Holden developing new turbo range?

By George Skentzos | April 28th, 2008

Holden is developing a new range of turbocharged vehicles which could eventually include the VE Commodore range – but certainly not in the way Holden fans were hoping.

A check of the license plate which appeared in recent spy shots of the next-generation Buick LaCrosse has revealed the test mule captured was registered to Saab and built right here in Australia by Holden.

Under the bonnet the prototype is listed as having a 195kW turbocharged 2.0-litre four cylinder engine – certainly not the XR6 Turbo-eater fans would be hoping for.

General Motors Vice Chairman Bob Lutz has suggested the Holden-derived China-specific Buick Park Avenue would also use the engine to accommodate China’s graduated taxation system for cars over 2.0-litres.

Officials have hinted this engine could be used in GM’s larger cars, such as the Pontiac G8 in order to meet new stricter CAFE regulations, and could even include the Holden Commodore.

Source: LeftLaneNews

No Name

******* ON A ROLL *******

Its onlt a mule. possibly for climate testing the engine for the likely insignia.

2.0 turbo shouldn’t have too bad a performance. After all we have a 2.0 and 2.2 version of the commie over here (VX Omega) in the 90′s
Stavro

Bring on The F6310 will crush all the HSV’s
Erien88

Hmm..

I’d say that this is a good thing, will open up the Holden Calais/ Chevrolet Lumina to new, tax-sensitive export markets like Malaysia, Thailand & Singapore (Where the road tax is calculated by engine displacement and which will also lead to more sales in those countries.).

Actually, I’d to see the return of the Chevrolet Lumina LTZ, based on the Calais in Malaysia (My home town.) & Thailand with that 2.0 motor (I mean, 195kw, that’s 265PS from a 2.0 engine!).

For those who didn’t know, Holden made an Opel Calais for export markets (Mainly Malaysia & Singapore) during the mid – late 1990s with the Holden Statesman/ Caprice front end & a 2.6 engine, based on the VS Calais.
Harry Dixon-Balls

XR6T FTW!
Dlr1

If Holden build a turbo four pot Commodore, wont all the bogans out there have to remove their “Only milk and juice come in two litres” bumper stickers?
Wheelnut

When Holden finally decide to put a Turbo in the Commodore I think it will be an updated/upgraded version of the
Twin-Turbo 3.6 V6 featured in the TT-36 = 280-300Kw
Twice as much power as the last Turbo Commodore; the VL which not only went but sold exceptionally well
PoisonEagle

This makes me happy, to see activity and innovation in our industry- and not to see them copying Ford with their setup. I would be extra happy if Toyota brought out the Camry Hybrid, and Ford gets to market first with diesel, complete with Bosch system that shuts it off at traffic lights. Exciting times ahead!
trackdaze

Mostly agree with you poison eagle.
Although the hybrid camry is a waste of time. Prius fits that bill for toyota.

Would like to see stop/start technology in all australian cars.

The way i see it working and delivering real economy gains in the city would be to essentially use battery power as a first gear adjust the gearing in the gearbox to effectively be 2nd-7th gears (in a 6 speed) and the engine stop/starting at traffic lights.
Frosty

The comment about the Opel Calais being sold in Malaysia which was based on the VS Commodore with Statesman front reminds me of seeing a VN/VP Commodore with Statesman front in Lopburi Thailand and a couple of them in Bangkok all of which had the 2.6 ltr. The only difference was one of them had a Holden Lion badge on them. Also saw some old Holden Hk and HQ Kingswoods over there. In a country full of Pick-ups (Big M/Navara, D Max/Rodeo etc) and scooters these cars stood out like a male dogs private parts.
Andrew M

posidon,
ford and holden look set to deliver a diesel falcon and commodore around the same time.
ford announced 12 months ago that a diesel falcon and territory will be here before 2010.
holdens time line is set for around the same time period.

and now for what i think about a diesel falcon and commodore……….
they are only biting the bullet and putting a diesel in them to sarisfy the publics poor economy of the matter

i mean whats a diesel falcon going to achieve??? 8L/100k
thats only 2L/100k saving. and for what? so you can pay a 5K premium for the vehicle, and also a 30C per litre premium at the bowser?

the only diesel i see worth buying is the jap light trucks,
rodeo, Hilux, Triton etc etc because you will save 6-8L/100K not a piddly 2L.
the jap V6′s chew the juice hence a diesel is warrented

the latest stats out on diesel show they are no longer cheaper to fuel even after you factor in their lower consumption.
a diesel falcon and commy would have to return around 4L/100k to make up for the premiums charged, and quite frankly they aint gonna achieve that
No Name

Andrew M – your right there with the consumption figures. My 3.0D Vectra wagon does 7.4′s on a decent run, but for me its more about the engine chracteristics. I also notice that diesel in Australia is about 20% more than petrol thereby reducing the fuel savings somewhat. In the UK its more like 6% more. Apparently your high prices are caused by the Asian demand for diesel rather than petrol which in itself seems strange as diesel pentration in Euroland is about 48% so you’d think things would be a little closer.
Andrew M

no name,
diesel use to be 10cents per litre cheaper here. then it was 10c dearer then 20c dearer and now 30c dearer.

it has actually crept just over the 20% dearer mark now

the way i see it, a diesel falcon or commy wont see figures drop by more than 20 % to cover the extra fuel price cost, let alone cover the cost of initial purchase.

yes the diesels are more drivable, putI’d say only when talking about the smaller vehicles and light trucks.
and why?
because those are the ones that rev their heads off.

the big 6′s we have here are pretty drivable on unleaded.
the falcons I6 has a torque advantage over some popular diesel models dont forget, so they are pretty drivable.

the commy and falcon 6′s dont rev like the 4cyl and jap V6′s. they are a lot calmer and easier to drive.
Crummydore

I was reading the latest Wheels mag, and it talked about this story but they said it is going to be a Lucerne, not the Lacrosse.

Is anyone able to confirm this….

By the way, sounds like a great idea going for a Turbo, another engine option will certainly help!
Andrew M mk2

Wouldn’t be the first time a commodore had a 4cyl engine. In the early 80′s the VC had the ‘Starfire’ 4cyl engine.
Bret

Gee, a highly stressed 2L turbo hauling the VE’s fat ass would be real economical – NOT. And I bet it would still be mated to a 4 sp slushbox.

Andrew M Mk2: yep the ‘ol “backfire” 4. Described by mechanics as the world’s first disposable engine.
sean

geez using a turbo to meet cafe fuel regulations sounds a little bit like eco-boost to me
Duck

4 pot turbo! How is that supposed to averse a XR6T! It doesnt! Bring in the turbo 6!
Duck

“And I bet it would still be mated to a 4 sp slushbox”.

Bret, No it wouldnt it would be mated to a 5 speed minimum like on the SV6!
Duck

And how stupid are these CAFE laws. There going to wreck the whole Car industry. V8′s will be gone and so will be rear wheel drive cars.
Cameron

They need to put a 4 pot turbo diesel in these puppies. With the size and weight of these traditional “6s” they need the extra torque that a diesel can provide.
Andrew M

Cameron,
the tradition al “6″ in the falcon has more torque than you popular 3.0L diesel.

sorry but diesel in these aussie 6′s is a waste of time.
they will return 8.0L at best with a diesel option which would only better the petrol by 2L.

the economics just wouldnt add up