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

[YSSMAN]

Hey, you make it seem like a not-so-good thing. Now, granted, I will be slightly biased here because I AM Canadian, but I think it's a great thing that the cars will be built in Canada. The Oshawa plant has been producing some of the highest-quality (Fewest mistakes/defects) cars in NA for a couple years now.

It isn't bad that it is built in Canada, but when GM has the capacity to build them in the US and keep thousands of jobs here in the US instead of shipping them off to Canada or Mexico, it is a little upsetting. Granted, I could care less if the parts were built in Canada or Mexico (as many of them are), I just wanted to see final assembly done here.

...As of right now, the only American "classics" that are assemebeld in the US would be the Mustang and Corvette, and thats kinda sad. I presume DCX will build the Challenger in Detroit, maybe in Illinois, and thats a good thing...

 

[ls2_297]

So ls2_297 are you going to have to get premium GTP account and change your name to ls2_307?

funny you say that, on another forum my name is ls1_285 and before that one back in the day is was gmh_304..... so looks like i will have to follow the tradition:tup:

 

[Roo09511]

Now, I know EVERY European on GTP will criticize me for this, but is it just me or does the HSV E Series Clubsport look like an M3 at that side angle? I see resemblance.

Also, LS9? Details please! LS7 was crazy enough... what's an LS9? New version of the GM 502? That would be badass....

 

[YSSMAN]

Nobody knows exactly what the LS9 is for sure, but there are plenty of rumors:

- A next-gen Big Block displacing 8.3 liters
- A tweaked version of the LS7, pushing more than 650 BHP
- A supercharged version of the LS7 pushing more than 650 BHP
- A supercharged LS2 variant pushing more than 650 BHP
- A supercharged 6.2L version of the L92 V8 (Escalade and Denali SUV)

 

[Cap'n Jack]

Well, I saw 5 of the VE Commodores today, 3 on the back of a truck. They look a whole lot better in Person.

 

[Jay]

Only 5? I saw about 20 ..... fail to see many on the road yet though.

 

[YSSMAN]

New rendering of the Pontiac G8 (formerly the Grand Prix):

...Not too bad I say, as I do think it is a good idea they don't change much from the Commodore to G8.

 

[Revolution.]

According to the link ls2_297 supplied (thanks for that btw) the GTS will have a 307kw LS2 as all the E series HSV's.

And as I said the rumour was very much that it would use the LS7. As it turns out, it doesn't, but hopefully for a revival to the HSV GTS-R!

 

[YSSMAN]

...I'm sure there will be plenty of Commodores with LS7s swapped in. Once we get the Zeta cars in the US, I'm sure that will be the big thing at the 2008 or 2009 SEMA show...

 

[Jay]

...I'm sure there will be plenty of Commodores with LS7s swapped in.

I don't think, so not here anyway, there will pently of 500hp+ supercharged or Turbocharged aftermarket cars done though.

 

[ls2_297]

no doubt there will be a GTS\R revival some time next year with the LS7 inside it. However i think as viper said, most aussies will be strapping superchargers on their ls2's....... MOTOR mag reviewed a PWR supercharged VZ R8 a few months ago, with its power rivaling a V8 supercar.... and street legal!!

 

[YSSMAN]

You guys just go with forced induction? What ever happened to the good ol bore and stroke in Australia? There are plenty of all-motor Camaros, Corvettes, GTOs, etc rolling around up here.

...I figured you guys would have been displacement crazy like us too!

 

[Wolfe]

New rendering of the Pontiac G8 (formerly the Grand Prix):

...Not too bad I say, as I do think it is a good idea they don't change much from the Commodore to G8.

If the suspension doesn't completely suck, that will be the first decent Grand Prix ever.

 

[Casio]

You guys just go with forced induction? What ever happened to the good ol bore and stroke in Australia? There are plenty of all-motor Camaros, Corvettes, GTOs, etc rolling around up here.

...I figured you guys would have been displacement crazy like us too!

There are a few companies produced bored out GEN IIIs, but the problem was I think it was only really stable to about 6.3-6.5 litres.

Holden was supercharging it's V6s for quite a while. You could get a Supercharged V6 Monaro for about 6 months I think, but it was cancelled for the V8 took 97% of the sales.

 

[YSSMAN]

If the suspension doesn't completely suck, that will be the first decent Grand Prix ever.

Hey hey now, the older Grand Prixs weren't that bad, particularly the old G-Body models. Those are still some of the best "mid-size" GM models they ever built, and included greats such as the Buick GN/GNX and the Monte Carlo SS. Granted, you can do only so much with a live axle and body-on-frame contruction, by they are still awesome cars.

...But even then, the 1988+ W-Body cars aren't that bad either. In the right form the W-Body chassis is quite functional as a sporty model, as there have been many successful versions of the platform over the years. In particular, the current form that includes the Grand Prix GXP, quite frankly a marvel of GM engineering, IMO.

---

On the engines: Oh yeah, the 3.8L S/C V6. We've been using them since the late '80s and early '90s in our sedans here in the US, in particular in our Pontiac and Buick lineups, and it is often reguarded as one that is very reliable and quite capable of offering a good ammount of power with so-so fuel economy.

...But once the W-Body goes the way of the Dinosaur, it is questionable if the 3.8L will stick around...

 

[GT4_Rule]

APA says that the S/C 3.8 V6 is unreliable and it's best to avoid them.

 

[Casio]

So um....what'a I get for a Chevrolet Badged VE Caprice? I couldn't tell if it was left or right hand drive due to all the frost., if it's still there tomorrow I'll do some very sneaky work to see.

It's the same house where I saw the VE parked about 2 weeks before release, and a number of Left-Hand Drive GTOs, so it's not just some guy who stuck a Chev Badge on a Holden.

 

[Jay]

Haha that house is a sneaky Holden goldmine, good work on the pic.


I assume that Chevrolet Caprice will be a middle east export.

 

[Casio]

Haha that house is a sneaky Holden goldmine, good work on the pic.

I reckon. Once I saw this thing, to this day I have no idea what it was, it's a dark and blurry LHD 4 Wheel Drive, it kinda looked like a Subaru Liberty but about twice the size.

 

[Jay]

I reckon. Once I saw this thing, to this day I have no idea what it was, it's a dark and blurry LHD 4 Wheel Drive, it kinda looked like a Subaru Liberty but about twice the size.

Wouldn't be a early LHD version of the upcoming Holden Captiva would it?

 

[YSSMAN]

...Well the Chevrolet you see there could very well be the Impala that we in America are so excited about, so great find! I imagine that you didn't walk in and look at the front of the car, but I'd be interested to see how "different" it is from the regular Holden-spec model. If it had the split grille, that would be very interesting...

After all, this is what we would be looking for:

 

[Casio]

Well. I am pretty drunk. I'll see what I can come up with tomorrow 👍

 

[YSSMAN]

Hey, no big deal. You know, you could like totally send them to Leftlanenews.com, I'm sure they would be interested to share them with the world...

 

[YSSMAN]

Good news for you European folks:

General Motors is considering selling the 2009 Chevrolet Camaro in European markets, according to trade publication Automotive News Europe. Wayne Brannon, executive director of Chevrolet Europe reportedly said he wants to see the car imported to the region. Currently, the automaker is studying the business case of such a move. A decision is expected early next year.

Yay for you! Now you get to enjoy the fruits of our labor...

 

[Casio]

Left-Hand Drive VE with a Badge I've never seen before. And a SS badge.

Sorry again for the poor photos. I don't want to get too close incase the man is very angry and comes attacks me. Then probably won't bring any more cars home. And it's taken with my camera-phone. But if you want me to go down and take some more with a proper camera, I probably can.

 

[inferno]

Left-Hand Drive VE with a Badge I've never seen before. And a SS badge.

*snip*

Sorry again for the poor photos. I don't want to get too close incase the man is very angry and comes attacks me. Then probably won't bring any more cars home. And it's taken with my camera-phone. But if you want me to go down and take some more with a proper camera, I probably can.

IMPALA!!!! (notice the center badge) so there it is. looks rather blah, but i like the quad tips.

 

[YSSMAN]

Dude, that is spot on the money! You need to start sending the photos out, pronto (see PM). I think American magazines like Car and Driver and Motor Trend pay out $50 per shot for things like these... Care to have some American money headed your way?

 

[Casio]

Really? If it's that special. I'll head down with a better camera and take some more then!

Confirmed. World Exclusive on GTP. I took a close-up of the badge and it matches the Impala badge. I'm making the one I posted smaller till I contact the magazines.

 

[YSSMAN]

Looks like GM may be getting ahead of the game once again...

In the September 25th episode of syndicated automotive radio program Cruise Control Radio, co-host Les Jackson claims to have seen a photo of the production version of the new Chevrolet Camaro. He claims to have spoken with GM engineer Dr. Terry Woychowski on Sunday at a press event, who showed him a photograph of the production car.

"It looks terrific," Jackson said. He claims the photo he saw looked "even better" than the concept vehicle show earlier this year. While this subjective assessment doesn't tell us much, it's safe to assume GM officials really meant it when they said the production car would be nearly identical to the concept.

Jackson also claims Dr. Woychowski told him GM was "in a real rush to get it out the door," and "don't be surprised if it's by this time next year." General Motors has officially stated the new Camaro will go on sale in the first quarter of 2009. Woychowski comments seem to suggest that date could in fact come at least 12 months earlier than expected.

...Camaros on the street at the end of next-summer? Freaking sweet!

 

[GT4_Rule]

It's a good news, the Camaro will be on the streets next summer. Although I do hope that GM will sort out problems with the car before putting the car on the market.