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The reason GM won't import current Holdens to the North American market is primarily because of the rear-mounted fuel tank - apparently GM edicts demand the tank be mounted forward of the rear axle, not so much to prevent fires as to forestall US lawyers. The new Holden-Sigma platform (eg Cadillac CTS) has a repositioned tank, but with that already in production in the US, Holden exports to America are unlikely. Australians get the Sigma in a few years, hopefully with different styling to the CTS. Also Holden doesn't have any excess capacity, with only one car plant (plus a separate underutilised engine plant) which is already being triple-shifted for a max output of about 150,000 units per annum. Check out the GM Middle East website for existing Chev-badged Holden exports.
Of note Holden announced they will manufacture Gen 3 V8s from 2003, also an all-alloy V6 as well as the export dohc 4. The Monaro coupe will be exported to the Middle East too, and needs to be, as local demand is sure to wane. A HSV GTS 2-door is definate, btw the GTS engine is imported direct from Callaway Engineering.
'Downunder' (sorry about the similar nick, mate) is right, although similar visually to a Catera, Holdens are a quite distinct design to it from the floorpan on up.
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