SCOOP! Pontiac's secret coupe: What the next GTO could have been
02-29-2008, 01:45 PM
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SCOOP! Pontiac's secret coupe: What the next GTO could have been
Looks like the Challenger has Pontiac tremblin'! 
http://www.motortrend.com/features/a...t_pontiac_gto/
http://www.motortrend.com/features/a...t_pontiac_gto/
SCOOP! Pontiac's secret coupe: What the next GTO could have been
By Mike Connor
This car look familiar? Check the sculpted bodyside and the low-slung greenhouse. Check the wheel-in-each-corner stance and bob-tail rear end. Yep, it's basically the stunning Holden Coupe 60 unveiled in Australia yesterday. But with a modern interpretation of the classic wide-track Pontiac grille up front.
Now, here's the kicker: These photos are about three years old. This car is the still-born Zeta-based GTO replacement killed off by GM's decision to spend money on fast-tracking the GMT900 trucks into production instead. With funds diverted to GMT900, works on all U.S. Zeta-based products was stopped. This coupe, and a Buick sedan, did not make the cut when the program was re-started some months later.
Apart from the fact they reveal the Holden Coupe 60 is basically a three-year old design (executed under the direction of Mike Simcoe, the quietly talented Aussie responsible for the Commodore/G8 and now the designer with overall responsibility for all GM rear drive unibody cars) these pictures also show GM was contemplating a radically different front end design for the Zeta-based Pontiacs.
Had it been approved, this car's "wide-track" look would have appeared on the G8 sedan. However we understand it was a considerably more expensive option than the design that made it into production, primarily because it would have required unique headlights.
As we said in our story yesterday, the appearance of the Holden Coupe 60 doesn't necessarily mean a new Holden Monaro, and therefore a new Pontiac GTO (or G8 Coupe) is on the way. Holden needs Pontiac volumes to make production of the Monaro viable, but GM officials are worried that with the impending launches of both Dodge Challenger and Chevy Camaro, the U.S. coupe market is fast becoming saturated.
By Mike Connor
This car look familiar? Check the sculpted bodyside and the low-slung greenhouse. Check the wheel-in-each-corner stance and bob-tail rear end. Yep, it's basically the stunning Holden Coupe 60 unveiled in Australia yesterday. But with a modern interpretation of the classic wide-track Pontiac grille up front.
Now, here's the kicker: These photos are about three years old. This car is the still-born Zeta-based GTO replacement killed off by GM's decision to spend money on fast-tracking the GMT900 trucks into production instead. With funds diverted to GMT900, works on all U.S. Zeta-based products was stopped. This coupe, and a Buick sedan, did not make the cut when the program was re-started some months later.
Apart from the fact they reveal the Holden Coupe 60 is basically a three-year old design (executed under the direction of Mike Simcoe, the quietly talented Aussie responsible for the Commodore/G8 and now the designer with overall responsibility for all GM rear drive unibody cars) these pictures also show GM was contemplating a radically different front end design for the Zeta-based Pontiacs.
Had it been approved, this car's "wide-track" look would have appeared on the G8 sedan. However we understand it was a considerably more expensive option than the design that made it into production, primarily because it would have required unique headlights.
As we said in our story yesterday, the appearance of the Holden Coupe 60 doesn't necessarily mean a new Holden Monaro, and therefore a new Pontiac GTO (or G8 Coupe) is on the way. Holden needs Pontiac volumes to make production of the Monaro viable, but GM officials are worried that with the impending launches of both Dodge Challenger and Chevy Camaro, the U.S. coupe market is fast becoming saturated.
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02-29-2008, 01:49 PM
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RE: SCOOP! Pontiac's secret coupe: What the next GTO could have been
Hmmm...Those pictures do nothing for me. Perhaps, if it was the picture of an actual car, that would make the difference. It looks too Mitsubishi Galantish to me, but in fairness I was never the biggest GTO fan in the first place.
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02-29-2008, 02:28 PM
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RE: SCOOP! Pontiac's secret coupe: What the next GTO could have been
Ehhh.. fine GM whatever. Let the Camaro and Challenger come and saturate the market... you'll be kicking your arse in a couple of years if you don't do something with the Pontiac division real soon.
02-29-2008, 02:40 PM
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RE: SCOOP! Pontiac's secret coupe: What the next GTO could have been
ORIGINAL: MGDMike
Ehhh.. fine GM whatever. Let the Camaro and Challenger come and saturate the market... you'll be kicking your arse in a couple of years if you don't do something with the Pontiac division real soon.
Ehhh.. fine GM whatever. Let the Camaro and Challenger come and saturate the market... you'll be kicking your arse in a couple of years if you don't do something with the Pontiac division real soon.
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02-29-2008, 02:52 PM
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RE: SCOOP! Pontiac's secret coupe: What the next GTO could have been
02-29-2008, 03:00 PM
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RE: SCOOP! Pontiac's secret coupe: What the next GTO could have been
I honestly like the way that Holden looks, the problem is I just don't think there is anyway to make it look the way that diehard GTO fans will be pleased with. If I was GM, I would either make that a Pontiac with a new nameplate and change pretty much nothing about it, or make it a Buick and again change pretty much nothing about it.
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02-29-2008, 04:12 PM
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RE: SCOOP! Pontiac's secret coupe: What the next GTO could have been
ORIGINAL: Justinec101
Picture of an actual car:
http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.au...coupe60-24.jpg
Picture of an actual car:
http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.au...coupe60-24.jpg
02-29-2008, 05:55 PM
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RE: SCOOP! Pontiac's secret coupe: What the next GTO could have been
ORIGINAL: Justinec101
Picture of an actual car:
http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.au...coupe60-24.jpg
Picture of an actual car:
http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.au...coupe60-24.jpg
I never like the way the new Pontiac looked. This one looks much better but it does look like a photochop.
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For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
02-29-2008, 07:46 PM
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RE: SCOOP! Pontiac's secret coupe: What the next GTO could have been
ORIGINAL: Jeremiah 29:11
I never like the way the new Pontiac looked. This one looks much better but it does look like a photochop.
I never like the way the new Pontiac looked. This one looks much better but it does look like a photochop.
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03-01-2008, 03:19 AM
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RE: SCOOP! Pontiac's secret coupe: What the next GTO could have been
Not a bad looking car, looks like an Acura/BMW amalgamation.
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