VZ Commodore Wagon, Ute & Crewman To Soldier On After VE Release

[JoeT]

VZ Commodore Wagon, Ute & Crewman To Soldier On

Gautam Sharma
19 June 2006
www.carpoint.ninemsn.com.au

The VE sedan may be around the corner, but Holden’s VZ workhorses are set to continue unchanged.

Holden’s all-new VE Commodore sedan is imminent, but the wagon, Ute (pictured) and Crewman variants will continue in their present form -- VZ versions, in other words -- for at least 12 months.

It’s not an unfamiliar scenario. Remember how the VS Commodore Ute remained on sale well after the VT sedan was launched in September 1997? The VU Ute didn’t arrive until December 2000.

This enabled Ford to gain the upper hand as it meanwhile launched its new-generation AU Falcon Ute, which went on to claim market leadership at the time.

This time around, Ford doesn’t have an all-new rival to throw at the ageing VZ wagon, Ute and Crewman, but will the vehicles be handicapped by the fact that they’ll sit in showrooms alongside the spanking new VE sedan?

Not so, says fleet sales expert and CEO of SurePlan Australia, Tony Robinson: “The Ute is at the forefront of Holden’s marketing campaign and it’s a strong part of the company’s brand identity,” he argues.

“The launch of the VE sedan (For CarPoint’s exclusive scoop images click here)shouldn’t affect Ute sales, as they’re targeted at two different kinds of buyers.”

The Crewman, too, attracts a unique set of buyers, and these aren’t likely to be influenced by the presence of the VE sedan.

However, it could be a different story for the wagon, as Holden’s imminent seven-seat Captiva SUV (also pictured) is likely to absorb many buyers from the large station wagon segment. (Read more about the Captiva here)

Holden execs are talking of keen pricing for the Captiva, so expect an entry point around the $38,000 mark.

The Captiva will also be offered in a five-seat configuration and possibly a two-wheel drive only version. The range will be powered by a 170kW (approx) version of Holden’s 3.2-litre Alloytec V6.

[Aych Es Vee]

12 months!
I want everything to go VE! lol

This means no Monaro untill 2008 probably!!! geez!!!!

[BBDOS CV8]

If you want to get a new Monaro, to be safe you will have to buy one of the twenty-two new VZs left. The odds of another Monaro are shrinking. Whether or not we do get the Camaro (which I think is unlikely) we won't I think get a new Monaro. If we did it is not likely until 2009 or 2010 and will be very different to what we have today.

[RedVee8]

Captiva starting at $38k? They've been talking (press) about 4cyl, V6 and Diesel, 2wd & AWD, 5 & 7 seat. IMHO if $38k is the entry level, 5seat 2wd, they are overpriced and will die in the ....... marketplace.

[Butz]

Why can't they build it right away? why wait?

[Richard1098]

Originally Posted by Butz

Why can't they build it right away? why wait?

I suppose their engineering resources for both design and production are limited, so they are spreading the load.

[Richard1098]

Originally Posted by BBDOS CV8

Whether or not we do get the Camaro (which I think is unlikely) we won't I think get a new Monaro. If we did it is not likely until 2009 or 2010 and will be very different to what we have today.

I can see how Holden would like a 2009 release for the Monaro. How can you convince the public to spend 40% more than the equivalent sedan unless there is the aura of exclusivity or such. If they kept Monaro in continuous production, creating that aura would be pretty hard to do. And by then the initial sales spike from the VE will be over, and they'll be looking for something to fill the production schedule.

[BadMac]

From HFV6 on LS1.com.au

There will be 3 levels of Captiva:

Captiva SX
Captiva CX
Captiva LX

(Similar to Adventra model range)

CX and LX come standard with 7 seats.

3.2L V6 with 165kw and Aisin 5-Speed Auto available.

2.0L I4 T/D with 110kw and 5-Speed Auto/Manual available (from early 2007).

No I4 Petrol available.

All models standard with ESP, AWD.

On top of this is a premium version based on Opel Antara called Captiva Maxx, loaded with additional features and with significantly better perceived quality and design.

[azhimel]

Can GM please make a wagon like this?
http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do...leId=100650667

Call it any **************** thing!!!
Just build it, and put the ZO6 engine in it. Period!!!

[mikmak]

So what will be offered with the VZ Series 3 (?) wagon? 190kW with 5 speed auto in the acclaim (more likely berlina) at least. There has to be some carrot. I dont want to drive that plastic clad ugly bag o bolts captiva. It may look better in the metal, but I doubt it.

[BBDOS CV8]

The VZ wagon is being kept for the fleet market - Telstra and sales reps. It will likely remain in Exec and Berlina versions. VE wagon? I bet more Subaru-like with a AWD softroader and 2WD lookalike.

[rsbaker]

It doesn't seem like a very good Idea to wait so long for the Update of these models. That will make them much more difficult to sell if people know there is a new on coming when they see the new sedan on the streets.

I have always thought that the Ute and Crewman/Cross-8 should come to the US As the El Camino. Having an El Camino with optional Crew Cab would be great here. Perhaps by the time the updated models are in production GM might consider re-introducing El Camino to North America. There would certainly be nothing like it on the market to compete with it.

[KingElvis]

What's the US/Australia exchange rate?

[BBDOS CV8]

Originally Posted by rsbaker

It doesn't seem like a very good Idea to wait so long for the Update of these models. That will make them much more difficult to sell if people know there is a new on coming when they see the new sedan on the streets.

Blame GM NA with it's on-again, off-again Zeta program which screwed Holden around. Originally all were planned to be released within months of each other. GM made Holden focus on US cars, chewing into their domestics' development time and then dropped them, leaving Holden nothing to show for about a years' work.

Currently $Oz1 = US 74c approx.

[aball]

Originally Posted by Butz

Why can't they build it right away? why wait?

Same reason Opel hasn't given us an Astra sedan yet. Holden's engineering department only has a certain capacity and so it chose the most profitable, big selling derivatives - sedan and Statesman.

The Statesman is doing big business for them in the Middle East (and hopefully the US!) while fleet buyers of the wagon only care if the thing is reliable, has reasonable resale and OK economy.

Opel did the same with Astra. Release the 5 door and wagon (big sellers in Germany), then gradually introduced the Zafira, GTC, and Twin Top. Holden would have preferred the sedan earlier but we had to wait because of relatively small volumes