New Opel Insignia To Sell Alongside Holden Epica Down Under?

[JoeT]

Insignia Set For Oz

Byron Mathioudakis
11 August 2008
www.goauto.com.au

Holden will sell Opel's Vectra successor, the Insignia, alongside the cheaper Epica.

Holden is believed to be preparing a twin mid-sized family car attack that will cover both the cheap and ‘prestige’ end of the segment.

In the surprise move that is set to mirror Honda’s successful two-pronged Accord/Accord Euro strategy, the Insignia – Opel’s new mid-sized glamour car that debuted late last month at the London motor show – will arrive in Australia priced between $35,000 and $50,000.

This would put it in the firing line against established mid-sized combatants such as the Mazda6, Volkswagen Passat and Citroen C5, as well as the Ford Mondeo, when it arrives later next year.

This will leave the cheaper Epica to battle the Toyota Camry, Hyundai Sonata and Kia Magentis in the fleet and economy end of the mid-sized class.

It is unclear which Insignia bodystyle(s) will arrive, but the four-door sedan and five-door liftback are likely. The as-yet-unreleased wagon might also be imported.

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Will Holden Sell The New Opel Insignia Down Under? (April 2008)

[mikmak]

Sounds too much like logic to me.

And there it is, Globalisation as it should be.

It will be interesting to see how succesful it is now that the timing is a little better.

even more interesting is its impact on Commodore sales.

[ford&holden]

Yay! This a good move imo

Accord and 6 are going to have a tougher time now.

I can't wait to be able to drive of these these, the styling is very attractive.

[ford&holden]

Originally Posted by mikmak

Sounds too much like logic to me.

And there it is, Globalisation as it should be.

It will be interesting to see how succesful it is now that the timing is a little better.

even more interesting is its impact on Commodore sales.

Will be interesting, mind you falcon sales don't appear to have been greatly affected by mondeo sales.

The mid size segment is becoming very, very competitive.

[BBDOS CV8]

will arrive in Australia priced between $35,000 and $50,000

That's the killer. New cars are cheaper (especially in terms of content due to free-trade) than they've been in a while - and the last Vectras wouldn't sell starting up $10,000 cheaper. It better be more than just a pretty face. $50K buys you a standard Calais with a 6.0/6-speed auto.

[ford&holden]

Originally Posted by BBDOS CV8

That's the killer. New cars are cheaper (especially in terms of content due to free-trade) than they've been in a while - and the last Vectras wouldn't sell starting up $10,000 cheaper. It better be more than just a pretty face.

Lets wait and see if Holden can start selling them just under $30,000, you need to be priced around your natural competitiors.

Don't know about you but the previous vectra wasn't exactly the shining star in the looks department and wasn't a class leader.

Epica has proven that just cheap prices don't sell a vehicle.

[kenman923]

Now if they will only sell it in the U.S.

[ford&holden]

Originally Posted by kenman923

Now if they will only sell it in the U.S.

Aren't they looking at selling the new Opel as the new Saturn Aura?

[GMFAN85]

Originally Posted by ford&holden

Aren't they looking at selling the new Opel as the new Saturn Aura?

Actually, it won't be sold as-is in the US or Canada. It will be getting unique sheet metal as the Saturn Aura.. which doesn't make any sense whatsoever considering that the Saturn brand is supposed to be just an American outlet for Opel.
Hopefully, by "unique sheet metal", they really mean a few styling alterations here and there and not huge visual changes that will ruin the car. Kind of like the Mazda 6.

[MonaroSS]

That will be a nice vehicle....

No need for this then.

What Holden/GM need to do with this car, which is a Chevy in the rest of the world, is offer a top end halo model. Take that Porsche designed 2.0 straight six engine and fit DI and fast spool Twin Turbo's and add Titanium conrods/valve gear, race pistons so it revs sweetly to 8,000rpm and drive it through a 7 speed close ratio manual to AWD. I'm thinking 375hp........

[BBDOS CV8]

Originally Posted by ford&holden

Lets wait and see if Holden can start selling them just under $30,000, you need to be priced around your natural competitiors.

Don't know about you but the previous vectra wasn't exactly the shining star in the looks department and wasn't a class leader.

Epica has proven that just cheap prices don't sell a vehicle.

The Insignia might prove to be a good looker but very ordinary in execution, Opel's done that before - we'll have to wait and see. Flash looking, expensive and ordinary or compromised doesn't sell, either.

Sourced from Germany I can't see them being any cheaper than a Mondeo trim-trim, the real price of which with any decent kit, and a decent margin for Ford, is over $30K before onroads. Of course, if the Oz dollar appreciates, it comes down - but then so does it for all the cheaper vehicles.

In effect, the top Epica won't compete with any level of Insignia which I would presume is going after the Pug 407, Alfa 156, Citroen C4(?), Passat and baby Lexus. I think it will be up against the same issues as the old Vectra - buyers in those categories just won't think 'Holden' for midlevel Euro. Not enough cachet, wrong sort of 'G'day mate' dealer.

Maybe Holden should sell them through GM Premium dealers.

[Ssom]

Won't the new Luxury car tax put cars that would traditionally [slightly] more expensive cars that would have been weighed up against the Vectra a few years ago out of most $50k buyers reach?

Looks like there is a good gap in the market to exploit for people who want something nice but without the fuel bill of a Commodore, or for who there is social/political pressure to drive something more "Environmentally friendly".

Could turn into a useful 5-600 extra cars per month.

[mikmak]

Let's just hope that the electrical systems are not wired up by the same short sighted leprechauns as the ZC was. (surely that is the only explaination)

[Slick_Holden]

Sell it at $50,000 and die trying.

The real idea of a alternative mid size car is to offer it under the price of the large size car.

Toyota already made 2 errors with the Camry/Aurion.
Don't price it in the Calais area and it should be safe.

I also don't mind it's looks, Theres something of a few cars in it.

[mang01]

Originally Posted by Slick_Holden

Sell it at $50,000 and die trying.

The real idea of a alternative mid size car is to offer it under the price of the large size car.

Toyota already made 2 errors with the Camry/Aurion.
Don't price it in the Calais area and it should be safe.

I also don't mind it's looks, Theres something of a few cars in it.

I agree (about the pricing killing it). But I also don't see why they need this car - another new name plus a hard to sell "premium Holden". That makes a mockery of their claims that Korean and hence cheaper is the way to go (PR spin?). If they wanted to go back to trying to sell a premium mid-sizer (like Vectar was positioned last time, PR spin then too?) as well as Epica you only have to look at the Mondeo experience, not setting any sales records as far as I've seen and that must go down to high prices and similar (perceived) size against the Falcon, which is slightly newer as well and RWD, plus lack of established prestige image in the marketplace (versus Accord and 6). Insignia would similarly have exactly those three problems.
I'd expect the Tosca/Epica/Optra to be replaced in the next couple of years with a Korean built version of this platform anyway just so as to consolidate GM's overlapping entries (as presumably Corsa and Kalos/Gentra/Barina/Aveo, and Astra and Cobalt and Nubira/Viva/Forenza will too).