Holden ‘trucking’ on
March 15, 2008 by Paul Maric
General Motors has today announced that GM Holden will export two new models to the North American market to live alongside the Pontiac G8.
Australians would know the Pontiac G8 sport truck as the Holden Ute. Also joining the sport truck will be Pontiac’s new flagship model – the G8 GXP high performance sedan. GM Holden’s chairman, Mark Reuss, had the following to say about the new export venture:
“It’s not everyday that a manufacturer announces a vehicle that creates a whole new segment in a market, but with this, the first ute export to North America in the form of the G8 sport truck, is exactly what Pontiac is doing,”
Interestingly, the G8 sport truck being exported to the US market will feature the same 6.0-litre V8 engine used for the Australian market, coupled with GM’s 6-speed automatic transmission. One of the inherent differences though is the use of “Active Fuel Technology” for the US export. Active Fuel Technology – also known as Displacement on Demand – allows cylinders to be shut down in order to increase fuel economy.
The G8 GXP being sent to the US market will feature GM’s 6.2-litre LS3 small-block V8 motor. Although Holden wouldn’t speculate on whether this engine would be introduced for the Australian market, we believe there is a good chance we’ll see the engine enter Holden’s lineup at some point in the future.
Producing exactly 300kW, the LS3 small-block pumps out 546Nm of torque and is the newest member to GM’s small-block V8 family.
Both vehicles will be shown at the New York International Motor Show which runs from March 21st – 30th.
Print it: 
I think I like the front ends on these holdens.
I wonder if it will be possible source them here in Aus.
yes holden should maybe have an option
Im a Holden fan and own a VE SS, but come on Holden, how about introducing Displacement on Demand in an Australian Commodore first then export it to the US. And a new engine for the GXP? Why??
Is it just me or are Australian buyers being left behind so Holden can impress the US markets?
You’re kidding aren’t ya – the Pontiac front end makes what was a beautifully designed car look like a demented 5 Series BMW [No offence BM.. Luv Ya]
Mike – There are reports that Holden are planning to introduce both DOD and a Diesel option on the Commodore.. However; you will have to wait for either the VE2 [due out in March] or the VF [due out in 2010] as they haven’t confirmed when the engines will be ready
Yet latest reports suggest DOD will be available on the VE2. Possibly because HSV are pushing for it on their cars – along with the new LS7 form the new corvette
How effective is this engine displacement tech or is it just a gimmick?
In the article: “The G8 GXP being sent to the US market will feature GM’s 6.2-litre LS3 small-block V8 motor. Although Holden wouldn’t speculate on whether this engine would be introduced for the Australian market, we believe there is a good chance we’ll see the engine enter Holden’s lineup at some point in the future.”
Isn’t the LSIII V8 going to be used in the VE series II? That’s what a lot of Holden fans say. If not in the series II VE, it’ll certainly be used in the model after it.(VF?)
Wheelnut, I totally agree with you. The Pontiac front end is like a Hitler moustache on Kylie Minogue. Apart from that, the idea of Pontiac selling a ute when they’ve never been associated with utes before is a complete joke, totally in keeping with the ineptitude that characterises GM USA management in recent years.
This thing should be sold as a Chevrolet El Camino, just as the sedan version should have been launched as a Chevrolet Impala SS. Pontiac is now dead, killed by the useless GM strategtists. An Aussie import, however brilliant, is never going to save the brand.
They should have made the decision five years ago to commit to the VE Commodore platform for full-scale production in the US, at the same time being very careful about how far to badge-engineer it. It might be a Pontiac (but not as a ute), it’s very definately a Chevrolet (as an Impala, an El Camino ute and a Nomad sportwagon), and it’s a Buick as well (as the LWB Caprice). But it’s not a Cadillac, however tempted they might be.
Why, oh why do these guys keep getting it so wrong?
Hahaha oil is becoming more scarcing… all the sensible manufacturers are downizingg, but Holden is starting to sell bigger engines.
My spam word was Triumph and that just about sums up the previous poster’s command of the English language – a Triumph. Oil is becoming more scarcing, whatever scarcing is and all sensible manufacturers are downizingg. I presume that means downsizing. It doesn’t apply to Toyota, though, does it? Not when each successive Corolla and Camry is a bloated version of the previous model.
Anyway, good on ya, Holden. Whatever way you look at it, the new business is a triumph for them, our local industry and our Australian workers.
I wouldn’t get too upset that the Americans are getting some of the bits first, folks. We’re bound to follow. We probably wouldn’t get half of this stuff if the Commodore wasn’t exported.
Some reports say theres only 20 years of oil reserves left in the world others say theres much more.who’s telling the truth
TP…hey have you got amnesia as you praised them not long ago. Fairdinkum you are a hypocrite of massive proportions and come out with stupid comments!
Like this is a shutdown cylinder job as well. Yet you bag them ‘now’ and when there was no news of shutdown job you stated they are ‘on track’ (as you were having barb where Ford where going as Holden ensured there future with export program….whereas Ford according to you didnt).
ha ha ha how about some more of TP’s un-edu-ma-cated english skills. (but dont forget he is learned real gooder)
NM,
yeah mate i see it too.
he was saying they were on the right track because he was in a ford post. now it is a holden post its the other way around.
he always keeps changing the story to satisfy his S**T starting ways
Golf,
spot on mate,
if we werent sending it to the US, then the australian consumer wouldnt get half of it.
i think they really have to start making the commodore in the US. Australia can keep designing it here, but only manufacture for the RHD market.
it makes better business sense.
also that way they wont be affected by the shocking US dollar prices.
i think it will happen in the not too distant future.
NM your an idiot, I praise their export of the SS…. but increasing engine size is stupid. Learn what the definition of hypocrite is child, I did say just then ‘the SS is crap, shouldnt be exported’, that would be a hypocritical, this is a different topic.
Andrew.M talking education, your the guy that cant even do algebra!!! High school drop out? My bet is that your on the dole.
TP,
gee you are good mate you absolutely have me there!!!!
my centre link reference number is Q67342 pffffft!!!
stop being so bitter about the world outside of toyota and get over yourself
and how were you able to progress to algebra when you cant even spell!!!!!
I agree. I like our (HOLDEN) front design, specially on the ute. The american (pontiac) design looks like it was made for the americans, so thats why it doesnt look as good as our holdens.
TP
1.Bigger motor and shut cylinders down and you say you stupid comments
2.When was “not” shut off cylinders and tiny bit less in size cc you say it is “on track”
The facts at hand are that increasing the engine size yes might be a bad move with a shrinking petroleum base…..you are quick to sink the boot in and go off on your obscure road (Ha Ha….typical) whilst bagging economy as you allege its worse (without taking into consideration cylinder shutdown). This TOYOTA BUBBLEBOY is a huge backflip of immense proportions you halfwit!
ANDREW M….agree as it was exactly that!
DUCK….I like this front end as much as Aussie version. Looks cool!
Dont be surprised if the LS3 [Corvette] Twin Supercharged V8 is a “HSV only” option as a way of making a greater differentiation between the the SS and the Clubbie or GTS
I mean why would you spend $30K+ on a car with only 20 or so more Kw than the standard donor car
Looks shitloads better than holdens too high small grilled ugly front
at least it looks agressive!
oustanding effort… but please NOT tiger mica, thats SOOOOO YESTERDAY!!
But i do wonder what the yanks will think of a ute that wont take a load?
Troy,
i agree on the “tiger gold”
i remember when it came out on the VT’s, it was like “hell yeah” but now when i see it getting around its like “eeewwwwww yuck”
i was only commenting on that a little while ago actually.
HOLDEN MEANS A GREAT DEAL TO AUSTRALIA.
Give up the Aussie acting, Holden.
Why would they want to put a load in it? Aussie boys don’t. Not something like sand, anyway. But tools and bikes, hey, why not!
Oh, and is it really Tiger Mica? It looks a little like the Hackett Gold that HSV used, but it’s not that either. It seems to have a reddish-bronze flip to it. Heck it’s not beige, so I love it!
That Midnight Blue on their “truck” would look nice on a HSV, IMO.
The Yanks get the standard tail-light design the VE’s have (Instead of the special HSV LEDs) combined with the HSV mags (along with a touch of American chrome) – something we don’t get. Maybe it’s optional? Just something small I noticed.
The VE Ute will actually carry approx 600Kgs more than GMs Previous Mid-Sized Pick-Up the Chevrolet SS-R
The “Midnight Blue” colour was available on [VX] HSVs; it was called Grey Storm.. and is likely to make a comeback on the VE2 as is Vivid Purple and a number of others
THE HSV Maloo has the same taillights aas the SS Ute..
the Lights on the Tailgate of the maloo are apparently fake as its just a moulded plastic insert which looks crap
[as on the HSV website the tailgate isnt lit up]
It’s only the sedans which get the Tic Tac style LEDs.
Wheelnut,
what do you mean “The VE Ute will actually carry approx 600Kgs more than GMs Previous Mid-Sized Pick-Up the Chevrolet SS-R”?????????????
the SS ute cant even carry 600kgs so how can that be??
what is the chevrolet rated at? -50kgs?
I’m just going of an article I read on http://www.autobliog.com.
which gives the digures in lbs so I just ddid a rough conversion to kgs
And going from the VE Ute brochure the SS can carry 600Kg which implies that teh SSR must have been a real show pony
mate i dont believe that.
the SSV cant even carry 600kgs and that is the trim level the yanks will get.
only the pov version of the SS and only in manual form does it carry 600kgs and only just
even if you do take 600kgs as the load rating of the SS that would mean the chev cant carry “squat”
i think someone has stuffed their figures as what they say the Aussie SS can carry and tow more than the chev, is actually the Aussis SS’s limits.
i dont think they are “more than” figures but rather the Aussie SS’s limits
i tried to have a quick look on the GM site but couldnt find the Chev vehicle in question
They stopped making the Chev SS-R 2 years ago.. It looked like a modern version of an FX ute
Oh yeah, I’ve seen an SS-R getting around where I live, a yellow one. someone told me they saw a car that looked like a retro FJ Holden and that was it.
i assume it competed with something like the ford lightning?
anyway i doubt this would give an improvement in load lugging abilities.
i dont think they aim to command the load lugging market with the SS ute anyway as they still have a deep range of of your typical chevs and GMC’s
The SS-R didn’t really have any direct rivals. The Lightning is a Serious full size pick-up as is the Tundra.
Yet the SS-R was a more of a Compact Utility Vehicle..
And even though it was relatively popular amongst teh poseurs and image conscious californians.. the rest of America didn’t see it as a real Pick Up which is why it only lasted less than 2-4 years.
However; there are a now a number of Apalachian Americans who are now seriously looking to down-size there SUVs which is why the G8 Sports Truck [or whatever it is called] is expected to be rather mor popular than the SS-R
I think WHEELS’s John Carey (or was it someone from CAR?) drove the Chev SSR on a visit to the USA and found it a wobbly shocker. It was a convertible/ute on a full chassis, am I right, Wheelnut?
Exactly Golfschwein.. yeah there just wasnt enough structural rigidity/reinforcement to deal with the body flex.. mind you the shit-house American build quality didn’t help either
As a ford supporter I must say good on holden and GM for trying to save the rear wheel drive platform and keeping Aussie jobs in Australia and also GM making a bold move to change there thinking about the “Global” market not just the north american market.
Where is Ford?
an ss ute cannot carry 600kg. this is because of the fragile independant rear suspension and coil springs. anyone knows that leaf springs are the load carriers. As long as the Americans dont want to carry anyting but a small motor bikeor a pair of obese Americns they will be fine.
bloody typo’s……….keyboard needs a clean out !!!!! lol
I detect a curious pre-occupation with the SS Ute’s carrying capacity. Does it seriously matter? I don’t recall the last time I saw a Commodore Ute carrying a pallet of Reflex paper for the office. If that sort of thing’s important, there are other choices, and people will choose according to need.
Captain, dont you think holden has learnt from its mistake of trying to recreate a American icon.
It didnt work with the Pontiac GTO. People didnt accept it. Thats why the VE became the G8. Nobody can say its not as good as its predecessor.
Same with the G8 ST. its not an El Camino. So leave it at that. No matter how similar they are in style.
And why not try and save the pontiac brand? What are they supposed to do? sit back and wait for a class action lawsuit from hundreds of angry dealers? wake up.
Good luck to GM Holden but don’t forget the (Monaro Days) or have Australian car exports improved since then.
Jumping into uncertain ventures begs the question why another rebaged GM Holden, they’re experts at applying these strategies and advertising lies, I bet Pontiac fan’s and most of America wouldn’t even know if it was put together in or from Australia, just like most Australians don’t realise they have bought a Daewoo with greasy Holden badge’s unfortunately slapped onto it…..
Whens the VE Series II SS coming out. While Ive heard it may not be named the series II for resale reasons, Does anyone know when its coming and what extra features it will have.
The SS V will have Xeon lights.
VE II will be released in March 08 and is epected to have
Displacement on Demand; Xenon headlights [SS/Calais]; Tyre Pressure System [Calais]; and possibly Curtain Airbags [Ute];