ASH8

http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/...-1226357727813

Made in my home state!

Holden will announce tomorrow an export program for the Commodore, which will see the Adelaide made car become a race and showroom star in the United States.

Though sales of the Elizabeth-produced sedan continue to slide in Australia, a Commodore V8 will be exported to America where it will be sold with the Chevrolet SS Performance badge.

In that guise, it would also star for the heartland brand in the Nascar stock car racing series, which runs second only to Formula One in global popularity.

Holden has been testing left-hand drive cars on public roads in Victoria in recent weeks and running it head-to-head with one of its strongest potential rivals, the Dodge Charger, as it finalises its end of the important new deal.

Motorsport sources in the USA hint that an announcement of the Chevrolet SS program is imminent, including the Holden connection. The coming VF Commodore as the donor car for the program ticks the boxes for American muscle car fans, and Nascar stock car racing as well, thanks to its V8 engine, large body and rear-wheel drive.

The dollar value of this historic deal is expected to be announced tomorrow.

The Chevrolet connection is a revival of the major export deal that saw the Commodore sold in the USA as the Pontiac G8 until the American brand was closed when General Motors was forced into bankruptcy during the global financial crisis.

This time around, numbers are likely to be much lower but the profile will be much higher thanks to the Nascar connection.

Former GM Holden president Mark Reuss, now the head of GM operations in the US and a known fan and supporter of the Commodore, dodged Carsguide's questions on a link between the SS program and the Commodore.

Holden chairman Mike Devereux also refused to comment on the strengthening rumours in the US, which were triggered by the announcement.

It is the key to the deal, and the timing of all announcements, since Chevrolet has already confirmed that it will compete in the stock car series next year with an all-new model that is not currently in showrooms. It has also registered the SS Performance nameplate.

Full-scale testing of the racer is expected to begin soon, and the bodywork expected to be revealed at the same time.

"`The smart money is betting on a civilian version of the V8-powered, rear-wheel drive Chevrolet Caprice PPV, which GM imports for police fleets from its Holden unit in Australia," America's Automotive News reporter Mark Colias told Carsguide

Roidz

I don't understand why they didn't just rebadge the Pontiac G8 as a Chevy. And an SS what? They need a cool name, like Chevelle SS or something.

ASH8

That is exactly what they are doing...should know today.

ASH8

Confirmed...it will only be called "SS"

No pics yet

Roidz

Lame. It should be more than just "SS" imo

ASH8

The new RWD Australian replacement for the Commodore is due in September, it will be this car which the new Chevy SS will get it's looks from and will be made.

So far no 'spy' leaks in Mags here.

nycgps

iTrader: (1)

Chevy ... meh ...

Razz1

It's about time they finished the deal.

nycgps

iTrader: (1)

your G8 ...

I don't know, I never trust Government Motors. so i'll pass

ASH8

You mean Government Motors Holden, just hold'in together..

Pontiac G8's were made about an hours drive from my beach house.
As are Holden Commodores...and Chevy Cop Cars (Caprice) and the Holden Cruze Sedan and Aussie made Cruze Hatchback, caught the hatchback Cruze on the road yesterday....not bad I guess.

http://www.holden.com.au/vehicles/se...cruze/exterior

ASH8

Crash warning system among high-tech features for new VF Commodore and export Chevrolet SS

http://www.goauto.com.au/mellor/mell...257A060029283C

Mazmart

iTrader: (12)

You do realize that you have 2 threads on this now? Perhaps your head is getting cloudy like mine in old age .

So, Chevrolet will have a car simply titled 'SS'? That is equally as dumb as Ford GT if it is true but not surprising from the behemoth US car companies.

Paul.