Super-Luxury Holden Caprice

By George Skentzos | September 06th, 2007

With the likes of BMW and Mercedes-Benz firmly in their sights, Holden have announced plans to add more luxurious features to the already extravagant long-wheel base Caprice model.

With the market for long-wheel based luxury cars in Australia diminishing rapidly with the discontinuation of Ford’s Fairlane only the Statesman, the Caprice and Chrysler’s 300C remain.

Taking its styling cues from Chinese export Buick Park Avenue, the super-luxury Caprice would have an increased focus on rear-passenger luxuries such as heated, adjustable, reclining and vibrating rear seats.

Other luxury features such as fold out tables located in the seatback of the front pews and improved electronics and climate controls for rear passengers may also be on the cards.

With the price of a new WM Caprice starting at only $70,990 ($15,000 less than the outgoing version), Holden believes its customers wont mind paying more for the extra luxury.

Whether or not this is justifiable among Australian luxury car buyers is yet to be seen. Typically in Australia the buyer actually drives the car, instead of sitting in the back seat shouting at Jeeves.

However the increased luxury could lead to more lucrative export deals to the Middle East, where the Commodore range is already sold.

Source: MotorAuthority

Matthew

If you know anyone who owns a S Class or 7 series then you will also know they would never own a Holden.

That is no reflection on the Holden. If you know such people you will know what I mean.

Having said that, there is an immense, fundamental difference between the intrinsic safety built into a Mercedes-Benz and any other brand.

But I am sure Holden will find a market for this vehicle, which is good in its own right.
Paul

Lol yeah I find it funny the starting bit, Holden have the BMW and Mercedes in their sites, ah ok…..
http://www.caradvice.com.au tony

I saw that intrinsic safety in the S Class that claimed the life of Princess Dianna.

Volovo and Audi are both safer cars when you peel the skin back!
Bavarian Missile

Lady Di wasnt wearing a seat belt though was she,any one see that Merc on telly this morning someone stacked it BIG time and ran from the accident well maybe stumbled ? What sort of Merc was it ?

I think Audi has BMW and Merc but Holden mmmmm still cant see them in the distance.

Have no idea how well Audis are built never had one but the thickness on the doors in Volvos alone have a comforting feel about them.
Gary M

Back on subject I wanted to buy a Caprice but felt underwhelmed by its interior, class wise.A personal thing im sure but the lack of wood and a standard sat nav and that stiff ride gave it a lack of class .I think an option pack for the Caprice now, like wood instead of aluminium,softer suspension settings,sat nav,classier wider wheels,bit of extra chrome and some extra sound proofing etc and i think some may be surprised if that indeed is more popular than the so called sportier fare offered now.No need to go crazy with rear seating luxury based on what Australians want but the Hire Car and overseas folk would love that as an option for them.
Alec

I agree with Gary M regarding the Caprice interior,
The statesman has a much more luxurious looking interior with better colour co-ordination and use of wood trim etc. Where-as the Caprice is too dark and attempts to look too sporty (and I think ends up looking plasticky)
Have a look at the interior of the Buick version that sells in China, that interior is much more luxurious although I dont like the dash!!!
That said, we have owned 2 previous model caprices and LWB Fords and loved them!!
Matthew

tony, Princess Di died because she was not wearing a seatbelt. Everyone who was wearing a seatbelt in that car survived, everyone who did not wear a seatbelt in that car died.

Don’t blame the car for the passengers failure to wear a seatbelt.

Now if you saw that famous wreck, and the fact that someone in it DID SURVIVE then the intrinsic Mercedes-Benz safety is even more impressive.
Andre

Let’s stop the Diana discussion, she is dead – full stop. Whether a car is safe enough, very safe, extremely safe, or the safest, is purely academic on todays’ roads with its speed limits, traffic jams, etc. The Holden is well alive and hopefully available soon in a more luxurious version. Well done, Aussies ! For daily transport I drive a Mercedes-S with electric rear seats and about every single option available and would not mind to find a car offering the same luxury at half the price. Give it maximum luxury and comfort, above average performance, reasonable fuel consumption, outstanding brakes and roadholding, and Holden has access to a new and large export market, including Europe and Latin America, meaning over half a Billion people. Let nobody fool you by pretending there are no potential buyers in this segment ! Keep me updated on the luxury LWB version, I might be interrested !