No Holden Wagon for U.S. Market

[arzjose]

Written By: Evan McCausland

Filed Under: Australia, Etc., Future Vehicles, Pontiac, Wagons/Estates January 17th, 2008 10:45 AM




During our stay at the Detroit auto show, we took part in an informal conversation with GM’s car czar Bob Lutz. Although we - along with other journalists - tried our best to get Lutz to confirm the rumors of a G8 sport truck (re: Holden Ute) making its way to America, we were simply told he couldn’t comment on it at all. Apparently, the wagon rumors he could comment on - Australian media outlet GoAuto quotes Lutz as saying a G8 wagon will not happen in North America.
(Click through for more on why Holden’s wagon won’t make it to the ‘States)

Why the change of heart since previous reports? More than likely, it was a matter of market vs. motive. Lutz tells GoAuto that there would have been a lot of change to meet U.S. requirements, and the investment wouldn’t be recouped where wagons sell terribly slowly.
“How often do you see an Audi wagon,” he said. “How often do you see a BMW wagon? How often do you see a Mercedes wagon? The answer is, almost never…they’re just not fashionable. I can’t explain why.”
Neither can we - mixing muscle car performance, taught handling and wagon-like practicality sounds like a recipe for success to us. What say you - does the idea of a performance sport wagon sound fun to you, or do you think Lutz & Co. made the right decision in killing the U.S. program? Let us know in the comments section.

[FactoryD]

The first comment from WindingRoad.com:
"I wonder how much cereburus paid them to do this."

If that's true (big if), I wonder what Cerberus has planned....

[Mr. Magnum Man]

Guess they Figured that Dodge couldn't get the beautiful Magnum to sell widely our ugly P.O.S. won't even come close.

[cadzilla74]

Guess they Figured that Dodge couldn't get the beautiful Magnum to sell widely our ugly P.O.S. won't even come close.

Sad but true...and funny as hell...

[wishing for hemi]

its no loss to the us market. those things look like a passat. and very true about the maggie. i think those are so much nicer than this gm wagon

[ZMagnum]

...mixing muscle car performance, taught handling and wagon-like practicality sounds like a recipe for success to us.

As if they never heard of the Magnum. WTH?

Too bad. There could have been wagon wars.