GM Holden just received a cool $200 million to source other automakers, now that their capacity to sell the Pontiac G8 was undercut by the Auto Task Force.
Granted, one of the first announcements out of the Saturn/Penske deal was that the Sky roadster was going to be cut from production immediately. But, we already knew that was coming down, as GM didn’t want to continue original models for Saturn (at least, until the dust settled). Enter Holden.
The Commodore VE (aka Pontiac G8) can’t seem to find a place in GM’s lineup, due to fuel economy and issues with it taking up a spot in the CAFE standard lineup, which would need to be reserved for a pickup truck or SUV (where GM really makes its money). But, Penske’s Saturn no longer has such an issue. It’s not GM. And, it doesn’t have the same gas-guzzler ratio concerns.
I expect on the low-end, Penske will use fuel-efficient cars from Korea and, eventually, China. But, they’ll use the top spots for cars sourced from GM and Holden directly. That would give them sporty drives along with economy drives. With the loss of Pontiac, Penske has a rare opportunity to sell GM Sport cars… even when GM can’t or won’t in the United States.
Especially with GM Holden saying that the Zeta platform will be replaced with a lighter, more fuel-efficient remix of Zeta, I can’t see any reason for Penske not to pass on such an opportunity. Let’s hope that Penske will do what Henderson won’t, and rebadge a great car so it can be sold here.
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Now, if we can only get Penske racing, or another NASCAR circuit team to buy Pontiac, we could bee in good shape. I am still fighting with GM to make them sell or keep Pontiac. I will keep fighting until the day the day I die, or until GM sells or keeps Pontiac.
GM won’t sell Pontiac. They have refused valid offers, saying the brand is not for sale.
One argument is that GM plans to return Pontiac in the future, once the economy and fuel economy improve.
Another argument is that GM doesn’t want to sell Pontiac, in order to prevent GM sales from being cannibalized. GM might fear the rebirth of the Trans Am using foreign-sourced cars, providing yet another challenge to the Camaro and Corvette.
In reality, it’s probably both. GM knows that Buick doesn’t cater to a young audience, and Chevy doesn’t inspire sport driving beyond their muscle cars (which miss a huge part of the sport audience). At the same time, they know that Pontiac doesn’t sell well right now, because of the aforementioned factors.
gm is not worried about any car trying to compete with the camaro and corvette. for the price, they cant be ***** with.
GM isn’t worried about their own cars competing with the Camaro and Corvette, that’s why they killed the G8 and Pontiac. GM leadership feels most of you will switch from GM Sport to GM Muscle. I won’t.
Even if they got rid of some of the flaws in that crossover, I wouldn’t buy one in protest. I won’t buy a sport car from GM in the future, and that’s going to be at least a couple of generations (we’re talking 15 – 25 years here). If GM re-commits to Pontiac, I’ll be the first to test drive and sign on the dotted line, brand new car whenever they get the smarts to sell me one with the Pontiac badge.
That said, GM won’t sell Pontiac because they do fear a foreign entry creating a sport car with the Trans Am badge. Hence, they won’t sell the Pontiac brand under any circumstance.
I have to agree with Christopher. No matter what any GM fanatic will say about the Corvette or Camaro (yes, we all know about the history, the muscle, the style, etc). If a foreign automaker were able to purchase Pontiac, it would give them access to to much of what GM is. Whether it is Pontiac shadowing alot of other GM lines or alot of GM lines shadowing Pontiac lines (I have heard arguments for both) there would be a definite rebirth of the Trans Am and it would be a serious blow to GM.
Just for a moment put aside your feelings about GM and a foreign company owning Pontiac and think on this. A Trans Am comes out; sleek with enough of that nostalgic look, but mixed with the modern lines of the current rebirths of the likes of Camaro, Charger, etc. Now add in one of the high performance suspensions of some of the foreign companies. Then the devastating blow; a high performance, top end V6 with the HP of our V8s but much, much better MPG..stock. Throw in an option of one of the foreign V8 or V10 in it that offer even higher HP and comparable MPG of our V8 and now tell me your mouth isn’t watering.
Lets be honest; they would do it just to stake the hearts of the American sports car fanatics and to claim their piece of that pie and history. Yet, maybe that is just my opinion, but I know others I have talked to agree fully.