[JoeT]

Viva MkII! Holden’s New Small Car Revealed

Jez Spinks
22 August 2008
www.drive.com.au

Chrevolet has unveiled its all-new Cruze sedan, the car that in 2009 will become Holden’s next-generation Viva small car.

The replacement for Chevrolet’s rebadged Daewoo Lacetti – which in turn became a Holden Viva in late 2005 – has been revealed ahead of its October Paris motor show debut.

Cruze will become a new global small car for General Motors and hits European showrooms in March 2009 before launching in other global markets such as Australia under different nameplates.

The Cruze will be built in various locations around the world, with South Korea once again expected to be Holden’s production source for the Viva. The five-seater coupe-style sedan is reported to have been developed in Germany and designed in South Korea.

The Cruze is believed to be 4.6m long and will sit on GM’s new Global Compact Vehicle Architecture, the platform that will also underpin the next-generation Astra small car also due in 2009.

Holden is likely to continue its two-prong strategy in the small-car market – the most popular segment in Australia – with the new Viva sitting below the more expensive Astra.

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New Look: Updated Holden Barina Revealed!​

Photoshop picture by GMI member 'Asylum'​

 

[mikmak]

Chop please ...okay I'll give it a go tomorrow.

 

[ZHDesign57]

Wow. It's truely going to be a "global" car. Sweet.

 

[Ambalanche]

Wow. It's truely going to be a "global" car. Sweet.

Took the words right off my fingertips!

 

[Blair1118]

I was wondering why the top portion of the grill was so small compared to the other chevy's sporting that look, but now it makes sense, all the other brands this car will go to have that chrome bar basically right there with the logo.......

 

[Butz]

Why not call it Holden Cruze and confuse people with the old Holden Cruze?

 

[zabraden]

So, let me get this straight... Holden gets to keep the old name of it's car, while the U.S. has to change their's so that the name is the same in all countries, even though Holden is keeping the old name? What?

 

[nsap]

So, let me get this straight... Holden gets to keep the old name of it's car, while the U.S. has to change their's so that the name is the same in all countries, even though Holden is keeping the old name? What?

That would be because they may continue to use the Cobalt name in the US.

 

[doppleganger]

Okay, stupid question time. So will this car be called Cruze in every market, under each nameplate, ie. Holden Cruze , Daewoo Cruze, or is it just Chevrolet Cruze wherever Chevy sells cars?

 

[eb110americana]

So, let me get this straight... Holden gets to keep the old name of it's car, while the U.S. has to change theirs so that the name is the same in all countries, even though Holden is keeping the old name? What?

I was just about to say the same thing. Even if the US one has to overlap with sales of the current Cobalt, can't they just call the older one the "Cobalt Classic" like they did with the Malibu and keep selling the old model to rental fleets and those looking for a new car at used car prices? Cobalt is a good name. Don't throw the brand equity out with the bathwater.

Plus, isn't the GMDAT home market model going to be called the Daewoo Lacetti or Nubira or some such? Not exactly consistent if you ask me.

 

[nsap]

Okay, stupid question time. So will this car be called Cruze in every market, under each nameplate, ie. Holden Cruze , Daewoo Cruze, or is it just Chevrolet Cruze wherever Chevy sells cars?

It is my impression that the car will be branded Chevrolet Cruze globally.

 

[Family Man]

Awesome...

Yet ANOTHER market that gets this car before North America. Way to go GM. I'm waiting to tomorrow's report that India is getting this car in 2009, while South Africa, Argentina, Mexico and Iraq get it as a 2010 model.

 

[mbukukanyau]

Jeez, I wonder why GM is not able to turn a profit in North America? Insignia? Cruze? Chinese Buicks and Cadillac Sedans? Middle eastern Impala's?
No Montero Sport alternative?

Perhaps GM should behave like North America is truly its home market.

 

[jbernie]

Awesome...

Yet ANOTHER market that gets this car before North America. Way to go GM. I'm waiting to tomorrow's report that India is getting this car in 2009, while South Africa, Argentina, Mexico and Iraq get it as a 2010 model.

Given the issue with getting non USA built product to market seems to revolve around the issue of crash safety, maybe you could contact your congressman and/or senator and ask them to look into changing the requirements so GM doesn't need to speed so much extra money to make a vehicle that is viewed as safe in the USA when it is just fine everywhere else in the world.

 

[Family Man]

Given the issue with getting non USA built product to market seems to revolve around the issue of crash safety, maybe you could contact your congressman and/or senator and ask them to look into changing the requirements so GM doesn't need to speed so much extra money to make a vehicle that is viewed as safe in the USA when it is just fine everywhere else in the world.

Sorry, but the Cruze has been in development for years now, so they had ample time to design proper crash worthiness into it. But I'll agree with you that I have no idea why crash standards in the US need to be different than other parts of the world.

 

[t-rex]

Awesome...

Yet ANOTHER market that gets this car before North America. Way to go GM. I'm waiting to tomorrow's report that India is getting this car in 2009, while South Africa, Argentina, Mexico and Iraq get it as a 2010 model.

Erm, South Africa IS getting it as a 2010 model...

Sorry.

 

[JEFF G.T]

DAEWOO LACETTi GT

 

[HoosierRon]

Erm, South Africa IS getting it as a 2010 model...

Sorry.

Now that is the funniest post I have read in a long time.

 

[Slick_Holden]

That doesn't look half bad. But is a small car 4.6 meters long.

 

[paul8488]

DAEWOO NUBIRA

Dude, that's a great chop... and it looks fantastic! Can't wait to see it after HSV gets done with it...