Worth a thousand words

[Napoleon_Tanerite]

Supposedly the G8

http://info.detnews.com/pix/autos/sneakpeek/10pont iacg8.jpg

[RobertHammen]

Paul Lienert (Detroit News) doesn't know jack about the G8. We're gonna see it soon, not in 2010...

http://detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/2006 1227/AUTO03/612270322/1149

[rlsedition]

A couple of years ago you couldn't have predicted that Holden would have assembly plant space for a US export car, as the VE sedan was on its way and was expected to fill the plant with orders.

I don't really know how the new Commodore is selling, but if it has not met sales expectations a US model might be encouraged, and what would be easier to do than a Commodore variant like the G8?

The real question might be Pontiac's desire/need for a low-volume image sedan, as I know there won't be a lot of available volume, certainly not the 120k sales per year of the current FWD Grand Prix.

[nixapatfan]

A couple of years ago you couldn't have predicted that Holden would have assembly plant space for a US export car, as the VE sedan was on its way and was expected to fill the plant with orders.

I don't really know how the new Commodore is selling, but if it has not met sales expectations a US model might be encouraged, and what would be easier to do than a Commodore variant like the G8?

The real question might be Pontiac's desire/need for a low-volume image sedan, as I know there won't be a lot of available volume, certainly not the 120k sales per year of the current FWD Grand Prix.


Basically GM's goal would be to bring up the Holden plant to max capacity by shipping extra cars here and then have a plant here(Canada) take over the rest of the demand. So they can build a Camaro and other niche RWD cars here and fill the rest of the available capacity with the G8 and etc. Kind of like what they will be doing with the Astra by importing them until the plant here is online and at full capacity.

[RobertHammen]

The real question might be Pontiac's desire/need for a low-volume image sedan, as I know there won't be a lot of available volume, certainly not the 120k sales per year of the current FWD Grand Prix.

But the current Grand Prix is 70+% fleet sales. Move that to something else (G6/Malibu, or get away from fleet?), bring in 30-35k VE's from Holden (thus maximizing their plant's ability with two shifts), and boom, you have a replacement, at least for the Grand Prix GXP. Of course, a VE Commodore would be more expensive than the GXP, at least based on transaction pricing (figure $30-$32k for an SS or SS-V brought here as the G8, comparable to the MSRP of the GP GXP, but I am assuming transaction prices of the latter are much smaller).

BTW, I've done some research, and the car pictured here likely isn't a G8/Grand Prix, since it's based on the LWB VE (note the added window by the C-pillar). Buick? Export Chevy?

[nixapatfan]

....BTW, I've done some research, and the car pictured here likely isn't a G8/Grand Prix, since it's based on the LWB VE (note the added window by the C-pillar). Buick? Export Chevy?

Could be the rumored Impala or Buick Invicta they were taking about last year. Oh well we'll find out soon enough at Chicago.

[RobertHammen]

Maybe Impala mechanicals under a VE mule body, but I think you won't see the Impala be a clone of the VE like a G8 is gonna be...

[nixapatfan]

Maybe Impala mechanicals under a VE mule body, but I think you won't see the Impala be a clone of the VE like a G8 is gonna be...

Yeah I'm guessing just the mechanicals are being tested too. Probably just using the bodies from the old test mules, so not much new to see.

[nikivee]

LOL!! That is nothing but a Holden Statemen mule. Nothing Pontiac about it at all. Geez!

[scratch1275]

Looks like an odd mix - a Statesman with a Calais V nose and an Omega interior. I just hope Pontiac doesn't take the base trim level car again with the upgraded powertrain and no options like they did with our cars. I would have liked to option automatic climate control and a sunroof like the Monaros had. If Pontiac truly wants to target BMW buyers as Lutz alluded to several years ago, they have to at least offer these sorts of things and not be scared to go over $30k base. I would buy an SS-V for $39k (at the current exchange rate) right now. I guess we'll find out in Chicago.

[mixedxboy]

here's another angle

http://www.worldcarfans.com/spyphotos.cfm/spyphoto ID/6070102.001/pageview/photo/photo/Mini3/page/1/c ountry/acf/pontiac/spy-photos-pontiac-grand-prix-g8

haven't i seen those wheels somewhere before?

i thought holden changed the bolt pattern/offset for VE?

[mixedxboy]

Nothing Pontiac about it at all. Geez!


or is there. . . ?

haha!

[Good Vibes]

That gives me headache. :confused:

[PMD GTO]

Hopefully the G8 will look more like the VE than this car. Also when is the expected U.S. release of the G8?? Late 2007? If so then is this the reason so many 06 GTO's were produced compared with 2005, to hold over Pontiac RWD sales with extra vehicles on dealer lots until the G8 arrives?

[Flashpoint]

here's another angle

http://www.worldcarfans.com/spyphotos.cfm/spyphoto ID/6070102.001/pageview/photo/photo/Mini3/page/1/c ountry/acf/pontiac/spy-photos-pontiac-grand-prix-g8

haven't i seen those wheels somewhere before?

i thought holden changed the bolt pattern/offset for VE?

They have a smaller hub only, meaning older wheels work on newer suspension but not the other way around. Without drilling out the hub bore on the wheel.

[rlsedition]

So many 2006 GTOs were produced because Pontiac knew that this would be "it" for this car for the foreseeable future. No way would they have been able to connect 2006 production with anything GM was considering for a Holden-produced G8. Those decisions were made a long time before all this latest speculation.

[HUMBLER]

Hood Pins should be an option!

[itsme4g63]

waiting 3 years for this things seems kind of harsh.

[RobertHammen]

waiting 3 years for this things seems kind of harsh.

You won't be. Detroit News is wrong. They'll find out for sure at the Chicago Auto Show in mid-February. And, I dunno if this car is a Pontiac, given that it appears to be a LWB VE (i.e. Holden Statesman/Caprice-sized, not Commodore-sized).

[itsme4g63]

You won't be. Detroit News is wrong. They'll find out for sure at the Chicago Auto Show in mid-February. And, I dunno if this car is a Pontiac, given that it appears to be a LWB VE (i.e. Holden Statesman/Caprice-sized, not Commodore-sized).


Don't worry, Ill be there :secret: , taking pictures for all of you to drool over.

[RobertHammen]

Don't worry, Ill be there :secret: , taking pictures for all of you to drool over.

I will be there as well, likely on the first public day, taking a crapload of pictures. Going to Detroit for NAIAS next Saturday as well...

[Coop43]

I will be there as well, likely on the first public day, taking a crapload of pictures. Going to Detroit for NAIAS next Saturday as well...

I want to go to The Chicago Auto Show too. Are we getting a group together?

[RobertHammen]

I want to go to The Chicago Auto Show too. Are we getting a group together?

Sounds like a great idea. I'll post in the Midwest section...

[mmciau]

They have a smaller hub only, meaning older wheels work on newer suspension but not the other way around. Without drilling out the hub bore on the wheel.

Pitch diameter is 120mm however the stud diameter has also increased - I believe to 14mm (and the alteration to the hub diameter as stated above)

Mike

[Ford Falcon driver]

Looks like an odd mix - a Statesman with a Calais V nose and an Omega interior. Yep, and its hard to see whether the rear window frame is Commodore or Statesman.

[Flashpoint]

Pitch diameter is 120mm however the stud diameter has also increased - I believe to 14mm (and the alteration to the hub diameter as stated above)

Mike

The guy selling VE wheels didn't mention that... :monkee:

I don't doubt you though... answers on these kinda things are hard to sort out when you can't find it listed anywhere that is "official"