The Season 8 debut of the action drama "24" featured a familiar sedan in an early chase scene. Might we see a Chevy variation of this muscular Australian-built sedan soon?

The season debut of the Emmy award winning Fox action drama “24” aired last night with several familiar characters returning: agent Jack Bauer; his devoted daughter, Kim; and Chloe O’Brian, the scowling techno-geek ally of our hero. President Alison Taylor and special agent Renee Walker are also back along with various new characters who have been seen on other shows recently including Battlestar Galatica.

G8 to the Rescue

But it was the use of one particular car that got my attention, a hot-wired magnetic gray metallic Pontiac G8 GT (Holden Commodore) featured in an early chase scene. That sedan made all the right moves as its escaping driver zig-zagged his way out of trouble, absorbing several gunshots wounds before losing his pursuers.

In a succeeding scene the G8 is observed pulling up across from Bauer’s West 18th Street apartment in Manhattan where the driver gets out of the car and heads off to see Bauer.

The very last time we see the Pontiac is when a Chevrolet Impala NYC police car pulls up in front of it, responding to a stolen vehicle 9-1-1 call made by the driver’s assailant. As it turns out the man who had stolen the G8 had critical information to share with Bauer regarding a pending assassination plot at the United Nations building.

That plot involved targeting the president of the Islamic Republic, who was in New York negotiating with President Taylor about deactivating his country’s nuclear program. Thus, the Pontiac played a key role in helping eventually thwart an assassination attempt which most certainly would have had global ramifications had it succeeded.

And to think that General Motors killed off the Pontiac brand and the G8 model just months earlier!

Internet Users Take Note

I had considered logging on last night to see who else noticed the Pontiac, but waited until this morning to search for that information. As expected the chatter was noticeable: a Pontiac G8 message board and my Twitter stream noted the use of the sedan in “24” with people sharing similar thoughts as mine: why did GM place the G8 when the model has been killed off?

Yes, automakers routinely work with top shows and movies to get their cars in front of cameras. Last year, the Hyundai Genesis sedan got plenty of “24” face time and will do so again this year.

Chevrolet Caprice PPV

Well, here is my thinking: the Pontiac G8 is gone, but it will be back and not just as the Chevrolet Caprice PPV I reported about here earlier. I doubt that we will see a Buick version of this hot Aussie sedan, but GM has got to be thinking that public consumption of the Caprice will eventually happen.

That may mean that the Impala will be deep-sixed in order to make the Caprice Chevy’s flagship sedan or it could mean that GM feels confident that both models could be sold along with the Malibu to give shoppers a choice of three family sedans to buy when visiting Chevy showrooms.

If GM has no such plans, then the placement of the Pontiac G8 GT in “24” was cruel and heartless. I like to think that certain members of GM brass has something else in mind as do many other rear wheel drive sedan enthusiasts, people who want the “thunder from down under” kept alive in North America.

Photo: GM Corp.

The rear view of the Holden Cruze sedan looks nice, but this all new model line lacks something that a lot of markets demand -- a hatchback variant.

As General Motors works its way through bankruptcy and restructuring, a number of questions remain unanswered concerning product development and distribution. With Opel about to leave the GM fold and taking with it designers who helped make important new products such as the upcoming Chevrolet Cruze, enthusiasts have to wonder where that will leave the rest of the company.

The Chevrolet Cruze is likely to become the most important new model for GM over the next several years, given its reported 40+ highway mpg, nice looks and high build quality. A lot has been said about the Chevy Volt filling that role but in reality the Volt will be a low production, pricey model that will only sell a few thousand units per month at the most, at least initially. Paying $40,000 for a Chevrolet is nuts unless, of course, that model is a Corvette. Yes, I know about the $7500 federal rebate on the Volt….

Cruze Production: In Progress Around The World

Sharing the same platform with the Volt is the Cruze which is already in production in other markets around the world. Rolled out last October as the Daewoo Lacetti Premiere in South Korea, the Chevrolet Cruze is now on sale in China and should be on sale in Europe later this summer.

This month, the Holden Cruze goes on sale in Australia and New Zealand while a plant in Lordstown, Ohio is slated to begin North American production of the compact Chevy Cruze next April. By the way, the next generation Opel Astra is also built on the Cruze platform and is now available wherever Opels (and Vauxhalls) are sold.

Holden Designers Take Over

Sorely lacking in the Cruze arsenal, at least for those markets which demand one, is a hatchback model. GM poured billions into the initial Cruze sedan but left the hatchback design for a later time. Likely, Opel designers would have handled that job too, but according to Motor Trends that job is now going to Holden, which is GM’s Australian based brand.

Motor Trends says that Holden will invest $600 million to bring the Cruze hatchback to market and will also look to export the car to other markets to fill in holes in GM’s line up. Until recently, Holden was exporting some of their models to the US (Pontiac G8, most recently) but that arrangement dried up. With the chance to design and export the Cruze hatchback, Holden can now ensure that its Elizabeth, South Australia plant is operating at full capacity, cranking out cars for the Pacific Rim as well as the rest of GM’s far flung automotive network.

Meanwhile, the model continues its gradual global roll out, having first been introduced to the world as the Daewoo Lacetti Premiere in October 2008 (South Korea) and later as the Chevrolet Cruze for the Chinese market. In coming months the Chevrolet Cruze will go on sale in Europe while next month Australia and New Zealand will get the Holden variant. The Holden Cruze sedan is built at GM’s Gusan, South Korea plant, however a five door hatchback model is in the works and will be built in Australia.

Daewoo, Holden, Chevrolet and Opel

The Cruze, in whatever form it is called, is GM’s all new compact car platform. Indeed, the 2010 Opel Astra is also based on the Cruze and will continue to be produced no matter whether GM keeps its stake in Opel or sells some or all of it off. The United States and Canada appear to be among the last markets that will see the Cruze, a car that will likely become GM’s bestseller across its many brand lines once all markets have been penetrated.

The five passenger Cruze is a vast improvement over the Chevy Cobalt, the model it replaces. I don’t have the benefit of having seen the Cruze in person, but photos seem to do it justice — the Cruze is stylish, well engineered and possesses standard safety features not usually found in a vehicle in its segment.

Traction control, brake assist, electronic stability control, electronic brakeforce distribution and anti-lock brakes come with every Holden Cruze, likely the same sort of set up the Chevrolet Cruze will reflect in North America. Also, six airbags including side impact and side curtain airbags are standard along with plenty of cabin amenities including six speaker audio system with MP3 compatible in dash CD, radio and MP3 functionality; power windows; steering wheel audio and cruise controls and for higher end models leather treatments for the steering wheel and seats.

The Holden Cruze is offered with either four-cylinder 1.8L gas or 2.0L diesel powerplants mated to six speed automatic transmissions.  Currently, no diesel engine is planned for the US market, but an engine as small as 1.4L will likely power the base North American model, enabling the Chevrolet Cruze to top 40 mpg.

Top Safety Award Given

The Holden Cruze recently aced an important crash safety test down under, with the Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) awarding the Cruze its highest rating of five-stars. Structural strength along with active and passive safety systems helped the Holden Cruze finish on top.

GM invested four billion dollars to launch the Cruze which includes new engines and transmissions. The Chevy Volt, GM’s electric car, is built on the Cruze platform and could itself eventually spin off a number of different (Voltec) models in the years to come with the Cadillac Converj being one attractive concept that may someday become a reality.

The North American spec Chevrolet Cruze will be built at GM’s Lordstown, Ohio plant. Production is expected to begin in April 2010.

Source: GM Holden

Photos Copyright: GM Corp.

First Holdens Arrive In 2003

GM Holden Ltd. is now a wholly owned GM business, selling cars in Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, China, South Korea, South Africa and elsewhere. The first Holdens arrived in the United States in the form of the Pontiac GTO. After that model was discontinued, Pontiac got the G8, a powerful rear wheel drive sedan based on the Holden Commodore.

It is the opinion of this writer that the Pontiac G8 represents the best product to wear the Pontiac badge in several decades, a true sports sedan offering handling and performance along the lines of the BMW 5 Series, but at priced far less than what the big bimmer retails for.

RIP Pontiac — No More Holden Exports?

Now that General Motors has promised to dissolve Pontiac, that move will likely mean the end of Holden sending cars to the US, at least for now. That’s too bad and for two very good reasons: Holden builds several good products and the loss of Pontiac means that the Australian brand could see its exports halved in the near future.

With fewer cars to export, that move may cost Holden one billion Australian dollars (US$ 715 million) according to News.com.au, not to mention possible layoffs as a result of diminished product demand.

The Pontiac G8 is the second Holden product to be cancelled by GM as the automaker decided in January to not go forward with importing the Holden Ute as the Pontiac G8 sport truck. That model had been warmly embraced by American enthusiasts who nicknamed it the “El Camino” in that it is a reminder of the discontinued Chevy car truck which sported that name.

What About Chevrolet?

Naturally, what is discontinued for Pontiac could perhaps be sold as a Chevrolet. Indeed, the Holden Commodore is sold as the Chevrolet Lumina in several Middle Eastern markets as well as South Africa and could easily be sold through Chevrolet dealerships here.

Get rid of the Lumina name and call the car the Caprice (in North America) and you could have the makings of a terrific flagship sedan for Chevrolet, either replacing or sold alongside the current Impala. And, before you know it, the El Camino could once again grace American streets thanks to the sporty Holden Ute.

At the same time, the industry is going through a deep cleansing, one that will rid it of excess capacity, inefficient operations and see several brands disappear. I believe that Ford will replace GM as the largest producer of cars in the US followed by Toyota. Hyundai and Kia will continue to gain market share while Chrysler’s future is hinged on its relationship with Fiat, a very precarious one at that.

GM Faces A Deep Challenge

Looking closer at General Motors, I now see its US operations pared to the point where only three brands will survive. Despite President Obama’s optimism, it’ll take years to settle GM’s debt as both bondholders and union members hold firm. Now that the president has signaled that he won’t let GM die, what do these parties have to lose? A lot if they don’t hold their ground.

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

In keeping with the tradition of Sergio Leone, I offer to you the following categories to define GM’s future, particularly as it relates to its critical North American base:

The Good — Chevrolet comprises a full 60% of GM sales, therefore the Chevy brand is the face of the new GM. If this brand isn’t healthy enough to compete against Ford, Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Hyundai, Kia and Volkswagen then the company will die.

Cadillac is the premium bookend for GM, a luxury division that needs additional assets. The CTS franchise is a success, the SRX a worthy model, but the replacement for the STS/DTS is a mystery. As for the Escalade, it will probably soldier on as a car based crossover at some point. Lincoln wasn’t much of a threat for the past decade, but now Ford’s luxury division is fighting back, positioning itself to leapfrog Cadillac.

The lifespan of Buick depends on how well the company emerges from restructuring, bankruptcy or not. Its Chinese base is upholding the brand, but in order to be a good middleground brand for GM, it needs some product loving. And quick.

The Bad — The Pontiac G8 is a knock out car, but not enough to keep the brand alive.  Cash strapped GM cannot afford to keep Pontiac alive, so may it rest in peace. The G8 could find its way over to Chevrolet…let’s hope so!

The GMC brand can now die, allowing GM to consolidate Chevrolet trucks with GMC. They’ll be a big battle with Buick-Pontiac-GMC franchised dealers, with some likely to gain a Chevy Trucks franchise in their settlement.

The Ugly — No longer relevant and a big embarrassment, Hummer will probably cease to exist unless a foreign, niche manufacturer buys the brand, its dies and assembles Hummer elsewhere.

There isn’t much that can be said about Saab unless the pending new owner of Volvo makes a pitch for the brand to create Scandinavian Motors. Nope, I don’t see that happening at all.

Pity, poor Saturn — it was once a decent idea that should have been dismissed long before a plant in Spring Hill, TN was built for “a different kind of car company.” Okay, I’m biased: I leased a 2001 Saturn L-Series and actually liked the car, body panel gaps and all.  But, Saturn held Chevrolet back and was always a tremendous financial drain on the automaker. I would hate to see it become a supply house for a Chinese or Indian automaker. Peugeot? Maybe.

Ups & Downs With GM

Life at GM will never be the same, a company whose heritage is a mixture of lousy production methods (pre-1980s), cool technology (OnStar) and stiff competition (Toyota, et al).

If the company does survive, it may eventually have to hook up with another automaker to stay in business. Perhaps Carlos Ghosn would be interested in an automotive troika provided that GM comes to the party without financial baggage.

Related Reading –Brain Drain: GM Whacks Engineers

All right, I never actually owned an El Camino but I did have a toy rubberized version of the vehicle when I was a kid (that counts, doesn’t it?) Back then, I called it a car-truck a term that has stuck with me to this day. A car from the cabin forward, but a truck making up the aft section.

Car nuts know that Holden is GM’s down under brand, a company that has been faithfully serving Australia and New Zealand for decades. Indeed, it was way back in 1931 when Holden joined the General Motors fold and life hasn’t been the same since.

The only trouble with this brand is that GM has been holden’ (pun intended) back on us North Americans by keeping some really nifty looking cars south of the equator.

Sure, the Monaro coupe found its way northward as the Pontiac GTO and the soon-to-be-released Pontiac G8 is married to the Holden Commodore, but it all stops there.

What car nuts really want to see is the Holden VE Ute, a vehicle which would serve nicely as a Chevy El Camino. Indeed, with just a little reworking to it (moving the steering rack/wheel to the left side of the car) the Ute would look great on the American highway.

The Australian El Camino offers a standard and high output 3.6L V6 (sounds familiar?) engine with a 362hp 6.0L V8 optional. Current tranny arrangements include 4, 5, and 6 speed automatics with a 6 speed manual transmission available on some models. Check out the quad exhaust pipes on the SS — awesome!

The standard wheels are 16″ steel wheels with 19″ alloy wheels available. The Ute looks awesome with a tonneau cover over its four foot long bed.

Will the El Camino make a come back? With GM, that is hard to predict. But, as the company continues to do well globally, importing additional hot models from down under certainly makes sense.

Matey, send your Utes this way — we’ll gladly rebadge them as El Caminos in no time!