NY 2008 Preview: Production Pontiac ST pickup to appear
click above image for more high-res pics of the Holden VE Ute
Our friends over at Pickuptruck.com have learned that Pontiac will debut a production-ready ST pickup at this year's New York Auto Show in late March. The Pontiac ST pickup is based on the Holden VE Ute that recently debuted in Australia, and since development of the vehicle consists mainly of grafting the Pontiac G8 front clip onto the Holden VE Ute, the business case for the vehicle is a no-brainer. What did stand between the Pontiac ST pickup and production was the U.S. exchange rate between the Australian and U.S. dollar, but apparently the difference isn't as bad as once thought and the price of the ST won't be out of reach for its target market. Pickuptruck.com also learned that, despite previous reports to the contrary, the Pontiac ST will be offered with a 256-HP V6, as well as a 361-HP V8. The reason is because plans for a Pontiac G8 Sportwagon that would have been powered by a V6 have been cancelled, so the Pontiac needs to offer both a V6 and a V8 for the ST pickup to balance out the effect it has on GM's CAFE rating.
Don't all these unibody pickups in GM's product plans get you thinking? If we were to consult some tea leaves, we might draw the conclusion that GM is considering transforming its small pickups into an all-unibody lineup. It's pure speculation on our part, but to debut two unibody trucks in one auto show season makes us go hmmm...
[Source: Pickuptruck.com]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
mike 1:39PM (1/25/2008)
It is now very clear, Pontiac and Suturn are dead, they will be completely replaced by Holden and Opel.
These brands will stop making their own cars and will simply be rebadges of Holden and Opel.
Which is not a bad thing.
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Mark Ryan 1:50PM (1/25/2008)
Fine by me!
jgp 2:57PM (1/25/2008)
Holden only makes one basic car, the Commodore.
The Berlina, Calais, Statesman, Caprice, HSV line, and the last-gen Adventra & Crewman are all derivatives of the Commodore.
The rest of Holden's lineup consists of imported Opels (Astra), Daewoos (Barina & Epica), and Isuzus (Rodeo). Holden isn't the self-sufficient division that Opel is.
So Holden already makes very few of their own cars, much like Pontiac, which has mostly versions of other marque's cars with little product to call its own (Solstice, in Pontiac's case).
Dustin 1:41PM (1/25/2008)
The business case is a no-brainer all right, but I'm not sure we're using that term in the same sense.
This ought to do as well as a Lincoln pickup with a carpeted bed. Surely others will disagree, but time will tell.
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Corey W. 4:24PM (1/25/2008)
You understand the post is about GM right?!?
Corey W. 4:30PM (1/25/2008)
Make the 2 door only available in the Pontiac trim, save that 4 door model for Chevy.
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tbss_in_the_D 1:50PM (1/25/2008)
I really do not think this thing will sell well here unless it is priced very right. I think the concept of a car pickup is cool, but how many people need this? I can see a group of racer/tuners wanting the V8 and the V6's going to people who will use it as a truck.
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JGN 1:51PM (1/25/2008)
Sweet, the Holden Utes are awesome vehicles. I'm still too young to want one of these as I couldn't really take them off-road, but when it comes to freeway cruising and light duty truck use, this is the perfect combination.
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fm 9:00PM (1/25/2008)
You'd be right if it actually came with something other then a V6 and V8. Something like a 2l tdi would make much more sense for this car.
Morgan 2:02PM (1/25/2008)
Why not brand it as a Chevy and revive the El Camino?
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Chris 2:14PM (1/25/2008)
Cheesy 70's stigma, perhaps?
Gillian 10:44PM (1/28/2008)
"Cheesy 70's stigma, perhaps?"
No way - retro. GM could sell it to all the hipsters. Hmm, maybe it's just stirring up childhood nostalgia. Ah, the 70s.
MemphisNET 2:03PM (1/25/2008)
It's a global business now. I wouldn't be surprised if American born vehicles get re-badged down under in the new world economies.
Anyway, I think this is a great idea. It actually makes WAY more sense than a proper fullsize truck for the average family. Hell, with AWD I could even use this at my work (Oilsands) instead of our RAM's and Sierra's - if they offered it with an interior that is very plain - as we're going to wreck it anyway out here.
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Matt 9:36PM (1/25/2008)
Daewoos get some here in Australia rebadged as Holdens... Captiva, Epica & Viva for example. Commodores (and derivatives) are the only good cars Holden sell
Luis 2:08PM (1/25/2008)
I still don't understand how this is a more profitable (US) option compared the wagon...I guess I'm in the minority. Lutz continues to baffle me with his company's choices.
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Mark Ryan 2:15PM (1/25/2008)
Sport wagons are proven non-viable in today's market, while this sport ute is still a question and, at the very least, Pontiac will have the only one.
Luis 7:04PM (1/25/2008)
Coming soon: http://carscoop.blogspot.com/2008/01/cadillacs-first-ever-station-wagon-on.html.@MarkRyan...Sport utes are more popular than wagons...really...I have yet to see a sport ute on the streets. As for wagons, they may not be the popular choice in the US; but in comparison to sport utes? seriously...
oby 2:12PM (1/25/2008)
Further proof that GM hasn't a clue!
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Richard 10:04PM (1/25/2008)
I cannot agree more.
When combined, Chevrolet and GMC pickup trucks are the biggest sellers in the world. Even at low prices, they are highly profitable--partly because they have much longer design cycles.
On average, utes will have to compete against pickup trucks while selling at higher prices for less profit. Unless GM subsidizes them--which ain't gonna happen--they will have to sell for about the same as their sedan siblings. There is a notion afoot that a ute requires minimal engineering because it can leverage the engineering that goes into the sedan. No. The structures behind the B-pillars of the two vehicles are substantially different, and will require different engineering programs. And, of course, utes have the same design cycle as their sedan siblings.
No brainer? No brain!
Dave 8:12PM (1/26/2008)
"And, of course, utes have the same design cycle as their sedan siblings."
Considering that the last Monaro/GTO shared a platform with the long dead Cadillac Catera, I'd say GM could get a lot of years out of this platform. Even if they have to give it some regular cosmetic upgrades.