Revived Holden G8 deal killed (again)

Irrepressible quote-machine, and GM Vice Chairman, Bob Lutz has had to backpedal on his claims earlier this week the Holden Commodore would continue to be exported to America, this time badged as a Chevrolet Caprice. But although newly installed marketing boss Lutz put the kibosh on private sales of the Commodore continuing in the US, GM CEO Fritz Henderson has confirmed that the company is still considering it for a law enforcement role.

Lutz revealed earlier this week he was pushing for the car to remain a part of the new General Motors stable under the Chevrolet brand (see here). The former product czar for GM is a passionate advocate for the car he believes is "too good to waste". However, given the company has just emerged from bankruptcy proceedings, it appears the timing is not right for keeping the Holden US export deal alive.

"OK, I have some late-breaking news for you from the world of GM, where things are indeed moving quickly, and what I'm about to say is proof," Lutz wrote on GM's Fastlane website.

"In fact, we're moving so fast, we're going back in time to, oh, about four or five days ago, when the Pontiac G8 was going away and was not going to become a new Chevrolet Caprice.

"And therein lies the news: The G8 will not be a Caprice after all. I'd mentioned it, and said we were studying it, giving it a serious look, because a car like the G8 was just too good to waste.

“"That's all still true. But I have to say that, with my new "marketing" hat on, upon further review and careful study, we simply cannot make a business case for such a program. Not in today's market, in this economy, and with fuel regulations what they are and will be.

"I know that we'll get a lot of complaints from G8 lovers, because I'm one of them. And the product guy in me is complaining as loudly as anyone. But the marketing guy says there's no case. With budgets being what they are for the time being, the resources must be allocated elsewhere."

But the news isn't all bad for Holden because Henderson told journalists at the launch on the new Buick LaCrosse this week that the door is still open to using the Commodore for law enforcement agencies. Ford's decision to drop the ancient Crown Victoria is expected to leave police forces across America searching for a new rear-wheel drive sedan; a market that is expected to run to over 60,000 vehicles.

Even though Henderson sounds keen to tap into that market, he is not so eager to see the Commodore sporting a Chevrolet badge anytime soon.

"We've been looking at it for police applications," Henderson told the website Autoblog. "As for whether or not it's broader than police applications, I am not a believer in re-branding and re-badging. We've been talking about in terms of potential police applications and we'll leave it at that."

One key point that Henderson added was that should GM deploy the Commodore for police purposes, it would continue to be built in Australia with Henderson ruling out building it alongside the Commodore-based Camaro in Canada.

The other hope for Holden is Lutz's final comments that leave the possibilities of further US exports wide open.

"And we have a tremendous RWD team in Australia that gave us the beloved G8, a team that we will tap into at some point again in the future for its expertise and sheet metal," Lutz said. "Just not right now."

Read the latest Carsales Network news and reviews on your mobile, iPhone or PDA at www.carsales.mobi