We can thank General Motor’s Australian arm, Holden, for making a few of the more memorable modern day high performance Pontiacs available here in the U.S. market; however no matter how hard they tried, the new defunct automaker couldn’t seem to keep the GTO and G8 around for too long. The latter is still available down under as the Commodore, and in the outback one of America’s favorite four door sport sedans is also available as a five door wagon and even a modern day El Camino cross between a G8 and a pickup truck better known as the Holden Ute.
The Australian automaker is currently working on series of factory tuned performance models that will carry a very interesting combination of GM high output monikers. Chevrolet contributes their Super Sport logo along with Cadillac’s V-Series lineup of sports cars so that Holden can come out with the SS V-Series Special Edition Commodore, Sportwagon and Ute models a little later on this year. The new limited edition vehicles will offer around $7,500 worth of Holden factory options at a considerable savings. The SS V-Series Commodore will get the familiar Pontiac G8 GT aggressive twin kidney grill and hood with matching scoops as well as a deck lid spoiler and a few key chrome accents. Just like the SS V-Series cars will be a limited production run, they will also be available in a limited selection of colors, like: Phantom black, Red Hot and Voodoo blue.
Unlike either an SS or V-Series powered GM car, these budget minded Holden’s are more focused on efficiency, so instead of a 426 HP LS3 V8 under the hood, the special edition Holdens are offered with a very efficient 3.6 Liter direct injected V6 under the hood connected to a gas sipping four speed automatic transmission; providing customers with everything they need and none of the excess that they don’t. The Holden SS V-Series Commodore, Sport wagon and Ute are the perfect solution to the new car buyer that wants some additional cargo room without sacrificing fun, or breaking the bank while doing it.
Press release after the jump.
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Even though the Pontiac G8 will be taking a leave of absence from teh U.S. market, one of the world’s greatest four door saloons is still selling strong in it’s native land down under. So well indeed that the haigh performance division of the Australian member of General Motors, the Holden Specialty Vehicles division has just taken the curtain off the all new for 2010 E Series 2 (E2) range, a lineup of automobiles that comes with quite a significantly aggressive new design as well as a number of new features that solidifies the makes position as Australia’s favourite luxury and performance car company.
Every iteration of the 2010 E2 range is powered by a ground pounding V8 making a maximum output of at least 431 HP, while the top of the line GTS models get a slight bump in power resulting in a peak output of 442 HP. For 2010 the E Series vehicles will feature driver oriented applications like Competition Mode ESC, extended cruise control, daytime running lights, Magnetic Ride Control (MRC) and four piston brake calipers up front as well as out back.
When the Australian super cars do go on sale, they will be priced as follows: The ClubSport R8 will come in at $65,990 Australian, the Maloo R8 will cost $62,990 and the ClubSport R8 Tourer will go for $66,990. The ever powerful GTS model will retail for $80,990 offering up almost 450 HP while the Senator Signature will set customers $82,990 and the most expensive member of the E2 family will be the WM Grange when it goes on sale for $87,990.
Press release after the jump.
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The Australian branch of General Motors, Holden, has revealed details on the 2010 Commodore, a model identical to the 2009MY one, expect for under the hood where the Australian maker placed new engines, and also for the acronym SIDI on its flanks (Spark Ignition Direct Injection). Sales will begin in September.
Holden will mostly focus on fuel economy, and will do that thanks to two new engines offering the state of the art technology, Spark Ignition Direct Injection, a first for a locally-built vehicle. An all-new 3.0-litre engine – the smallest Commodore powertrain offered to buyers in more than 20 years – and the familiar 3.6-litre displacement will be offered, depending on model.
An all-new 3.0-litre SIDI engine – codenamed LF1 - will power the Omega and Berlina Commodore sedan and Sportwagon. The 3.6-litre SIDI engine – codenamed LLT – will be available for the premium Commodore range including SV6, Calais and Calais V-Series models, as well as the SV6 Ute and the long wheelbase Statesman and Caprice range.
Press release after the jump.
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HSV revealed today a limited edition run of E-Series Senators. It will be limited to only 89 units, 30 manual and 59 auto, and prices will start from $69,990.
The Senator comes with leather onyx seats as standard and is available in Heron, Sting, Phantom, Nitrate, Karma, Voodoo and Evoke. It is powered by HSV’s LS3 317kW V8 engine, with HSV performance suspension. Nineteen inch billet silver Senator wheels host silver brake callipers incorporating the black HSV logo, while the Senator logo features on the front and rear headrests.
Press release after the jump.
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After seeing the American version, and also the European version of the Volt electric car, today is time for the Australian one. Production version is expected on the Australian market in 2012.
Like the Chevy Volt, its Australian brother has the ability to travel up to 64 kilometres on electricity before using petrol or producing exhaust pipe emissions.
For trips of up to 64 kilometres, Volt is powered solely by the electricity stored in its battery without using petrol or producing exhaust pipe emissions.
When the battery’s energy is depleted, a small petrol-powered engine generates electric power for the vehicle to travel hundreds of additional kilometres .
Advanced technology enables the vehicle’s battery to be charged in less than three hours on a standard 240v power outlet. Charge times are reduced if the battery has not been fully depleted.
Press release after the jump.
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Last year, talking about RWD models, Lutz said: "We’ve pushed the pause button. It’s no longer full speed ahead." This year, at the Detroit Auto Show he confirmed that GM’s Zeta platform is dead and that Pontiac G8 and Chevrolet Camaro are the last models built on this platform to be sold in USA.
With the new fuel-economy target legislation and the severe economic crisis large RWD cars make no sense. This means GM will focus on Sigma RWD and all-wheel-drive architecture used for models like CTS, STS and SRX.
"The strategy we had a few years ago of basically deriving a whole sweeping global portfolio off the Australian Zeta architecture ... frankly, we have had to abandon that dream. This is because, whether you are in the United States or in China, fuel economy mandates are getting more and more severe, and we just could not base our strategy on doing relatively large and relatively heavy rear-wheel-drive cars. And I suspect the same thing is going to start to bite the traditional rear-wheel drive producers," said Bob Lutz.
The Australian International Motor Show that is going on now through next week is sometimes overlooked because its smaller and only a week after the Paris show. But real car fans won’t miss it because they know the Aussies are all about power. Local creations such Ford’s FPV 5th Anniversary Falcon GT and HSV (Holden Special Vehicles) GTS are not to be missed.
At the show is a special edition of the GTS to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the first Australian Gran Turismo Sportivo (GTS). The majority of this package on this $80,170 (Australia) car is just little add-ons like stripes, 40th anniversary commemorative logos everywhere and special red or white paint. The reason it doesn’t get any performance upgrades is because the GTS need none. It already has the 6.2-liter LS3 V8 from the Corvette.
If you who feel like the the lucky Aussies get all the sleeper sedans, then you haven’t been paying enough attention. Pontiac will release the G8 GXP for 2009. It’s built Holden’s facility in Australia and stuffed with the same V8 making 415 hp.
HSV launced on the Australian market the ClubSport R8 Tourer, the company’s first wagon since the all wheel drive Avalanche was released in 2003. A manual ClubSport R8 Tourer is priced from $65,990, which is just $1000 more than the equivalent ClubSport R8 sedan. Automatic transmission is an additional $2330.
The Tourer is powered by the high performance LS3 engine producing 425 hp of power and 550Nm of torque, making this one of the most powerful wagons produced anywhere in the world.
HSV will build around 120 ClubSport R8 Tourers for the Australian market in 2008.
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Holden revealed today the Colorado, a new powerful light truck that promises to deliver high levels of performance and load carrying capability.
The Holden Colorado will bring an extensive LCV range to the market, offering consumers a wide choice of body styles, powertrains and specifications to suit all work and recreational applications, catering for both fleet and private customers.
A new sports variant, the LT-R, will combine a number of sports features to create the toughest Colorado yet. Available in 4x2 or 4x4 variants, featuring sports bars, soft tonneau cover, side steps, front fog lamps, 16 inch alloy wheels and sports interior trim. The LT-R 4x4 also adds Bluetooth capability for compatible phones and Rear Park Assist.
Colorado is powered by a range of three engines are available, including a 3.0 litre four-cylinder common rail turbo diesel, which delivers peak torque of 360Nm at 1800rpm and peak power of 120kW at 3600rpm (manual transmission). Also available is a 3.6 litre Alloytec V6 petrol engine and a spirited 2.4 litre four-cylinder petrol engine.
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GM Holden will unveil its new value-packed VE Ute 60th Anniversary Special Editionat the National 4x4 Show in Brisbane this week.
Adding to an already impressive list of standard features including ESP® and 18-inch alloy wheels, the VE Ute 60th Anniversary Special Edition boasts over $2,000# of extra value, including leather faced seats and alloy foot pedals.
Based on the popular SV6 model in Holden’s award winning VE Ute range, the VE Ute 60th Anniversary Special Edition includes the following additional features:
- Onyx leather seat trim
- Bluetooth® connectivity for compatible mobile phones
- Sports profile steering wheel
- 6 disc in dash MP3 compatible CD player
- Alloy foot pedals
- 60th Anniversary floor mats
- 60th Anniversary badge on rear tailgate
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