[ToniCipriani]

Just a thought: did GM order Holden harden the camo given what happened to the GMT900s previously?

[pow]

ToniCipriani, on Aug 30 2005, 06:54 PM, said:

Those rims look awesome! Although looks to be just camo.

I'd LOVE to have that exact wheel with the same color on my G6! Silver or white with rims

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

You could probably get them for your Cavalier, if you changed the bolt pattern. Check TireRack of American Tire.

[RJB]

The second pictures which are of the chop remind me of a Volkswagen Phaeton.

[ToniCipriani]

empowah, on Aug 30 2005, 11:29 PM, said:

You could probably get them for your Cavalier, if you changed the bolt pattern. Check TireRack of American Tire.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Nah, don't really feel like doing anything to my car given that it'll be gone next year. It's only a leased car which I won't keep.

Thanks for the idea though!

[Rear-Wheel Drive]

This post just confuses things and appears to reopen questions about what is coming that have already been answered. The Holden vehicle is not very helpful in understanding the North American environment as we already know what is under the skin engineering-wise from previous announcements, and the exterior is not going to be duplicated here anyway.

GM have already announced their rear-wheel drive plans in the post of August 15th by Mark Phelan of the Detroit Free Press - "GM plans rear-drive family". Why are we going around and around on decisions which have already been made? They have said there will be at least 7 offerings - Chevrolet Caprice/Impala, Chevrolet Camaro, Chevrolet Monte Carlo, Pontiac Grand Prix/G8, Pontiac GTO, Buick Roadmaster, and Buick Velitte.

The key questions left are:
1. The dates and sequence of the roll-outs (which will probably now require up to 2011 to complete versus 2010 before the Zeta development delay), and
2. How has Lutz managed to overcome the problem he had when he first announced the Zeta delay - namely that the original Zeta designs were not price-, quality-, and performance-competitive with the Chrysler 300/Dodge Charger competition? How does Lutz plan to beat out a Charger SRT-8 with a quarter of 13.2, and a top speed of 173 mph, all at under $ 40 large?

[wildcat]

My compliments all around...

to C&G for the photo

to Evok for the uncovered images

to CD/BP for their input

to Rear-Wheel Drive for some excellent questions

and to everyone else for your enthusiasm!

Now, please, GM, give Buick something out of this!

[buickguy]

Why 2010? How long does it take?

[Sixty8panther]

I just want to rip off all that canvas and tape and have sex wiht this thing. I hope it spawns at least two RWD models for each American GM division. Buick, Pontiac, Chevy & Saturn!

[wildcat]

Sixty8panther: Why does Saturn need two RWD vehicles? Isn't that once again invading Buick and Pontiac territory?

[VenSeattle]

Great pic.

Hmmmm... but (as others have mentioned) it does appear smaller than what I thought a Zeta vehicle would be. Will Zeta still be in SWB & LWB versions? Because Torana was suppose to show off the potential of a "Beta" platform...

Why my concern? A Zeta vehicle should not be close enough in size to cause confusion between it and the up-coming (smaller... almost compact) 2008 Cadillac CTS. That just seems to be "Beta" territory.

Maybe a SWB Zeta can be small enough to cover the compact/midsize segment?

[daves87rs]

Very nice...good pic Josh.

Now we need to hope..

[91z4me]

LosAngeles, on Aug 30 2005, 11:07 PM, said:

Are you one of the famed insiders they look to here?

I was hoping Epsilon II would be flexible.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

No I am not an insider. But Epsilon II will be Ep I based and that means transverse engine mounting which means FWD biased if AWD shows up and there is NO chance that a transverse RWD car will come out of GM.

[Imaj]

2007.. man it can't come anytime sooner.. GM needs them to take on the LX cars..

[douglask]

The camouflage makes it look like the Commodore's arch nemesis, the Ford Falcon, in particular the XR6 with the headlights and oval badge on the grill.

[Sixty8panther]

wildcat, on Aug 31 2005, 01:09 PM, said:

Sixty8panther: Why does Saturn need two RWD vehicles?  Isn't that once again invading Buick and Pontiac territory?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Perhaps you're right. I just thought as long as we have to put uip wiht the bastard chiold they might as well offer RWD to the masses.

[douglask]

More photos of the Commodore caught in high altitude testing in Colorado can be found here:

http://www.autoblog....34000947056960/

http://spyphotos.aut...34000293056962/

This post has been edited by douglask: 08 September 2005 - 09:15 AM

[TKR]

Because the journo's in Australia are looking high and low for photos of the new VE Commodore, my guess is that GM has decided that the car may be a bit more inconspicuous being tested in the US.

I can't wait to get this into our showroom next September / October, and I am just drooling over the thought of the HSV modified versions shortly thereafter.

[thegriffon]

FunkyPig, on Aug 30 2005, 10:37 PM, said:

In Australia is will be 3.6 HFV6 and 6.0 LS2. Using GM's new 6 speed auto on the V8 at least.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Wishfull thinking by power-mad Australian journalists. The base V8 engine will not go from a 328 hp LS1 to a 400 hp LS2, especially when the top V6 has only 255 hp. There are other options. The 3.6 L V6 is also available in a unique 235 hp base variant with intake VVT like the turbocharged 2.8, instead of the LY7s dual-VVT.