New Holden MD

[Goggles]

six in six years

http://media.gm.com/media/au/en/hold...Announces.html

for a change an Aussie

[Smitty]

curious.. there are some extra snippets in that PR paper from Holden (if one reads it all)


as in -

Today’s announcements demonstrate GM’s commitment to Holden and reveal further details about Holden’s long term strategy. In the past 12 months, Holden has also announced:

Cascada convertible, Astra hatch and Insignia sedan will launch in 2015;
Holden vehicles will continue to be tuned and tested for Australian conditions and customers with the retention of the famous Lang Lang Proving Ground in Victoria;
Holden’s Global Design centre continues to contribute to local and global product programs;
More than one-third of Holden’s future product portfolio will be sourced from Europe;
The esteemed Commodore nameplate will live on with Holden’s next-generation large car; and
Holden will have a true sports car in its future product portfolio.


so now we now the VF large car replacement will definitely be called .... Commodore (but what wiil it be if not the INSIGNIA?)
and
Holden will have a true sports car in its future product portfolio... any bets on the Corvette ? (coz the Camaro does not fit that bill as the yanks call it a coupe)

[RB30E]

so now we now the VF large car replacement will definitely be called .... Commodore (but what wiil it be if not the INSIGNIA?)

I think Insignia badged as Commodore is pretty much a lock. Only alternative I've heard is based on a new rear-wheel drive Cadillac platform, but I think that would be too expensive for a volume-selling car. HSV might consider it, though.

Holden will have a true sports car in its future product portfolio... any bets on the Corvette ? (coz the Camaro does not fit that bill as the yanks call it a coupe)

I think it will be the replacement for the Camaro - I could be wrong, but I'm not sure the Corvette is RHD. Having seen Ford take the Mustang global, I'd be surprised if GM wasn't going to have a rival. Not sure how being a "coupe" rules it out as a "sports car".

[Dickie Knee]

I think Insignia badged as Commodore is pretty much a lock. Only alternative I've heard is based on a new rear-wheel drive Cadillac platform,............................".

My worry is we could get a Chinese built Buick as a commodore.

buick-lacrosse

buick-lacrosse-2014-002.jpg

[Wonky]

God that's fugly!!!

[VYBerlinaV8]

I think the most likely option is a rebadged Insignia.

Holden are in trouble.

[amckiwi]

Wonder how long this MD will last

[mjrandom]

Who knows, they might sell as many Chuicks as they do Malibus. They only estimated two sales per year didn't they? I might be temped with an AWD Insignia provided it is force fed. Anyway another year before I need to start thinking about things. The GTS is going very nicely though it does have an appetite for rubber and petrol.

[Smitty]

I think the most likely option is a rebadged Insignia.

....

that doesn't make sense.
why release the car as the 'INSIGNIA' in 2015 and then rename it 'Commodore' in 2017?

[Jag530G]

that doesn't make sense.
why release the car as the 'INSIGNIA' in 2015 and then rename it 'Commodore' in 2017?

I'd still bet on the Chevy Impala or the Buick Lacross (see picture above) which are based on the LWB Epsilon platform (Insigna/Malibu are SWB Epsilon) becoming our next Commodore. Unless we got fantastically lucky and the Buick Avenir goes into production and we get that...

From Wikipedia, on the Epsilon II platform:

Epsilon II[edit]

A new version of the Epsilon, dubbed Epsilon II, debuted in 2008. It is adaptable for front and all-wheel drive applications. In long wheelbase format, Epsilon II supports US EPA Large Cars, allowing GM to replace the G and W platforms. The architecture was developed by Opel in Rüsselsheim, Germany.

Current and announced vehicles built on Epsilon II:
2008–present Opel Insignia, Buick Regal (saloon, hatchback, estate) (SWB)
2010–present Buick LaCrosse/Alpheon (LWB)
2010-2012 Saab 9-5 (LWB)
2012–present Roewe 950 (LWB)[2]
2013–present Chevrolet Malibu, Holden Malibu (SWB)
2013–present Cadillac XTS (LWB)
2014–present Chevrolet Impala (LWB)

Cheers, Matthew

[VYBerlinaV8]

that doesn't make sense.
why release the car as the 'INSIGNIA' in 2015 and then rename it 'Commodore' in 2017?

The same reason GM released Opels as Holdens, then replaced them with Daewoos, then released Opels as Opels, then withdrew the Opels, and are now soon to be releasing Opels as Holdens.

You're right about the

[mac06]

that doesn't make sense.
why release the car as the 'INSIGNIA' in 2015 and then rename it 'Commodore' in 2017?

I wonder if you've hit the nail on the head?? Maybe it's all smoke and mirrors and we won't have an Insignia/ Commodore. Holden did say they want the new Commodore to drive like a Commodore, good towing, etc..... To me that ain't the Insignia.

Maybe we'll get something out of left field?? Cadillac ATS-V??? As RB30E says it's priced too high, but who knows.....

http://media.gm.com/media/us/en/gm/n...ts-v-2016.html

[GTSLOVER]

that doesn't make sense.
why release the car as the 'INSIGNIA' in 2015 and then rename it 'Commodore' in 2017?

The Russelheim plant where the insignia is being built is running at a low production figure so GM has just decided that any extra Holden can take will help with that problem and a new generation insignia is due in 2017 so GM thinks they can just fool people into thinking the new body style is a newly designed imported commodore while announcing that insignia is discontinued in Australia.

[RB30E]

that doesn't make sense.
why release the car as the 'INSIGNIA' in 2015 and then rename it 'Commodore' in 2017?

You're right that releasing the Insignia VXR doesn't make sense - it won't sell in any volume. Neither will the Astra GTC or Astra VXR. It's almost as though Holden is trying to compromise HSV's future product supply... The only way Holden could justify it is as some way of "preparing the market" for the next Commodore and pointing to its "European, performance heritage".

I'd still bet on the Chevy Impala or the Buick Lacross (see picture above) which are based on the LWB Epsilon platform (Insigna/Malibu are SWB Epsilon) becoming our next Commodore. Unless we got fantastically lucky and the Buick Avenir goes into production and we get that...

Here's why I think Insignia is more likely:

• Impala is not currently RHD and having been launched in 2014, its life cycle is out of sync for a 2017 RHD release. The Impala's Epsilon II wheelbase is 2837 mm long, which makes it too big for the volume-selling, mid-size segment that Holden wants this car to compete in (and size hurts fuel economy).
• The Buick LaCrosse is currently made in the USA, China and South Korea, and this will probably continue for the next generation. USA production will almost certainly be RHD only, Holden won't gamble on a Chinese-built product for a mass market car and is in the process of moving away from Korean product. Just look at Epica/Malibu sales figures. And repeat Epsilon II argument from above.

The standard Epsilon wheelbase may only be 2737 mm, but I'd suggest that its design is more conducive to interior space than the VE/VF Commodore (shorter bonnet, relatively longer cabin). So it won't have the same absolute interior space as the VE/VF, but it won't be as far away as its exterior dimensions would suggest. It's also unlikely that Australia would get a different car to the UK - which already gets the Insignia. I don't see this changing. As GTSLOVER pointed out, Russelsheim has excess capacity and GM Europe wants the volume.

[bozodos]

I'd say chances are slim to none for a RHD Corvette - the volume here is tiny. Camaro replacement maybe.