rule out was a production version of the Opel Monza concept which debuted at the 2013 Geneva motor show.

Whatever the car becomes, it will likely go head-to-head with the Ford Mustang that arrives in Australian showrooms from later this year - continuining the Ford-versus-Holden rivalry that has divided local performance car fans for decades. It could also form the basis of Holden's next-generation V8 Supercar racer.

Beyond the top-secret Monaro replacement, GM also revealed at the 2014 Detroit motor show that it plans to build more of its new models in both left- and right-hand drive, opening up greater opportunities for Holden to source more products from with the GM network after it ceases local manufacturing by the end of 2017.

GM President Dan Ammann reiterated that commitment prior to Jacoby's announcement, paving the way for the next-generation Camaro to join the Holden range in one form or another.

"It's getting closer for sure," Ammann said, when asked how long it would take for the right-hand drive cars to come to Australia.

"It really depends by product line and architecture," he explained. "It's a decision that, as you'd expect, with each generation of architecture you make that decision, then once you make that decision you wait for it to come [again]. Without getting specific it's something a lot of us sat down around a table.

"What we used to do was program by program you'd do the math and never make it work. Inevitably the financials get tight and you decide we'll save a bit of money by not doing that. If you keep incrementalizing [sic] you don't make the right decision. If we just make a strategic call that we're doing this then there is no more debate."

Ammann said the move to offer more right-hand drive models is a global strategy to overcome the financial problems the company has faced in the past getting the business case to work.

"It actually does get cheaper if you do it once and you do it in the beginning and you don't think about it each time. If you just look at the volumes you'll never really [do it] we just kind of have to say 'we're a global company' we're doing it."

However, he did concede some low-volume models would likely remain left-hand drive only, including full-size pick-up trucks like the Chevrolet Silverado.

"If there's a geographically specific thing," he said. "Would we do it on full-size pick-ups [in right-hand drive]? I'm not so sure. But on anything that's got a remotely global application we'd look at it."


This story was found at: http://www.drive.com.au/motor-news/conf ... 2n5k1.html


Cheers

GKW
Front wheel drive cars are the work of the Devil. Image


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