IMHO, Holden should spin-off a cheaper “lifestyle” brand to sell the Cruze, Epica, Captiva stuff as they’re not in the same league as the Vauxhal/Opel cars.

Reuss IS on record as saying that the Aus built Cruze will be virtually identical, inside and out, to the Korean built version

Therefore; whilst Holden have said they will be building the Cruze [Why?]- that could change because as Bret said Holden haven’t started installing the new Tooling for the Cruze yet – However; the tooling etc [for the JS Vectra] has all but been removed.

So an Aussie version of the Insignia [Torana] is still a possibility.
Who knows? Holden may be reading the positive comments about the Insignia and the not so Positive commetns about the Cruze on this site – thereby getting an ideaas to which car is likely to be more Popular

What do you do? Eat half as much?

Better than no job at all I guess.

I’ve also heard that even though Holden are saying 3rd qtr 2010 there is still absolutely no sign of any tooling up yet to produce the Cruze, whereas the boys over in Geelong are well down the track to Focus production facilities.

Guys, Holden chief has already publically stated that the car to be built here WILL be the CRUZE, and it effectively will be IDENTICAL to the Korean and US built versions. There are likely to be minor powertrain variations.

Insignia is too large for the target market, or indeed to attract the targeted Govt funding assisstance.

Yet Holden have said by the time the Aussie built Cruze rolls off the production line it would have had a facelift
so well have to wait and see.

The Insinia would be more popular than the Cruze as the Cruze will most likely be afflicted by the Daewoo/Korean stigma the Viva Barina Epica Captiva have been hit with.

Yet inorder to be AWD doesn’t that mean that it must be able to have a transmission shaft and diff etc at the rear of the car as well as the front?
Therefore; wouldn’t it be possible to make the car RWD by removing the front drive shaft and leave the rear one?

Yes there were rumours/hopes that a compact car would be built on the Alpha platform. However it has effectively canned in favour of the Epsillon Platform.

GM know there are markets where FWD are more popular than RWD cars [and Vice versa] However GM were/are after a platform that is versatile/flexible which can take a number of configurations not only interms of drive but also engines and even body styles…. which is why they went for the Epsillon

If the [Holden Designed] Alpha platform was still an option then why didn’t GM let Holden develop it further than simply use it for the TT-36 Torana [RWD] Concept?

i’ve heard that rumor(cruze)also.i reckon it’s b.s.!after all,holden IS in deep financial trouble,why would they initially bring cruze in,only to later change panels,seats,whatever,later on.makes no sense at all.however,propulsion changes may be on the menu.pivotal car for holden,as most local sales are now smaller cars.

This Insignia is Mondeo sized, I believe. Am I right?

Plus HSV are not only looking at introduciong a number of different engines into their range [Turbo Diesel Smaller V8s etc] they are also looking at importing a few Opels in particular the Corsa and the Insignia as a way of increasing their range and the appeal of their cars – apparently HSV are relatively impressed with the sales/popularity of the VXR Astra

Therefore; if HSV can put together a viable proposal for the Opels then that migh convince Holden to start importing them which would then reduce the cost per unit [for both of them].

Then there’s the fact that GM have said as part of their restructuring plans that they are going to design and build cars that have more “international appeal” – which the Insignia definitely has unlike Cadillac or Buick.