The Motor Report Auto News Blog

When we saw Holden’s stunning Coupe 60 concept at the Melbourne Motor Show in February, the first thought that came to mind was ‘New Monaro’. As it turns out, Holden have not shown a lot of interest in confirming a possible return of the Monaro, preferring to take the line that the Coupe 60 was a 60th Anniversary present from Holden to its fans.

However, whispers around the net are starting to gain momentum and it is now being claimed that a production version of the Coupe 60 could see the light of day. We may not see another Monaro but according to Edmunds, a production version of the Coupe 60 could become the Pontiac G8 GXP Coupe, a flagship model that would bang heads with the likes of the Ford Shelby Mustang GT500KR, Dodge Challenger SRT8 and the Camaro SS.

With running gear mirroring the G8 GXP, we can expect the Coupe to feature LS3 6.2-litre V8 power, a choice of 6 speed manual or automatic gearboxes, 19-inch alloys and FE3 up-rated suspension.

The new super coupe could be on the street within three years and it would be a mildly revised version of the concept, with toned down styling, a conventional B-pillar and a taller roofline.

“The G8 Coupe is not dead,” said one source within the company. “This is an uphill battle. It shouldn’t be. But it is.”

To be honest, despite the rumours, the return of a Holden/Pontiac coupe would have to be a fairly borderline business case in the current economic climate. With a weakening US$, no sign of relief from rising fuel prices and new CAFE standards kicking in between now and 2020 in the States, we are calling the odds ’slim’ at best.

We’d happily be proven wrong!

[Source: MotorAuthority]