Australian Pontiac would get front end based on Solstice

DETROIT -- If General Motors expands Pontiac's U.S. product line with a sedan from its Holden subsidiary in Australia, the car would arrive in 2008 with front-end styling drawn from the Pontiac Solstice, a U.S. industry source says.A story in a Melbourne, Australia, newspaper last week said the Pontiac would be based on the rear-wheel-drive Holden Commodore SS. The new car likely would have unique sheet metal from the A-pillar forward.The redesigned Commodore debuted last year and was developed on GM's new global rwd vehicle architecture. The upcoming Chevrolet Camaro and Impala will share that architecture. The new Pontiac would be slightly longer and wider than the 2007 Grand Prix. The Pontiac would be called the G8, according to the story in the Herald Sun. GM Vice Chairman Bob Lutz did not confirm the plan but told the newspaper: "It's such a logical thing to do. The volume range is 30,000 to 50,000," depending on price. Lutz said details will be revealed next month at the Chicago Auto Show. This would be GM's second attempt to sell a Holden as a Pontiac in the United States. The Holden Monaro was marketed as the 2004-06 Pontiac GTO, but sales didn't meet expectations.Pontiac spokesman Jim Hopson said the GTO was criticized mainly for styling. If GM imports another Holden, he said, the car would require styling changes "to make it uniquely Pontiac, uniquely American."You may e-mail Rick Kranz at rkranz@crain.com

Australian Pontiac would get front end based on Solstice

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