geko29

GM can't import any more Holden products, because Holden as an automobile manufacturer will cease to exist next year. They will still exist as a brand, most likely selling predominantly rebadged Opels. No more Commodore. No more Ute/Maloo. All of them are going away, at least in anything resembling the form they exist in now. Even the SS (based on the Commodore) will be discontinued, because there will be no factory to produce it.

LexBob2

I like it when a manufacturer takes a risk and goes outside th box and tries a new/different model. If it doesn't work move on and if it does, and consumers buy them, good for them.

mmarshall

Yes, that's a shame, because Holden made some good products. Here in the U.S., they gave us the Pontiac GTO, G8, G8 GT, and Chevy SS. They were not cheaply-made, either, but, in general, used good materials. None of them, though, have been good sellers in the American market.

mmarshall

I'd say, I'm my lifetime, the Plymouth Prowler (and its matching trailer) was probably the most outlandish example of thinking outside the box. Here was a car that DEFINITELY turned heads wherever it went.

mmarshall

Back to thread-topic, it will be interesting to see if we get a GMC version of the Montana...though I wouldn't bet on it, seeing that GMC is a more upscale division. They never had an upscale version of the Chevy Trax, though Buick already has that covered with the Encore.

Sulu

GM no longer owns Opel and Vauxhall, so unless Holden is selling (or about to sell) the new Opel Insignia (as Buick in North America will sell as the Regal), that will likely continue on a contract basis with the PSA Group; otherwise I believe that rebadged Opels in Australia are no more, now that the sale of GM Europe to France's PSA Group is complete.

I believe that Holden will be selling rebadged GM-Daewoo Chevrolets assembled in Thailand and/or South Korea, or rebadged Chinese Buicks.

I believe that GM and Hyundai must see a market for car-based pickup trucks in the USA (and Canada, perhaps), despite what we here on Car Chat may believe, otherwise they would not be introducing this type of product to the market. It would seem logical: First came the car-based utility vehicle (truck wagon), now comes the car-based utility vehicle with an open bed (pickup truck).

Aron9000

I wouldn't be so quick to dismiss stuff like the old 1970's/80's Toyota Hilux, Nissan Hardbody, Mazda B2200(way better truck than the Mazda badged Ford Ranger that replaced it), Izusu P'up, the little mini-trucks sold like gangbusters in the 70's/80's/90's.

Those little mini-trucks were unlike anything the Big 3 were buidling(yes I know the Chevy Luv was a rebadged Izuzu, Ford Courier was a rebadged Mazda). It forced GM, Ford, and Dodge to innovate and build smaller trucks, thus we got the S-10, Ranger, and Dakota. Problem was the big 3 figured out they could build full size trucks, through sheer economies of scale, for just a few thousand dollars more than compact trucks. Margins weren't nearly as good on compact trucks, so engineering dollars went to full sized trucks, since you could obviously charge $70,000 on an F150 Platnium crew cab, which might have $10,000 more worth of parts vs a $30,000 F150 XL work truck crew cab.

So yes, little weird quirky trucks have totally upended the market before. But we aren't in a huge economic maliase anymore, big trucks get 20mpg instead of 10mpg, fuel is cheap, incomes are up, poor people drive Corollas and Honda Fits, pickup trucks are status symbols to show off your wealth now days. Damn how times have changed since 1980 lol.

Seriously though, this little midget Chevy truck would sell if they price it cheap enough and make it look butch. Right now it looks like a Pokemon truck, not like a real truck. Price, I'm talking average transaction price of $16-18k.

Fizzboy7

Yes, the vehicles you listed above were butch trucks, not cars. They sold great and worked because they were shrunken down, affordable, economical, yet built tough to handle work and loads. A smaller than Colorado pick-up TRUCK would be very appealing today. You still see a mass of older, smaller Tacomas, Frontiers, Rangers, and Mazda TRUCKS in hard service today.

mmarshall

The Nissan Frontier, a true BOF truck, is still available, brand-new, in the American market.

pbm317

Yes it is, but It's not that much smaller than the Colorado...

I think the Montana/Tornado could have success here, it would have to be priced more like an entry level car, so sub $20,000 ideally closer to $15,000, be fuel efficient, think 25 MPG city at least, and the low to the ground ride/load height would be great for the landscapers,etc that are driving around the older, low ride height tacoma's etc. The payload capabilities of the Montana/Tornado are actually pretty decent, at over 1,600 pounds. Could easily handle lawnmowers, bikes, surfboards, and even dirt bikes and motorcycles. Easily handle most people's needs for Home Depot/Costco runs and the occasional sofa/furniture need. All the Terminix/Orkin guys could get by with something like this as well.

Fizzboy7

Yes. But it is severely out-dated and overdue for a redesign. Missed opportunity for Nissan.

Aron9000

The plus is the Frontier is the cheapest new truck you can currently buy. It undercuts the Tacoma by several thousand dollars.