[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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First Drive: 2008 Holden Epica CDX/CDXi Petrol & CDTi Diesel - The Camry Fighters!
Will Holden Sell The New Opel Insignia Down Under? (April 2008)​

 

[mikmak]

Sounds too much like logic to me. :lmao:

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]

Sounds too much like logic to me. :lmao:

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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).

 

[BBDOS CV8]

As well as which the Oz dollar is now nosediving - down >10% to 88c US from 98 a month back. It's forecast to settle at US77c longterm, down on every major currency. Good news for farmers, miners and locally-made product, not so good for a new import from a high-cost source like central Europe. They might be struggling to hold it at $35K on the lower end.

This is going to kill future Opels as Holdens, and likely things like the Cadillac CTS as imports, too. $USdollar has just appreciated 7% against the Euro in a matter of a couple of weeks, for the first time since Dubya became President (anticipation of someone literate in the White House perhaps...). Might make G8s a better deal in the US in future.

 

[chade]

Yup, now Australia gets the Insignia. Why, oh why GM, won't you bring it to the US. Bring it here while it's fresh and far better than any other midsize offering available today. If you wait, the competition will have something to match or beat it.

 

[Rick_VT]

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).

I think they could justify the price if sold through the premium channel, could just be called Insignia by GM, give it some of the up-spec toys that it will have in Europe to justify its higher price, i dont think they would be able to do more the 200-300 a month tops though, but for the badge snobs who dont think Holden is good enough for them.

I also read that the next Epica will be on Ep1 while Malibu and the SAABS go to Ep2, not sure why, surely with the numbers that Ep2 will be built in that it shouldnt cost to much to go on that platform

 

[SpaceCowboy]

At the moment this makes sense. Epica sales aren't exactly setting the world in fire, but the theory seems to work for the Viva/Astra so why not? Ingisnia is just too good a car to let slide. Pricing up to $50,000 could be a little bit steep but in the equipment makes up for it it might do alright. Once again though it will make the Commodore look out-dated with its 4 and 5 speed autos. Hopefully by the time Insignia arrives Base V6 Commodores get a 5 speed auto (at least) and the high output engine becomes the direct injection teamed with a 6 speed auto.

In my circumstance the Commodore is now too large and the Epica lacks any sort of appeal to me. The Insignia could be just the thing to keep me in a Holden. Go for it GM, and don't waste your time doing so either!

 

[mikmak]

^^^I was just thinking the same thing today. VE is a good car and may suit the needs of many, but somthing slightly smaller (say VZ size) would be ideal. RWD of course. Epica is fine for its target audience but I'm really thinking about where to go from my wagon. I sat in teh VE wagon this week and was dissappointed with the loss of the differentiating characteristics that make my wagon so appealing: larger load area (than SUVs), great vision all round.
The VE wagon has the worst rear vision I have ever seen in a wagon. The only reason my wagon is easy to maneuver relative to its size (besides the fact that it is RWD, which aids turning circle), is because I can see where all corners of the car are. With the shrinking of the load area and the d-pillar blindspot that is around 10 inches wide, it suddenly lost much of its appeal. It looks good but is no longer a wagon. It should be called the Commodore fast back.

The only way back is for an inclusion of a rear view camera. And don't give me that audible parking sensor malarky either. That last thing moderns cars need is another reason to beep at me. I can just see myself, stressed after taking the kids shopping (anyone who has taken 2 kids between the ages of 2 and 5 shopping at the same time can probably relate here), finally getting back to the car, to have more niggling noises polluting my ear canals. No thanks.

Forgot to get to the point once my rant gained cadence.

What I am getting at is, bring the Vectra wagon OR just BUILD THE ****ING ALPHA ALREADY!