Holden Has Plans For GM's "Most Flexible V6 Engine Plant" - DOD, Dedicated LPG

[JoeT]

Home-Grown Hybrids

Ken Gratton
June 2008
www.carpoint.com.au

Ford and Holden respond to Toyota's hybrid Camry.

Toyota's announcement that hybrid Camry production would commence at the firm's Altona plant in 2010 has been a long time coming.

Company officials released the information to the press today (more here) in a statement carefully coordinated with the Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, and Victoria Premier, John Brumby.

The statement was delivered a matter of days after Holden confirmed that the engine plant at Fishermans Bend would cease production of the Family II four-cylinder engine that has been built there since the days of the Holden Camira.

So how does Toyota's commitment to building 10,000 hybrid-drive Camrys annually affect the two other local manufacturers?

Holden's National Manager - Media Relations, John Lindsay, says that the company doesn't comment on its competitors' plans, but did echo remarks attributed to Mark Reuss during the press conference last week; remarks that served to soften the bad news with a basic outline of the company's future engine production plans (more here).

Lindsay did say that a hybrid Commodore might not reach the market ahead of the local Camry hybrid -- or other alternative fuel strategies from Holden, for that matter.

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Holden V6 Engine Push

David Hassall
10 June 2008
www.goauto.com.au

Holden will introduce a dedicated gas-powered Commodore in the near future as part of an alternative-fuel program for Australia that will also include ethanol, diesel, cylinder de-activation and hybrids.

Speaking at the announcement last Friday that the outdated Family II engine plant at Fishermans Bend will finally close at the end of 2009, GM Holden’s chairman and managing director Mark Reuss said that the focus was now on expanding the company’s modern $400 million Global V6 engine plant.

Holden’s decision to axe the long-running and very successful cast-iron four-cylinder Family II engine – which started production here in 1981 – came about because of dwindling orders from overseas customers, mainly Daewoo in South Korea, which are building their own more modern alloy engines.

Appearing understandably uncomfortable announcing the axing of a plant employing 531 people just four months after arriving here – a task he may have thought he had left behind in North America – Mr Reuss said that $40 million has recently been invested to upgrade and expand V6 production.

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Fours No More, But Holden Has Plans For Super Sixes

Mike Sinclair
7 June 2008
www.carpoint.com.au

Holden says its six's future depends on "infused" technology.

The demise of Holden's Family II engine range will not affect local production of the company's Alloytec V6, says Holden boss Mark Reuss. Indeed, the company will seek to bolster its engine operation's fortunes via high-tech versions of its six-cylinder engine range.

Speaking at yesterday's announcement of the cessation of four-cylinder production at Holden Engine Company's (HEC) Port Melbourne works (more here), the Aussie carmaker's Chairman and MD was adamant the future of the High Feature V6 (HFV6) was secure. In fact, he said the local division's aim was to increase the modular V6 engine's reach across the GM world.

"I want to make it clear up front today's [Friday, June 6] announcement only relates to the ending of production of Family II... and not our more advanced global V6 engine produced at the adjacent plant. Holden engine operations here at Fishermans Bend will go on continuing to develop the business opportunities around our global V6 engine facility," Reuss told the assembled media.

"Our V6 engine is a product we know has huge technological development potential It's the highest technology engine produced in GM, and Australia is our [General Motors'] most flexible V6 engine plant.

"That's why, having initially invested $400m, we have recently spent a further $40m on increasing capacity and preparing for the new technologies of the very near future," Reuss said.

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Holden To Slash 500 Jobs, As Family II Engine Production Comes To An End

[RedVee8]

"We are looking at ways to leverage our investment in additional capacity. As a first step we are preparing to introduce a range of fuel saving and alternative fuel technologies into the [vehicle] products that we build. V6 engines capable of running on either ethanol or dedicated LPG will be the first additions to our current line-up with more to follow," Reuss revealed

dedicated LPG? as opposed to dual fuel?

According to Reuss, given the volatility of the fuel market, the current focus on diesel engines was not the "silver bullet" for local consumers. He said alternative fuels such as LPG and ethanol were "much more compelling" in the Australian 'landscape'.
As noted above, it will be these technologies that arrive first. And while the Holden boss did not rule out a hybrid .............. he dismissed its importance in the Port Melbourne engine facility's near-term future.

Diesel & Hybrid on the backburner? FlexFuel sounds like it is coming, DI as well. Perhaps lower capacity with boost?

How about CNG from a homebased compressor?
How about DoD?

[mmciau]

Originally Posted by RedVee8

"We are looking at ways to leverage our investment in additional capacity. As a first step we are preparing to introduce a range of fuel saving and alternative fuel technologies into the [vehicle] products that we build. V6 engines capable of running on either ethanol or dedicated LPG will be the first additions to our current line-up with more to follow," Reuss revealed

dedicated LPG? as opposed to dual fuel?

According to Reuss, given the volatility of the fuel market, the current focus on diesel engines was not the "silver bullet" for local consumers. He said alternative fuels such as LPG and ethanol were "much more compelling" in the Australian 'landscape'.
As noted above, it will be these technologies that arrive first. And while the Holden boss did not rule out a hybrid .............. he dismissed its importance in the Port Melbourne engine facility's near-term future.

Diesel & Hybrid on the backburner? FlexFuel sounds like it is coming, DI as well. Perhaps lower capacity with boost?

How about CNG from a homebased compressor?
How about DoD?

One feature Holden has over Falcon is the dual fuel. It does lead to greater versatility. Sure I recognise the Falcon maintains boot space.

Outside the metro areas there are less LPG outlets so it is pointless having a dedicated car if you can't fuel it because of sparsely placed LPG outlets.

mike

[Kamshaaft]

What does he mean 'in the near future'? We got a VE about a month ago now and IIRC there was an option to order it with an LPG only engine (We ordered it from the factory, not off a dealer's floor).

[Slick_Holden]

3.8lt V6??..

I hope they end up building a further 5000+ engine per year and give some of the blokes a job, I'm sure they would know how many they might need in time.

Also i like Holden lpg, It keeps power up it's a better version to Ford older version, But older it still works well no doubt.

[RedVee8]

Originally Posted by Kamshaaft

What does he mean 'in the near future'? We got a VE about a month ago now and IIRC there was an option to order it with an LPG only engine (We ordered it from the factory, not off a dealer's floor).

The Holden system is a dual fuel, LPG plus Petrol.

[Kamshaaft]

Originally Posted by RedVee8

The Holden system is a dual fuel, LPG plus Petrol.

This is pretty arrogant, but I don't think I am mistaken .

[mikmak]

Dual Fuel

[mmciau]

Originally Posted by Kamshaaft

This is pretty arrogant, but I don't think I am mistaken .

Please show us the references (Reuss or whoever in Holden) where Holden have changed from dual fuel fitouts to dedicated LPG fitouts.

Regards

Mike

[mikmak]

If you check out the link in my previous post mmciau, you will see the reference that shows kamshaaft the light.

He was just mistaken is all.

[JoeT]

Home-Grown Hybrids

Ken Gratton
June 2008
www.carpoint.com.au

Ford and Holden respond to Toyota's hybrid Camry.

Toyota's announcement that hybrid Camry production would commence at the firm's Altona plant in 2010 has been a long time coming.

Company officials released the information to the press today (more here) in a statement carefully coordinated with the Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, and Victoria Premier, John Brumby.

The statement was delivered a matter of days after Holden confirmed that the engine plant at Fishermans Bend would cease production of the Family II four-cylinder engine that has been built there since the days of the Holden Camira.

So how does Toyota's commitment to building 10,000 hybrid-drive Camrys annually affect the two other local manufacturers?

Holden's National Manager - Media Relations, John Lindsay, says that the company doesn't comment on its competitors' plans, but did echo remarks attributed to Mark Reuss during the press conference last week; remarks that served to soften the bad news with a basic outline of the company's future engine production plans (more here).

Lindsay did say that a hybrid Commodore might not reach the market ahead of the local Camry hybrid -- or other alternative fuel strategies from Holden, for that matter.

Click here to continue article



Holden V6 Engine Push

David Hassall
10 June 2008
www.goauto.com.au

Holden will introduce a dedicated gas-powered Commodore in the near future as part of an alternative-fuel program for Australia that will also include ethanol, diesel, cylinder de-activation and hybrids.

Speaking at the announcement last Friday that the outdated Family II engine plant at Fishermans Bend will finally close at the end of 2009, GM Holden’s chairman and managing director Mark Reuss said that the focus was now on expanding the company’s modern $400 million Global V6 engine plant.

Holden’s decision to axe the long-running and very successful cast-iron four-cylinder Family II engine – which started production here in 1981 – came about because of dwindling orders from overseas customers, mainly Daewoo in South Korea, which are building their own more modern alloy engines.

Appearing understandably uncomfortable announcing the axing of a plant employing 531 people just four months after arriving here – a task he may have thought he had left behind in North America – Mr Reuss said that $40 million has recently been invested to upgrade and expand V6 production.

Click here to continue article

[Slick_Holden]

Can i say on the Alloytech V6 DI with 6 speed auto and Diesels Holdens, Hurry the **** up already!!!.
Stop giving them rich little sake dringing guys all the credit and money for doing nothing here in development!.
Ford! Move it!.