Whether it's from the www, the latest motor show or the back doors of a carmaker near you, Carsales Network Confidential features the good oil other sources either won't publish, don't care about or don't know. Heard an automotive rumour or new model tip? Then let us know at editor@carpoint.com.au
>> Judge for yourself
One of the stars of online forum GM Inside News has created design studies for a prospective Holden Monaro/Pontiac GTO. The artist, who goes by the moniker 'MonaroSS', has contributed some masterful works to the online debate concerning a Monaro/GTO replacement.
The four impressions feature a standard Monaro, a HSV GTO, and red and black versions of a Pontiac GTO 'Judge'.
All the images combine elements from the forthcoming Chevrolet Camaro (around the 'C' pillar and rear quarter panels) and some styling cues from the VE Commodore ('A' pillar and front quarter panels). In the case of the HSV and the Pontiac iterations, the split grille marks a return to earlier era styling, although the HSV in question was as recent as the VZ ClubSport.
The dual stripes along the lower flanks and the VE-style vent in the front quarter panels hark back to the HT Monaro GTS.
For those who were unaware, the next Chev Camaro will be built in Canada on a shorter wheelbase version of the VE Commodore's floorpan and this car is a chance to come to Australia.
The tie-in with Pontiac stems from Holden supplying the Commodore to the American subsidiary as the Pontiac G8 and prior to that, the V2 and VZ Monaros as the Pontiac GTO for 2004 through to 2006.
'The Judge' was an ultra-high performance model based on the Pontiac GTO from the sixties and would be a natural for the 7.0-litre LS7 Corvette engine that HSV has been considering for local production models (more here).
Before you get excited, these studies are not in any way sanctioned or approved by Holden or General Motors. We just thought they were an interesting look at what could potentially be achieved with existing or planned production parts and infrastructure.
>> The case for BMW and Volvo
Yes, BMW has denied any interest in purchasing Volvo if Ford put the big Swede up for sale. Yes, Ford hasn't officially announced that Volvo is up for sale.
Nonetheless, we were interested in the opinions of a friend in the industry as to why BMW and Volvo would make a good fit.
"When I analyse what BMW is doing, it should look at something like Volvo and see a brand that already has global distribution, a strong product range... And it has a product that it can pitch very, very hard against Volkswagen and Audi.
"BMW engineering has immense respect for Volvo engineering and when you look at Swedish engineering culture and German engineering culture, they're very similar. They're very detail-oriented, engineering-oriented cultures... quality cultures, that sort of thing.
"Volvo has extremely modern plants which are updated regularly... cutting edge manufacturing, cutting edge efficiencies. The paint facility is the 'cleanest' in the world.
"Volvo has world leading quality, world leading manufacturing and the plants are running at very, very high efficiency.
"And the Germans see this and immediately think 'well if it is for sale, we're acquiring a company that is running very efficiently'.
"When you look at BMW and the profits it's generating and the products it's releasing I think BMW might be at the point where they're saying either 'we're forced to expand or forced to contract, we have to do one or the other'. It's a very interesting time for BMW as well.
"The more you analyse (that) business, the more you kind of see that it makes sense. If BMW is edging towards expansion, BMW should consider potentially buying Volvo."
To comment on this article click here