Holden to produce four-cylinder small car
Holden, known for it's massive sedans and massively appealing V8s, is on the small car bandwagon with its announcement to build a four-cylinder car in Australia to be sold alongside the Commodore. Holden currently has three four-cylinder cars, but they're comprised of rebadged Daewoo's and an Opel, and haven't set the Outback on fire. The new compact car will be based on the Chevrolet Cruze, but with a body designed by Holden, and will offer both four-pot gas and diesel options. Down the line, Holden said it will investigate ethanol-capable engines and start-stop technology for its new Corolla fighter.
Holden has a few reasons to make such a move right now, changing consumer tastes being one of the most important. The Australian government has also pledged $6 billion (AUD) to its local auto industry, which has allowed Holden to carry out its plans with less concern about the bottom line. Holden will spend $200 million (AUD) and the government will provide another $179 million (AUD). The new compact sedan will have to stave off competition from Toyota, as well as the parade of cheap Thai cars that have been flowing into Australia after the two countries concluded a free trade agreement. The new Holden will face-off against the Ford Focus and Toyota Corolla when production begins in 2011.
[Source: Drive.com.au]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Conundrum 8:23AM (12/22/2008)
I would have thought Aussies and Holden would prefer the RWD Alpha platform. But I guess that is a midsize.
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216 8:27AM (12/22/2008)
the article should read
"Pontiac soon to release much need small car based on Holden small car that has yet to be produced"
cuz we all know that GM needs it NOW
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imoore 11:37AM (12/22/2008)
Agreed. The Cruze is about to go into production in China next month and in Korea in March, so that means the rest of the world will be getting the car lomg before the US will. GM would be wise to start building the car here, say, this fall.
Mobius_1 8:28AM (12/22/2008)
Small cars fare better when gas prices are high, like when economies are booming, and also do well in recessions when people can't afford large, expensive autos. Good idea, really, just look at Honda.
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giantkiller06ss 9:51AM (12/22/2008)
Nice to know the Aussies willing support their domestically produced and owned auto companies. Umm.. what a interesting concept. I wonder if there is a lot band loyality for Holden (GM) and Ford down there? Nah.. that couldn't be possible, how could their people not have a uninformed basis to imports? Couldn't be just an American thing, right.
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VictorRaikkonen 1:05PM (12/22/2008)
Actually we have a lot of loyalty to Ford or Holdlen down here and regardless of whether you drive an import or not you are still either a Ford or Holden bloke. You can just about anywhere, i.e Target, K-Mart [we do not have Wal-Mart] and pick up a Ford or Holden shirt, jacket, thongs, etc. However, that said, Toyota is the number one dealer in Oz with Holden running second and Ford in third and Honda in fourth.
Frank 10:11AM (12/22/2008)
Well, you can Austrailia to the list that includes South Korea, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and even Sweden (whose car companies are owned by a firm based in another country) to the list of those willing to support their auto industries. You can thank W for stepping to the plate after congress shut it down here. And the per capita amount by the Austrailian government for Holden is much greater than the per capita for our automakers.
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RayJ 10:35AM (12/22/2008)
I think Holden is waisting money changing the design of the car. The Cruze looks very good the way it is all it needs is a Holden grill. Heck it looks like a smaller Holden without the changes anyway and has a world class interior.
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sydbot 1:15PM (12/22/2008)
I'm with the keeping of the Cruze design; just throw Holden badges on it. Holden should concentrate on the Alpha platform, not waste resources on a car that already has an excellent design.
GWHawk 7:12AM (12/23/2008)
I STRONGLY believe that the car Holden needs is a mid-sized alpha RWD car called the torana with a V6 twin turbo hero model, and a 4cyl number maker.
Holden can easily import the Cruz and just whack a Holden badge on it.
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Wheelnut 11:08PM (3/20/2009)
Itoo would have thought Holden would have gone for the RWD "Alpha" platform particularly as thats what the cool looking TT-36 "Torana" Concept car is based on.
Although there were a number of reports in magazines [here in Australia] saying that it could have / should have been a RWD version of the new Opel Insignia
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