Holden Sportwagon to enter Global Green Challenge
September 10, 2009 by Matt Brogan
Holden will enter a Commodore Omega Sportwagon, running its new 3.0-litre V6 engine, in next month’s Global Green Challenge.
The event, a showcase of low emission and alternative energy vehicles, aims to test the car’s fuel economy claims over a 3000 kilometre run from Darwin to Adelaide.
Formerly the World Solar Challenge, the Global Green Challenge will be held from October 24-31 to promote the advancements in alternative fuel and fuel-saving technologies from manufacturers around the world.
The Omega Sportwagon will feature Holden’s all-new 3.0-litre Spark Ignition Direct Injection (SIDI) engine technology that has improved the vehicle’s fuel-efficiency by 13 per cent from the previous model. The technology also conforms to strict Euro IV emission standards.
Holden Chairman and Managing Director Alan Batey said the decision to field a Sportwagon in the Global Green Challenge served as a practical demonstration of the vehicle’s fuel-saving capabilities.
“Our strategy of providing customers with better fuel efficiency today and next generation fuel advances for tomorrow is driving everything we do,” Mr Batey said.
“We want to use the Global Green Challenge to demonstrate that today’s Holden Commodores, affordable family vehicles, can also reduce our overall impact on the environment.
“There is no better way to demonstrate the efficiency gains made through the introduction of SIDI technology than in a real-world event such as this, held over a distance that many Australian families cover each year.
“It will go a long way to showing that fuel-saving technology is not the exclusive domain of small, expensive niche vehicles,” he added.
Print it: 
I would be convinced if it Was an Extra-urban test of its consumption. THAT, IMO is real world.
Running over 3000Km on most likely, straight roads doing an average speed of 80-100Km/h will only prove to be a marketing stunt sadly. Holden at it again.
Totally agree, do a week in Sydney peak hour, see how Green it is, then do your country trip and combine the two.
I agree. I am looking on the Green vehicle guide website hwy fuel economy is 7.3 L/100km. They must do better. Just for the record Audi A6 3.0 petrol 7.2 L/100km and more power and weight and bigger in size and the BMW 530i 6.8 L/100km. We will see.
Don’t know where you got your figures from but the green guide says that the A6 3.0 gets 7.2l/100Km, and thats running on 95RON!
Regarding weight Holden Omega sportswagon (kerb) 1785Kg
Audi 1910Kg
So you really need to compare apples with apples.
Oh yeah don’t forget price Omega wagon $42,000 , Audi 112,000
that says it all!!
isnt a Holden Omega wagon about $42k isnt an A6 $112k and a BMW 530i $116k . thats alot more money to spend for a litre or so of fuel. Well done Holden for getting in on the hype.
Bucks – It’s not Holdens test, its the Global Green Challenge, they set the course, Holden just do what they are told. Besides everyone knows that if its all highway k’s then it will only be impressive if the results come in at much less then the stated ADR fuel quotation.
Im not too cynical about this actually. They are using a large, six cylinder automatic, rear wheel drive station wagon – hardly the symbol of green driving is it? Holden are being a bit brave here by announcing their involvment in an independent event, they are putting their fuel figures where their mouth is. It would be good if more manufactures had a bit more guts and did the same really.
Lexustime,
What are most roads like out of Darwin? STRAIGHT and Limited to 140km/h.
Holden may be doing what they’re told to do but they chose to participate. Its not like its compulsory. They would only be doing this if they could be sure it will fair well in their favour, bottom line. They wouldn’t be risking it otherwise.
Like Stevie said Below…it’s not real world testing…soo far from it. 3000Km is closer to a quarter of the Average distance traveled by a car each year. Where did they pull that figure from? Its just more media beat up from the Holden Marketing department who write off Joe averages intelligence IMO.
I like the comment by Holden about ” in a real-world event such as this, held over a distance that many Australian families cover each year. ”
Yeah this represents what average families regularly engage in, long distance trips just cruising around at 100km/h. In fact i hear that this is what most people experience on 90% of their daily commutes. If these jokers wanna enter something they can proudly boast about, enter a freakin Fuel economy race that involves peak hour traffic and driving through congested areas in and around the CBD. Or doesnt that fit well with Holdens version of REALITY? Pathetic.
Very true Stevie
I can’t believe that a large wagon with a V6 engine that uses over 9 l/100km is being entered in a challenge that showcases environmental technology… have I missed something or is it April 1st and no-one told me???
Maybe I should enter in my 4×4 is it’s rated at 8.3 l/100km…
Its highway consumption would be less than 9L/100km, much less by the looks of things. Look at me, ive turned into the Holden defender on this site and i dont even own one.
And my 4×4 does about 6.5L/100km on the highway, but I don’t see the need to enter it in an environmental challenge.
Seriously, this is a joke…
You people are so cynical. Holden have acheived something great for the Aussie car landscape. All those figures quoted for the euro’s are all gonna skyrocket in the real world. This is a test done by an independent company, and Holden are very confident in their new innovation. I dont see all the euro’s entering, because they dont trust their tech when it comes to real world. Either applaude Holden or bugger off this article.
Sorry mate I cant applaude them for such garbage, I’m not on their payrole.
For a family of five this is a relevant event. I often drive from Adelaide to Syndey and back a couple of times a year, thats a 3000km return trip. Its too expensive to fly for the five of us then arrange rental cars, taxis etc, so we take the family car. Im personally very interested in the results.
Sell one of the kids, then you could buy a TDI golf and save some serious money on fuel. Oh and that means one less kid saying ” are we there yet?”
I’m not flying any flags here, but for example the Prius seats 5 quite comfortably, has a decent boot, is comparable in price, and cr@ps all over the sportswagon for economy.
I’m not bagging the wagon as a vehicle – it’s holdens best car at the moment and a better drive than the Prius. But if people are serious about environmental credentials and saving money on fuel then driving a V6, albeit an advanced version, is a waste of time.
If this race is in any way a serious test of environmental technology, then anything that can’t average less than 5L/100km combined cycle and doesn’t comply to EuroV emissions should not be in the running
Hybrid tecnology is useless in this situation because you need to be braking to recharge the batteries. Its just extra weight to carry. Also, the hybrid cant tow anything. There not realy comparable.
It does seem odd for Holden to enter though. The LPG motor has much better “green” credentials anyway.
I would like to see the results regardless.
Try fitting five peoples gear into a prirus… or even a pram with some shopping. And try overtaking a B-double in one. Or try towing a boat or a caravan. We have to realise one car does not fit all. It might shock some people, but a little imported Golf or Prius is not the perfect car for a lot of Australian families.
strict Euro IV emission standards
They results will be useless because there wont be any other comparible vehicles to benchmark against.
Unless every vehicle on the market is competing, how will the results be informative????
It’s a third party event open to any genuine entry. We’ll see how they do. Obviously results will depend on the course set, and anyone with a spare brain cell will be aware of that.
Of course if Holden get a good result, they’ll use it in their marketing. Who wouldn’t?
I don’t understand the vindictive cynicism.
A V8 Landcruiser could get a good result doing an average speed of 80Km/h over 3000Km
Yes but what Holden is trying to say is that people have been criticising them for not being fuel efficient and they want to show them that they have introduced tech to make their large cars more efficient. Theres no reason why we shouldnt beleive Holdens claims.Lets give them the benefit of the doubt and see how this whole thing turns out.
Great. Toyota should enter one then.
A 4wd that gets a fuel economy below 7l/100km is running on diesel.
Ok I understand that Diesel is cheap in in major cities, but what about Alice Springs where diesel is much more than petrol.
Nah, my 4×4 runs on 91 RON petrol…
Only in Australia and the US, can a 1700kg five seat wagon with a 3.0 litre (optional 3.6 and 6.0 litre) petrol engine be considered a “green” vehicle………
Why do so many people insist on canning anything our local industry does? Merc this Audi that, of course these cars will have better feul consumption. An A6, E350 or 530 all cost the wrong side of 100 grand and after 5 years of ownership more things go wrong with them. That alternater for your BMW sir will cost you min $1500.
The little TDI golf will cost more to service than your Holden or Ford. Good on you Holden for finally listening to sales figures and making a change. Even if the 9.3lt per 100 is not achievable, in real world driving, a 4 cyl camry will use the same, or a Mazda 6. I wonder if one day our local industry shuts up shop, what will the nay sayers say then.
Your right.And why do people insist on comparing our Falcons and Commodores with the imported Euro’s. They have much higher budgets when building cars because they now that they can charge absurd prices for their cars to make up for the R&D costs. Holden is trying with what limited money and GM tech they have. If they were independent then things would be much different and they would be making cars like the TT36 concept and the Coupe60. But we should applaude our locals for what they’ve done with a lot less money and experience than the germans.
isnt it ironic that a motoring body hell bent on lowering car emissions would gather many vehicles and burn 3000ks worth of fuel for no real reason……
Its like working your gut off any building up some $avings only to go and piss it up the wall
In the Eco challange the following makers are participating, Suzuki, Holden, Ford, BMW, Hyundai, Volvo, KIA and Skoda.
so holden is calling their version of direct injection which has been around for a long long time new technology…… Yeah 13% improvement is good but hey they are just playing the catch up game now…… Yawn……
They are trying to say new to the Aussie car landscape.
Where else is the tech in this price range? I dont see Maximas, Accords, Camrys, Aurions, Mazda6s with it. Honestly this is getting tiring.
why so many fuel consumption tests on the freeway
that only tests the ADR “extra-urban” figure
meanwhile the other ADR figure, “urban”, is representative of highway driving with some traffic
what we really need is a new ADR “intra-urban” figure !
for city driving or highway driving with realistic (moderate-heavy) level of traffic