Holden Gives Strongest Hint Yet A Smaller Car With Be Built Alongside Commodore

[JoeT]

Holden Hints Again At Torana Future

Ian Porter
10 June 2008
www.drive.com.u

Four years after revealing the Torana concept car, Holden is again suggesting it is looking at building a smaller car alongside the Commodore.

Holden has given the strongest indication yet that it will start producing a smaller car locally.

Long touted as a new Torana, the car is expected to be a size down from the Commodore and could use a smaller version of the V6 engine made at Fishermans Bend.

Holden also plans to step up the pressure in the fuel economy war, where the Commodore has been lagging the Toyota Aurion and the new Ford Falcon.

Holden boss Mark Reuss said on Friday a range of engine technologies was working its way through the development system towards the Commodore production line.

While stressing that the Commodore was still Australia's best-selling car, Mr Reuss suggested Holden was assessing a second model.

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Holden Boss Gives Biggest Indication Yet Of New Aussie-Built Small Car

Nelson Ireson
10 June 2008
www.carcentral.com.au

The move by Holden to cease production of its aging ‘Family II’ four-cylinder engine and focus on its new globally-viable HF V6 engine is seen as the biggest indication that the 3.6L engine could be used in more applications including a new Aussie-built small car.

At the announcement of the closure of the Family II engine plant on Friday, Holden chairman and managing director Mark Reuss said, “going forward, we will be focusing our business efforts on developing new domestic and export opportunities around our advanced global V6 engine plant, particularly in the areas of alternative fuels and fuel-saving technologies.”

Holden is also planning to step up the pressure in the fuel economy war, where the Commodore has been lagging against its rivals like the Ford Falcon and Toyota Aurion/Camry. Ford has confirmed that a diesel Falcon and Territory are in the works, as well as local production of the next-generation Focus small car in 2011, while Toyota today announced that production of Australia’s first hybrid model, a petrol-electric Camry, will commence in early 2010.

Combining smaller, more efficient V6 engines with a smaller and lighter car could yield big benefits for fuel efficiency and could be just what Holden needs to keep pace with its rivals in the fuel economy stakes.

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Holden To Follow Ford With A Locally Built Small Car? Alpha Torana Maybe?

[Aych Es Vee]

I honestly believe that a car in between Astra and Insignia size ..... RWD (a MUST), good looks, priced $25,000 or less AND lastly .... built/developed by Holden ...... WILL be a market conqueror.

I really doubt that simply building/assembling an Insignia or Epica alongside the Commodore, will do much good.
So when I go to church on Sunday ..... I'll be praying that Holden bring back the Torana name, and on a car deserving of the name. lol :p

[zabolots]

Originally Posted by Aych Es Vee

I honestly believe that a car in between Astra and Insignia size ..... RWD (a MUST), good looks, priced $25,000 or less AND lastly .... built/developed by Holden ...... WILL be a market conqueror.

Unfortunately that is highly unlikely. With the costs of materials going up and the fact that mfr's are going to move to even higher-cost materials and technologies to reduce weight and increase MPG, the price of new cars is probably going to skyrocket in the coming years. A car like you describe will most likely be at least $30k and probably more.

[TJ95GAGT]

Would a two mode Commodore and its exported siblings be out of the question? Seems to me if they can get a rolling brick to do 20+mpg, they can get a Commodore to get some pretty good numbers.

[FierySolstice]

Please, please, please export this as the new G6!!! Pontiac really needs it!

[BBDOS CV8]

Originally Posted by Aych Es Vee

I honestly believe that a car in between Astra and Insignia size ..... RWD (a MUST), good looks, priced $25,000 or less AND lastly .... built/developed by Holden ...... WILL be a market conqueror.

I really doubt that simply building/assembling an Insignia or Epica alongside the Commodore, will do much good.
So when I go to church on Sunday ..... I'll be praying that Holden bring back the Torana name, and on a car deserving of the name.

So what you're saying is Holden can make a small high content car in Oz and sell it for the same price as a Korean-made Epica? And approx $10K less than the cheapest Commodore?

Ask yourself - does this seem likely?

[Aych Es Vee]

Originally Posted by zabolots

Unfortunately that is highly unlikely. With the costs of materials going up and the fact that mfr's are going to move to even higher-cost materials and technologies to reduce weight and increase MPG, the price of new cars is probably going to skyrocket in the coming years. A car like you describe will most likely be at least $30k and probably more.

If its basically the same size and spec as a Mitsubishi Lancer, which I think is around AU$20,000 ... do you think that just being rwd will make it cost almost $10,000 more? I hope not.

[jckjds]

Originally Posted by zabolots

Unfortunately that is highly unlikely. With the costs of materials going up and the fact that mfr's are going to move to even higher-cost materials and technologies to reduce weight and increase MPG, the price of new cars is probably going to skyrocket in the coming years. A car like you describe will most likely be at least $30k and probably more.

Well, currently, the G8 sells for $30k +/-, so this would naturally be less expensive. To the extent that fuel saving technologies and materials result in higher priced cars in general, then this car should be a comparative bargain. For example, what the poster was saying is that if such a car could come in at $25K (in today's market), then it would be similarly priced to a mid-size family sedan. It might be slightly smaller, but it would be RWD and HOT. I agree with him, such a car would sell like hotcakes. I would have bought one instead of my G8 if it had been available, but alas . . .

Anyway, I would be more than happy to pay an additional 5K for this car (making it $30K) if it had DI, turbo, some lightweight materials, and (preferably) a DCT. I figure all of these technologies (depending upon the extent of use of lightweight materials) would add up to about $5K, and result in a beast of a car that could return very respectable fuel economy. It would be a fantastic bargain -- like a loaded 3 series at a base 3 series price. I'd be all for it!

[mikmak]

25k AUS, which when exported to the US would equate to about 19USD you lucky sods.

[xPUMPx]

G6 G6 G6 G6 G6! cmon cmon cmon cmon!

[Patto1]

Originally Posted by xPUMPx

G6 G6 G6 G6 G6! cmon cmon cmon cmon!

The economies of scale to make your G6 and our Torana off the same plateform would make sense.

I seriously home for GM's sake they greenlight this.....and fast

[FierySolstice]

Originally Posted by Patto1

The economies of scale to make your G6 and our Torana off the same plateform would make sense.

I seriously home for GM's sake they greenlight this.....and fast

I totally agree. We already have the FWD Malibu and Aura and the new Buick "LaCrosse" is coming soon, a smaller RWD G6 would be the perfect car to save Pontiac and fit so nicely into the lineup. I would buy one in a heartbeat, especially if it got good gas mileage.

BTW, not sure if that is a hatch in the picture above, that would be a sweet option!

[casket_demon]

Originally Posted by mikmak

25k AUS, which when exported to the US would equate to about 19USD you lucky sods.

Not for long, the Mexican Peso (sp?) has more value than the good ole USD right now.

[GeorgesBlazah]

Originally Posted by FierySolstice

Please, please, please export this as the new G6!!!

x2

Id really like to see this come over into the states.

[Quickening]

For love of God. PLEASE build this!