Just three days ago, Holden let Australians know that it’s “Here to Stay” in its new ad. Whether that will stand the test of time beyond 2017 remains to be seen, but there is something else to take from the ad: a previously unseen design, echoing the description of what Mark Reuss once described an upcoming Buick flagship. By that, we mean that it will resemble a Porsche Panamera. One look at the design’s bulbous backside, and we completely understand.
But this is a Holden commercial. What gives? To help connect the dots, we recall a recent report on the possibility of the next-generation Holden Commodore being a rebadge of an upcoming Buick full-size sedan, which will reportedly be made in China. All the while, other reports cite the possibility of the next Commodore being a variant of the next-generation Chevrolet SS. That said, while everyone does their best to read the tea leaves, we could very well be seeing a glimpse of the future in the spot, which you can re-watch here:
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Well it took several days and several post in the other thread to get anyone else to notice.
look at those hatchbacks right beside it!!
Note the Code R like Grill on the two photo’s. They just have the added Holden top bar vs. the Chevy center bar.
There is some similarity between the two first cars at the right side and the Opel Monza Concept, isn’t it?
Perhaps we will see such a car in Europe as an Opel Insignia fastback…
And if that’s the end result, I can guarantee it will be a MASSIVE flop on the Australian market. The popularity of cars such as the Mercedes SLS models are very miniscule for their segment, the S-class which it’s based on outsells them at a rate of about ten to one. And GM think this will work in Australia on a car BADGED as a Holden Commodore? Would be better off just continuing to build the VF for a ten year production run!
I would hedge the price of the Benz and the cost to repair it has as much to do with lower sales than anything since that is what limits it in most markets around the world.
I think you had better wait to see what the car really is before you condemn it on a small exaggerated styling design that you can not really distinguish too much.
This is like looking at a test mule with a vinyl cover all over it and hating the color.
An informed decision is a much wiser one.
What about the sketch under the mans arm, looking very coupe-like? Although very blurry the other three photos seem to have Chevy emblems in the grille and at the very least the Chevy split grille. Could mean anything but I’m guessing they’re just saying Holden manufacture and design is very much alive but coming from other than Australia.
The Grills are very much Holden as they use a high chrome bar with a Lion on all but the Volt as it just gets a lion.
These could be the Chevy grill shape but they would have a lower middle bar.
As for Holden design do not expect much other than the grill and tuning other wise their products will be mostly Chevy and possibly an Opel based model? Holden’s MFG and design will be winding down with the Zeta for the most parts and only hold on to a staff to sort out the needs for their market on the models they get.
But keep in mind much of what they need will be designed in with the global model as we all will get pretty much the same car and often we will get a better car because of it. Just look at the handling and ride improvement Chevy has gotten because of the global platforms. Opel will get more quiet cabins and other higher value items because of their use of joint Buick products. Buick will get a more Euro flavor etc. In the big picture we will see all brands get the best of each designed into these platforms.
I also agree there is a coupe on the desk. Could it also be the makings of a Camaro/Monaro?
As for one everyone has missed what is the car in the studio behind his head? It is not any Holden, Chevy, Buick or Opel we have now.
Hmmm! I have zoomed in on all the photos and it looks very interesting not only for Holden but for the divisions these ideas also will be shared with.
Another pair under his right on the desk.
Note I saved this from the other thread where I told everyone to look. It has a wider shot and shows several more cars than this photo. Look for the other thread.
People wanted a US VF/SS in V6 and V8 trim. We have GM’s answer in Buick.
I just am afraid this is going to clock in at $35,000 for the V6 and $40,000 for the base V8, with the GNX being a noise-deadened Chevy SS with better seats… at $45,000.
That may steal some Porsche sales, but it will do little for those who want Pontiac (G8) to return. $35,000 for a quieter version of a car that sold for $28,000 a few years ago is cold comfort for us.
I agree…I paid just over $29000 for my G8 GT and it was the best V8 performance bargain since the Fox body Stang.
$35K is the new normal as it was nearly 5 years ago that a G8 Was $30-38K if it had any options.
A G8 GT was well-optioned at $29,999 in ’08, it did bump up to about $31k due to Australian currency fluctuations in 2009. But you can’t compare a V8 at that price point to a V6 today and call it good enough.
If this is a Buick Alpha/Zeta, it almost certainly will cost within striking distance of $10,000 more than the G8 with the same engine tiers factored in. A G8 V6 was $27,000, I expect the Buick Grand National (if this is it), to clock in around a starting SRP of $34,999. And that may be with a 2.0T, not even a V6 since LaCrosse starts at $31,500 today.
And I get it. GM doesn’t want go-fast RWD, sedans on the cheap anymore. They are willing to let those customers go to Dodge, Hyundai, and Subaru. I think that’s a mistake and an easily correctable mistake.
The Grand National will certainly start at the $40000 mark. The 2014 GS starts at nearly $36K. The only way I can see this working out is to drop the GS model all together and have Turbo, Grand National and GNX as the top end.
Well the issue is this. The Lacrosse fully loaded is already moving close to $50K, So fully expect the RWD Buick to be in the $40K range to miss Cadillac and keep above Chevy.
Second I would forget the GNX and Grand National names as there will be too many complaints. The cars they are working on are not the cars these names were on. For one they will have more than 2 doors and they will not all be black. Finally they will be well sorted GT like car that will be more of a well sorted performance sedan. Not really what the names apply to here. These will not be new muscle cars they will be more Euro like.
With Chevy leaving Europe, we hear less about a Buick, Opel, Catchall tie up, and see items such as this.
I’m starting to see a One GM policy develop sans Caddy, with the remaining brands sharing the same products with unique skins/top hats.
This is smart from a bottom line perspective, and could transform GM financials into Ford on steroids.
Of course, each division will end up loosing those certain elements that made out special but this seems to bee the tone of globalization.
@Stephem Marcus:
I don’t think that this is GM’s strategy! Makes no sense!
First of all: Chevy is only leaving Western and Central Europe and stays in Russia where both Opel and Chevy will continue to be sold side by side,
Also Buick and Chevy are sold side by side in China and the US…
Second: GM is trying to push Caddi worldwide and invests a lot of money. Why should they suddenly abandon this strategy?
GM has finally understood that every market/region has ist own tastes and that this “one-brand” strategy does not work. You can’t sell the same cars in Europe as the ones you sell in India or South America. Look what happened to the Korean Chevys in Europe.
This “One Ford” strategy is a myth. This strategy doesn’t exist. There are some Fords which are sold worldwide but not the whole lineup.
GM’s strategy is: connecting the Chevy/GMC and Holden brands, connecting Opel/Vauxhall and Buick. Cadillac will stay “alone”. So you have three major lineups with a lot of differences in the regions. So for example the next Opel Corsa will never be a Buick. There will be no Buick Zafira, Meriva and so on…
You misunderstood; I said sans Caddy because GM shows every desire to keep the brand seperate.
Much of what I said is already happening with Chevy, Opel and Buick sharing platforms (Cruze/Astra; Mokka/Sonic). This sharing will only increase in the developed world with Global Delta and Epsilon.
Clearly the three brands will share more now with Chevy leaving Europe. Opel small cars are more desirable, and will compete against Ford better in China, and even N.A. One could say this is already happening with the Corsa based Sail.
I see Opel’s small range working closer with Chevy; large with Buick. As for Russia, they will continue getting product like Spark, Lechi, intended for the developing world.
It would be nice if the next buick Lacrosse witch is the next Holden Commador… to be 198 inches long and 57 inches tall with sporty styles and feel and drive like a sports car.
the currient Lacrosse is 59.2 inches tall… I think that is a little too tall…. 57.0 inches is good.