Holden auto news

Official: Holden announces export of RWD Commodore to North America, other bodystyles could follow *UPDATE

Calling it "Holden's worst kept secret," a report in Australia's Drive indicates that the General Motors antipodean brand will announce "very soon" that it will be exporting "thousands of Commodores to the U.S. from 2013." Or, put another way, we will be getting thousands of Chevrolet SS Performance sedans - the Pontiac G8 in a previous life - starting next year.

The report says Holden is divulging the news earlier than planned because leaks just about everywhere, including OnStar, as well as trade-publication reports and speculation about GM's 2013 NASCAR entrant, have got everyone looking southward for confirmation of the answer we already (almost) know.

Drive says our rear-wheel drive Chevrolet will get a revised take on the VF-model Commodore that has an aluminum hood to make it lighter and less aggressive wheel arches to make it more slippery. No hard numbers are attached to the export rumors, but it is expected to number "much fewer than the 50,000-odd" units that were predicted for the Pontiac G8 program.

The scintillating line for bitter enthusiasts still chafing over the confirmed-then-cancelled G8 ST Ute corn tease is that the exports "could also expand to involve ute and sportwagon variants." Drive didn't, but we will emphasize the word "could," since we've been here before. However, that does jive with a report in Car and Driver indicating the same thing. Holden's announcement could be made as soon as later today right now - see below for update.

*UPDATE: Well that didn't take long. General Motors has officially confirmed that the new Holden-derived sedan sold in the U.S. will be called simply Chevrolet SS. The "limited production" SS will race in NASCAR beginning with the 2013 Daytona 500 and will appear in showrooms in 2014. GM isn't getting into specifics, but says "The much anticipated Australian-built car will benefit from significant technology advances which enhance overall performance." As to additional bodystyles like a wagon or pickup, well, GM isn't saying. See more in the official press release added below, and click on the image above to get a look at GM's newest racer all camo'd up.

Continue reading Holden announces export of RWD Commodore to North America, other bodystyles could follow *UPDATE

Rumormill: Holden to announce export of RWD Commodore to North America, other bodystyles could follow

Calling it "Holden's worst kept secret," a report in Australia's Drive indicates that the General Motors antipodean brand will announce "very soon" that it will be exporting "thousands of Commodores to the U.S. from 2013." Or, put another way, we will be getting thousands of Chevrolet SS Performance sedans - the Pontiac G8 in a previous life - starting next year.

The report says Holden is divulging the news earlier than planned because leaks just about everywhere, including OnStar, as well as trade-publication reports and speculation about GM's 2013 NASCAR entrant, have got everyone looking southward for confirmation of the answer we already (almost) know.

Drive says our rear-wheel drive Chevrolet will get a revised take on the VF-model Commodore that has an aluminum hood to make it lighter and less aggressive wheel arches to make it more slippery. No hard numbers are attached to the export rumors, but it is expected to number "much fewer than the 50,000-odd" units that were predicted for the Pontiac G8 program.

The scintillating line for bitter enthusiasts still chafing over the confirmed-then-cancelled G8 ST Ute corn tease is that the exports "could also expand to involve ute and sportwagon variants." Drive didn't, but we will emphasize the word "could," since we've been here before. However, that does jive with a report in Car and Driver indicating the same thing. Holden's announcement could be made as soon as later today.

Holden Dealer Team brings out VE Retro Commodore

While the Holden Commodore VE had a rather short visit to the U.S. in the form of the Pontiac G8, it's still in production Down Under - and still a worthy platform for hotted-up special editions. This one comes from none other than Holden Dealer Team, the revived tuner once owned by Aussie racing legend Peter Brock.

The theme here is a time machine tribute to the 1986 Holden Commodore VL Group A Plus Pack, the car that led to Brock famously severing his ties with Holden. The row was the result of Brock's insistence in fitting an "Energy Polarizer" to the Plus Pack cars, a device containing crystals and magnets that the new age race driver claimed improved the performance of the cars through a process of molecular realignment.

Well, not only has the VL-series Group A look come back, but so too has the Energy Polarizer, one of which will be fitted to all 250 of the HDT VL Group A Plus Pack Heritage Series cars. Perhaps more importantly, these special HDT Commodores will receive a 470-horsepower, supercharged 6.0-liter LS V8. Other kit includes a Bilstein suspension package, complete body kit including hood scoop, Harrop performance braking package, 20-inch wheels, and a customized interior.

Holden restores its first ever concept car, the 1969 Hurricane [w/video]

Holden has resurrected the company's ground-breaking 1969 Hurricane Concept with a complete restoration. The low-slung, mid-engine coupe served as a showcase for technology that wouldn't find its way into production vehicles for almost three decades, including a turn-by-turn navigation system, automatic climate control and a rear-view camera. At the time, engineers relied on genuine ingenuity to load the Hurricane with equal parts performance and technology. The navigation system relied on magnets embedded in the road surface to illuminate a series of arrows on the dash while the rear-view camera borrowed from closed-circuit TV.

A group of dedicated Holden workers took it upon themselves to put the Hurricane back in working order using as many original parts as possible. That includes the experimental four-barrel 253ci V8 mounted mid-ship. Holden eventually used the design as the platform for its small-displacement V8 effort, which began later in '69, though as GM points out, the V8s wouldn't receive the four-barrel treatment until much later in the '70s.

Holden has been working to restore the Hurricane since 2006, and now that it's finished, the concept will be on display at the Motorclassica Car Show in Melbourne from October 21-23. Follow the jump for a quick video on the car as well as the press release.

Continue reading Holden restores its first ever concept car, the 1969 Hurricane [w/video]

Video: Final lap of Bathurst race is definitely worth watching

Australian V8 Supercar races are coming to the U.S. in 2013, and here's another look at what you might be able to expect at the end of six hours of racing.

This time, rookie Garth Tander in a ragged Holden has to hold off veteran Craig Lowndes in a slightly better car if Tander is going to win, and... well, you'll just have to flip past the jump for the last few laps to find out. If you like racing at all, it'll be worth it.

Continue reading Final lap of Bathurst race is definitely worth watching

Video: NASCAR great Darrell Waltrip gets the ride of his life in V8 Supercar at Bathurst, Australia

Darrell Waltrip is no stranger to going fast. After all, he's got three Winston Cups to his name and 84 race wins at the pinnacle of stock car racing.

But you see, he's used to driving. On ovals. So when they flew him Down Under as part of Speed's coverage of the Bathurst 1000 - one of the most recognizable events in the V8 Supercars series - he got an entirely different perspective: one from the passenger seat, riding shotgun in a Holden Commodore around the Mount Panorama circuit. We'll let the video after the jump for itself, but suffice it to say Waltrip had the ride of his life.

Continue reading NASCAR great Darrell Waltrip gets the ride of his life in V8 Supercar at Bathurst, Australia

Spy Shots: Chevrolet Colorado successor spied almost completely camo-free

General Motors has been fairly tight-lipped about whether or not we'll see the next-generation Chevrolet Colorado here in the Land Of The Free. Right now, most signs point to "no." That's a real shame, too, given that the new mid-sized pickup packs what appears to be an efficient and powerful 2.8-liter turbodiesel engine and some snappy styling. That's the kind of combination that could make us miss the new global Ford Ranger all the less. Regardless of whether or not the new Colorado makes it to our back yard, the truck promises to bring buyers elsewhere in the world the capability they want in a convenient package.

A keen-eyed member of Asian forum BBZnet has managed to snap a few quick shots of what appears to be a production version of the pickup. The vehicle has lost the integrated rear bumper of the concept as well as its large 20-inch wheels, but remains fairly true to the original design otherwise. Head over to the BBZnet for more photos.

Video: GM design gives a sneak peek into birth of Holden Colorado pickup concept

The next generation Chevrolet Colorado hasn't been announced for the U.S. just yet (and we're not holding out much hope for its arrival, either), but the sharp-looking truck will be heading to Thailand later this year. In fact, the overhauled pickup, which will reportedly feature a 2.8-liter diesel at launch, will likely make its way into several markets around the world, including Australia. The only real difference is that the Chevrolet Bowtie will be replaced with Holden badging.

Beyond the jump is a four-minute video that shows how the Colorado went from design to show truck. It's always interesting to see all that goes into designing a new vehicle, and this video includes all computerized design, clay modeling and last-minute detailing you'll ever need to see. Hit the jump to watch the video for yourself.

Continue reading GM design gives a sneak peek into birth of Holden Colorado pickup concept

Official: Holden reveals own versions of Chevy Colorado, Sonic and Cruze hatch

It's winter time in the land down under, and General Motors has arrived at the 2011 Melbourne Motor Show with a handful of new Holden models. Australians will soon see the 2012 Holden Colorado, 2012 Barina and 2011 Cruze Hatch arriving on dealer lots.

The Australian Colorado gets buff body lines and stylish LED running lamps in the bumper (at least on premium trims). Holden's Sonic, known in Oz as the Barina, is powered by the same 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine we get here, which can be paired with a five-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission. Finally, the 2011 Holden Cruze Hatch is the five-door we would love to see arrive stateside wearing a Bowtie.

The Holden Cruze Hatch has already hit UK and Korean showrooms in its Chevrolet guise. The diesel-powered Holden Colorado goes on sale next year. Expect the Barina to arrive towards the end of 2011.

Dive into all three Holden vehicles by clicking past the jump for the full press release on each. Also, be sure to look through the galleries below.

Continue reading Holden reveals own versions of Chevy Colorado, Sonic and Cruze hatch

GM is be-Holden to Australian unit for global Malibu development

While GM's once-vast array of worldwide brands operated as separate units in the past, in today's global economy they've all got intertwining roles. Case in point: the new Chevy Malibu.

The new mid-sized sedan is being prepared for its global rollout, but before it is, GM needs to prepare it for the wide variety of different road surfaces encountered in overseas markets. So it's turned to its Australian subsidiary, Holden, to help fine-tune the chassis.

The work is being undertaken at Holden's Lang Land Proving Ground in Victoria, Australia, and along public roads in places like the coastal resort town of Phillip Island, where the car is pictured above.

Of course this won't be the first time Holden has been called upon to help with global products; its chassis have been exported on such products as the Pontiac G8 and GTO, Vauxhall VXR8 and Chevrolet Camaro. But lest you think it's all give and no take for the Australian marque, the Malibu will be sold Down Under as a Holden, as opposed to the Chevrolet bow-tie it will wear in North America and other markets. The press release is posted after the jump.

Continue reading GM is be-Holden to Australian unit for global Malibu development