Next-gen Camaro to ditch Aussie roots?

It may only be a year old but planning for the next generation Chevrolet Camaro is already well underway and looks set to drop its Holden Commodore platform. Speculation from American publication MotorTrend suggests the next Camaro will ride on the long-rumoured Alpha platform.

First revealed in a union leak in 2007, the Alpha architecture is a rear-wheel platform set to go into production next year. The first model expected to adopt Alpha is likely to be the new Cadillac ATS, a compact sedan aimed at taking on the BMW 3 Series.

According to MotorTrend the same architecture would also underpin the next generation Cadillac CTS, which is currently on a different platform (Sigma) than the Commodore/Camaro (Zeta).

The adoption of the Alpha platform is part of GM's push to produce lighter and more efficient cars in a bid to meet tightening emissions regulations. The new models are expected to be powered by either a supercharged or turbocharged version of the direct-injection V6 the company already offers.

Although these changes would be a blow to Holden and the Australian design and engineering team that worked on the Camaro, it is tempered by the possibility that the Alpha platform could open the door to a re-birth of the Torana.

There has been speculation ever since Holden displayed the TT36 concept at the 2004 Sydney Motor Show that the Torana nameplate was back on the agenda and the Alpha platform has always been linked to the resurrection.

Not surprisingly, Holden was playing its card close to its chest when contacted by the Carsales Network.

"It's in the realms of speculation at the moment," said Holden spokesman, Scott Whiffin.

But with Cadillac looking to renew its line-up over the next four years, Whiffin did admit that the introduction of the prestige GM brand to Australia remains on Holden's agenda.

"It's still early days," Whiffin said. "Nothings changed. We said we'd continue to evaluate it and we are."

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