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Report: Holden Design Front-Runner For Future Global GM Vehicle

A vehicle theme drawn by a Holden designer is the first-runner for an undisclosed future General Motors model developed for an international audience, according to Australia’s GoAuto. The design is part of GM’s global competitive theming/design process, which welcomes all of The General’s design studios around the world (in the United States, Europe, South Korea, Brazil, China and Australia) to submit design suggestions for vehicles developed around the world, thereby increasing the pool of designs from which GM can pick. As such, the method improves the chance of picking a great design, with the winning theme then approved by GM Vice President of global design Ed Welburn. The approved design is then realized by one of the studios (known as the “homeroom”), although not necessarily the one that was responsible for the initial theme.

In February, director of design at GM International Operations Mike Simcoe told GoAuto that one specific design submitted by Holden designers for a future product had a good chance of receiving the green light for the basis of a production vehicle. The vehicle is said to be in the planning stages, putting it years away from production.

If Holden’s design submission ends up being chosen as the theme for the upcoming vehicle, it doesn’t mean that the production car will be brought to production by GM/Holden. Mr. Simcoe described a process in which the designer responsible for the winning theme is sent to the studio that gets tasked with execution the production design.

Of note, days ahead of the official unveiling of the revised 2013 VF Commodore, Holden chief Mike Devereux confirmed that Holden was working on the next-generation Commodore that will go into production in Australia in 2016 as a 2017 model, thereby quelling rampant speculation that the nameplate will disappear after the VF generation.

Reports have suggested that the next-gen Commodore will be available in global markets, possibly as a Buick Grand National/GNX in the United States. Such a vehicle will likely be the rumored replacement of the Buick Regal (and possibly the Opel Insignia).

The GM Authority Take

Could the potentially-successful design theme submitted by Holden as mentioned by Mr. Simcoe is, in fact, the next-gen Commodore.

GM Authority Executive Editor with a passion for business strategy and fast cars.

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Comments

  1. Sweet news to our ears… Or eyes since we are reading it… Anyway rock on… Go GM global desin… wooohooo… Ya baby kickin but and takin prisoners…

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  2. Nice to see proper hatch/saloon/estate cars rather than SUV & MPV types which tbh I feel may evolve into one. As for proper cars lets hope they continue to be popular 🙂

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  3. There is always complaining from car enthusiasts regarding lack of performance traits on some GM cars: no AWD, soft suspension, not enough power, etc. But often times, the complainers aren’t in the market and wouldn’t buy the car even if it had the traits they ask for. GM is trying to sell cars and make a profit, not appease people who complain about “poor performance.” The XTS is a perfect example of this. People complain about it being FWD and being a floaty ride but the car is selling like hotcakes (at least here in Florida). GM seems to have accomplished their goal. Probably 98% of the people who complain about its lack of performance aren’t in the market for a large luxury car. Most people who buy most cars don’t care if it is FWD or RWD and many prefer a softer ride. No, I am not suggesting Cadillac should return to the days of the Cimarron because that didn’t work either but I’m just saying that people should keep in mind the goal of the company: sell cars/make profit. All that being said, I think Chevy is making a huge mistake by not offering the Cruze in the U.S. with a more powerful engine. I actually am in the market for a small car such as the Cruze but have put off buying one because of my hope they would produce one with more power. I love everything about the Cruze but the engine. I am now forced to look elsewhere. I’m not looking for a 2.0 turbo with 270hp but something like the 1.6 turbo that has a little more power. There are many people who prefer a middle of the road engine for passing and accelerating in traffic. I’m sure people like me have have purchased from another manufacturer because of this problem. It’s a shame that such a great car doesn’t offer an engine with more than 138hp and that Chevy is losing customers because of it. It’s baffling . . .

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    1. “Probably 98% of the people who complain about its lack of performance aren’t in the market for a large luxury car. Most people who buy most cars don’t care if it is FWD or RWD and many prefer a softer ride. No, I am not suggesting Cadillac should return to the days of the Cimarron because that didn’t work either but I’m just saying that people should keep in mind the goal of the company: sell cars/make profit.”

      ^ This. The most truthful thing I’ve read all day.

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  4. Posted that on the wrong article . . . It was supposed to be on the one about the Holden Cruze with the 1.6 turbo. . .

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  5. Even if there is a great design, they always pick and chose where it is sold, anyway. Just have Holden and Opel design the vehicles. What did they design that a lot of people wouldn’t want?

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  6. I have not driven the Cruze but I do have an HHR with a 2.2L (around 150hp), at first I wanted a 2.4L for my HHR but honestly after driving for over a year I am cool with th HP. Truthefully I have gotten used to the HP, I think for many the turbo adds the kick and provides enough hp to make many Cruze owners satasfied; Matt its not like you are using the Autobahn or going racing… Matt if you like the Cruze that much what more do you really need it has 4 wheels it looks excellent when the warranty is up have the turbo 4 modifird… 🙂 Buy GM… What other vehicles are you cross shopping..,

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  7. My large V6 needs replacing soon & I’m looking at V8 RWD saloon, I like a big car & I like GM cars and always buy GM. My missis who is 10 years my junior needs a small spacious 1.2 hatchback with 5 doors that is cheap to run. GM floats my boat 😀

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  8. Why don’t individual company’s & country’s design cars they are best at then in theory at least we’d have the best small hatch, large saloon, coupe, truck etc etc.

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    1. It seems that GM abandoned some years ago the one-country-one-brand policiy for subsidiaries outside of North America, dear V8 Jon. That’s why they introduced Opel in Australia. Holden is no longer alone on that continent.

      Have a look at the website of Libertyautos.com , GM’s distributor in the United Arab Emirates. Their home page shows what I read as GM’s global brand lineup: Cadillac – Opel – Chevrolet.

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      1. Opel is not and will not be a “global” brand.

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        1. In that sense, neither is Chevrolet, despite the official GM pronounciations of having two global brands, Cadillac and Chevrolet, and about a dozen regional brands “being carefully cultivated to satisfy as many customers as possible in select regions” (Dan Akerson prefacing the 2011 GM Annual Report).

          Chevrolet is represented by Holden in Australia.

          Opel is present on all five populated continents; there are only two markets where cars looking 99 to 100 percent like Opel cars are sold under different brands, and these are the UKoGBaNI and North America, where they are sold as Vauxhall and Buick, respectively.

          In the other regional market with Buick presence, China, Opel cars are also marketed, although as expensive imports and thus minimal market penetration.

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  9. No I don’t mean one country brand (European market could cope with four brands, one basic, two budget, three upmarket & four prestige) I mean for example one country or brand excels in say medium hatchbacks then they design & build that for all brands, the one that excels in say large family cars design & build that and so on.

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    1. @V8 Jon: actually, GM is already present in Europe with four brands: Cadillac, Chevrolet, Opel and Vauxhall. The latter being limited to a single statal entity, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (UKoGBaNI).

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  10. I like what I like, although if I see a car that’s nice I will say so. I like cars & always have (some have said I’m obsessed with cars). I’m an enthusiast & I like GM stuff, yeh I look at Audi, Mercedes & Jaguar along with others but they just don’t do it for me, I’ve always had Vauxhall’s.(new/used, small/large). it’s also ironic GM (Chevrolet) are one of the sponcers in the football club I have supported from being a child. In today’s market every niche needs to be filled & although I ask of my own needs (who don’t) I am genuine in my requests. Enthusiast Yes, Genuine Buyer Yes.

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  11. V8 jon Those words sound like they could have come right out of my mouth. I feel the same way about G.M. product. The rest just don’t do it. Oh they may make a nice car here and there, but they just don’t get to me like the G.M.products do. Specifically Chevrolet’s and Buick’s.

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  12. I also really like that beautiful Cruze hatch at the top of the page. I want one so bad it hurts.

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    1. I think the Cruze hatch is too close to a sedan — too much slope at the rear, making the cargo space far less flexible. The Cruze wagon, on the other hand, is a beauty, but we will never see it.

      Either way, my interest is what’s under the hood, and I’m not fixated on the engine though that can obviously be improved. A bigger engine means more power but also more fuel, and vice versa. The only real way to get a true overall performance upgrade is to address what is connected to it and reduce the weight of the vehicle itself. Low rolling tires? Shutters? A clutch pedal or a torque converter? No thanks.

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  13. The Cruze looks a nice car tbh I can see Chevy in the not too distant future going from also ran to decent desirable cars, although its still Vauxhall’s for me above anything.

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  14. I don´t think that the next Commodore will also replace the Opel Insignia, because Opel has to utilize its own engineering center with work and mid-size sedans are definitely one of them. The Insignia is too important to them.

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  15. 62vettee, In my mind all GM brands should have a global presence, regional brands are disapeering if you have not noticed…

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  16. Of course, however I was thinking like this basic Dacia, budget Chevrolet, Skoda, Kia, Hyundai, Upmarket Vauxhall, Opel, Ford, VW, Audi, BMW, prestige, Cadillac, Mercedes, Jaguar, Porsche. Thus covering most (almost all) of the market.

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