The Commodore SS-V certainly looks serious but somewhat plain without the bonnet scoops and two-piece grille of the Pontiac G8, but I'm thinking that they weren't taking any chances after the Pontiac GTO, which you Australians know as the Holden Monaro.

The GTO suffered primarily from it's appearance, looking more like a Chevy Cavalier on steroids. When I was at a Pontiac / GMC dealer a couple of years ago looking at a big pickup truck, a deep rumble echoed off the wall in back of the dealership's lot, which opened up in a full throttle V8 roar down the street past where I was standing.

I looked around to try to determine what muscle car was creating that wonderful sound, but couldn't place it in the traffic driving by. The salesman pointed to what appeared to be a boring little red subcompact and said that's the GTO you're listening to.

I was quite amused.