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Submit your questions for Autoblog Podcast #265 LIVE

Submit your questions for Autoblog Podcast #265 LIVE

Posted Jan 16th 2012 5:30PM

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We record Episode #265 of the Autoblog Podcast tonight, and you can drop us your questions via our Q&A module below. Check out our discussion topics or chime in to help determine what else the crew chats about this evening. Subscribe to the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes if you haven't already done so, and if you want to take it all in live, tune in to our UStream (audio only) channel at 10:00 PM Eastern tonight.

Discussion Topics for Autoblog Podcast Episode #265

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EJD1984

Will the public EVER get a public variation of the Caprice anytime soon? If not this generation of the Chevrolet (Holden) Caprice, how about the 2013-14 next-generation Holden VF Commodore?

January 16 2012 at 5:52 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

1 reply to EJD1984's comment

nettsu

Ed,

The VF Commodore will be based on the VE platform and will just be a new bodyshell with lighter weight materials. The Caprice will be the same - it will be based on the existing model with a new bodyshell.

There's no guarantee what will happen after the VF's lifecycle though...

"The Commodore was a hot topic at the show, where its long-term future and Holden manufacturing in general was discussed by Australian government representatives and GM heads.

The VF Commodore is expected to be the last all-Australian rear-drive large car, retaining the Zeta architecture of the current VE Commodore and its stretched iteration, the WM Caprice, but with a new lightweight skin and other enhancements.

The current Caprice is the basis for the Buick Park Avenue that is assembled and sold in China, and it is conceivable that the Buick project mentioned by Mr Welburn might be a fresh Park Avenue based on the next-generation Holden Caprice.

However, the Park Avenue is selling in tiny numbers in China compared with other GM models – just 3300 units last year out of total GM China sales of 2.55 million vehicles – and it remains to be seen if GM will take the trouble to continue the model line when the new Caprice appears in about 2015."

http://www.goauto.com.au/mellor/mellor.nsf/story2/85E4507C36FBEFE0CA257987007D4DDF

The main problem is that the large car market in Australia has effectively become a niche market. In 2002 Holden sold roughly 80,000 Commodores. Last year they managed just over 40,000. So pouring money into a new car with limited export potential is a bit of a mugs game regardless of how much money the Australian Government throws at GM.