Recently, there has been a lot of speculation on what Holden’s vehicle lineup will look like after local manufacturing ceases in 2017. Currently, the Holden lineup is a mess with ho-hum Korean-sourced products, locally-produced vehicles and rebadged Opels filling dealer lots.
We are going to take this space, and build Holden’s lineup after 2017. Let’s make it a near-perfect situation. Of course, a perfect world would be locally producing cars but, as much as we wish it weren’t so, the deal is done. So, let’s assume costs, platforms and anything in between wouldn’t be a matter in the world. Here we go.
2018 Holden Commodore
Let’s start with General Motors’ Omega platform. The weight-saving and light-weight architecture of Omega would be the perfect successor to the bulky Zeta platform currently underpinning the VF Commodore. The platform offers support for a wide-range of engines, and we think a 6.2-liter LT1 V8 as the range-topping choice would do just fine. Load the car with an absolute cluster bomb of features, and we’d present the new Caprice.
Since this is a near perfect world, we’ll assume sportwagon and ute variants have been sorted out on the platform, too.
The 2018 Commodore would sit as a newly-positioned range-topping vehicle, leaving room for our next vehicle to sit as something more affordable. It’s the car Australians want, would match the spaciousness Zeta offers interior occupants and would be a true successor to the departing VF Commodore.
2018 Holden Insignia
We think a tweaked 2016 Chevrolet Malibu, or whatever Opel is concocting on the E2XX platform, would be an excellent addition to Holden’s portfolio. It’s just not a Commodore replacement. This vehicle will render the Holden Malibu redundant, and will replace and best it in nearly every way. We’d like to see it positioned below the Commodore, almost as the Malibu sits below the Impala in the U.S, and we invite all of the Chevy Malibu’s engineering efficiencies into the car.
2018 Holden Monaro
Holden would go after Ford and the Mustang with a reincarnated Monaro based on the 2016 Chevrolet Camaro. But, how about a curveball? Only offer the 2.0-liter turbo-four and make the LF4 3.6-liter twin-turbo V6 the range-topping engine. If Mustang orders are anything to go by, the Aussie consumer likes the idea of a turbocharged sport coupe. Also, this saves the V8 for the Commodore faithful, still giving a reason to step into one.
2018 Holden Colorado
The Asian-based Holden Colorado would be out, and the U.S.-spec Colorado would be in. Holden deserves a world-class ute, rather than a watered down offering, something apparent right away when comparing the two trucks. Despite the Colorado garnering a warm reception, we think consumers would be blown away by the fit and finish of the U.S. Chevrolet Colorado over what’s currently sold. And that would move even more Colorados than currently.
2018 Holden Colorado 7
Again, the Asian product is out. Here, we envision a GMC derived rugged off-roader of sorts to compete with Jeep in the U.S. More Grand Cherokee like in nature, but with the capability the current Colorado 7 brings to the table.
2018 Holden Solstice
The Holden Captiva as we know it would be gone. So American readers know, the Captiva 5 is our final-generation Saturn Vue. So Australian readers know, your Captiva 5 was last seen fit as merely a rental car in the U.S., known as the Chevrolet Captiva. It has got to go. Instead, we propose the Chevrolet Equinox replace it, though, we like the name “Solstice” more than Equinox when pairing it with Holden name.
2018 Holden Cruze
The shiny-new 2016 Chevrolet Cruze recently unveiled would be heading down unda’, complete with a hatchback variant. This move would render the Astra hatch obsolete, and we propose a high-performance variant to fill the VXR’s shoes. Efficient engine choices, and sleek styling, would create a compelling alternative to the imports gobbling up the current Holden Cruze’s marketshare. Besides, it’s apparent the front-clip of the current Holden Cruze was designed to wear a bowtie rather than the roaring lion.
2018 Holden Barina
The Barina is a good car, and we think would still fit very well in Holden after 2017. Therefore, we say it should stay with no major changes besides normal refreshes and equipment offerings.
If we didn’t explicitly mention it, we chose to axe the vehicle from the lineup. That includes the Holden Cascada, Barina Spark and Trax. Our pseudo-budget is being applied elsewhere.
An addendum to all of the above: our post 2017 Holden lineup will see the SSV trim as the performance moniker for the brand. VXR is a Vauxhall brand, and we feel offers no value to Australian consumers.
What do you think? Do we have a job in product planning in the future, or should we stick to our keyboards? Let us know how we did in the comments section.
Comments
Thanks for your thoughts Sean. My views are as follows:
Sacrilege over using the Monaro name on a Camaro – both in Oz and Stateside (soap and water). Forget the Commodore nameplate being used with an overseas product.
Yes to the Colorado’s brought in from the U.S. Flick Barina and Cruze and fully replace with Astra and Corsa. Craptiva – dump that tired old relic.
Only thing missing is SUVs, they are the future!
Everything else looks good, except (take it from an Aussie) a Monaro must have a V8. It could work with a V6turbo if you called it the Torana!!!
Outside of Cadillac I hope GM is planning some amazing things for Omega. I remember when I first read about it that I thought it would be a great replacement for Zeta. I was just thinking today that I hope Buick does a performance variant based on Omega. The Commodore deserves this platform since Zeta basically saved GMs RWD division outisde of the Corvette (Camaro, Prev. Gen Cadillac CTS (on Sigma), G8).
And I think we all know you Aussies know how to engineer a great car on the Omega platform! Buick Avenir anyone?
I can’t help but wonder if we had Holdens in the US if this would change anything. Because I for one would love a Maloo or just a Commodore because I love the idea of a rear drive sedan with a big V8 and the Charger just doesn’t do it for me and there’s hardly any Chevrolet SS’s around.
The only reason there aren’t many SS’s over there is simply because GM wanted it that way so they could use it as an excuse to get rid of Australian manufacturing and to force the same crap they’ve been forcing on you poor blokes for years (watered-down, poor handling, front wheel drive large cars which are awful to drive and make most car guys want to vomit), as well as get rid of the only place that can do low cost rear wheel drive platforms that handle well (can thank Peter Hanenberger for that one) and have been able to do so since the seventies. Ford have done the same thing with the Falcon here too by limiting funds for development and a complete lack of advertising for several years now (the final model FG X Falcons have a demand that far exceeds current supply, especially for XR6 Turbo and XR8 models – think Falcon versions of SS and SS V Commodores). Both have proven to be great cars, and much better than some of the crap you guys have had to put up with, although we do have to pay a premium for it (about AU$40k for a base model Falcon or Commodore here). A Commodore SS built to the same spec as the SS you guys can get would be at least AU$5k more than the left hand drive version you get. And even with the high labour prices here, when GM needed rescuing, Holden was their only subsidiary turning a profit, and had been doing so for every year since 1988, and that was largely thanks to exporting to the Commodore and Caprice to other markets, as well as having the excellent performance partner in Walkinshaw Performance (owners of HSV), giving people something great to aspire to and providing M5 performance for about half the price.
Agreed. The SS really could’ve kicked ass here in the US but it’s $45k and it has no options. But you’re right it’s just an excuse to downplay the Holden brand. These cheap and shitty front wheel drive sedans kill me but it’s all we get here and it’s really ruined some classic names.
We will be getting Holdens… as Buicks.
It’s too late to keep the Commodore nameplate. They should’ve retired that name with the Aussie built cars. Same thing with the Monaro. I’d love to see the Camaro make it down under but to call it a Monaro is blasphemy.
Regardless of what Holden do, they’ll drop from 4th best sales (now. Were 2nd before closure announcement) to about 7th or even lower. None of the cars mentioned will be market leaders.
I am from New Zealand, where many of GM’s brands have been sold over the years (Bedford, Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Daewoo, Holden, Hummer, Isuzu, Opel, Pontiac and Vauxhall) but presently GM is only selling Holden and distributing Isuzu’s truck range.
I now live in the United Kingdom where GM is currently selling Chevrolet, Opel and Cadillac. As most here will know, Chevrolet models are presently on run out in all Western and Central European markets as they phase the brand out of its mass market position in favour of just Opel/Vauxhall.
I have been closely watching the developments within GM globally since the bankruptcy in 2009, with particular focus on Opel/Vauxhall and Holden.
I have watched the Holden line-up go through various model cycles, with rebadged Opel, Suzuki, Isuzu, Daewoo and Chevrolet models, and of course the native Australian Commodore and its many derivatives.
Based on several events, comments and inklings (including the withdrawal of Opel from Australia after its first and short stint there, the announcements made by GM and Holden that ‘more than 30%’ and ‘about a third’ of the Holden range will be sourced from Europe, the poor performance in the NZ/AU market of current Chevrolet sourced models, the lower likelihood of some of the Chevrolet models being produced in RHD, the Buick ventiports spotted on the VF Commodore facelift bonnet and Ford’s actions in the NZ, Australia and global markets), my bet is that the Holden line-up will be more closely aligned to that of Opel/Vauxhall/ Buick ‘Global Hybrid Brand’, supplemented with some Chevrolet SUVs and pickups:
CURRENT → FUTURE
Barina Spark (Spark) → New generation launches, drops ‘Barina’ from name – it remains to be seen if this will be the Karl/Viva with a Spark badge, or if it will be the Chevrolet version.
Barina (Sonic) → Corsa 3 and 5 door, using either the Barina or Corsa name.
Cruze → Astra range – Hatchback and Sports Tourer (will there be an Astra sedan?).
Astra GTC/VXR → As above – it remains to be seen if Opel will launch a 3 door GTC successor.
Cascada → Continues.
Malibu → Insignia range – Hatchback or Sedan and Sports Tourer.
Insignia VXR → As above.
Commodore → Next generation Buick LaCrosse (badged Commodore).
Commodore Sportwagon → Ends (indirectly replaced by the Insignia Sports Tourer).
Caprice → Ends.
Trax → next generation Mokka, possibly taking on the Mokka name also.
Captiva 5 (Antara) → Opel Antara successor (badged Monza?) – likely to be Opel version of current Chinese market Buick Envision.
Captiva 7 (Captiva) → As above.
Colorado 7 (TrailBlazer) → Continues – benefits from improvements of the Colorado pickup. My personal opinion is that this model should adopt the TrailBlazer name.
Commodore Ute → Ends
Colorado → Continues – global version facelifted to North American styling?
I’d also place more of a bet on Holden using the Opel/Vauxhall trim level names, including VXR as the performance variant. VXR has a history in NZ and Australia as an HSV model (HSV VXR – a rebadged Opel Astra H OPC).
Holden could also add some/all of the Opel LCV range (Combo, Vivaro and Movano).
The only model I can’t predict is the ‘V8 sportscar’. It must be the Camaro and/or Corvette. Either way, in my opinion, whatever is sold should be sold as a Chevrolet out of Holden showrooms.
As far as HSV goes, I see their future relationship with Holden downgrading to that of an aftermarket tuner.
http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q239/rambo_005/GM%20Global%20Hybrid%20Brand_zps1iwa9uga.jpg