Move Over Toyota, Holden’s Gunning For No1 - Move Over Vectra: It's Epica!

[JoeT]

Move Over Toyota, Holden’s Gunning For No1

Mike Sinclair
3 August 2006
www.carpoint.com.au

Holden’s gunning for the number one spot Down Under and it’s got a swag of new models lined up to help it on its way.

Holden may appear to have its hands full with launching airships and the new VE Commodore but, in the words of Backman Turner Overdrive, you ain’t seen nothing yet!

Boss Denny Mooney has made it clear the Lion is gunning for number one. And he’s not pinning his plans on one large car -- just around the corner are a swag of new Holdens set to substantially change the face of the brand -- or at least the look of Holden dealers’ showrooms.

CarPoint has been gifted a sneak peek at the rest of Holden’s year. The leak, it’s claimed, comes after the company ‘roadshowed’ its VE Commodore and second-half 2006 plans to employees.

Key to the rest of 2006 is the launch of two new model ranges – the Captiva SUV and a Camry/Mazda6/Accord competitor with a difference.

Both vehicles have been spotted on the road around Holden’s headquarters in Port Melbourne (Vic) with light camouflage. Indeed, the cursory disguises are now limited to dark tape over the Holden and model name badging front and rear. During the recent VE Commodore media briefings at HQ both Captiva and the medium car (called Epica in some markets) models were parked in plain sight.

According to CarPoint’s source, the Captiva (for more details click here) will be launched before October’s Australian International Motor Show in Sydney. Three trim levels will be offered SX, CX and LX. It’s claimed these will be priced from $35,990 through to $42,990.

CarPoint believes that only all-wheel drive Captiva models will be offered at launch. This clears the way for a front-wheel drive base model to arrive later. One wilder suggestion is that Holden will eventually offer a version of the Opel Antara two-door concept ‘offroad coupe’ (pictured) as a halo model for the Captiva range. Don’t hold your breath.

Already on sale in Europe and the Middle East under the nameplate, Epica (also pictured), Holden’s Vectra replacement is the final major launch for 2006. Built by GM Daewoo in South Korea, the car will launch Down Under in November with a feature none of its key medium car rivals can offer – a six-cylinder engine.

The six powers the front wheels but unlike most front-wheel drive six-cylinder applications, it is an inline engine rather than a V6.

The engine will be offered in two versions: 2.0 and 2.5-litres. According to our sources, the 104kW/187Nm base model will be available with a five-speed manual only (unlike Europe). The 115kW/240Nm 2.5-litre will be five-speed auto only.

A 110kW/310Nm 2.0-litre four-cylinder common-rail turbodiesel engine will be launched in Epica in Europe in 2007. No news on whether that powerplant will make in to Australia.

Although CarPoint is unable to confirm that Holden will use the Epica nameplate, model variants are like to follow the lead set by Vectra and Astra.

The range is claimed to kick off with a manual 2.0-litre CDX model from $24,990. The 2.5-litre auto CDX will be around $2000 more with range-topping CDXi from $29,990. Expect ESP to be standard across the range.

How the local market will react to buying a six-cylinder medium car while fuel prices are still a hot topic will be interesting to watch. That Holden will pitch its six against Toyota’s four-cylinder Camry puts another spin on Toyota chairman emeritus John Conomos’ comments at the recent launch of the Camry.

As reported by CarPoint (for more click here) when quizzed on new Camry’s fuel consumption Conomos declared that fuel economy was not the key driver of change in the local marketplace.

"Six cylinders seems to be the determinant in changing buyer habits towards four-cylinder cars… The vehicle price doesn't really change that much and the fuel consumption itself is not that much in terms of difference, but the perception of people of the need to act differently has created what I think is a new paradigm," Conomos said.

Two other Holden models are also likely to make their debuts Down Under in late 2006 according to CarPoint sources. Holden is claimed to be set to confirm the arrival of Astra Twin Top. The attractive two-door features a folding steel roof (as shown hereabouts) in the coupe-convertible mold.

The other new model mooted is a special-spiced up Astra SRi. Looking to crash Mazda’s SP23 party, the three or five-door SRi will reputedly feature a 2.2-litre engine, six-speed manual or four-speed auto gearbox and a full complement of safety equipment including ESP.

Holden declined to comment on the leak, categorizing the information as chatroom speculation.

Jason Laird, National Manager Media Relations for Holden told CarPoint: "We don't discuss our future product plans.”

“We'll launch Captiva later in the year and talk about pricing then. The other cars are available to us through GM partners and each could certainly fill a place in the portfolio," Laird said.



There's A Baby On The Way

Jaedene Hudson
4 August 2006
www.smh.com.au

The Holden Captiva will spawn a smaller, three-door sibling next year.

David Lyon, executive director of design for GM Daewoo and GM Asia-Pacific, says the smaller 4WD will be similar to the now discontinued three-door RAV4 but "won't be a copy" of the Toyota.

"I can't say too much but there will be a smaller and larger [off-roader] ... There are plans for more [4WDs]," he says. "Sporty and family ... the [4WD] for those with kids will be the Captiva, for singles ... it won't be a traditional [4WD]. It will be more of a coupe."

The "coupe" Lyon is referring to is the T2-X concept car shown at the Seoul Motor Show last year and Lyon hinted the smaller city runabout vehicle will be modelled on this. "[GM] did not get us to build the T2-X for nothing," he says. It is not yet clear which engine will power the baby Captiva, but a four-cylinder or small-capacity V6 is most likely.

Also, the family-sized Captiva will be available with a diesel engine next year. This news will no doubt be the cause of some frustration for Ford, which is yet to find an affordable diesel engine for its Territory soft-roader.

Captiva (top), T2X (middle) and Epica (bottom)

[DuSpinnst]

Good for Holden, and good for GM!

[toronado10]

Holden. An Australian revolution.

[jbernie]

I am guessing the Epica is a GM Daewoo model? Any ideas on content/specs?

Holden definately needs the Captiva, the Territory and others have been stealing market share away, but better to have the right product later than the wrong product earlier (the Adventra..although it wasn't bad, it just wasn't going to be a volume seller).

The Epica model will need the pricing right, don't want to have to many models to closely priced.

[steve333]

The captiva should be sold here in America. This market gets crap!

[give_it_all_]

Originally Posted by jbernie

I am guessing the Epica is a GM Daewoo model? Any ideas on content/specs?

155hp
4 speed
Not great on gas....
We have them in Canada
http://www.gmcanada.com/english/vehi.../epic_opti.jsp

[CRBoyd91]

Originally Posted by give_it_all_

155hp
4 speed
Not great on gas....
We have them in Canada
http://www.gmcanada.com/english/vehi.../epic_opti.jsp

The new one is likely much better.

[rsbaker]

Can anyone tell me Is there a need or a market for Pickup trucks in Australia? I mean real trucks not the car based Utes. I ask because I happened to be watching the Discovery Science channel the other day and saw some guy driving around in the outback looking at rocks in a 4WD Toyota 4 door Crew Cab pickup . I was thinking, why doesn't Holden offer some re badged right drive Chevy or GMC pickups for the Australian market. It seems to me that Holden could certainly increase market share. They should offer the new Tahoe as well. I think our "mates down unda would take fancy to some Yank styled Utes"

[CBECK]

Originally Posted by DuSpinnst

Good for Holden, and good for GM!

we could definitely use them here too.

[JoeT]

Holden has the top selling Asian built Rodeo pick-up, which comes in single or duel cab, flat or enclosed tray and petrol or diesel versions.

Yank Tank pick-up's don't sell well in Australia. Their too big and thirsty.
It's got me buggered how they still sell anywhere in these days of high fuel prices.

[swegeon]

holden sold the chevy suburbin a few years ago. i think they sat in the dealers yards for years. ford sell 150,250 f trucks here but not many,chevy gmc 1500,2500 & 3500 pick up are privately imported and i guess if your got $90000 spare their good trucks

[rsbaker]

Originally Posted by JoeT

Holden has the top selling Asian built Rodeo pick-up, which comes in single or duel cab, flat or enclosed tray and petrol or diesel versions.

Yank Tank pick-up's don't sell well in Australia. Their too big and thirsty.
It's got me buggered how they still sell anywhere in these days of high fuel prices.

Leaving the Yank Tank comment aside for the moment. When was the Last time a Full sized Truck was sold in Austraila? The only ones that I know about were mid 1970s Ford F100s. I only know that from the Mad Max movies Todays pickups, be they Ford or GM, are light years beyond those dated models and available with some powerefull V-6 engines and Diesels as well. All I'm suggesting is that GM tailor a full sized model for the Austrailian market perhaps a short bed single or extended cab with otional V-6 ingines and the Tahoe wouldn't be any worse than the Toyota Land cruiser which, if I'm not misataken, is also sold in Austrailia. I'd bet the commercial market would certaily be interested larger trucks with more diverse power trains and body configurations.

[BBDOS CV8]

Ford has sold F-series trucks on and off almost continuously since the 60's. They are so expensive their use is limited - tend to be people who want the US 'truck' look. In that market they are competing with Fords' own 1-tonner full-chassis Falcon based utilities also availlable AWD, plus lots of Toyota/Hino/Daihatsu and various other 1-3 tonne vehicles, most of which are diesel. Due to our proximity to Japan and Asia and low 5% import tariffs, the commercial vehicle market is even more competitive than the car market. We also get lots of Euro commericals, like the Benzes, VWs, Italian trucks and various others.

In another thread I ran a comparison of a Holden Ute and a shortbed Dodge Ram. The Holden has a larger, deeper bed (h x w x d) heavier payload and towing capability of 1300kg (2800lbs) braked. And hosed down and unloaded the Holden drives like a car complete with IRS and is available in up to SS trim with leather seats, climate etc etc etc, and gets similar economy to the equivalent V6 or V8 sedan. You can buy a loaded SS or XR8 V8 Ute for about $US25,000. Any fullsize GM-built vehicle even if available in RHD would probably run $60-100K. Too small/expensive/limited for commercial operators, too big/unwieldy/expensive for private users.

Given large 4WD sales new and used have absolutely tanked due to $US4.00+ per gallon standard unleaded, it would struggle to sell.

[roteague]

Originally Posted by rsbaker

Leaving the Yank Tank comment aside for the moment. When was the Last time a Full sized Truck was sold in Austraila? The only ones that I know about were mid 1970s Ford F100s. I only know that from the Mad Max movies Todays pickups, be they Ford or GM, are light years beyond those dated models and available with some powerefull V-6 engines and Diesels as well. All I'm suggesting is that GM tailor a full sized model for the Austrailian market perhaps a short bed single or extended cab with otional V-6 ingines and the Tahoe wouldn't be any worse than the Toyota Land cruiser which, if I'm not misataken, is also sold in Austrailia. I'd bet the commercial market would certaily be interested larger trucks with more diverse power trains and body configurations.

The Ford F150 is sold in Australia, as is GMs Surbarban.

[growler]

Originally Posted by rsbaker

Leaving the Yank Tank comment aside for the moment. When was the Last time a Full sized Truck was sold in Austraila? The only ones that I know about were mid 1970s Ford F100s. I only know that from the Mad Max movies Todays pickups, be they Ford or GM, are light years beyond those dated models and available with some powerefull V-6 engines and Diesels as well. All I'm suggesting is that GM tailor a full sized model for the Austrailian market perhaps a short bed single or extended cab with otional V-6 ingines and the Tahoe wouldn't be any worse than the Toyota Land cruiser which, if I'm not misataken, is also sold in Austrailia. I'd bet the commercial market would certaily be interested larger trucks with more diverse power trains and body configurations.

We get the Ford F250 http://www.ford.com.au/range/fseries4x2/models/ here but it is very expensive in comparison to other commercial vehicles. But saying that they might not sell in big numbers but they do sell pretty consistently. Suburban's are not sold officially here any more. There are a small number of companies that import and convert them to RHD.