Category: Holden News

The Commodore is on track to take the crown as the best selling car for the 14th straight year with strong year-on-year sales in 2009.

According to Holden's press release:
Holden sales are up more than 17% year-on-year with Commodore on track to be Australia’s top selling car for the 14th consecutive year according to figures released today by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries.

Holden’s Executive Director of Sales and Marketing, John Elsworth, said 40,041 Commodore’s have been sold year-to-date including 3956 in November.

“Showroom interest in our new direct-injection Commodore – with its improved fuel economy – is very high,” Mr Elsworth said.

Category: Holden News

Holden has announced today that it will be phasing in a second shift for its Port Melbourne engine plant.

According to Powertrain Lead Executive Martyn Cray, "Holden has received an increase in orders for our Global V6 engines which are exported to markets including South Korea, China and Mexico and we are lifting production of our engines as a result.”

“We are also seeing increased local demand for Commodore after launching the new advanced Spark Ignition Direct Injection (SIDI) engine in 3.0 and 3.6 litre variants.”

Holden's engine plant reduced its output in June, retreating to a single shift as a result of the economic crisis.

According to their press release, "Holden Vehicle Operations at Elizabeth in South Australia, which will continue to operate on a single shift, is manufacturing 340 cars a day. The rate was increased earlier this month from the previous build rate of 310 cars a day."

"This increased volume is intended to address anticipated demand for vehicles ahead of the 31 December deadline for the Government’s 50% investment allowance. It will also ensure cars are available to dealers across the Christmas shutdown period and into the New Year."

Category: Holden News

News.com.au just voted the V2 Monaro one of the top designs of the decade! Well, I suppose it goes without saying that we couldn't agree more...

As they say:
"2001 Australian Design Award: A $60 million remake of a classic Australian muscle car. The third generation Monaro was exported to America and re-badged as the US classic Pontiac GTO.
Design: Holden Ltd"

CLICK HERE TO SEE FOR YOURSELF

Category: Holden News

Finally, the W427 has breathed its first taste of fresh air as HSV have announced the official unveiling of the $155k Supercar.

New media photos have also be released which show the HSV in other colours other than Panorama Silver, more to the point, we think the W427 looks killer in the red despite the deep roots the silver has with HSV and Tom Walkinshaw.

The W427 has been confirmed to be built in limited numbers, 427 to be exact, and will feature the awesome 375kW Z06 sourced 7-litre V8 which was used in the pre-production versions that teased the public some months ago.

The W427 also offers a full three year, 100,000km warranty to boot so you can be assured that HSV did some extensive work to the driveline to cope with the 640nm of torque available at the right foot.

The final price, inclusive of the new Luxury Car Tax regime, will be $155,500 which puts me fair out of the race to have one of these puppies parked in my drive way.

Category: Holden News

Holden have confirmed that even though there is only one E85 service station in Australia at present, they will be bringing out the E85 compatible Commodore sooner than you think.

�This becomes almost a chicken-and-egg scenario and we intend to do the same thing in Australia, which is lead with equipment on the car, driving both the societal awareness of renewable fuels and the application of the supply base for them,� Mr Reuss said.

Mark Reuss, Holden�s managing director is confident once the E85 compatible cars start to flood the markets the bowsers will start to open.

�The benefits of ethanol are huge, it is a comparatively clean-burning renewable fuel and it requires a very small cost to modify existing technology.�

�I think it is our responsibility as an auto industry and as a company to lead this,� he said.

�If we wait until we have $8 a litre gasoline and we wait until bad things happen to respond, that is a pretty poor place to be. We owe the society, the economy and our customers a lot more than that as an industry and a company.�

New technology is being developed that will see ethanol being produced from waste rather than fresh new food crops according to Biofuels Association of Australia chief executive Bruce Harrison.

�In Australia, one of my members is currently growing algae (to make ethanol) and the commercialization process has begun down here in Victoria,� Mr Harrison said.

Category: Holden News

It was Holden�s Chairman and Managing Director Mark Reuss who stated in a press release today that of Australia was to ever loose it�s auto making manufacturing industry, it will be unlikely that it will ever get it back.

Mr Reuss has reminded the Australian government that automakers in other countries all receive backing from the government to help keep the business in region

To those who don't have one, the benefits are obvious,� Mr Reuss said

"To countries that already have an automotive manufacturing industry like Australia, the message is equally clear - if you lose it, you are unlikely to ever get it back.

Mr Reuss has raised concerns with past government comments questioning the need to have a local auto manufacturers on shore.

"It was refreshing to hear the Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, in his speech on World Environment Day, throw his support behind the importance of maintaining an automotive manufacturing industry in Australia," the Holden boss said.

"Many experts caution that the commodities sector boom cannot last forever.

"For government, this makes the wider economic arguments for supporting the automotive sector much clearer."