Jealous Again: Holden VE / WM exports begin
The car above is a brand new 2007 Chevy Lumina SS, which is, in turn, a rebadged Holden VE Commodore SS. It's powered by a 6.0L LS2 V8 that dishes out 362 horsepower through the rear wheels. As you can see, it's left-hand-drive. It's ready to lay long, black strips of rubber on American tarmac.
There's just one problem.
That boat it's getting on is headed to the Middle East. We have to wait (very impatiently) while the boys in Dubai, Saudi Arabia, etc. get to buy the car that belongs right here, right now. Oh, I know the word is that we'll see it as an '08 (or '09) Pontiac Grand Prix (see Oct '06 MT for more), but come on. The development of the VE Commodore was not some state secret that never left Australia. Holden is a GM company. The General knew it was coming, and anyone with functioning eyes sees that Americans are more than willing to pony up for a rear-drive car. Or are those Chrysler 300s, Dodge Chargers, and Dodge Magnums I see all over the place just mirages?
The new Holden VE, its long-wheelbase WM siblings, and the absolutely killer HSV variants are great-looking cars with the right stuff under the skin. They would sell here today. Call it a Pontiac Grand Prix. Call it a Chevy Corsica for all I care. Just call it something and get it here -- the United States of America -- yesterday. This car should be The Big Deal for GM at the Cobo Center in January: a full-tilt-boogie, engine-revving, tire-squealing, Bob Lutz unveiling extravaganza. GM will own the show.
Own it.
So please, GM, just do this already. Bring the car. Market the living hell out of it. And watch it go.
(More photos, Holden's export press release after the jump)
[Source: GM Holden]
PRESS RELEASE:
GM Holden's First VE / WM Export To Middle East
GM Holden has dispatched its first shipment of all-new generation export versions of Commodore, Statesman and Caprice from Adelaide's AAT Port to its largest export market, the Middle East.
The 500 cars, prepared as the Chevrolet Lumina and Chevrolet Caprice, are destined for ports throughout the Middle East where they will be distributed into the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain.
The shipment represents an exciting new chapter in what has been Australia's longest and largest automotive export program.
GM Holden Chairman and Managing Director, Denny Mooney, said exports were a key part in Holden ensuring its South Australian vehicle operations continued to run at full capacity.
Mr Mooney said the Middle East market had grown into Holden's largest destination of vehicles, with more than 30,000 shipped there last year.
He said the Chevrolet versions of Statesman and Caprice had become major sellers, enabling Holden to invest $190 million in the development of the WM series to extend its place in the domestic and export markets.
"The long wheelbase Holdens are now our biggest seller overseas which has allowed us to take these all-new cars to a whole new level," Mr. Mooney said.
"Caprice will be among the most spacious passenger cars in the world – all designed, engineered and manufactured right here in Australia.
" Middle East customers seek many of the same vehicle attributes as Australians and the incredible value offered by the all-new Commodore is sure to build on our strong position in the region."
The VE Commodore has been prepared as a Chevrolet Lumina for the Middle East market and will be available in four models; the luxury LS and LTZ, and the sports S and SS.
The advanced 3.6-litre Global V6 six-cylinder engine will be offered on LS, LTZ and the S while the 6.0-litre V8 will be available the SS.
The WM Caprice has also adopted the Chevrolet badge but will maintain its well recognised brand name. It will also be available in four models; the luxury LS, LTZ, the sporty SS and the top of the range Royale.
The 3.6-litre engine will be available on the LS and LTZ and the 6.0L engine will be offered on the entire range.
Middle East Chevrolet Dealers, media and fleet customers had their first taste of the new VE and WM when they visited Australia in early September. According to Emma Pinwill, GM Holden's Export Manager, the feedback has been extremely positive.
"The main question we were asked was how quickly we could get them over there," Ms. Pinwill said.
"The cars will be sold through the 24Dealers we have throughout the region and from the initial feedback we have received we expect a large interest from private and fleet customers.
"With the huge advances in safety and the great styling of the VE and WM, we're confident these cars will enhance our already strong reputation over there."
All vehicles sent to the Middle East are carefully prepared for their month-long journey to ensure they are suitably protected.
The vehicles are washed and have external wrap guards applied before the exterior is covered with a thin protective covering.
Internal protection is added to the doors, seats, steering wheel and gear knob. All small items such as floor mats, keys and manuals are placed in the boot for safekeeping.
Chevrolet Lumina and Caprice models are expected to go on sale in early November.
Holden last year exported 60,518 vehicles around the world, a record for the company since its export program started in 1954. Cars were sent to every continent except Antarctica.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Den in IN 8:17AM (9/20/2006)
Seems like GM vowed to only import a limited number of GTOs so as not to upset the unions. Didn't turn out to be a problem but it would be an issue if it were one of the main stream family products in large numbers. Is that your fingers I feel tightening on my throat?
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Eleventeen 8:27AM (9/20/2006)
"Call it a Chevy Corsica for all I care."
Hah hah...actually 'Corsica SS' kinda sounds cool.
Seriously tho, I saw the MT cover and dropped my jaw. The new Holdens looks awesome and they look good in the sheep's clothing of a Pontiac. Pulling up next to one of these, you'd never really imagine that they could smoke you to the next light.
If GM really wanted to turn things around, this isn't a bad idea.
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Ron 8:30AM (9/20/2006)
Why is it taking GM so freaking long to get its act together? This car should be here by now.
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Scotty 8:33AM (9/20/2006)
I believe that the 6.0 litre V8 used in the new Holden's is a Vortec V8 and not the LS2. I'm not sure why they would do this, unless the Vortec is more efficient and/or cheaper to produce.
Either way, bring the bloody thing over here. Call it a Grand Prix or a Chevelle or a Grand National. I don't care. Just bring it.
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Cosmo Kramer 8:41AM (9/20/2006)
One thing is for sure, the Holden has a much better looking frong grill than the fugly Pontiac.A majority of American styling lacks imagination. Bold moves? Try boring moves
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slicecom 8:52AM (9/20/2006)
Why cant GM just make cars that look this nice IN NORTH AMERICA? Most of the cars they make here look like garbage IMO.
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ramsport47 8:52AM (9/20/2006)
Looks like a Subaru Legacy, but that ain't bad!!
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Sid 8:55AM (9/20/2006)
These cars have such awesome interiors. Love that two-tone interior of the car on the MT cover. Add to that RWD, V8s and clean-cut looks, what's not to like?
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DJ 8:57AM (9/20/2006)
Wanna get really mad about this whole situation, then click here and see some even better pics of the cars.
http://www.holden.com.au/www-holden/
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Derek 9:24AM (9/20/2006)
GM, in their eternal stupidity will probably bungle this somehow.
I don't see how the dropped the ball on the Monaro. Well, I do, because it didn't look like a GTO. Not that I care, I thought the Monaro was gorgeous, but apparently old baby boombers didn't think so.
We need the Malloo as a new El Camino/Caballero.
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Steve C. 9:38AM (9/20/2006)
GM is building and selling as many SUVs (the only thing they're selling that has a reasonably decent margin) as they can to try to keep from losing more than a few billion next year.
Re-badging any import is a money loser for GM.
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DJ 9:02AM (9/20/2006)
Here, this will really PO everyone....even better pics of the cars. The Caprice from the side view is absolute KILLER!!!
http://www.holden.com.au/www-holden/
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DHL 9:14AM (9/20/2006)
The caprice is absolutely gorgeous, right up there with the Audi 8 series, BMW 7s and MBZ S-class. In fact, GM would do really weel if they brought the whole Holden range over, but not as Pontiacs or even Chevys, these should be Buicks to compete against Infinity/Lexus/Audi.
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James F 9:27AM (9/20/2006)
The answer to this is so simple.
Kill Saturn. Convert all the Saturn dealerships into Holden. Just import the damn cars as is with whatever few modifications that need to be made for DoT/etc.
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Hamud 9:34AM (9/20/2006)
Gotta love that ride, really nice one.
The Chevrolet Vectra that we have here has almost the same tail and taillights, it looks really good.
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BOB 9:38AM (9/20/2006)
DID ANYONE BOTHER TO LOOK UP THE PRICE OF THE CAR, THE VALUE OF THE AUSTRALIAN DOLLAR, ETC? Then, did anyone allow that GM has way too much capacity in the U.S. and Cananda and would be paying people not to work, rather than building the model here?
I am sure they could make the generic styling more American (discussed to death a few weeks ago). Nunez is wrong that the car is worthy of coming in as is.
Let's see if the stories they are going to make versions here come true.
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Mike 10:03AM (9/20/2006)
I don't understand the inconsistency in comments. Chysler has slashed production of all cars with the V-8 Hemi and all SUVs & Trucks with big engines. Ford cannot even give away the newly redesigned Explorer due to gas mileage. Everyone on this site rips GM for not bringing out more fuel efficient cars [though they have more than anyone]. Now the blog responders that GM is stupid not to have more V8 models here in USA.
I bet that gas will always be cheaper in United Arab Emirates, Oman, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, where those cars are going. We are one tanker explosion or hurricane from $ 3.25 x gallon.
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Randy S 10:04AM (9/20/2006)
If GM has committed the Oshawa plant to build the Zeta-platform Camaro and the Global HFV6 just happenes to be built in Michigan...not to mention the real LS2 V8...then, Oshawa should also build 1-2 VE variants and a WM variant. The caveat would be to not alter the body at all with the expection of grille, trim rear lamps and some interior details.
Pontiac and Buick would benefit greatly from this move.
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Tony 10:05AM (9/20/2006)
Scotty, the V8 variants of the VE/WM Holdens use a version of the LS2 named the 'L98', with slightly less power and better fuel economy than the 'standard' LS2. However the new cars using the L98 are so much more advanced than the previous HSV models that did use the 400hp LS2 that they're actually faster.
Though the new HSV models that are faster still, do use an LS2 (with 412hp).
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Chris Goldrick 10:09AM (9/20/2006)
#13, the answer is not to kill Ope..er, Saturn. I think they are one of the few brands that has a chance. Replace Pontiac or Buick with Holden. Speaking of Buick, who wants to design cars for a marque that is catered to an older generation, that will die out before the next models are introduced? That is not good marketing. For example, Toyota created Scion so that they could hook customers as young people and keep them for LIFE. So yeah, Holden over Buick and Pontiac. Pontiac's style looks too much like a cheap rip-off of BMW anyway, with its grill design.
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