MotorTrend digging the boots into Holden...

[imugli]

LINK

GM's decision to bring back the Pontiac G8 as a Chevy is a good-news, bad-news story for its Australian subsidiary, Holden. After decades of ignoring the Australians' engineering efforts, it seems Detroit is about to embrace the Zeta rear drive architecture. But for cost reasons it is likely GM will move further development of the architecture for next-gen Zeta-based cars to Detroit, putting the future of its Australian engineering facility in doubt.

[388cube_edxr8]

Yeah that makes sense.

"Ok Holden, we love your work so much, we're going to steal it and fire you all."

Nice one GM.

[Chilliman]

That does sound ominous for the Red team - a victim of its own success?

[1TUFFUTE]

huh>> that just sounds wrong to me!!!!

[DanielXR8]

Originally Posted by 388cube_edxr8

Yeah that makes sense.

"Ok Holden, we love your work so much, we're going to steal it and fire you all."

Nice one GM.

Agreed its crazy, but is it any sillier then Ford spending a fortune trying to convince the US Police forces that a tarted up, high tech Taurus should be their next car, when for less money they could deliver them the natural competitor to the Caprice - the Falcon? Something that is a much better fit for what Police there were looking for and a much more logical successor to the Crown Victoria.

Then there is the benchmark set by the Commodore. Turns out there is a market for rear wheel drive sedans that have four doors in the US. Agreed a niche, but a lucrative market. So what do they do with Falcon - just cancel its adaption to left hand drive. No need for Falcon then.

Really Ford US do exactly the same thing. The only reason that Falcon is around now, is because the imported Taurus flopped and it was apparent Australians wouldn't accept it.

Keep in mind that in some respects Falcon is fighting with technology a couple of generations behind the yanks (electronics for example), but is still meeting and exceeding their local product.

At least GM have recognised the value of the Zeta platform and the Australian engineers. I can well see them making new versions in the US, but I doubt that will mean the Aussie engineers are out of a job. Some of the work for the US market has see improvements in the car for the Australian market too. Something Falcon does not benefit from. A lot of the cool toys in a Commodore or HSV offering owe their implementation to Holdens export programs. Make no mistake the touch screen in the revised series Commodores is there, because the US market wanted that before they resumed exports.

Whatever you look at it, GM are looking after Commodore and Holden, better then Ford are looking after their Australian operation. That Ford family member was recently quoted as saying the Falcon is like a Mondeo for heavens sake. I have driven a Mondeo and a Miami powered GS. My impression was they were a tad different. Maybe some Ford US customers want something that doesnt have two chrome bars stuck on the front? They might think its European and made in Austria, but who cares. The point is they would buy it in sufficient numbers to keep the Ford Australia boys in a job and Ford Australia getting some growth back.

I simply don't accept that a Miami powered GT or even a normally aspirated Coyote XR8 wouldn't have a market there. Commodore and GM have proven that it would. They could have sold the XD Falcon in its day (a hit when shown in Detroit) and they could sell FG. Internal politics at Ford is stopping it, nothing else.

Lets hope the new Commodore exports go well and shame Ford US into admitting they are dropping the ball with Falcon. They can start with GT exports to the UK. There is a Vauxhall it needs to meet on Top Gear.

Dan

[brismike]

Originally Posted by DanielXR8

They can start with GT exports to the UK. There is a Vauxhall it needs to meet on Top Gear.

Dan

+1 on that .. Love to see the Ford spank the Vauxhall.

Can you imagine it . . Jerremy in the Ford and Captain Slow in the Vauxhall.

[jpd80]

This is basically old news, I remember quite some time ago that news leaked out regarding
the RWD work returning to North America or more correctly, GMNA would be controlling it.


Motor Trend could also be misreading the work on the Alpha platform as some kind of Zeta II variant,
the two are completely different and that Zeta II is Shanghai based for China LWB sedans only
and Alpha is touted for Cadillac coupe, next Commodore and of course, Camaro...

[ebxr8240]

Yes the Euro design, engineering is long gone....Broke...

[aussie muscle]

Originally Posted by DanielXR8

, when for less money they could deliver them the natural competitor to the Caprice - the Falcon?

but the falcon is smaller than the taurus. police would probably need a lwb version (unless you can convince them that downsizing is the way forward).

[Pedro]

Originally Posted by DanielXR8

........................ I simply don't accept that a Miami powered GT or even a normally aspirated Coyote XR8 wouldn't have a market there. Commodore and GM have proven that it would...............
Dan

It's a different market over there Dan. Our FG is too smooth for USA tastes.
You'd have to square it up and bolt a couple of railway sleepers across the grill to get market acceptance.

By the way, the Holden/Pontiac thing was not a success which was one of the reasons it was canned. Towards the end they had to drastically discount them to move them out.

[XR_Strider_GuY]

Originally Posted by Pedro

It's a different market over there Dan. Our FG is too smooth for USA tastes.
You'd have to square it up and bolt a couple of railway sleepers across the grill to get market acceptance.

By the way, the Holden/Pontiac thing was not a success which was one of the reasons it was canned. Towards the end they had to drastically discount them to move them out.

Agree. People in the US who are true petrol heads will love the Falcon / Commodore for its uniqueness and rear drive appeal as well as great handling.

But for the majority when I show a pic of an XR8 they say it looks like a Taurus. Same with the Pontiac GTO/Monaro they say it looks too like a Japanese car. Look at Mustang, Camaro and Challenger very different in style execution. Chunky, retro look is in over there for the muscle car fans. Dodge Charger is also a case in point.

Mind you for Chevrolet, the Commodore will be a nice replacement for the ageing front drive but full size Impala and Impala SS.

[banarcus]

Good opportunity for Ford Australia to do a retro XT - XY Falcon. Back to the future with a Mustang bred 4 door. Oops, sorry off topic....

[irlewy86]

Originally Posted by Pedro

It's a different market over there Dan. Our FG is too smooth for USA tastes.
You'd have to square it up and bolt a couple of railway sleepers across the grill to get market acceptance.

.

Errrrr, more like the opposite. You'd have to soften the suspension up and lighten the steering or the Yanks would have a cry.

[DanielXR8]

Originally Posted by Pedro

It's a different market over there Dan. Our FG is too smooth for USA tastes.
You'd have to square it up and bolt a couple of railway sleepers across the grill to get market acceptance.

By the way, the Holden/Pontiac thing was not a success which was one of the reasons it was canned. Towards the end they had to drastically discount them to move them out.

lol I take your point re the styling!

[flappist]

Originally Posted by DanielXR8

I simply don't accept that a Miami powered GT or even a normally aspirated Coyote XR8 wouldn't have a market there. Commodore and GM have proven that it would. They could have sold the XD Falcon in its day (a hit when shown in Detroit) and they could sell FG. Internal politics at Ford is stopping it, nothing else.
Dan

And in USA there are people who cannot understand why Baseball and Gridiron are not the primary sports played all over the world.
After all they are better, faster, more TV friendly, have lots of breaks for entertainment and the cheer leaders are fantastic.

Much better than Cricket, NRL, AFL, Soccer etc.

USA is not Australia and Americans think very differently to us. Just becuase you think something is good does not imply that others will as Holden found out with the GTO flop.