GM snatches defeat from the jaws of victory

Australia has a domestic car company. Holden. They are own by GM. In US terms, they are to Australia what Chevy is to the US.

Holden makes a sports car named the Monaro. It is an awesome machine, and very successful down here. It is a old-school muscle car. No room for kids, and fuel mileage be damned. They have big, powerful motor, rear wheel drive, and they don't cost a lot when compared the German and Japanese luxury cars.

It has been so successful that GM has brought it to the US and rebadged as the Pontiac GTO. Holden Australia is building left-hand-drive models for the US market.
And, it has flopped. Why?

Well, somehow GM managed to screw it up. There are have reports of serious quality problems with the GTO. Problems that the Monaro doesn't have. GM moved the fuel tank into the trunk for the GTO, leaving no trunk. They managed to cram in a bunch of other changes that frankly were not needed.

If you want to know more, read the automotive reviews for the GTO. They rip it for the quality defects. Car and Driver wasn't too nice about it. The Aussies are pissed off at GM for ruining what should have been a sure thing. They were hoping to be able to sell a bunch of these to the US market. Now it looks like it won't survive GM.

Compare the photos below of the Australian Monaro (top) and the American GTO (bottom). They don't even look like the same car!!! This is the same as if one day while you are at work, your wife takes your loyal hunting dog to vet, has his balls snipped off, give him a poodle style haircut, and puts a bow on head. It's not the same dog any more.

Holden Monaro

Pontiac GTO

The Monaro screams tetesterone. The GTO looks like something that a sorority girl would drive to the mall on a Saturday afternoon. Look at the GTO's dainty little "B" column. The bigger rear seat windows (so her girlfriend's can spot the shoe sales better). The more rounded nose and softer rear end... gotta take that edge off!.

To their credit, Pontiac has done something right for the 2005 GTO. It has more power. They put the new Gen III LS2 V8 under the hood. This is the new generation small block V8,6.0L, 299kW, OHV 16 valve, with Sequential multi-port electronic fuel injection. This is the same motor GM puts in the Corvette.

The GTO comes standard with a 4 speed automatic transmission with overdrive. An optional 6-speed manual is available for more money. What!?! An automatic? A 4-speed automatic? What a waste. Are there that many people out there who can't drive a stick? Why don't they just put a diaper on the car?

The Monaro has a Gen III LS1 V8, 5.7L, 260kW motor and a 6-speed manual transmission.

Still. What's the point of hiding that extra power in a car that looks like you bought for your wife?

The problem is that GM couldn't leave well enough alone. They have too many cooks in the kitchen. They had to tweak the chassie to put their Pontiac signature grill on it. Then they figured while they were at it, let's make other changes! All those executives have to justify their jobs. So they build cars that look like they were designed by a committee.