Autoblog

Seoul Motor Show: GM Daewoo shows off L4X sedan

Alex Nunez — Sat, 07 Apr 2007 13:07:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, GM, Misc. Auto Shows

Click image for photo gallery

Many thousands of miles away from New York, another auto show is getting into full swing. We're talking about the Seoul Motor Show, where the Koreans are getting an eyeful of some pretty nifty stuff. Like what, you ask? Well, like this rebadged Holden Caprice/Statesman, which bowed as the Daewoo L4X sedan. The car on display is the "concept" version of the vehicle that'll go on sale in Korea at a later date.

GM's ubiquitous 3.6-liter V6 provides 258 horses with which to propel the rear-wheel-drive long-wheelbase sedan. It's being positioned as a luxury/executive vehicle complete with niceties such as navigation with TV functionality, heated rear seats with massage, and privacy rollers and blinds for the backseat passengers. We're all for having a variation of the Caprice and/or Statesman show up on these shores badged as a Buick. Unfortunately, Buick dealers, in their infinite wisdom, appear to disagree. We will see a Buick version of the car in China (we're guessing it'll debut at Shanghai later this month), at which point we'll complain loudly about it not being here.

[Source: GM Daewoo]

Gallery: GM Daewoo L4X

Continue reading Seoul Motor Show: GM Daewoo shows off L4X sedan

Seoul Motor Show: GM Daewoo shows off L4X sedan originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 07 Apr 2007 13:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Holden recalls the new VE Commodore, WM Statesman and Caprice

Alex Nunez — Tue, 14 Nov 2006 06:53:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Recalls

UPDATE 1 - According to the drive.com.au blog, this is actually the second recall for the new Holdens. The first dealt with a fuel hose issue on some V8-powered cars.

New model launches have their ups and downs, and GM Holden is currently experiencing one of the "downs." A few months after the very high-profile debut of Holden's exciting new VE Commodores and their long-wheelbase siblings, the WM Statesman and Caprice, the automaker is issuing a recall on the handsome new sedans. It stems from a possible issue with the rear seat belt buckles that applies to 13,000 of the cars in Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.

In their recall statement, Holden explains that their supplier informed them of a scenario in which the buckle's internal spring could have been bent during the manual assembly process. This, in turn, could potentially cause the unit to not latch properly. Said supplier has since adopted an automated assembly process and taken full responsibility for the possible problem and the associated changes made to their manufacturing process.

No incidents involving buckle failure have been reported, and Holden will notify owners of the issue in writing. The automaker will replace all the back seat belt buckles in affected cars. Any overseas readers who might be affected and want to know more can read GM Holden's full statement after the jump.

[Source: GM Holden]

Continue reading Holden recalls the new VE Commodore, WM Statesman and Caprice

Holden recalls the new VE Commodore, WM Statesman and Caprice originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 14 Nov 2006 06:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jealous Again: Holden VE / WM exports begin

Alex Nunez — Wed, 20 Sep 2006 07:57:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Etc., Chevrolet, Pontiac

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]

Continue reading Jealous Again: Holden VE / WM exports begin

Jealous Again: Holden VE / WM exports begin originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 20 Sep 2006 07:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Long-wheelbase Statesman and Caprice unveiled alongside Commodore

John Neff — Sun, 16 Jul 2006 15:28:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, GM

Holden surprised everyone by unveiling its pair of long-wheelbase sedans, the Statesman and Caprice, alongside the Commodore in Melbourne on Saturday. The development of the Statesman and Caprice cost AUS $190 million in addition to the AUS $1.04 billion spent on the VE Commodore line up. The money appears to be well spent as the two longer wheelbase models share virtually no exterior panels or interior features with the Commodore. We especially like the aggressive front fender flares on the Caprice shown above, as well as the nicely integrated turn markers inside the air vents on the front fenders. Otherwise, however, the two long wheelbase models aren't breaking much ground in design.

The Statesman and Caprice are one of Holden's biggest export models, with versions being sold by Chevy in the Middle East, Buick in China and Daewoo in South Korea. These are truly large sedans, as one glance at either vehicle's rear-seat legroom will tell you. If you read the press release, Holden appears intent on demonstrating that the Statesman and Caprice aren't just long-wheelbase versions of the Commodore, but separately developed vehicles all their own.

Both vehicles will be powered by either the high-output 3.6L V6 developing 261 horsepower and 250 ft-lbs. of torque or the 6.0L V8 that makes 362 horsepower and 390 ft-lbs of torque

The Statesman and Caprice will go on sale in September in Australia, at which time we should more know more details like price, features, and specifications.

(Holden's full press release and many more high-resolution pictures after the jump)

[Source: Holden]

Continue reading Long-wheelbase Statesman and Caprice unveiled alongside Commodore

Long-wheelbase Statesman and Caprice unveiled alongside Commodore originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 16 Jul 2006 15:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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