The Motor Report Auto News Blog

The folks over at G8 Nation share a rather close working relationship with the General, or at least the General’s Pontiac division. Rising fuel prices have got the Pontiac folk considering a second engine option for the upcoming Pontiac G8 ST, until now a V8 only proposition. In this case the engine under consideration is the 265hp/197kW 3.6-litre engine that we know as the Alloytec - the same engine that powers our VE Commodore and the Pontiac G8 sedan.

The idea of a second more economical engine option is still being kicked around the Pontiac boardroom but I’d almost be prepared to put money on it being given the final tick of approval.

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Folks, some fast-breaking news from the bleaches. Holden has announced (3:00pm today) that it is to cease production of four cylinder engines with the closure of part of its Family II four cylinder engine plant at Port Melbourne, with an expected loss of 500 jobs.

Holden has been building four-cylinder engines here for export since the ‘80s… remember the Camtech 4? Good little unit, found in Pulsar, Daewoo, Camira and a bunch of others (and would run on long after the Camira had cleverly transformed itself into something altogether unpleasant).

Tonight, the TV news will be full of it: “Jobs shock, Holden plant to close” and “More bad news for local industry”… and so forth and so fifth (you know how it will go).
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It appears that Ford Australia is not the only colonial outpost of the big American manufacturers to be given the red light for developing future large rear-wheel-drive sedan platforms.

Automotive News is reporting that a GM source has indicated that a similar program led by Holden has been shelved. Under the plan, Holden would have had the starring role in developing large rear-wheel-drive platforms for the likes of Chevrolet and Buick, including the 2011 Chevrolet Impala (artists rendering above), development of which will now be scrapped. The 2011 Impala was to be based on the VE Commodores platform.
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GM Holden has released details of yet another 60th Anniversary Special Edition, this time around it’s the VE Calais V that comes in for the ‘special’ treatment. The VE Calais V 60th Anniversary Special Edition comes with a range of bonus interior and exterior features including an electric sunroof and 19-inch alloy wheels.

“The Calais V 60th Anniversary Special Edition is the perfect vehicle for the individual or family looking for something extra special, along with the drive capabilities, safety and performance of the award winning VE Commodore,” said GM Holden’s Director of Marketing, Philip Brook.

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