Updated Holden Barina Spied! (Kalos/Aveo)

[TKR]

Originally Posted by Ssom

Far as I can tell they're already on sale now, I saw a shipment of them in Ports of Auckland last week.

July launch from what I have been told (as is Colorado). I will post some photos as soon as they arrive on the yard.

[teamkiwiracing]

Originally Posted by TKR

July launch from what I have been told (as is Colorado). I will post some photos as soon as they arrive on the yard.

Is the updated Epica going to be released at the same time?

[Ssom]

Yup, Epica diesel at least is confirmed in two specs for a July-ish launch. $36,990 for the CDX spec + $4000 more for what effectively amounts to the now discontinued CDXI spec. I wouldn't be surprised to see the petrol model dropped altogether.

They'll have to be agressive if they want to move any though, Hyundai is offering Sonata diesels for $10,000 below retail to government buyers and the NZ Taxi Federation.

That said, something needs to be done about the Barina, if anything there should have been an all new model turning up, not a facelift. The 5 Door needs to be about $1000 cheaper to really have any hope in hell.

[RedVee8]

I hope that little smile is because of an extra ANCAP star...

[mikmak]

AAARgh! Palpitations! I forgot you are across the Tasman Ssom. 37k for an Epica? Tell him he's dreamin'

[BigAls87Z28]

The American version looks like its BEGGING for a front mount....

[Ssom]

Originally Posted by mikmak

AAARgh! Palpitations! I forgot you are across the Tasman Ssom. 37k for an Epica? Tell him he's dreamin'

May the Gospel of Darryl Kerrigan be praised.

It's about par for the course, Sonata diesel is $38,490 (man), $39,990 (auto) and $43,990 (Elite Auto), Magentis EX diesel is $39,990, Corolla 2.0 Diesel is $38,990 or $39,990 for the Exclusive pack, Mondeo diesel is $40,000, Jetta 1.9 TDI Bluemotion is $39,990 (Or $41,990 for a non Bluemotion 1.9 TDI DSG).


All cars have are similarly equipped to the Epica, but Holden really needs to flog them of for $30,000 if they want a piece of Hyundais taxi pie.

[TKR]

Originally Posted by teamkiwiracing

Is the updated Epica going to be released at the same time?

By the end of July, your friendly NZ Holden dealer should have stock of the following models:

VE Sportwagon
Epica Diesel
Barina update
Colorado (have seen the photos' today - mostly like a Rodeo of course but much better front end)

[Patto1]

Originally Posted by TKR

By the end of July, your friendly NZ Holden dealer should have stock of the following models:

VE Sportwagon
Epica Diesel
Barina update
Colorado (have seen the photos' today - mostly like a Rodeo of course but much better front end)

Finally Holden is waking up.

I thought the first half of 2008 they went to sleep, nothing to get excited about, now lets hope this is the start of a wave of new products from Holden to start a sales revival.....

[CobaltSScrazy]

Originally Posted by blue3231

It looks like a Mazda from the late 1990s/early 2000s.

yes like a mazda protoege5 but narrower...

CobaltSS

[Ssom]

Originally Posted by Patto1

Finally Holden is waking up.

I thought the first half of 2008 they went to sleep, nothing to get excited about, now lets hope this is the start of a wave of new products from Holden to start a sales revival.....

Not likely. The Barina update as far as I'm aware doesn't remedy anything except take away the one positive thing about the last one (In that it wasn't a bad looking car). Holden NEEDED an all new small car very badly, instead it's soldiering on for two more years with a car that's already 5 years out of date.

The Wagons tend not to make up a huge portion of Commodore sales and I can't help but feel Holden missed the boat on this one with the large car slump. Holden need that Commodore diesel. A Calais V Diesel wagon sounds to me like a heavenly matchup.

Epica diesel if discounted heavily enough could get a fairly steady taxi following I suppose, but I've been through many times why this car will never do much better than 500/month, it's not a car that will ever catch downsizing Commodore buyers.

I'm in two minds about how Colorado will do, the market should react better to this name change than they did the Pulsar to Tiida transition. The truck certainly is better looking than the old version.

Basically Holden needs to stack its deck with a broader and more suited range of small cars to really get some back from Toyota, this isn't America where a new grille and satellite radio will completely turn a models fortunes around.

[mikmak]

^^^We're getting Satellite Radio!?!?!

[Ssom]

Originally Posted by mikmak

^^^We're getting Satellite Radio!?!?!

Lol no, I was just referring to the American market turning their nose up at cars like the G8 due to the lack of Satellite radio and buying something crap that does have one.

[rentakeyboard]

I have just been having a look on the UK Chevy site.
It looks better than the spy photos here.

ABS and Side impact air bags are STANDARD on even the base 3Dr 1.2li.

Hopefully this will carry over here. Should go a some way to answering the safety criticisms.

[mikmak]

Originally Posted by Ssom

Lol no, I was just referring to the American market turning their nose up at cars like the G8 due to the lack of Satellite radio and buying something crap that does have one.

I was going to put at the end but thought it was more fun to see if we got any bites.