Zeta News: Holden Pres Says Camaro Prototypes Due By X-Mas

[GT4_Rule]

Good point YSSMAN

Well...at least we'll get RWD cars!

 

[Jay]

Holden introduced a 6 speed automatic in SV6 models (V6 only), and I'm pretty sure Ford has offered the same with the Falcon.

 

[GT4_Rule]

The Ford Fusion, 500 is getting the 6-speed auto here.

 

[Z32]

holden saves gm, who woulda thought!

 

[GT4_Rule]

So true.

One small automaker unknown in other parts of the world saving a global corporation. Now that's strange.

 

[YSSMAN]

...Well, lets cross our fingers and hope Ford gets smart and sends us the Falcon to compete with the RWD Impala (aka Commodore)...

 

[L8 Apex]

Might have to take a picture of that LHD Holden Statesman with Buick badges, a few houses down from me. (I'm deadly serious) It has 2.8 badges on it, which is interesting as we never got the 2.8 down here.

I'm kinda upset about having a new Monaro. Although, I imagine that the guy who paid $187,600AUD for the last ever Monaro, mightn't be to happy either.

Apparently, Buick sells a left-hand drive Statesman/Caprice in China, badged as the Royaum. Here's a model:

http://cgi.ebay.com/1-18-Holden-Cap...Z7012059753QQcategoryZ223QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

[Jay]

Apparently, Buick sells a left-hand drive Statesman/Caprice in China, badged as the Royaum. Here's a model:

http://cgi.ebay.com/1-18-Holden-Cap...Z7012059753QQcategoryZ223QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Wow I have never seen a Buick badged Statesman on trucks going to the port before (go past Holden factory often), I've seen tons of Chevrolet badged ones that go to the middle east though.

Checking the Buick Royaum its available in the 2.8L V6 so that is the actual car Casio sees.

 

[JohnBM01]

The Falcon hasn't been in America since the 1960s, right? If so, that's more than 40 years coming back to America. Whatever it takes for GM to avoid being the next MG/Rover, they'll do it.

 

[YSSMAN]

Yeah, the Mustang replaced the Falcon here in the US in 1964, so it would be like the return of a long-forgotten model. It would probably be more likely for Ford to bring the car to the US as a Torino, another name that we havent seen for 30 years.

...But, Ford allready has a premium midsize RWD chassis, the same D2C chassis that underpins the Mustang, and it's varients under the LS and S-Type. So, it probably wouldnt do Ford any good to import the Aussie-designed car to the US, as it probably was not designed with LHD setups built in.

Considering that the Baby Boomers that grew up driving these classic makes and models as kids, there is a good chance we are going to see a lot of classic model names come back. I personally would rather see the new RWD Impala come back as a Chevelle, and replace the Monte Carlo SS with a Chevelle SS, as well as possibly dusting off the old Nova nameplate building a small RWD model to replace the current Malibu. Although that will probably never happen, as the models have gone strictly Opel in design, the next Malibu has allready been hyped by GM as the next Bel Air, so who knows?

 

[Onikaze]

Fact: The LS is dead.

Fact: Ford has a thing for naming Conventions, and all their new cars are starting with F.

Sad Admission: The Crown Vic is REALLY long in the tooth.

Logic: The Falcon will be the name of the replacement, whether its the Aussie Falcon or not is up in the air.

 

[YSSMAN]

I suppose that would make the most sense... Its pretty dumb all the cars start with an F (except the Mustang), and all the trucks start with an E (except the F-series trucks, confusing)...

If Ford used some common sense, they would bring back classic names, but thats just my opinion.

EDIT: More News Today From Ford, and GM

Ford has been harshly criticized by auto enthusiasts for ignoring the recent trend back to rear-wheel-drive, but that could be about to change. Chrysler has its widly popular 300C sedan, plus the Dodge Charger and Challenger. GM has confirmed plans for a new rear-wheel-drive Chevrolet Impala, Camaro, Monte Carlo, Buick Statesman, and Pontiac GTO. Determined not to miss the RWD bandwagon, Ford is quietly working on a "rear-wheel-drive family car based on the Mustang that's coming at the end of the decade," according to the latest issue of Newsweek. The article also mentions Ford's plan to build the Fairlane minivan, which harks back to the '50s wood-paneled wagon. Moreover, the report reiterates rumors that GM is planning a Chevrolet Sting Ray — a premium version of the Pontiac Solstice.

Also:

The Canadian Auto Workers union has agreed to changes in work rules that it hopes will lead to an $800-million investment by General Motors to build the new Chevrolet Camaro and other Zeta platform vehicles at one of its two plants in Oshawa, Ontario, according to the Globe and Mail. The plant where the vehicles will be built was the highest-rated plant in terms of quality in the annual J.D. Power and Associates survey last year. The Zeta program includes the following possible models: the Chevrolet Camaro, Impala, Monte Carlo, Pontiac GTO, and Buick Statesman.

Looks like Ford is back in the game, good for them. I dunno if I want to see all the Zeta cars built in Canada. I know the Camaro has had a history being built in Canada, but cant it be built in Detroit like the Mustang?

 

[Onikaze]

GM made this silly deal with Canada that they wouldn't build a Camaro if it wasn't there.

It damn near killed any hopes of ever getting a Camaro back at all too.

 

[YSSMAN]

Well, atleast the engines are built in Detroit, ha ha... Unless of course we use the new Aussie-design small-block.

 

[Slicks]

I don't see what's wrong with it being built in Canada (The fact that I'm Canadian adds a bias, however).
One of the Oshawa plants turned out GMs (Buick, if my brain is working tonight) that had some of the best build quality in the class.

 

[YSSMAN]

No, there really isnt anything wrong with Canadians building them (unless their French Canadians, then we might have a problem...), but when it is such an American classic, it makes sense when it is built in America.

As of now, I think that of the few American cars built only in America, I believe only the Mustang and Corvette is on that list.

 

[Slicks]

@ The French part...

 

[YSSMAN]

Two new pieces of news on the Zeta platform:

Story Number 1: What should Buick name their new Zeta sedan?

It's no secret that Buick is planning a new rear-wheel drive vehicle based on GM's new Zeta platform. GM Vice President Bob Lutz has said the rear-wheel-drive platform will be used for the forthcoming Chevrolet Camaro, Monte Carlo, Impala Pontiac GTO, and a Buick sedan. Lutz referred to the vehicle as the "Buck Statesman." However, the latest issue of Motor Trend suggests the car will be named the "Buick Invicta" — a name that was last used in the 1960s. The Zeta models are expected for 2008 or 2009.

...I don't think Invicta will work. The name is allready registered as a production car company based in the UK.

Story Number 2: Canada Secures Camaro, Other Zeta Contracts

Workers at GM's assembly plants in Oshawa, Ontario voted over 70 percent in favor of job cuts on Friday, in a moved aimed at securing a contract to build the new Chevrolet Camaro, reports Reuters. The plant is also expected to be used for the new Impala, Monte Carlo, Pontiac GTO, and Buick Statesman.

...Ummm, cool, I guess...

 

[Slicks]

Hey, I like it. Especially if it helps us Canadians.

 

[GT4_Rule]

Yeah, I'm happy too - we can build them which means we can buy it cheaper than import it from the US...but we have to remember that everytime we build a car, we take away a job from the US counterpart of us...its not all good

 

[Slicks]

Well, quite frankly, I rather a Canuck have the job then the American. If it comes down to us vs. them, I'd rather have us.

 

[GT4_Rule]

.....

Im sure thats gonna draw some fire from our neighbour.

 

[Slicks]

Oh well. They would probably say the same thing, given the opposite situation.

 

[GT4_Rule]

Hmmm....yeah...I figure...

Patriotism at work

 

[YSSMAN]

I don't mind having Canadians doing our work I suppose... Better you than the Mexicans... But overall, I would rather have these American cars built in America by Americans, as we are going to be in the majority of people who are buying them.

...Silly Canadians and your socialised medicine programs...

 

[GT4_Rule]

Haha medicine programs....I dont know much yet so I wont comment on that

 

[Wolfe]

Silly Canadians, Camaro-building is for americans!

*bad pun/Trix reference*

 

[YSSMAN]

Good news for the GM fans:

When GM first unveiled the Chevrolet Camaro Concept, common wisdom indicated that the car would see production as a 2008 or 2009 model. Later, a much-publicized report suggested the car would arrive in 2010, angering car enthusiasts everywhere. In what is sure to come as a relief to Chevy fans, that publication — Edmunds — has now changed its tune, saying the Camaro will be available in 2008 as a 2009 model. While this isn’t exactly groundbreaking news, it confirms that the media is now unified in its Camaro timetable. Apparently, GM has already sent Camaro exterior designer Sangyup Lee on a special one-year assignment with GM’s Australian subsidiary, Holden. The company is believed to be doing much of the design and engineering work for the Camaro and GM’s other rear-wheel-drive Zeta platform vehicles. The Leftlane Perspective: Considering all the facts, we optimistically speculate that the production 2009 Camaro will arrive in early 2008 — possibly at the Detroit show — and will be at dealerships a few months later.

To further prove how popular the Camaro is:

General Motors executive receive as many as 300 emails per day from enthusiasts anxious to see a production version of the Chevrolet Camaro Concept, according to a report by Edmunds. Many fans are urging GM to hurry Camaro production, says Bob Boniface, GM director of advanced design. People “will not get off Camaro,” he said. He said the Camaro is both buildable and realistic.

...Sweet. Now if they can tell us a bit more about the new Impala and Grand Prix, I'll be able to sleep a little better...

 

[Poverty]

Good news indeed.

 

[GT4_Rule]

Im glad the Camaro is coming earlier.

I agree with YSSMAN on Impala and co.