Holden Celebrates It's 60th Anniversary At The Adelaide Motor Show - Concepts Galore!

[JoeT]

GM Holden Celebrates 60th Anniversary With Concepts Through Ahe Ages At Adelaide Motor Show

GM Holden
1 April 2008
www.holden.com.au

GM Holden will showcase six historic concept vehicles and a comprehensive line-up of soon-to-be released and current Holden models when the Adelaide Motor Show opens this week.

The stunning Coupe 60, which recently made its world premiere in Melbourne, will take centre stage on the Holden stand, while five celebrated Holden concepts, including the Torana TT36, ‘Marilyn’ Monaro convertible, HRT427, Sandman Panel Van and the award-winning EFIJY, will be showcased together in a separate display.

GM Holden will also preview two unreleased Sportwagon models in Calais V and SS V guise, and special edition anniversary models of the VE Commodore and Captiva to commemorate the 60th anniversary of Australia’s own car, the Holden 48-215.

Concept Vehicles

Coupe 60

Dubbed Coupe 60, the stunning two-door pillarless coupe boasts sophisticated technology and sports performance, honouring 60 years of innovative design and engineering at GM Holden.

Powered by a 6.0 litre V8 engine incorporating the latest technologies including active fuel management and calibrated for E85 ethanol fuel (not currently available for purchase in Australia), Coupe 60 explores the limits of Holden’s current rear-wheel drive capabilities, combining racing looks and technology in a road going sportscar experience.

EFIJY

The acclaimed EFIJY showcar will today make its return to Adelaide Motor Show, after it turned heads there just two years ago.

EFIJY is a radical custom coupe shape boasting V8 Supercar power under the bonnet, Chevrolet Corvette underbody and state-of-the-art automotive technology throughout. The ‘Soprano Purple’ paintwork highlights its curvaceous 5.2-metre body, reinterpreting the classic design cues of the iconic 1953 FJ Holden.

A long-term dream for Chief Designer Richard Ferlazzo, the EFIJY concept was developed as a collaboration with suppliers which reduced impact on the company’s heavy work schedule and ensured the highest possible quality result for the showcar.

Torana TT 36 Concept

Holden drew on GM global resources to build the Torana TT36 showcar, which is powered by an experimental 280kW twin turbo Alloytec V6 engine, sports a glass roof and showcases directional design themes.

This mid-sized hatch concept was intended to demonstrate to a worldwide audience the strength and versatility of Holden's design talent and emphasise its ability to react swiftly to meet changing market demands.

Marilyn Monaro Convertible

The 'Project Marilyn' convertible Monaro was an engineering study built to evaluate the possibility of a convertible coupe based on Holden's previous generation V-car platform. Although production costs prevented this good looker from hitting the streets, 'Marilyn' provided Holden with valuable information on future model feasibility.

HRT427

A joint project between Holden and Holden Special Vehicles (HSV), the HRT427 was first shown in 2002. The high-performance closed-circuit racer features a 7.0-litre V8 racing engine based on the Le Mans-winning C5R Corvette powerplant.

Sandman Panel Van

The Sandman Panel Van is GM Holden's light-hearted retro tribute to the iconic Sandman surfmobile of the seventies and was created in collaboration with surf and streetwear company, Mambo. Its 'Bushfire' custom paint finish, beach and bush goddess murals complete with native fauna and luxurious rear 'chill out zone' attracted plenty of attention when it was first shown in 2000.

Production Models

VE Sportwagon

With production of the all new VE Sportwagon soon to begin in Adelaide, GM Holden will display a Sportwagon SS V in Voodoo (aqua blue metallic) and Calais V in Karma (dark jade green metallic).

With a recommended retail price only $1,000 more than its sedan equivalents, the VE Sportwagon line-up offers a new level of comfort, safety and styling in a Holden wagon, combined with sedan-like ride and handling characteristics.

VE Sportwagon will be available in the full range of VE Commodore variants including Omega, Berlina and Calais, plus the sporty SV6, SS and the range topping SS V and Calais V models.

Specifications will be in-line with VE sedan variants with ESP® and six airbags as standard with the added bonus of rear park assist across all models.

VE Commodore

Holden will display two new 60th Anniversary Commodore Special Edition models, the VE Commodore 60th Anniversary Special Edition and the VE SS V 60th Anniversary Special Edition.

Based on the Omega, the VE Commodore 60th Anniversary Special Edition is fitted with $8,000 of extra value, including:
· New 18-inch alloy wheels (four)
· Onyx leather seat inserts
· Leather steering wheel
· Decorative moulding on instrument panel in micro silver
· Front grille insert
· Rear parking sensors
· Bluetooth® connectivity for compatible mobile phones
· Special ‘60th Anniversary’ rear badge

The VE Commodore 60th Anniversary Special Edition is on sale 1 May and has a recommended retail price of $33,990*.

In addition to the standard SS V, the VE SS V 60th Anniversary Special Edition includes the following features:
· 20-inch, 10-spoke alloy wheels (four)
· Colour Satellite Navigation
· Rear parking sensors
· Chrome surround exterior door handles
· High mount rear spoiler
· Special ‘60th Anniversary’ floor mats
· Special ‘60th Anniversary’ rear badge

The VE SS V 60th Anniversary Special Edition is on sale 1 May and is priced at $55,290*.

The Holden stand also features some of the increasingly popular high-end Commodore models, including the sporty SV6 and range-topping Calais V.

All VE Commodore sedan models are fitted with Electronic Stability Program (ESP®), air conditioning and six airbags as standard.

VE Ute

Launched late 2007, VE Ute is Holden's first completely new ute design since the VU series in 2000. It offers more features, more useable interior space, greater storage flexibility and more performance than any of its Holden predecessors.

The new VE Ute has been strengthening Holden’s position at the premium sports end of the ute market and offers enthusiasts of this Australian icon new levels of comfort, performance and safety with ESP® as standard.

Captiva

In its first full year of sales, Captiva was the third best selling model in the highly competitive Medium SUV segment in 2007. The introduction of a diesel variant in March last year proved popular with customers, accounting for more than half of Captiva sales in the last three months of the year.

Based on the Captiva LX, the Captiva 60th Anniversary Special Edition includes the following:
· Rear view camera
· 18-inch sports alloy wheels (four)
· Seven inch driver information display & in-car DVD player
· Leather gear shifter
· New front fascia
· Front passenger underseat storage tray
· Electrochromatic mirror
· Silver premium painted skid plate, fog lamp inserts, roof rails & door handles
· New black bezel headlamps
· New tail lamps
· Special ‘60th Anniversary’ rear badge

The Captiva 60th Anniversary Special Edition is on sale 1 May and is priced from $43,990* for the petrol variant and $44,990* for the diesel variant.

GM Holden’s display includes the Captiva 60th Anniversary Special Edition and the sporty five-seater MaXX.

WM Caprice

Holden’s top-of-the-range V8 flagship, the WM Caprice, is also on show combining space and luxury with performance and handling.

Standard features include a Bose premium audio system, remote control three-screen DVD with roof console, and a tri-zone electronic climate control system with foot level ducting to the rear compartment.

Rodeo

The powerful turbo diesel Rodeo on show features several design enhancements and increased braked towing capability.

The 3.0-litre VCDi common rail engine delivers 25 per cent more peak power while meeting strict new Euro IV emission requirements. Peak power of 120kW is achieved at 3600rpm and peak torque of 333Nm is achieved at 1600rpm (automatic) and 360Nm at 1800 rpm (manual)**.

All 4x4 turbo diesel variants now have a 3000kg braked towing capability, which represents an increase of 500kg on manual variants and 1000kg on automatic variants.

Epica

GM Holden’s new mid-size sedan, Epica, will be on display with its generous interior space, excellent standard specifications and stylish fit and finish.

Epica is available in two variants (CDX and CDXi) with a choice of either a 2.0 or 2.5-litre in-line six cylinder engine, depending on model. Epica’s impressive fuel economy (ADR081/01) is 8.2 litres/100km for the 2.0-litre manual variant and 9.3 litres/100km for the 2.5-litre automatic.

Small car range

The versatile flexible AH Astra CDX wagon will be displayed alongside the Astra SRi turbo coupe, which delivers outstanding performance.

These cars will be joined by the Astra CD Five-Door Equipe and the Astra TwinTop which brings retractable hard top technology to the small convertible market at an accessible price.

Complimenting the small car range, the Viva hatch and Barina three-door and sedan models will be on display, with levels of standard equipment that represent outstanding value for money.

Holden Vehicle Display – Adelaide Motor Show 2008:

· Coupe 60
· EFIJY
· Torana TT36
· Marilyn Monaro Convertible
· HRT427
· Sandman Panel Van
· VE SS V Sportwagon
· VE Calais V Sportwagon
· VE Ute SS V
· VE Commodore 60th Anniversary Special Edition
· VE SS V 60th Anniversary Special Edition
· VE SV6 sedan
· VE Calais V sedan
· WM Caprice
· Captiva 60th Anniversary Special Edition
· Captiva MaXX
· Rodeo LT 4x4 Diesel Crewcab Pickup
· Epica CDXi
· Astra CDX wagon
· Astra TwinTop
· Astra SRi Turbo
· Astra CD Equipe 5dr hatch
· Viva 5dr hatch
· Barina 3dr hatch
· Barina sedan

The Adelaide Motor Show will run from Wednesday 2 April until Sunday 6 April.

MIMS: Monaro's Back! Holden Coupe 60 Unvealed!
60th Anniversary Review: 1948 Holden 48-215 vs 2008 Holden Commodore

60th Anniversay Holden Commodore

[Aych Es Vee]

all those great concepts!!

[BBDOS CV8]

All these in one place! I haven't seen some of them in the flesh. Almost worth travelling to the 'shallow grave capital' just to see them all and get snaps.

Sucks to be anyone else at the Adelaide show, and especially if you're releasing new models! I predict the Holden stand will be completely abuzz.

There's still hope for a new Monaro.

[mikmak]

Good to see adelaide get such a good showing, but it probably has a lot to do with just being down the road :P

[FISH]

Originally Posted by mikmak

Good to see adelaide get such a good showing, but it probably has a lot to do with just being down the road :P

Brisbane really got shafted this year. At lest in 07 they had the H3, the Epica and the new colour Morphius being released. And to top it off this year, the media event was very poorly organized.

[SpaceCowboy]

Looks like Melbourne got shafted this year too, those six concepts in one place would be totally awesome!

The 60th anniversary offerings are good, but not great. I was kind of hoping to see maybe a 60th ann. Astra, Ute and Statesman, after all there was for the 50th ann.

Is that a unique spoiler on the SS-V? it looks higher than the regular one but doesn't appear to be borred from HSV but its a little bit hard to tell with the supplied pics.

The Captiva scrubs up nicely too, the rims on the Omega aren't bad either, but it would have been nice to see the Berlina fog lams on there too.

Either way this is a pretty good deal for anyone buying at the moment, but I can't help but wonder if there is a little bit more to come. After all it would be great to introduce the sportwagon with a dressed up limited edition.

[asylum]

i'll be heading there this weekend, i'll make sure the camera is fully charged before i go

[mikmak]

Those Omega wheels almlost look BBS-esque. Quite nice considering how underwhelming previous anniversary wheels have been:

[Kamshaaft]

Noooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Fuuuuuuuuuuck!

Goddamnit.

[mikmak]

Did you buy a standard Omega recently?

[JoeT]

I wish I could fly over there for a look-see.

[Kamshaaft]

Originally Posted by mikmak

Did you buy a standard Omega recently?

Hahaha, yeah it's almost that obvious aye? Actually my old man just dropped a bit of money ordering a standard VE Berlina* 3 days ago and is ordering a set of to-suit-BMW rims from America because the Berlina is just so bloody boring looking.

If only he had have known!

That Omega sound like it comes with all the ***** you'd find on a Berlina & had much more attractive rims. The only 'downside' would be the lack of any chrome, but even the VE Berlina has very little chrome compared to the VZ.

The Omega has also gained the exact same grille as the Berlina, but the car costs a good $10,000 less







[i]*(I drive a VZ myself, he gracefully gave me one of his a while ago. You know, for picking my game the hell up and working hard etc.)

[mikmak]

So have you said anything to him yet?

[Kamshaaft]

Haha yeah, He's going to work something out with the dealer and has already phoned him AFAIK, what they work out yet I don't know but this dealer is a really good guy and if nothing else might get the order changed to tick a few boxes on his loss (Like I said -typical of this country dealership, great guys and great service).

These 60th anniversary editions look great! Really kickarse bargains too.

Co-oincidentally was comparing official Holden & HSV rim prices to reputable aftermarket rims from America, and it's pretty damn surprising how much they cost (Rims cost next to nothing in America compared to here BTW, so get em while the exchange rate is high!) in comparison.

Holden rims seem to start at about $800 a piece.

[Bhodie]

Originally Posted by SpaceCowboy

Looks like Melbourne got shafted this year too, those six concepts in one place would be totally awesome!

Melbourne hardly gets shafted, at any time you can walk through the front doors at Fishermans Bend and see them all sitting in the foyer. The Efijy was the only one that seemed to come and go with any regularity, although the Coupe60 may do some rounds overseas to gauge interest.