Comments on: GM scraps high-performance unit

By: Fitz

Fitz — Sun, 24 May 2009 05:02:09 +0000

Big deal if GM folds down or even back into the US. Holden was not born in Fishermans Bend in 1948. The Adelaide based company pre dates most of todays auto companies & spent most of its early days assembling cars & trucks for most US auto makers including GM, Ford, Chrysler & Studebaker. They did it so well that GM moved in for the 48-215. GM has dumped many of its old engine plants on Holden only to see them improved & outlast their former life. GM uses Holden as its RHD builder & designer under names such as Chevrolet, Pontiac & Cadilac. Holden is more reliant on other Australian car companies than it is on GM. Parts sharing in Australia pre dates the Button Plan.

By: john.a

john.a — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 02:45:09 +0000

to schah7.i dont always agree with with wheelnut but on GM and holdens hes always pretty spot on,also GM suplied auto boxes to rolls royce for many year mainly because they were the best box avbl,also all car companies are doing it tough so do you honestly think that bm would say no to selling engines to HSV if it meant a profit?i think not.business is business and BM like every other company is in it for the money, no more no less.

By: Andrew M

Andrew M — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 01:29:03 +0000

Where are those that ridiculed me when i said GM’s focus will be based on volume products to select viability etc.

By: BK

BK — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 10:22:41 +0000

hey wheelnut scah7 is right that toyota is way ahead of Holden

By: Wheelnut

Wheelnut — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 10:20:24 +0000

Schah the other thing that you probably do’t know is that GM have been supplying BMW with [automatic] transmissions for over a decade – mainly for their “entry level cars..

And before the GM ended up in the Sh!t they were going to be the supplier of Hybrid Technology to BMW for their upcoming range of Hybrid cars such as the X6 which are expected to run on Hydrogen

You’ve got to realise that behind the scenes various car companies have links with other car companies to assist them in one way or another. some with their perceived rivals and some that you wouldn’t expect like BMW and GM

Given that they also have shares in one another – they are pretty aware of what the others are doing and therefore know what each others strengths and weaknesses are.

By: Schah7

Schah7 — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 09:46:51 +0000

Wheelnut
No I’m not a Toyota Freak[I like that] but I must admit despite being a touch on the boring side of things, they
[Toyota] are way ahead of G.M Holden!

By: Wheelnut

Wheelnut — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 09:32:46 +0000

Schah – just because you didn’t read about it hear about it or were unable to find anything about it on Google doesn’t mean it didn’t happen [you're not another Toyota fan are you]

There were a number of articles about the agreement: in Motor and Wheels not to mention Autoblog and eve CA.

By: Schah7

Schah7 — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 09:15:07 +0000

Wheelnut
I’ve google G.M linking with BMW
No mention of any association with those two companys concerning Diesels Engines
Just a bit of nice “wish-full” thinking on you behalf Wheelnut LOL!
I can quite understand you feeling personally stressed that
G.M is in a huge financial cactus and THIS will affect
Holden/H.S.V.
Hey lets face it if G.M. goes under[broke that is] there is
any number a car manfactures that produce far better vehicles to replace them.
Time to more on G.M/Holden/H.S.V have had their chance now its someone elses turn.

By: Wheelnut

Wheelnut — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 09:11:28 +0000

The HH-R [the car in the photograph] is the one I think Holden should have tried to import a couple of years ago -
in exchange for the VE

Sure Holden would have had to do a bit of work on the suspension etc but given that its also available as a Nomad or Delivery/Panel van it would have been the perfect car to turn into the new Sandman..

I also would have liked to have seen the SS-R Mini Pick-Up sold through Holden dealerships. But as there are so many projects “on ice” we’ll have to wait and see.

By: BK

BK — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 08:50:25 +0000

hey bavarian holden wont be around much longer. NO GM = NO HOLDEN

By: Bavarian Missile (.)(.)

Bavarian Missile (.)(.) — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 08:38:15 +0000

BK – It’s not my problem or my fault if you haven’t heard or read about the Holden Engine Company.

They recently spent approximately $400m in upgrading the facility in Port Melbourne [just down the road from Holdens Headquarters and their state of the art design Studio] where build a range of 4 cylinder and 6 cylinder engines as well as seperate engine components etc.

The factory has been there since the 1960s building engines for the Kingswoods Toranas and early Commodores but now the majority of the engines they build at the Holden Engine Company are exported for various Euro makes.

You should try contacting Holden if you want anymore info

By: Wheelnut

Wheelnut — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 08:21:01 +0000

Schah – IHate to tell you this but a couple of years ago BMW signed a “Supply” contract with GM..and that is how HSV are able to get their hands on a coule of BMW engines to use in their test vehicles.

BMW are also in talks with an number of other comapies including cross town rival Merc-Benz to try and give the 3 Pointed Star some help in Design and Engineering as well.

B-Man… I know but we can always dream… In return HSV could help BMW develop a M3 Ute [based on the Maloo]

By: Schah7

Schah7 — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 07:35:22 +0000

Wheelnut Either you’re a “loose-wheelnut” or “nut” just perhaps LOL!
Sorry, no way would BMW lower-itself or be so desparate to
allow its diesel engines into a G.M vehicle be it Holden or H.S.V
Honestly get real ol’ Chap!

By: B-Man

B-Man — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 22:13:50 +0000

Wheelnut,
I wouldn’t be holding your breath on the M3 motor being in a HSV any time soon.

By: Fasthonda

Fasthonda — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 13:15:58 +0000

When economic times improve you watch GM make the same mistakes it’s made over the years,they’re pathetic!
They’ve always have had an arrogant demeanor because they were the NO.1 car auto manufacturer in the world and now that once great company is a dribbling fool asking for government handouts.
Some years ago it wanted to merge/takeover FIAT-what arrogance.Typical American company,thinking they know best and are better in doing business than anyone else in the world.
A the end of the day GM will still produce crap looking cars they are not capable of trading their way into “financial health.”
Maybe they should stop trying to out do the Europeans in the super car stakes and concentrate on producing cars that are fuel efficient/environmentally friendly etc.
No more of those 7+ litre monsters.

By: BK

BK — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 12:03:32 +0000

hey wheel nut holden dont have the technology to build there own engines and they havent for decades. It will never happen. Looks like holden will have to get and learn Fords technology to build engines. Ford always way ahead in technology.

By: Wheelnut

Wheelnut — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 11:25:18 +0000

Sorry my last comment [before this one obviously] was directed at Conrod

By: Wheelnut

Wheelnut — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 11:24:06 +0000

Horse The original HSVs used the old Aussie 5.0 Litre which was developed and built by the Holden Engine Company – here in Australai.. so maybe they convince Holden to start building the V8s in Australia again.. I mean if the engines we make here are good enough for a range of manufacturers overseas [apart from GM] then why not the Commodore?

By: Wheelnut

Wheelnut — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 11:20:42 +0000

In a recent issue of Motor there is an article which says that HSV are seriously considering the possibility of future models being powered by a range of new engines apart from the traditional V8 including a Twin Turbo Direct Injection V6..

The article goes on to say that there are a couple of HSV prototype test mules driving around with diesel engines both of which are believed to have BMW engines under the hood. so even if they can’t get the LS-7 or LS-9 HSV could go for the same engine that’s in the M3… and maybe even the same transmission

By: Conrod

Conrod — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 06:55:45 +0000

Horse……NO HSV could not build their own engines because they are not set up for it and could not afford the cost of setting up for it. They are used to just getting an engine out of a box and putting it in,so they dont have the engineering talent to build their own engines, unlike FPV which actually design, develope and assemble their V8 and Turbo engines.

Shipping crate engineering at its best….lol