 |
| This year, GM beefed up the GTO by dropping in the Corvette's new 400-horsepower LS7 V8. (Photo: General Motors of Canada) |
Without the Firebird, the GTO is the only true muscle car in the Pontiac stable, the new Solstice's four-cylinder engine slotting it into the sports car category. In keeping up with appearances, and preparing itself for the onslaught of a new wave of muscle cars, GM beefed up the GTO by dropping in the Corvette's new LS7, 400 horsepower V8 motor. Yet, even though it now offers more tire-liquefying, pushrod power, the stuff muscle cars are defined by, this year's 'goat' is trickling out of showrooms only slightly faster than last year. OK, an 87 percent increase during the first half of 2005 is impressive, but sales of the 2004 car during the same period were so low it hardly can be deemed a major success. Blame quickly rising gas prices and its yawn-inducing styling inside and out, helped little by the addition of twin hood scoops.
To kill a vehicle solely on poor sales performance is not unlike the General, and similar to the long gone Pontiac Fiero, Pontiac Firebird, Chevy Camaro, Buick Reatta, Buick Riviera, Cadillac Allante, etc, the GTO's low take-up rate is a contributing factor to its demise. After all, it makes little sense for Holden to be producing and investing in the muscle-car twins when there is a backlog for the far more popular Adventura crossover SUV and the V8-powered Commodore SS sports sedan.
More relevant to company heads is Holden's plans to introduce the next generation 'VE' Commodore family sedan, scheduled to make an appearance in mid 2006. Like many of Holden's domestic-built vehicles, the Commodore platform is flexible and can be used for a wide variety of cars including SUVs, pickup trucks, wagons, extended wheelbase sedans and sports coupes. As a matter of fact, the Monaro is based off of the current Commodore platform, which dates back to the early '90s Opel Omega/Cadillac Catera. Currently, there are no plans within Holden to create a sports coupe based off of the VE-platform, meaning that it could spell the end of the line for this high-horsepower brute as of the 2006 model year.
 |
| The Monaro will go out on a high note, riding on its success as Australia's best-selling large coupe. (Photo: Holden) |
Unlike the GTO, the 2006 version of which will gradually vanish from dealership lots next fall or possibly a little later, the Monaro will be dropped from the Elizabeth, Melbourne assembly line this fall. What's more, it will go out on a high note, riding on its success as Australia's best-selling large coupe. While there's no immediate plan for the next generation Monaro, Denny Mooney, chairman of Holden seems enthusiastic to continue with the legendary name. In an interview with Australian newspaper, The Mercury, he said, "Everyone at Holden is certainly committed to delivering a new-generation Monaro in the future, but there is still a lot of work to make that happen."
