igor Posted January 15, 2008 Share Posted January 15, 2008 Despite strong interest within GM, the VE Sportwagon will not make it to America By BYRON MATHIOUDAKIS in DETROIT 15 January 2008 www.goauto.com.au HOLDEN will not export the VE Sportwagon to the United States in the foreseeable future as Americans continue to ignore wagons in virtually any size and form – in contrast to the situation in Europe where such vehicles have a healthy share of the market. This was the bombshell dropped by General Motors' product czar Bob Lutz this week to the Australian media at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. "We looked at that, but the amount of change to meet US regulations was going to be quite a lot of money," Mr Lutz said. "And the sad truth is, as much as some of us like 'sportwagons', they just don't sell in the US. "How often do you see an Audi wagon? 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." Mr Lutz revealed that he championed the VE wagon strongly, but was shouted down by the number crunchers who could not make a strong enough business case for the Australian Commodore carryall. "We have the product idea: We say: 'Hey, how about taking the (Holden) Sportwagon and doing a (US Pontiac) G8 Sportwagon of it," he said. "Then we turn it over to the marketing guys, who do the volume analysis, and they look at sales of Audi A4 wagons … zero. BMW 3 Series wagons: close to zero. Mercedes C-class wagon and E-class – it's all close to zero. The Jaguar X-Type … it was sales proof! "But then we say: 'Well, we think this one looks so good, that it can overcome that, and the volume planners say: well … we can only do two to three thousand, which is not worth the investment. "So, reluctantly, in my particular case, I reluctantly gave up on that one." The production version of the VE Sportswagon – which made a splash at last October's Australian International Motor Show in Sydney – is due to arrive early in the second quarter of this year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeyMustang Posted January 15, 2008 Share Posted January 15, 2008 I wonder if they looked into the Ute. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IMSA-XJR9 Posted January 15, 2008 Share Posted January 15, 2008 Bah!! (But he's right.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
igor Posted January 15, 2008 Author Share Posted January 15, 2008 I think the Ute is next... Igor Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark B. Morrow Posted January 15, 2008 Share Posted January 15, 2008 (edited) I think the Ute is next... Igor Probably, of course they will cite the lack of love for the SSR which was just a stupid vehicle from the start. The only was the UTE would work was as a Chevy ElCamino. Pontiac has no market for the thing. Edited January 16, 2008 by Mark B. Morrow Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlackHorse Posted January 15, 2008 Share Posted January 15, 2008 I think the Ute is next... Igor I hope not, I really like the Ute. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CarShark Posted January 16, 2008 Share Posted January 16, 2008 Probably, of course they will cite the lack of love for the SSR which was just a stupid vechile from the start.They don't greenlight a powerful modern station wagon, but they will put through a $40,000+ retro convertible pick-up truck on a $25,000 SUV platform......with a wood-lined bed? O......K. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anthony Posted January 16, 2008 Share Posted January 16, 2008 (edited) CTS wagon was supposedly given a green-light though. Edited January 16, 2008 by Intrepidatious Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
armadamaster Posted January 16, 2008 Share Posted January 16, 2008 :boring: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waymondospiff Posted January 16, 2008 Share Posted January 16, 2008 Bah!! (But he's right.) Seconded. Proof - Mazda6 Sportswagon...brilliant. Sales? Nada. Scott Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rmc523 Posted January 16, 2008 Share Posted January 16, 2008 CTS wagon was supposedly given a green-light though. So, it has a better chance than a G8 wagon, when the G8 wagon was already compared to the almost nonexistant luxury import brands' wagon sales? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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