Well, here’s some great news for our friend to the extreme south. A new report says General Motors is looking at exporting the C7Â Corvette as a new hero car for Holden after it ceases manufacturing in 2017.
General Motors’ then head Dan Akerson, was quoted in 2013 saying the Corvette would make its way to Oz as a replacement for the dearly departed rear-wheel drive Holden Commodore. A day later, GM representatives said he was completely mistaken in saying that. Now, Stefan Jacoby, the man credited with making the tough decision to close down Aussie manufacturing, has told Australian media in Detroit a “RWD halo model” is indeed on its way to Australia.
Of course, there are only two other RWD V8 powered vehicles to fit this scenario in the General Motors lineup besides the current Holden Commodore: The Corvette and the Camaro. The Camaro could very well be exported and begin life as a new Holden Monaro. Credentials lack with a Monaro case however because the Camaro has not reportedly been developed for right-hand drive. The Corvette though, falls in line with when Jacoby states a new halo car will arrive in Oz.
“We will bring a true sports car to Australia for the brand Holden,” said Mr Jacoby. “It will be something which fulfills the requirement of a true Holden sports car.”
Besides the brief quote, no further information is known at this time other than it will be a V8 engine, and it will arrive in 2018.
The all-new Ford Mustang has already been confirmed to relieve the storied Ford Falcon of duty after it also ceases manufacturing in the country. Pricing for the Mustang in the country will clip the $50,000 AUD mark. This would be a stark contrast to the Corvette halo car which would near the $100,000 AUD price point after shipping and exchange rates take hold.
In the meantime, stay tuned as we hear more about these new developments and bring them to you as they reach the internets.
Comments
Holden signs corvette
I doubt the Corvette will have a Holden badge on it.
Chevy needs a large RWD car based on the CT6 (But please don’t call it a Caprice- too many bad Caprices were built in the past. Chevy Commodore would sound great to me). In fact, the Avinir concept makes a lot more sense for China than the US market (The Avinir show car even has the Chinese version of the Buick three shields).
Mark- get the Holden team to design a Chevy/Holden Commodore for Autralia and the US.
There already IS a Commodore in the US. It’s called the Chevrolet SS.
This idea came to me, and I mean this seriously, and I’m not kidding. such a thing already works really well but that it would be more serious than it is now. This solution is only possible gm. other car manufacturers in the world is also a car-sharing between different producers. But my idea is this, and then this thing to work with GM. all GM products could be divided into different parts of the world between the GM if there should be a desire or need. In Europe, all GM Opel or Vauxhall models. All Holden in Australia. GM and the United States all the Australian and European models it under that name in America as desired. It can be exciting and highly successful and profitable solution. while conversely, it can also be a disaster.
in the sense that all the models that GM has, however, also produces the model and the original birthplace of the car, and be sure to know and get to know all the customers. Today, people are using the internet and people are smart.
I wonder what the results would be if the corvette would be holden sign.
may be one approach would be interesting and useful. After all, people still know the history of machines around the world, and it can also be communicated to the people how things work gm. I personally believe that it could be extremely successful.
This would further cooperation. and all units contribute more to their products. and help to make it all more consistent throughout the company. and it is certainly a good feeling when, for example, one model is offered in another market to another brand. Car is still the birthplace of country of birth.
It does not kill the machine brands. It might even help more different brands to advertise
As I have said before the loss of the Zeta was not the end of some much better product to come but also a much more diverse group of products for them.
I still feel bad for the plant workers who are the real victims but the public will get cars in the next ten years that Holden could never build in country at a profit even in good times.
For every end there is a new beginning.
Odds are the Corvette will be marketed just as the Corvette. Though in Australia they still could put the Chevy brand on it as the brand is well known and loved by enthusiast there. God knows I have a ton of customer with imported Chevys there now.
It would be cool to see the Corvette here but there seems to be a lot of conflicting information coming out about what is and isn’t coming here lately. The past few days in the Australian automotive press especially.
Whether this is GM’s fault or the fault of our media I don’t know. Regardless the Corvette logically cannot be called a Holden or wear a Holden badge. A Holden Camaro makes no sense either. Both vehicles are Intrinsically Chevrolets. Given that they would be sold to enthusiasts there is no way around this.
With this in mind if something is coming here that is going to wear the Holden badge it is going to be a product adapted for local tastes based on the Alpha platform or something on the Omega platform related to the Buick Avenur concept.
That GM Executive Tim Lee made it quiet clear in a rather inappropriate manner a couple of years back that there was no intention to build the Corvette in RHD. I’m guessing that if reports are correct that this decision has now been reversed.
There has been none of this confusion in regards to Ford Australia’s future product range. GM need to seriously work on their PR strategy.
Ahh mate you forgot the obvious, we’re going to invade and make you drive on the right side of the road first
Avenir seems to be the frontrunner. Commodore-esque but a lot more expensive.
If there was a new Commodore it was going to cost more too. With falling volume they would have worked to make the car better but it would also increase the cost for a lower volume model.
the fact of the matter is cars are not getting cheaper and are expensive no matter were you live.
Avenir would seem to be the obvious choice, but it’s hardly a “true sports car”… The Corvette brand seems too iconic for badge-engineering, though.
Camaro yes but Corvette no! It will sell in small numbers, cost too much and after few years ceased being introduced i.e Volt? I am a big banger guy and would really consider the Camaro.
Dear Sean Szymkowski, As per the Trademark & Proprietary Registered Chassis Design, there is ABSOLUTELY NO CHANCE that Australia or any other International country will receive a current and/or future export version of the Corvette chassis. Should you wish to read the Documents before stating your claims, they are available for your perusal. Kind Regards, Bowling Green Corvette.