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z06neb
04-01-2008, 01:40 PM
When I was in Australia in 2005 and I marveled at your utes. They reminded me of the sixty's Chevy El Camino. I thought to myself that these would sell like crazy in the States. Well, I guess that I will see this come true. I read NERDPWR's thread on the export of the G8, but I didn't realize that the ute was coming here in late 2008 as well. Today, I received my Feb. issue of Motor Trend magazine and on page 13, I found the following picture. This is a very smart move. Spot on, Mates!!!:bow:

http://home.mchsi.com/~cneb/Pontiac_G8_ST_Ute.jpg
Grommz
04-01-2008, 01:43 PM
i dunno i dont like the front end as much on the ute as i do on the sedan..

something about it i dunno...
FAT06L
04-01-2008, 01:44 PM
awesome looking ute. hopefully you guys like it!

quick question, does everyone in the states know its an australian car?
Grommz
04-01-2008, 01:52 PM
yeah they definatly know Fat and the majority of the US boys like the look of the Aussie version better.
chris
04-01-2008, 02:11 PM
The enthusiast know, but joe blo has no idea they are Australian.
To give you an idea i have only seen 3 gto's around the area i live, 1 of which a friend of mine own's.
So it will be interesting to see how many g8's will be sold around here.

chris
z06neb
04-01-2008, 02:28 PM
awesome looking ute. hopefully you guys like it!

quick question, does everyone in the states know its an australian car?

Probably not yet! Whenever I talk to a late version Pontiac GTO owner here, I say "Hey, you have a Holden Monaro!" Most have no idea what I am talking about and think I am crazy. However, the Ute is such a radical departure from what we have here, they had better give you blokes the credit. I'll do my part!!
PMD GTO
04-01-2008, 02:53 PM
I can't wait. I would much rather have one of these than a cheap camaro.

There is also news that the SportWagon will make it's way to U.S. shores along the Ute in limited numbers.


awesome looking ute. hopefully you guys like it!

quick question, does everyone in the states know its an australian car?


Not sure, but I try to inform as many people as I can. Most people on the GTO forums are in the know.
Souljah
04-01-2008, 04:23 PM
My god the front of that ute is ugly.
planetdavo
04-01-2008, 06:56 PM
It is just a com gen image.
Note the Holden logo wheel centres reversed to suit a left hand drive dash picture.
HitmansV8
04-01-2008, 07:50 PM
looks a bit weird but hey thats jus my opinion but still good might jus be the pic
Jac001
04-01-2008, 07:57 PM
Has this been confirmed (by GM, Ponitac or Holden) or is it just speculation?

I just hope that the G8 isn't a flop like the GTO export program was....
iamhappy46
04-01-2008, 09:08 PM
One of the reasons the Monaro/GTO was a bit of a sales flop was that there were rumours going around on other forums that they were designed and made in Mexico! Well, it is sort of Mexico for us NSW guys ;)
Jac001
04-01-2008, 09:33 PM
One of the reasons the Monaro/GTO was a bit of a sales flop was that there were rumours going around on other forums that they were designed and made in Mexico! Well, it is sort of Mexico for us NSW guys ;)

Imagine if the monaro had been designed and biult in korea by daewoo and sold to us as an "australian muscle car"...

Recon it would have sold as well as it did?

Most monaro and holden lovers would feel insulted....

See the problem?
planetdavo
05-01-2008, 05:22 AM
Mu understanding was that (a) they thought it looked too "soft" (hence the scoops and twin exhaust on VZ versions), and (b) it was too expensive.
Nothing to do with where they made them!
z06neb
05-01-2008, 05:44 AM
Has this been confirmed (by GM, Ponitac or Holden) or is it just speculation?

I just hope that the G8 isn't a flop like the GTO export program was....

The article says "An insider has confirmed the news, weeks after our item on it appeared in the December issue." You may want to look through their site for additonal info:

http://www.motortrend.com/features/auto_news/2007/112_0712_holden_ute
PMD GTO
05-01-2008, 07:22 AM
Imagine if the monaro had been designed and biult in korea by daewoo and sold to us as an "australian muscle car"...

Recon it would have sold as well as it did?

Most monaro and holden lovers would feel insulted....

See the problem?

Alot of older GTO lovers were disappointed with the styling b/c it didn't look retro enough for them. I think alot of those old farts went and bought a Mustang so they could go and relive their youth. If you look at it from another point of view, the Monaro essentially gave the U.S. what Detriot gave us 40 years ago, a wolf in sheeps clothing. The original GTO was never meant to be a flashy car, just a plane jane car with a big honkin V8 under the hood that could fly down the 1/4 mile.

I always wonder if would have sold better, or faster, if the car had been given a different name.

As for the G8, I don't see it selling poorly. Large family size 4 door sedans with V6 or V8 power are selling fairly well right now in the U.S. E.G. Dodge Charger, Chrysler 300. And it appears that the G8 will be competitivley priced to boot.
German Statesman
05-01-2008, 11:55 AM
I think they're on a winner and it will be interesting to see if they make any police variants of the Statesman for consideration - GM have lost the police market to the Dodge Charger and Ford Crown Victoria.