Oracle of Delphi

Republican

You are so Old Fashioned - they are called Administrative Assisstants now

By JAMES STANFORD 16 March 2008 GM HOLDEN has confirmed it will export its new Ute and a new high-performance version of the G8 sedan to the US. GMH chairman and managing director Mark Reuss also vowed to further extend the company’s export portfolio when he announced the deal at Fishermens Bend this morning. The Ute will be sold as a Pontiac G8 "sport truck" variant, although its actual title is yet to be decided. Pontiac will ask the public to come up with an apt title for the car-based ute. The Pontiac ute, which was styled by Holden designers in Australia, picks up a similar front-end to the G8 sedan. It will presented in the US for the first time at the New York motor show this Thursday morning along with the high-performance 6.2-litre G8 GXP, a more powerful version of the VE Commodore-based sedan. Mr Reuss said the export announcement was a significant step for Holden. “The two models really enhance Holden’s global position as the centre of rear-wheel drive,” he said. More than 50 per cent of Holden’s production capacity at its Elizabeth plant is dedicated to export models. Announcing the new export contracts, Mr Reuss reinforced his view that Holden should chase even more overseas sales. “I have the personal commitment to expand what we are doing from an export and engineering standpoint in Australia,” he said. The G8 GXP sedan runs a 6.2-litre LS3 V8 from the Corvette rather than the 6.0-litre V8s used in existing Commodore and HSV models. It is expected that the more advanced 6.2-litre engine will also replace the V8s in the Holden Commodore and HSV range in Australia at some stage in the future. HSV is likely to take the engine first, but a senior engineer from the company told GoAuto last month he was not aware of the plan to build a 6.2-litre Pontiac G8 GXP. By packaging a 6.2-litre for the GXP, Holden has already done a lot of the foundation work for its inclusion in the Commodore/HSV models. Pontiac has announced the ute will run a 6.0-litre LS2 V8 with "displacement on demand" cylinder-deactivating, fuel-saving technology. That means Australians could soon expect this feature on the 6.0-litre V8 engines in the Commodore range. Car-based utes are not new to the US, with Ford selling its Ranchero and GM offering the Chevrolet El Camino and GMC Caballero. Sales of all variants peaked in the 1970s, but the segment struggled in the 1980s and the final El Camino was built in 1987. Nothing like those vehicles are currently on the market in the US, with the closest models being pick-up trucks like the Ford F150 fitted with high-output engines. Holden has long attempted to export its Ute model to the US and hopes were raised that the previous-generation vehicle would join the GM garage along with the Monaro-based Pontiac GTO, which failed to win the hearts and minds of American customers. Mr Reuss was not about to nominate a sales target for the VE-based ute, stating that it was not clear how well it would sell in the US. “It went out of production because no-one wanted to buy it. This one is terrific, but I really don’t know (how it will sell),” Mr Reuss said. “We don’t know what something like the ute will do in the US from a buyer’s standpoint, but it is defining a new segment and we are very excited about that,” he said. When asked if production capacity at Holden’s Elizabeth plant could pose a problem if the G8 ute took off in the US, Mr Reuss said the company would be able to handle it. “We hope we will have that problem. We’ll work out how to deal with it, but that’s a nice problem to have,” Mr Reuss said. The G8 GXP sedan will go into production later this year, while the Pontiac ute production won’t start until the second half of next year. The V8 engine to be slotted into the GXP currently generates 300kW and 546Nm in the Corvette. While the G8 is only offered with an automatic transmission, the GXP is going to be made available with a six-speed automatic or six-speed manual. In the US, the general manager for Buick, Pontiac and GMC, Jim Bunnell said the Pontiac ute would be a segment-defining vehicle. “There’s simply nothing else like the G8 sport truck on the road today and we definitely believe that there are customers who will be excited by its distinctive design, performance and cargo capabilities,” Mr Bunnell said. Mr Reuss made it clear what he thought Pontiac should call the new model. “I had one suggestion - that they call it the Ute and get on with it,” he said. Link - http://www.goauto.com.au/mellor/mellor.nsf...A25740E0011D7B8

The literal translation is No go, not doesn't go. All I did was make that statement, you inferred I was taking about the urban legend, not me. :AH-HA_wink:

When I was last home in Delaware, I was asked by my state senator to run for the state senate. I was told the party ran my polling numbers and my ratings were high both with men and women demographics. I am heavily involved in Party Politics at home in Delaware, however I politely declined the invitation to run, I explained my job function and that I would rarely be home with the role I have been assigned in GM. Besides, I much prefer internal GM politics, to any at home in Delaware. Although Senator Börger does have a nice ring to it. :AH-HA_wink:

My salesman and I are friends, he has sold me about 17 cars in about 10 years. our birthdays are the same day but different years, and he is on my MSN Messenger should I need him for something car related.

When used as I wrote it, No Va means No Go, notice I did not write Nova.

White

Can you say No Va, in Spanish it means No Go!

Wine

Bud

I can pretty much afford to buy and waste whatever I want. If you work hard, perhaps someday you will be able to do so also. :AH-HA_wink:

Lite

Something to consider would be, how long is the G8 going to be around.

Heavy

You get what you pay for, I guess that's why your Olds won't even get you to the New York Auto show. How sad. :AH-HA_wink:

That name was damaged by the X car that wore before.

We don't think we can, we are! :AH-HA_wink:

Battery

Ohhhhhhh really? :AH-HA_wink:

Hmmmm, I saw a lot of them in Delaware, last time I was there. I wonder why? :AH-HA_wink: I even saw Opel GT's on I-95, I thought I was back in the Fatherland, oops, I mean Germany!

Now you know why I only live in gated communities. :AH-HA_wink:

Alternator

Even I laughed at that. What they are saying is "blu don't hate"!

It's making old men dance down the hall! Have you seen Bob Lutz dance? :AH-HA_wink: