Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, Wagons/Estates, GM, Pontiac, Holden, Australia
Sorry Holden: GM cancels VE Sportwagon for US market
click above for more high-res images of the Holden VE Sportwagon
Holden wasn't sure if it was going to build a new VE Commodore Wagon when developing its new line of rear-wheel-drive Zeta-based sedans. Wagons are fleet darlings in Australia, and the new one from Holden was for some reason switched from the long-wheelbase Caprice and Statesman platform to the shorter Commodore platform. That reduced the wagon's cargo capacity, which in turn threatened its very existence. But after hearing that its parent company, General Motors, was interested in importing the VE Sportwagon as a Pontiac G8 wagon, Holden gave the wagon a green light in good faith that there would be additional sales from exports to offset the loss of fleet sales.
Well, Holden just lost the U.S. market, as Bob Lutz told Australian journalists at the 2008 Detroit Auto Show that the VE Sportwagon, a higher-octane version of the VE Commodore Wagon, would not be coming to America. His reasons include the cost of meeting U.S. regulations and the fact that Yanks don't seem to be interested in wagons at all anymore. Audi, BMW and Mercedes offer them but sell hardly any, while Dodge tried to make the sport wagon mainstream again with the critically-acclaimed Magnum. We all know how that turned out.
We bet that if the Magnum were a hot seller, GM would then have no qualms importing the VE Sportwagon. As it stands, though, without the Magnum, a Pontiac G8 wagon would be competing with Audi, BMW and Mercedes wagons for a small slice of this very niche segment's sales.
[Source: Goauto.com via GMInsideNews]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
TBlueMax 11:03AM (1/17/2008)
No new Mazda6 wagon for the states and now this. I can't buy what they don't sell so I guess I'm stuck looking at the Saab, Volvo, and VW wagons. Not that there's anything wrong with these brands, I was just looking forward to a large RWD wagon. At least the VW will be offered with a diesel.
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DS 11:07AM (1/17/2008)
you could still get a used Magnum
and with those incentives you could probably get an SRT8 on the cheap... Thatd be nice
dave 11:49AM (1/17/2008)
I own a Mercedes E320 wagon and LOVE it. Large, RWD, excellent ride, and a real steal in price because no one else seems to want them. Plus, with the seats down, it is nearly 70 cubic feet of storage. I drive from Tuscaloosa, AL (home of Mercedes USA) to Michigan and back every month or two, and get 30mpg (honest measurement) on the highway with the 3.2 liter V6.
Just another option for you to consider, especially since it is 1) safer 2) better built and 3) much more refined than the VWs and Volvos, which I still love.
psarhjinian 12:52PM (1/17/2008)
Well, there's the Legacy/Outback and upcoming Toyota Venza. But yes, this is sort of sad.
Luis 1:36PM (1/17/2008)
Well, I guess I'm keeping my car a while longer...curse you GM!
TBlueMax 3:57PM (1/17/2008)
Thanks to all for the suggestions.
I have yet to test drive a Magnum although I have driven a Charger and thought it was alright, I'll have to give the Magnum a more serious look. I secretly lust after some of the Estates and Tourings that the German manufacturers offer. The only downside is the relatively high cost of maintenance (even routine maintenance) over the life of the vehicle. I really enjoyed the Legacy Wagon (before it was discontinued for the states) and don't need the extra ground clearance or stylistic "flair" of the Legacy Outback Wagon.
There are a host of crossovers presently available but I'll likely take a look at the Magnum if I can find one I like before they disappear from dealer lots. I may also take a look on the pre-owned market to look for a BMW 5-wagon or Mercedes E-wagon which I also like but have never found a decent, low-mileage vehicle. For some reason, the folks who buy the estates and tourings tend to drive them til the wheels fall off.
I'm sure it is just a matter of time before one of the automakers releases a handsome, sporty, functional wagon with good driving dynamics, reasonable space/packaging/utility, and preferably good fuel economy. I guess the better question to ask is how long am I willing to wait for such a vehicle to make it to market or what am I willing to compromise on to get another vehicle in the short term.
Ted Kennedy Is My Chauffer 11:10AM (1/17/2008)
Oh, come on, GM. It's just smart business to offer vehicles very few consumers actually want...
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Russell 11:11AM (1/17/2008)
You can thank CAFE for this.
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Andrew 12:30PM (1/17/2008)
Why? A wagon has much more cargo space for the same mpg. If it was because of CAFE all you'd see is wagons. But then we couldn't make knee-jerk statements and blame 'libruls', so never mind.
AlexP 12:39PM (1/17/2008)
Since when does CAFE have an effect on sales in Australia?
Yes, this vehicle was supposed to have a G8 counterpart, but as Autoblog pointed out: the wagon variant was popular among fleet directors, not your typical Australian.
tanooki2003 11:14AM (1/17/2008)
Again this is one of the many reasons why I hate domestic companies. As usual Bob is playing politics instead of really thinking of the consumers who might actually like these and for this platform to make a possible comeback to finally drown out the remaining SUV's.
Hasn't he taken into consideration that maybe the import sport wagons are just too expensive for most middle class workers living on a fixed income or that Dodge just plain makes ugly vehicles, especially with that ugly crosshair grille dressed up with bling, which they use on everything they make?
The SUV craze is dying and a lot are still not completely taking a liking to crossovers. This would be a good in between. If he had ANY balls he could at least try it for a year to see weather it makes or breaks instead of making excuses.
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Jason 11:16AM (1/17/2008)
Argh. I want a car like this. I'd have purchased a Magnum if it were not for the famously wretched Chrysler interior made of old Rubbermaid bins.
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Eek 11:16AM (1/17/2008)
I had a feeling this would happen after the Magnum was canceled.
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Purifoy 12:43PM (1/17/2008)
My thoughts exactly, Eek!
sirAQUAMAN64 11:33AM (1/17/2008)
This is GORGEOUS compared to the rather hideous Magnum.
It's a shame, really. Was really looking forward to this product. Hope GM reconsiders (perhaps so if G8 sedan takes off)...
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jgp 12:46PM (1/17/2008)
It looks great, but where's the cargo space?
Judging from the picture here, it looks like a 1991 Ford Escort wagon has more cargo space behind the rear seats. This looks more like a hatchback than a wagon.
Richard 3:38PM (1/17/2008)
There were some previous pics here on AutoBlog that showed other angles - tons of cargo space available, like most modern wagons.
Richard 3:38PM (1/17/2008)
There were some previous pics here on AutoBlog that showed other angles - tons of cargo space available, like most modern wagons.
kwc 11:38AM (1/17/2008)
This is too bad....I would have been banging the dealer's doors down to trade my Mazda6 wagon for this!!
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Kowell 11:40AM (1/17/2008)
Damn...this was one sweet family wagon....and RWD too. I guess they though people would prefer to get a Yukon or an Acadia insted of it....
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