ShareThisACCORDING TO GM’S new President (and ex-Holden chief) Mark Reuss, two-door coupe variants of the Cruze could become a reality.
During a public webchat held to discuss the future of General Motors, Reuss was asked whether a two-door version of the Cruze small car would be built in the future.
His response, while not a definite “yes”, indicated that the idea of a Cruze coupe was at least under consideration.
“Two-door Cruze is a nice idea,” Mr Reuss said.
“As we have two-door Cobalts currently, North America would naturally look at a Cruze two-door, but I believe our small car portfolio will be WAY beyond what it is now, so a two-door something still is needed.”
Another question submitted to Reuss asked whether plans for a Zeta-platformed RWD sedan for the USA were still underway, to which a coy Reuss responded “quite possibly”.
Interest in a RWD GM product among American consumers and fleet buyers still runs high, despite the last Zeta-platformed model, the Commodore-based Pontiac G8, having been dumped last year.
The non-performing Pontiac brand itself was shut down at the beginning of GM's bankruptcy crisis, and according to Reuss the prospect of a revival in the near future is poor.
“I would never say we would never talk about Pontiac again,” he said.
“But, we need to pay back US taxpayers too, and go public. And make money. And make Americans proud of who we are again. Any other focus would be wrong.”
However, if sales of a Zeta-platformed vehicle in the United States were to resume, it would likely be under the Chevrolet banner.
Holden last year revealed its WM Statesman-based Chevrolet Caprice PPV, which was designed with US police fleets in mind.
A civilian version has yet to surface and no announcement regarding a solid export deal for the Caprice PPV has been made as yet.
However, with Holden already building the WM in left-hand drive for the Korean and Middle-Eastern markets, there are no technological barriers to building cars for export to the USA.
Similarly, the tooling needed to build the VE Commodore in left-hand drive still exists, and production of the popular sedan in LHD, could also be resumed quite easily.
Such an export deal could be a real money-spinner for Holden, and the Australian brand already has a couple of high-profile allies at GM’s Detroit HQ.
Mark Reuss headed up Holden until mid-2009, while the man who succeeded him, Alan Batey, was recently transferred Stateside to be Vice President of Sales and Service for Chevrolet.
Both are in good positions to help Holden, and in Batey’s farewell speech to the press he promised to keep the Australian automaker in mind in his future role at Chevrolet.
“I can tell you that I'm very passionate about the export opportunites [for Holden],” he said.
"I think our product has got a lot of opportunities in overseas markets, and when I hit the ground and get a chance to get with the dealers and understand more about the market and the opportunities, I'll obviously be keeping Holden in mind."
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Comments
5 months ago 1 points
They can't get the replacement parts from Korea quickly enough!
Look for this to be the next global recall.
5 months ago 0 points
[ which IMHO would have been a better option ] they said that they would be building a [Coupe version of the Cruze - designed by Holden.
5 months ago 1 points
5 months ago 0 points
5 months ago -1 points
The R8? Don't you mean the G8? The G8 wasn't a flop,, it was a good car which GM used to try and save a dying brand.. The fact that there are countless Car Enthusiasts in the USA on other auto-blog websites calling for GM to bring back the VE and sell it as the new Impala proves this - If you believe the VE Failed then the [Toyota based] Pontiac Vibe also Failed.
As for the Police Special - The major US Police Departments are yet to decide whether to go for the RWD WM Statesman or the smaller FWD Taurus as their Highway Patrol Cars... One things for sure they won't be using Skodas!
5 months ago 0 points
Also why would the U.S cops use a Skoda a Skoda when it's not being sold there!!
FYI there is much more Skodas being used around the world as cop cars, then holdens!!
5 months ago 0 points
As I said Pontiac was a dying brand - one of the reasons for its demise is that most people saw Pontiac as as the poorer cousin to the rest of the GM Family [Chev Cadillac Buick etc] - a bit like Skoda is to VW and Audi etc
Its not just a few "Village idiots" praising the VE - there are also a number of International Motoring Journalists raving about it; people who have driven more cars than you ever have/will..
I know Skodas aren't being sold in the USA.. Why is that? However; Will was obviously having a shot at Holden; Therefore I made a similar derogatory comment about his [and your] beloved Skodas
5 months ago 0 points
Although by the time Holden start building the Coupe the Cruze would most likely have had a facelift