Comments on: GM receives first part of emergency funding

By: Bret

Bret — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 02:09:09 +0000

Just to put to bed any ideas that anyone had about this being unique to or designed in Aus:

GM design executive Simcoe says the sedan and hatch versions of Holden’s small car will be near-identical – both inside and out – to the Chevrolet Cruze versions rather than custom-designed for Australia

However, as part of the global lineup GMH are doing the hatch styling (and were well before GMH dipped into the Govt money bucket for local production).

“I told you so”

By: Andrew M

Andrew M — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 07:23:08 +0000

Wheelnut,
that charge was lead by the new president who was an australian, and hence actually cared about this market in OZ
the changing force was someone with a bit of passion

By: Wheelnut

Wheelnut — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 12:31:59 +0000

Maybe they don’t ahve the funds at the moment – but Ford somehow found the extra coin to get another extra couple of years out of the old I6 didn’t they?

By: Andrew M

Andrew M — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 12:14:47 +0000

perhaps not quite that extensive.
they dont have the coin to afford that.

By: Wheelnut

Wheelnut — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 11:52:09 +0000

No Andrew M – I do like the Astra they are safe reliable practical and good value for money. I Particularly the Coupe; I even like the look of the Astra Twin-Top Cabriolet compared to the Focus but its not as good as the Peugeot

I know that they will be using an existing design but Holden will be doing a bit of “touch up” work to it in terms of looks etc.

I mean the Hideous 300C is virtually the same design as the Cool looking Dodge Magnum except for a few exterior panels etc… it will be the same with Holdens new small car

By: Andrew M

Andrew M — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 10:46:18 +0000

Wheelnut,
they dont have enough money to totally design a new car for OZ, simple.

Ill also have to revisit the press releases to check, but I believe that it was said that it is a current design they are using.

Why dont you like the Astra???
nothing to be ashamed of, I reckon its quite a stylish looking vehicle

By: Wheelnut

Wheelnut — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 09:49:03 +0000

Andrew – I will stop calling the new small car the Insignia. However; will you stop calling the new small car the Astra.

As I said just because it will be based on the same platform as the Astra doesn’t mean it will be an Astra. they will most likely continue to imnport them from Europe

I also expect Holden will most lilkely end up importing the Insignia too

The Camaro is built on the same platform as the Commodore but its not a Commodore…. The XR-5 Focus uses the same engine as a Volvo but its not a Volvo is it?

Anything is possible Andrew – remember last year Ford Announced that they were axing the Falcons Inline 6 but then a couple of months later it was back….So what’s not to say things at Holden will change and the Torana makes a comeback..mmmmm……?

By: Andrew M

Andrew M — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 09:29:51 +0000

OK,
now you are dreaming.

are you at least going to stop calling the new “small” car the Insignia???

I got no problem with revisiting the Torana with some special models, I just dont think its suited to be reborn as a main stream model.

What did it cost Toyota to throw the Aurion front on the V6 Camry???
thats about all the changes the new holden will get.
They wont get a complete new design for the budget (as Bret already pointed out)
and even if they grew a bigger budget to afford a much more distinct design (which i highly doubt) then they havent learnt one single thing over the last 10 years.
Most manufacturers have realised native models for certain areas doesnt make you bucks.
for the small aussie sales it would receive, the higher development costs would take forever to recoup

Astra, Astra, Astra
Yep, Yep, Yep (for OZ)

everything you said is physiclly possible, but bugger all of it is realisticly possible

By: Wheelnut

Wheelnut — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 09:13:05 +0000

What I mean is they could just do a bit of work to the look of the Volt [it could do with it] ; drop in an existing 4 or 6 cylinder engine and still stay within budget…. anything’s possible

By: Wheelnut

Wheelnut — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 09:04:03 +0000

I know the official press release form GM-H says the new project car will use the Delta platform which the Astra uses. However; that doesn’t necessarily mean that it will be an Astra

Because the the press release also says that Holden designers and engineers will be doing a bit of work on the car.

Given that the new Chevy Volt [Hybrid] is also built on the Delta platform but is bigger than an Astra or a Barina [almost the same size as the Insignia]
When you think about it there is nothing to stop Holden from building a car that is the same size as a Volt and calling it a Torana.