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found this article though you guys in america might be interested
Latest News
Monaro may hit the road in America
By Toby Hagon, Motoring Editor
The Age
Wednesday February 20 2002
Holden's Monaro and Commodore utility could soon be sold in the US as part of an export plan being evaluated by General Motors executives.
The move is being pushed by the company's vice-chairman of product development, Bob Lutz, who has breathed life back into GM's North American operations.
"There are obviously export opportunities with Holden," Mr Lutz said.
"Nothing is certain. We still have to analyse the business case and see if we can ... (justify) the considerable engineering effort that would be required for the Monaro to meet US federal regulations."
What is certain, though, is the strong push from the US to make Australian exports work. Mr Lutz considers the Monaro a perfect replacement for America's Pontiac GTO and the Commodore ute as a modern-day version of the Chevrolet El Camino.
GM is interested in the V8-powered versions only, with potential for up to 20,000 sales annually, beginning as early as 2004.
"Assuming affordability, there isn't one guy in the US that wouldn't want it (the Monaro) sooner rather than later," Mr Lutz said. "GM has a history of getting things done when everyone wants them done."
But the Commodore-based vehicles would require significant structural modifications to make them eligible for US consumption. The main issue is the stricter safety regulations in the US, especially the position of the fuel tank, which may rupture in a severe rear impact.
GM also has to evaluate whether to commit to modifying the existing vehicles, which would take at least two years to make eligible, or to wait until 2005, when a Commodore will be built.
Latest News
Monaro may hit the road in America
By Toby Hagon, Motoring Editor
The Age
Wednesday February 20 2002
Holden's Monaro and Commodore utility could soon be sold in the US as part of an export plan being evaluated by General Motors executives.
The move is being pushed by the company's vice-chairman of product development, Bob Lutz, who has breathed life back into GM's North American operations.
"There are obviously export opportunities with Holden," Mr Lutz said.
"Nothing is certain. We still have to analyse the business case and see if we can ... (justify) the considerable engineering effort that would be required for the Monaro to meet US federal regulations."
What is certain, though, is the strong push from the US to make Australian exports work. Mr Lutz considers the Monaro a perfect replacement for America's Pontiac GTO and the Commodore ute as a modern-day version of the Chevrolet El Camino.
GM is interested in the V8-powered versions only, with potential for up to 20,000 sales annually, beginning as early as 2004.
"Assuming affordability, there isn't one guy in the US that wouldn't want it (the Monaro) sooner rather than later," Mr Lutz said. "GM has a history of getting things done when everyone wants them done."
But the Commodore-based vehicles would require significant structural modifications to make them eligible for US consumption. The main issue is the stricter safety regulations in the US, especially the position of the fuel tank, which may rupture in a severe rear impact.
GM also has to evaluate whether to commit to modifying the existing vehicles, which would take at least two years to make eligible, or to wait until 2005, when a Commodore will be built.
I think you need to go out a liitle more and discover other cars than Mazda it looks nothing like a Mazda ..mind you I know they both have 4 wheels thats about it
