Holden Monaro CV8-Z ushers Aussie coupe into history

Say what you will about the Pontiac GTO, but the Holden Monaro holds a special place within the hearts of all Australians. It's been the nation's best selling sports car for the past three years and will sell its 40,000 unit sometime this month. What's more impressive is that three quarters of the car's sales have come from overseas where it's sold in five countries under various GM brands. To commemorate the outgoing Monaro, Holden will introduce the CV8-Z Special Edition to ensure that the car exits on a high note. The upgrades are primarily cosmetic and include a new Fusion orange-based metallic paint, a factory-fitted Holden By Design sunroof, black hood scoops, 18-inch five-spoke alloy wheels, modified rear lamps and gun metal chrome badging on the rear of the vehicle. Only the Australian and New Zealand versions of the Monaro are headed out to pasture, while a new U.S. version, according to Motor Trend in its May 2005 issue, will arrive in 2007 as an '08 model on GM's new RWD Zeta platform.

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