Holden to get Corvette, Camaro, Cadillac

Holden will likely be without a V8 in its showrooms from 2018 once the Commodore becomes a front-drive four-cylinder sedan.  However the global boss of General Motors, Dan Akerson, has once again cast confusion over Holden's future plans.

Speaking at the National Press Club in Washington this week, Mr Akerson, who retires from GM next month, told reporters the Holden brand would be supplemented by "iconic" Chevrolets such as the Camaro and Corvette sports cars, and that Cadillac may be revived.

He told a Wall Street Journal and AP reporter representing News Corp Australia: "We will import from different countries, not just South Korea.

"We may bring in iconic Chevrolets such as the Corvette and the Camaro and Cadillac someday, yes."

However, Mr Akerson made similar promises at the beginning of the year -- and was contradicted by other senior GM executives.  At the Detroit motor show in January, Mr Akerson told Carsguide the new Corvette would be sold in Australia.

But less than 24 hours later the head of international operations Tim Lee said the Corvette would not be made in right-hand-drive, adding in the blunt exchange: "This is a non-story from my point of view. You can write what you want to write, I really don’t give a shit. But it is not in the mainstream plan."

Mr Lee also said at the time: “I have no idea what [General Motors CEO Dan Akerson] said but we have no plan to put a right-hand-drive under that bonnet. The Corvette is a Chevrolet, it’s not a Holden, it never will be, next question.”

A Holden spokesman this week told Carsguide he was unaware of any plans to bring the Camaro and Corvette to Australia. Carsguide understands the business case for right-hand-drive versions of those cars is yet to be approved.