Torana to make a comeback?
November 21, 2007 by Karl Peskett
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.”
Print it: 
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.
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.
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.
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”
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\”
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
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?
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.
Wonder if the new Torana will be able to fit the new 6.2 Litre LS-9 Intercooled-Supercharged [485Kw] V8 under the bonnet?
Cut out the shocker towers if it doesn’t I guess!hahaha
Sorry Wheelnut it was a joke!
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.
A bulge is always good…………hahaha
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.
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
I prefer the stealth looking Black SLRs with SLR5000 in Silver Shadow writing or Red and Black
Hey Wheelnut I had a black one …….all black ,white interior ,silver simmons wheels .Was a beautiful car! Was an A9X though!
oh my god BM, you once were a member of the dark side?? im gutted!! hehehehe….
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.
Scum to Ford. Anyway Torana has nowhere near the history of the Typhoon
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!
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.
Be good if it came to production but id rather rather like to see a VE Monaro!
well well bm, i have never looked like going to the dark side! I reckon my blood is blue and not red!!
What the BM!!!! You had a Brock Director? Thats a friggin rare car!
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 !
hehehe…. i would love a blue VK thats about the only holden i would own!
was it a VL director?
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 !!
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.
Thanks Wheelnut!
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.
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
Thanks Wheelnut again for the wonderful news!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1