Torana to make a comeback?
21 Nov, 2007
82 Comments 
The internet is abuzz with rumours (again) that the Torana is back on track for production.
In a document leaked onto the web, the US United Auto Workers union (UAW) listed future General Motors production schedules.
Included were Zeta-based products, and most intriguingly, global Alpha-based products. Slated as being manufactured at the Lordstown, Ohio plant, Alpha is said to be a mid-sized, rear-wheel-drive platform with a wheelbase of around 2800mm.
This is slightly shorter than the concept Torana’s wheelbase, however it’s worth noting that Torana’s was a custom platform, and as yet, has not been used in a production vehicle.
Holden will not speculate as to future plans, but it seems that if produced, Torana would be imported from the US and 2011 was listed as the date of commencement, so pricing and specification levels will depend on the Aussie dollar and global markets.
GoAuto reports that two styles would be probable, and that in the same production schedule, the Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid would commence from 2010.
GM product czar Bob Lutz addressed the Western Automotive Journalists association in San Francisco this week, and announced that Volt would be ready to prove its worth by Easter next year, silencing its critics. The most vocal of these, according to Business Week online, was Toyota, who described the Volt as “completely wacky” and “nonsense.”
Lutz countered by telling Business Week, “Let’s wait for the Easter Bunny. Somebody’s going to have egg on their face. And I don’t like having egg on my face.”
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November 21st, 2007 at 2:02 pm
Good to see them bringing it back…but am interested to see how the purists will respond…I do realise purists hold much of the market share in terms of buying but still…
I don’t know how Holden are going to attempt to market it… perhaps “The fully imported Holden Torana…Holden means a great deal to Australia…”…all it is, is a name on some global manufactured design at the end of the day that will be rebadged as something else in America…
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November 21st, 2007 at 2:03 pm
correction: purists *don’t* hold much of the buying market
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November 21st, 2007 at 2:17 pm
Another day another Holden rumour. Is this one because the Commodore is getting far too large/heavy/thirsty for Australian buyers?
Is this can going to take on the Honda Accord/Mazda 6/ Subaru Liberty? If so, a 3.6L V6 is probably not what the target market is after.
Sure, there is a group of people out there that would like an overpowered medium sized car, but in the majority they want something mid-sized, fun to drive, but relatively economical (I drive a Subaru Outback and get 9L/100km around town).
Unfortunately I can see the revheads at Holden deciding that 2-2.5L don’t sell (Epica anyone?) and that they have to place this as a ‘premium’ product (kinda like the last Vectra)…lets face it, if its priced similarly to the Commodore they will push that product regardless of what the customer wants (prior experience on this one - I walked out and bought something else).
Good luck to Holden, but I can see their product planners getting this one wrong - again.
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November 21st, 2007 at 3:31 pm
Glass roof, too short.
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November 21st, 2007 at 3:44 pm
Tommo check the sales figures buddy, as crap as the epica is (and i agree that its a bit rubbish) it IS actually selling very well, better then holden forcasted infact.
back on topic, i dont see anywhere it said that it would only have a large engine in it, i think for it to work ofcourse it would require a 4 cylinder motor in it. Also motor had a breif report of this in their last mag, and they also said that in the document released to the american auto unions, they actually had holden australia listed as the development centre of the car. so essentially it will be designed by the same blokes who designed commodore, but it will just be built in the US a) because theirs no extra capacity room in australia and b) there is a massive amount of excess capacity in the US plants at the moment
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November 21st, 2007 at 3:54 pm
Holden could put their badge on a piece of shit (that is the Epica right?) and it would still sell like hot cakes.
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November 21st, 2007 at 3:56 pm
Is it just me or does it look pretty much like a Commodore?
Cheers
F-0
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November 21st, 2007 at 3:59 pm
That’s the idea F-O.
Don’t forget, the TT36 Concept came out in 2004 and was designed to be a clear indicator as to where Holden was heading with its design language.
Which is why the Commodore actually looks like the Torana.
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November 21st, 2007 at 4:03 pm
Ahhhhhh,well that explains that Karl! Still they should look different I agree!
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November 21st, 2007 at 4:33 pm
It looks like a baby Commodore, but I see it as some sort of downscale Cadillac CTS, with great handling at an affordable price.
They can start the lineup with a 4-cylinder model to combat the Camry, Accord and the handsome 2nd generation Mazda 6, and top it off with the Alloytec V6.
It’s about time Holden start making cars truly their own and not borrow mediocre Seoul cars that lack soul.
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November 21st, 2007 at 4:44 pm
As soon as possible please, or Holden will die
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November 21st, 2007 at 4:48 pm
The Epica ATM is selling about 300 units a month, I wouldn’t consider that to be selling well.
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November 21st, 2007 at 5:31 pm
love child of the VE and mazda 3.. anyone?
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November 21st, 2007 at 6:17 pm
i have always thought it looked like a next gen vectra.
will this replace the vectra?
the most interesting thing about this car is it is RWD!!!!
meaning you could put a turbo 4 or 6 in it without it being stupid.
i doubt it would be called a torana. it wont sell if they call it that. many of people would be afraid to say they drive a torana as the name is associated with bogans.
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November 21st, 2007 at 6:22 pm
The Vectra replacement (in Europe) is rumoured to be called the Insignia, which is due next year. I doubt the Torana is the replacement, considering it is a few years away and the Insignia will most likely be FWD.
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November 21st, 2007 at 6:32 pm
A message to Mr Lutz - Toyota challenging GM as the world’s largest car manufactuer, reporting record breaking profits while GM copes a hiding, reports $40 billion 1/4 losses and sellS Daewoo’s as Holdens means you already have egg on your face.
Believe us all - it is the Toyota exectives making a laughing stock out of you clowns not the other way around.
FOOL !!
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November 21st, 2007 at 6:32 pm
the vectra was nearly the commy replacement a few years back. that would have killed holden lucky they didnt do it.
hey wheelnut,
i thought you were saying it would be made here too???
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November 21st, 2007 at 6:36 pm
get over it “egg on face” dude 2 up^^^^^^^^^
he was talking about hybrids and the snobby attitude that toyota has in thinking they are the be all and end all in hybrid technology.
little do they know but the once big, dirty and heavy GM fleet could harbour some cutting edge stuff. oh gee that must hurt toyota. ha ha ha ha ha
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November 21st, 2007 at 6:39 pm
Wow more crap in the market, but I guess it will still end up getting Wheels car of the year.
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November 21st, 2007 at 6:45 pm
Na ……..I think Toranas have moved from that level cause of the prices they go for …….I know they had the reputation for bogan cars in the 80S but most of the Holden lovers have written them off. So only the well looked after ones remain left practically!
I think early Commodores have taken the place of Toranas!
But I wouldn’t have thought either they would call it a Torana!
His name is egg on face…..thats apt!Not another T battle against the World……….please!
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November 21st, 2007 at 6:47 pm
hahahah…..CAD ,I was just saying the same thing yesterday,what Holden will Wheels brag about next year….shhhh you will give them ideas.
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November 21st, 2007 at 6:55 pm
missile,
i know but what will dad say when his daughter runs home and says “i want a torana”?
A word answer for that………..
i doubt they will sell it to females out of fear they will be known to drive a torana. people will confuse it with the name of toranas of old.
its a hard image to shake
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November 21st, 2007 at 7:23 pm
My daughter is going to be a Nun for that reason……I know too well what boys in cars get you interested in…….Horsepower!
See Andrew your already thinking ahead to what you will say to your daughter/s
My 14 year old and hubby are looking at doing a father son project for him to drive in a few years. He wants a REX….need to find a real doggy one to start with though! mmmm not sure if we will ,he only wants to spend about $5,000 on it!
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November 21st, 2007 at 8:01 pm
The reason the TT-36 looks like a baby Commodore is because its a concept car used to assess/judge public reaction. infact the designners put a number of features onto/into the Torana that they hoped would make it onto the [yet to be released] VE.
As for it replacing the Vectra. I don’t know because the boys at Clayton [HSV] are interested in the high performance version of the upcoming Vectra. If they get there way Holden would more than likely import the Vectra as well then drop the Epica.
The Torana would then probably sit between the Vectra and Commodore.
As For the Name - history has shown iconic names such as Monaro, Camaro, Cobra, and GT last.. they conjure up images of our past [mis-spent youth] which is why car companies still use them today even though the modern version is nothing like the original.
Therefore I expect Holden will call it the Torana
besides some people associate the names Commodore and Falcon with Bogans and they’re selling reasonably well.
The reason I said it would be made here is because at the time - when the car was unveiled that was the most likely outcome.. Yet since then Holden has increased its export program and is now close to full capacity [particularly with the ute and wagon coming online] means it’s looking less likely.. Canada is probably the Go as thats where the Camaro/Monaro will be built.
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November 21st, 2007 at 8:13 pm
the iconic name of the monaro is what sold the new gen. people soon got over the novelty of it hence they had to cut it.
names like torana, cortina and camira would find it hard to be revived as there would be such a huge difference between what it is now and the stereotype that was placed on them when they left the market.
i suppose we will wait and see but my money says it wont be called the torana. i think they called the concept the “torry” to evoke immediate reaction and interest
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November 21st, 2007 at 8:19 pm
Looks pretty good!! Reminds me of the BMW M6.
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November 21st, 2007 at 8:31 pm
holden didn’t have to cut the monaro cos it wasn’t selling well, they cut it because it came to the end of its production life…
i laugh that the car hasnt even been designed yet, let alone released onto the market, yet already its “another shit car on the market” how can that be? oh right, cos it has a holden badge on it, that automatically makes it rubbish right?
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November 21st, 2007 at 8:47 pm
M6???????????How!
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November 21st, 2007 at 8:51 pm
Birthday Party?…and yes how does this look like a BMW M6?
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November 21st, 2007 at 9:47 pm
Hey Me Im not having a birthday party……….too old to celebrate being 42 today!!!!!!!!!hahahaha
Like most guys though I feel 25 still……and look closer too it than most guys think at my age do!!!!!!!
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November 21st, 2007 at 9:52 pm
HAHAHAHAHAHA! :D LOL!
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November 21st, 2007 at 10:22 pm
im turning 23 tomorrow and i dont look a day older then 18. People tell me this will be a good thing when im older but shit it gets bloody tiresome when i STILL need to show people ID to buy some beer!
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November 21st, 2007 at 10:27 pm
Wouldn’t worry…………..non of us wish to get older anyway! What are you complying about?
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November 21st, 2007 at 11:14 pm
Happy Birthday Richo………..it was mine today!Almost 2 x as much as yours anyway! My 14 year olds tomorrow though……so have a happy birthday baby!
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November 22nd, 2007 at 6:09 am
heh nice one, cheers bavarian, happy birthday a day late - now off to work for me, remember the days when you didnt have to work on your birthday? pfft doesn’t happen anymore when you work for yourself
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November 22nd, 2007 at 7:44 am
hmmn…I seem to remember that the original Viva was an underpowered small/medium sh#$box that was then replaced by a locally built car that grew into a medium sized rear drive vehicle…which was called….wait for it…TORANA!
Does this mean Holden is simply repeating the past?
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November 22nd, 2007 at 10:11 am
I seriously hope Holden does this and brings a twin turbo machine to the Australian landscape, hopefully with AWD. It would be the best HSV without a doubt.
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November 22nd, 2007 at 11:25 am
Why the hell dont they make it in Oz. The car market is shifting to smaller cars and our local manufacturers are gonna be left behind if they dont change with the times!
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November 22nd, 2007 at 12:35 pm
Tell me about Richo……..I sort of had a couple of hours off but that was it! Hope you get some good presses…HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
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November 22nd, 2007 at 2:39 pm
WHO CARES ABOUT TORANA OR COMMODORE FOR THAT MATTER??
TORANA WOULD JUST BE ANOTHER CHEAPLY,BADLY BUILT AUSTRALIAN
CAR!!!
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November 22nd, 2007 at 2:48 pm
AND IF THEY BUILD THEM IN AMERICA THEY WILL BE EVEN WORSE!@!!!
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November 22nd, 2007 at 3:56 pm
YEP I CAN SEE IT NOW AMERICAN BUILT REBADGED AS A CHEVY NOVA!
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November 22nd, 2007 at 4:26 pm
its a cool concept & happy B-day 2 everyone
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November 22nd, 2007 at 4:47 pm
oh maaaaannnnnnn
i wanna b’day too.
hey Richo,
sorry mate but the sales were taking a big slide with the monaro thats why they stopped it. if it was still selling like hotcakes they would still run it. especially being a different platform/shell it makes it even harder to justify it when sales dive.
oh and for the record IM not saying it will be a shite car,
i reckon it will shape up alright. my only concearn is with the name Torana. i feel just by looking at it, it is worthy of a name that exerts a little more elegance.
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November 22nd, 2007 at 4:57 pm
So you had yours or not ………birthday I mean?
You have an old flame that had a Torana that your still dirty on or is there another reason you just don’t like the name..apart from the reputation it has in the 80s?
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November 22nd, 2007 at 5:11 pm
nah my B’day is at the start of the year.
i dont know. when i and most people think torana they think rugged and tough.
this car wont be anything like that so i reckon people will associate the torana name as being associated with hooning and therefore will put off some people from even looking at it
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November 22nd, 2007 at 5:27 pm
AHHHH………a Capricorn Aquarius, or a Pisces,
So it needs butching up a bit to deserve the name?
Pink isn’t the colour to show it in.
Whats with the fuel filler in the back pillar?
I know when I think of the old SLuRs I think bolt on guards bonnet scoops and hot wires! Although this isn’t a SLR one would think they would bring some of the old names back in that also went along with Torana. Otherwise its just a modern sunbird!
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November 22nd, 2007 at 6:12 pm
dont bamboozle me with star signs. i only know mine and thats because people always figure it out and tell you.
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November 22nd, 2007 at 6:23 pm
I can’t figure you out but will guess Aquarius? I had you for Sagittarius…….secretive but witty!
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November 22nd, 2007 at 8:09 pm
you are hopeless ha ha ha ha ha ha ha
right on the secretive and witty though
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November 22nd, 2007 at 9:49 pm
Holden needs to bring back the Torana now. It’s just what the market is crying out for, a well priced rear wheel drive mid-size family sedan to take on the BMW 3-series.
Get rid of the Epica, Holden and fast-track the Torana.
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November 23rd, 2007 at 2:14 am
hey Bav Mis (it’s late), I seem to recall the idea behind the pink was to play on the Torana heritage, but in a bold and modern way. I’m certain you could buy a pink LJ Torana with white vinyl seats, not only as a GTR, but as a luxo SL with woodgrain interior as well. Mmmmmm, would have required a certain leap of faith at ordering time. Or LSD.
So, anyway, I reckon the show car looks hot with the pink combo. Holden showed it under bright reddish pink lights at the show stand, too…looked awesome.
Is this what my life is reduced to? Blogging with all o’ yous at 1.10am? Fell asleep early with all the lights on, now I’m full of beans.
Happy birthday to yers all.
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November 23rd, 2007 at 10:56 am
Torana….. been there, done that.. this concept car looks pretty good, but please, don’t call it a torana unless you bang a 5.0 litre in it, dump it, doof it and sell it in Penrith.
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November 23rd, 2007 at 3:38 pm
yes i agree shane
they have done the monaro now its the toranas turn
they should of called the base model commodore a belmont that would of been “ACE”
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November 23rd, 2007 at 3:39 pm
yes i agree shane
they have done the monaro now its the toranas turn
they should of called the base model commodore a belmont that would of been \”ACE\”
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November 24th, 2007 at 3:11 pm
at least the monaro stayed true to its former image.
the torana doesnt seem to stay with the same image oh early yrs.
im with Harry
dont call it a torana unless it is a tuff sports version.
perception to buyers is a powerfull thing and to some the name torana wont appeal and to the others they will be dissapointed that they dont recognise it as a torana
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November 24th, 2007 at 4:21 pm
Hey golfschwein ……I don’t think I do Pink that much ! Purple yes ! Life is what you make it I guess….too hot out today to be anywhere else but in doors. Hey the next time my dog starts chewing my feet in the early hours I get up to see if your on! My hubby is always falling asleep in the chair….what is it with middle aged guys falling asleep early ?
Andrew…..so what star sign are you then?
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November 27th, 2007 at 7:18 pm
I’d say the reason Holden chose such a retina burning colour like Man-genta is because it was a concept car designed purely for car shows and intended to get maximum visual immpact which is easily done under the K9s and high intensity xenon or LED lights that they use at the shows.
The other thing of course is that show cars like the Torana are so heavily detailled [shampoo conditioner wax and polymer sealant etc] as well as several clear or pearl
coats.
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November 28th, 2007 at 6:12 pm
Wonder if the new Torana will be able to fit the new 6.2 Litre LS-9 Intercooled-Supercharged [485Kw] V8 under the bonnet?
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November 28th, 2007 at 6:19 pm
Cut out the shocker towers if it doesn’t I guess!hahaha
Sorry Wheelnut it was a joke!
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November 29th, 2007 at 7:03 pm
As the TT-36 Torana Concept was built on a similar platform to the VE - be it slightly shorter and narrower..
I just had a look at the dimensions of the VE compared to the New Corvette and I’d say the LS-9 would fit in the Torana.. but only just
They might have to add a bonnet bulge though - for the superchargers.
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November 29th, 2007 at 7:16 pm
A bulge is always good…………hahaha
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November 30th, 2007 at 6:50 pm
If they added a bulge.. Wonder if they’d go for the smooth one piece bulge like on the XR8s and GTs or revert to something like on the VL Walkies.. or maybe even being a Torana, like the Old SL/R5000’s.. But SL/R3600 or SL/R6200 doesn’t sound quite the same as SL/R5000
However; Ive seen an SLR8000 with a Keith Black V8 in it.
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November 30th, 2007 at 7:00 pm
wheelnut,
the bulge would have to be the SLR type.
and sorry missile no boring old grey like the SLR5000 you reckons looks better than the yellow/black for eg
grey SLR5000’s look crap!!!!!
yellow/black yes yes yes
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December 8th, 2007 at 12:25 pm
I prefer the stealth looking Black SLRs with SLR5000 in Silver Shadow writing or Red and Black
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December 8th, 2007 at 12:53 pm
Hey Wheelnut I had a black one …….all black ,white interior ,silver simmons wheels .Was a beautiful car! Was an A9X though!
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December 8th, 2007 at 3:54 pm
oh my god BM, you once were a member of the dark side?? im gutted!! hehehehe….
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December 8th, 2007 at 4:39 pm
I almost went on the dark side when I was a kid because of other kids, then when I grew up I learnt that I should not listen to kids that don’t know there cars.
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December 8th, 2007 at 5:16 pm
Scum to Ford. Anyway Torana has nowhere near the history of the Typhoon
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December 8th, 2007 at 6:26 pm
I have been to the darkside a few times…..Had a Brock Calais director…..and 2 SS Commodores ! A9X was the best though!! Will try scanning a photo of it and send it too you Tonyn!
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December 9th, 2007 at 9:21 am
What The??
The Torana name goes back to 1970-71. Whereas [as far as I am aware] the Typhoon is a fairly recent thing with FPV and the BA-BF Falcons
Torana has always been a stand alone model; whereas the Typhoon is more of an “add-on” as in the Ford Falcon Typhoon.
Then of course there’s the Toranas multiple Bathurst wins including 72 when Brock won the race solo and in 78 when Brock set the fastest lap on the last lap of the race.
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December 9th, 2007 at 9:22 am
Be good if it came to production but id rather rather like to see a VE Monaro!
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December 9th, 2007 at 9:38 am
well well bm, i have never looked like going to the dark side! I reckon my blood is blue and not red!!
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December 9th, 2007 at 10:14 am
What the BM!!!! You had a Brock Director? Thats a friggin rare car!
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December 9th, 2007 at 10:24 am
Yep mine is blue too Tonyn with a bit of white for BMW …I don’t know why at the time we bought the Commodores,I think that maybe what Ford was producing at the time couldn’t match Holdens stuff .Maybe we just went through a Bogan moment! The red VH SS did look cool with those flares and big wheels, rebels I think they were! Was quiet fun to drive too mind you at 30,000 ks things starting going wrong with it so sold it! The VH SS wasn’t so racy but equally a nice car to drive..it was white ..I really still like the Blue group A’s in the VH .The Brock director…….I didn’t like, hubby bought it for me from Sydney at the time….seemed too old for me .Sold it and bought another BM! Brock Directors were a Calais type SS Commodore…I guess thats why I didn’t like it at the time I was only about 23 !
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December 9th, 2007 at 11:11 am
hehehe…. i would love a blue VK thats about the only holden i would own!
was it a VL director?
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December 9th, 2007 at 11:25 am
Sorry the White one was VK and the Director!
Maybe it was the blue velor interior in a black car that also deterred me!
Love that blue in the VK Group A”s !!
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December 9th, 2007 at 3:55 pm
Duck - There is to be a GM board meeting early next year where it is expected that the TT-36 Torana is expected to get the go ahead [as it will also be the new Pontiac G6]
As for the VE Monaro - on a recent visit GM Design Chief Mike Simcoe said that work on the next Monaro is well under way [its built on the same platform as the Camaro] So we can expect to see the next generation Holden Coupe within the next 2-4 years - about the same time as the Torana. However; it will probably look slightly different the current VE.
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December 9th, 2007 at 8:53 pm
Thanks Wheelnut!
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December 20th, 2007 at 5:34 pm
I don’t think holden can afford to build a Commodore Wagon Ute long wheelbase coupe and mid/large car,
I think they got to decide something here, Couple/Monaro Or Mid/large size/Torana. I’d give the Torana the nod now it’s what the market is looking for smaller, And Aussies wont mind a little smaller with similar interior space and performance.
One of our Mag motor/wheels had a picture of a new Torana, It was very Audi TT like, If GM see that they might agree as they don’t have cars to match these rwd mid size cars.
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December 23rd, 2007 at 10:14 am
At this stage it’s very likely we will get both the Torana and the Monaro.
The reason being because Holden are playing a major role in the R&D of both the New Camaro coupe and the New Pontiac G6 mid sized sedan
The Camaro uses the same platform as the VE Commodore and the G6 uses the same platform as the Torana
Inorder to recover costs more quickly; when these cars go into production.. GM will look for other markets for these RWD cars - including Australia
Now as the name Camaro and G6 don’t have as much history in Oz as Monaro and Torana do..
I suspect that in relation to the Monaro GM will make slight changes to the Camaro so it looks like a 2 door commodore [just as the previous one did]
That’s not to say that we won’t get the Camaro.. The Monaro will be for Holden and Camaro will most likely be exclusive to HSV.. the same way the Mustang will be to FPV
Yet the Torana will probably look very similar to the concept car. I hope the only change they make is to add AWD
As for where they’ll be built.. recent reports suggest that all four will be built in Canada.
Yet as part of GMs plans to streamline its operations and the fact that there is more than enough room to add an extra line of two at Elizabeth there’s a slight possibility the Monaro and Torana could be built here - should Lutzy and Co see it as a viable option.. but we’ll have to wait till after the GM strategy meeting in January
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December 23rd, 2007 at 10:49 am
Thanks Wheelnut again for the wonderful news!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
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