Holden has gone on the record loud and clear that it will always have a V8-powered sports car in its lineup. But, here we have a curveball.
After Peter Keley, GM Executive Director of Sales, made the promise of a rear-wheel drive, V8-powered sports car in passing at the 2015 North American International Auto Show, media across the globe as tried to piece together what Holden has up its sleeves to replace a RWD, V8-powered Holden Commodore.
Yesterday, we reported on Dr. Karl-Thomas Neumann, Opel CEO, dropping a few heavy hints on an upcoming concept vehicle heading to the 2016 Geneva Motor Show. He called the car something no one would expect from the brand, leading many to believe this is the reborn Opel GT the rumormill churned out months back.
But, Motoring thinks there’s something global at play. Linking puzzle pieces together, it’s very possible a future Opel GT could make its way to Holden as a future sports car. This would also help explain why General Motors moved to trademark the “Monza” name in Australia.
The only piece that doesn’t fit? This vehicle will not be rear-wheel drive, and it will not have a V8 under the hood. Well-placed sources say the upcoming GT will ride on the D2XX platform, and share quite a but with the current 2016 Opel Astra and all-wheel drive will help plant power from a turbocharged four-cylinder engine.
We surely wouldn’t complain if an additional sports car made its way to Holden, but we hope plans for a V8-powered vehicle haven’t been pushed back too far due to limited right-hand drive support from the alpha platform.
Comments
I would watch for a Buick version also and most likely a Vauxhall.
Velite? They have been playing with the name again.
Buick White Space.
A car like this would have to be global to have enough volume.
If it becomes a Buick model, it can be the revival of the Wildcat. I see the “waterfall” grille fits it perfectly.
Um, the comment I wrote yesterday said exactly the same thing. In about the exact same number of words. On this very site.
Why am I not being paid for this stuff?
No one gets paid for this. It is community service. It’s part of their probation.
I will give you what they pay me. $0
We are all under paid, under loved and under appreciated…..Get use to it. LOL!
If this new car uses GM’s D2XX vehicle platform which is currently used by cars like the Chevy GEN 2 Cruze, GEN 2 Volt and upcoming CUVs like the Buick Envision and GEN 3 Equinox, it means that this new vehicle could be a V6 AWD.
General Motors only has two RWD platforms, the Alpha that is currently used by Cadillac’s ATS and Chevy’s Camaro as this platform could be used as demonstrated by the ATS and Camaro will fit a twin-turbo 3.6L V6 to possibly LT4 supercharged 6.2L V8.
The other RWD platform is the Omega that is used by Cadillac’s CT6; this platform will work with every type of engine from turbo 4-cyl, V6, twin-turbo V6 and V8. Opel and Holden could shorten the dimensions of the Omega to build a vehicle smalr than the CT6; but the only problem with the Omega platform is price as whatever uses this platform will have a $65,000+ pricetag.
The real problem is this is a small car and is smaller than even the Alpha can go.
GM had investigated a sub Alpha and put it off.
This car should do fine with a quality AWD system under it. That is something the Miata can not match. With GM’s weight loss in most platoforms it should still be light.