Holden soft-top in show mix

An Australian platform underpins new cars in the US and Europe, reports motoring editor Alastair Sloane.

The Buick Velite concept, the showpiece of General Motors' stand at this month's New York motor show, is the first American car to be built on the Holden-developed Zeta architecture.

The Zeta platform will underpin the all-new 2006 VE Commodore and a number of other GM vehicles.

The Buick is the second car to use the Zeta as a base. The first was the Opel Insignia concept, unveiled at the Frankfurt motor show last year.

Buick's use of Zeta signals GM's plan to build hundreds of thousands of American cars from 2007 using the Australian platform.

The Zeta architecture uses double wishbone suspension in the front and a five-link independent rear-end. It was developed by Holden for the VE Commodore and its derivatives and will be used worldwide as part of GM's global architecture.

It can be used with a variety of wheelbases for rear-drive, four-wheel-drive, V6 and V8 drivetrains.

It will be made in Australia and used in the VE sedan/wagon/ute/Monaro, future niche models, and continued exports of left-hand-drive Pontiac GTOs to America.

In the United States, it will be under Buicks, Chevrolets and Pontiacs. In Europe, it is likely to underpin a new Opel large car and the replacement for the Saab 9-5 sedan and wagon.

The appearance of the convertible Buick Velite next week also shows that one of Holden's future niche models could conceivably be a soft-top version of the VE Commodore.

Such a vehicle would cost too much to make using the present Holden platform, says the company.

A soft-top down the VE track, however, wouldn't surprise. Pontiac has been quietly pushing for a convertible version of the GTO ever since the export deal was struck.

An American website has quoted Pontiac GTO development manager David Poniatowski as saying that a soft-top GTO was being considered by Holden.

The GTO has just gone on sale in America and is earning a reputation as a "gotta-have" set of wheels, says Poniatowski, who drove a GTO on a 51-hour cross-country run that "showed us this is a terrific performer that is also comfortable on the highway".

He says a soft-top would keep the GTO competitive with the Ford Mustang and new Chrysler Crossfire convertibles.

Meanwhile, Buick says it wants to build the Velite, using the Zeta's rear-drive architecture and a V8 engine.

GM plans to go upmarket with the Buick nameplate, offering American classic design to challenge luxury leader Lexus.

Its sales in recent years have been weaker than Chevrolet or Pontiac and a car such as the Velite could help it reverse sales trends.

The Velite concept shows off Buick's new styling direction. It is a four-seat convertible that "envelops its passengers in a rich, elegant environment while forging new ground in the exclusive territory of upscale rear-drive cars," says the company.

Anne Asensio, executive director of GM advanced design, calls it "a new expression of Buick's longstanding heritage in understated yet sophisticated design".

"While certainly an expression of premium American style, the Velite's impressive stance and overall presence emphasise a sumptuous driving experience that further pushes Buick on to the centre of the world stage of luxurious touring cars."

Buick rolled out the Velite for golfer Tiger Woods at the Buick Invitational Golf Tournament in La Jolla, California. Woods has a multi-million deal to endorse it.

Lexus, meanwhile, will show off a concept it says will display a "new, more passionate design direction" for the luxury arm of Toyota.

The LF-C sports coupe will have a high-output V8 engine as its powertrain.