MELBOURNE, Australia — Australia's GM unit, Holden, is proud of its muscular rear-wheel-drive heritage and proves it with a new concept that "captures all that's exciting about the Holden DNA." The Coupe 60 Concept is named for the 60th anniversary of the first all-Australian car from Holden.

http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do...hotopanel..3.*

The Coupe 60 is based on the current Commodore sedan, a vehicle that shares its rear-wheel-drive platform with the Pontiac G8. Although it's roughly 2.4 inches shorter than the Commodore, the Coupe 60 rides on an identical 114.7-inch wheelbase.

Holden's designers further emphasized the coupe's more aggressive nature with several supercar-inspired design modifications. There's a set of high-performance Kumho semi-slick tires, a flat underbody, rear air diffuser and a functional rear deck lid spoiler. High-performance Brembo brakes and a side-exiting chambered exhaust with billet alloy tips continue the racing theme.

The Coupe 60 has a 6.0-liter V8 engine with active fuel management and the ability to run on E85 ethanol fuel. It's mated to a six-speed manual transmission.

Inside, the passenger compartment is "supercar inspired," including one-piece carbon-fiber seats and a sporty flat-bottomed steering wheel with integrated shift light display. High-gloss carbon fiber and black suede trim with red accents complete the testosterone-laden look.

The Coupe 60 is painted Diamond Silver. GM Holden says "for the moment, it has to remain a concept only," but project manager Peter Hughes comments that it "has the potential to write another chapter in the book of Holden icons," so stay tuned.

What this means to you: Holden gets to 60 and still displays admirable virility. — Laura Sky Brown, Correspondent





Essentially, it is the same as a G8 sedan but a coupe could compete with the chally. I wonder since they are going to use this platform with a Camaro that maybe a another GM pony car might be available





[IMG]local://upfiles/374/534320B6D95647948389FC1809AD2035.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]local://upfiles/374/3270A8BDA6494890B711D6C617B0A284.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]local://upfiles/374/E3A08B86862B465CBCE92E5C62674F1E.jpg[/IMG]

 

Not a bad looking car.....a little like a ricer. Those racing seats certainly don't look like they were made for comfort but I guess that is the idea.

 

Steering wheel is on the wrong side. All the complaints I've heard about the Challenger interior... well at least Dodge put the steering wheel on the right side.

 

I really hope Pontiac does something with this platform. Aside from saturn it is one my my favorite GM brands. I would hate to seem them go.

 

I really like Australian cars. They seem to have the perfect compromise between muscle and aerodynamics. mopar2ya, you mean the left side.

I agree joeyr, I want to see GM putting more effort into Pontiac. As I've said probably over twenty times now, I think the Firebird should be the pony car that they are about to introduce over the Camaro as Chevrolet already has a halo car. Pontiac is without one (the Solstice does not count as it is the same as the Sky).

 

That's the first pic I have seen of the back end of that car and all I can say is yuck![:'(] The exhaust coming out of the side is rad but that should not mean to fudge up the back end! Some one get needs to get back to the drawing board on this one.

 

Now that you mention it, I can see your point. The back end does look a little over down. Lypo suction time!

 

I understand you point, but I bet it has awesome aerodynamics. I like the downward slope it has from back to front.

 

That is probably true. Australian cars are very aerodynamic.