Holden Will Have Access To More Models From Other GM Brands

[William Maley]

As Holden transitions from a local manufacturer to importer, this brings up the concern of what kind of vehicles will be available to brand. Previously, Holden had a limited choice of vehicles to choose from due to the requirement of being right-hand drive. But now, General Motors is promising a larger selection of vehicles for Holden to choose from. This could open the door for various models from the U.S. and other countries.

This change comes down to GM's vehicle architectures becoming more flexible and used globally, along with a new way of thinking as GM's design boss Mike Simcoe explained,

“Where we see there’s a need to have right-hand drive, yeah. We’ll have the ability to make a choice but the architecture will accommodate left- and right-hand drive”

“The reality is as we reduce the total number of architectures they are going to be more global. We don’t design a vehicle specifically for North America anymore, because you always get caught out if you do. The numbers of those is reducing,” Simcoe went on to say.

A key example is the GMC Acadia heading down to Australia as a Holden - due in 2018. 

That doesn't mean Holden will be able to pick any model they want freely. They still have to make a business case as to why they need a particular model.

"I think it is looking at what are the global applications because in certain vehicles, like Camaro, there would be markets outside Australia and New Zealand, and understanding looking through it a lens of; does this make business sense? Does this make customer sense? Is it the right thing to do from a competitive perspective? So it's really a mix of variables that we take into account," said Lowell Paddock, head of product planning for General Motors International.

Source: Drive.com.au, Wheels

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[G. David Felt]

Very cool, maybe Holden can then apply the performance part to get us a new SS / performance AWD CUV for Chevy and GMC.

[oldshurst442]

For the love of...NO!  NO PERFORMANCE CUVs...Not for Chevy. Not for GMC. Not even for Cadillac.

OK...yes for Cadillac.

Unless we are talking about off roading performance. I could see a lifted version of the Trax filling the shoes of a Tracker. If its platform could handle that transformation that is.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[NINETY EIGHT REGENCY]

This is interesting to see. I knew this was going to happen.  GM is becoming a global company fast and quick. They are really integrating the brands globally. I want to see how this plays out.  If Pontiac and Oldsmobile had lived, they could have more fun with Holden and other brands globally.  Just thinking out loud.  I wonder if they will replace Holden Caprice with something.  I can see looking at GM globally the brands are:  Chevrolet, Opel, and Cadillac.   GMC, Vauxhall, Holden and Buick feed off the other brands.  The only models unique to Buick are  La Crosse and Enclave.  Buick and GMC are given unique trim and some styling cues.  GM is leveraging its brands globally to suit the market globally. 

[cp-the-nerd]

That GMC is the laziest rebadge job since GM built their last minivan for 4 different brands. All they had to do was give the holden version its own grille, but they were like "No, solid chrome rectangle is fine."

[daves87rs]

31 minutes ago, cp-the-nerd said:

That GMC is the laziest rebadge job since GM built their last minivan for 4 different brands. All they had to do was give the holden version its own grille, but they were like "No, solid chrome rectangle is fine."

True, but why change the car when it looks good? Sometimes it's not worth changing something just for the sake of it.....

[hyperv6]

If it ain't broke don't fix it.

[G. David Felt]

13 hours ago, oldshurst442 said:

For the love of...NO!  NO PERFORMANCE CUVs...Not for Chevy. Not for GMC. Not even for Cadillac.

OK...yes for Cadillac.

Unless we are talking about off roading performance. I could see a lifted version of the Trax filling the shoes of a Tracker. If its platform could handle that transformation that is.

 What is wrong with a corvette based SUV? Trailblazer AWD SS that I own is a blast to drive. The GMC Typhoon was a blast. We need a V series Escalade. That would get me to trade in my current one. For those of us not fitting into performance cars, we need performance SUVs.

[regfootball]

12 hours ago, NINETY EIGHT REGENCY said:

This is interesting to see. I knew this was going to happen.  GM is becoming a global company fast and quick. They are really integrating the brands globally. I want to see how this plays out.  If Pontiac and Oldsmobile had lived, they could have more fun with Holden and other brands globally.  Just thinking out loud.  I wonder if they will replace Holden Caprice with something.  I can see looking at GM globally the brands are:  Chevrolet, Opel, and Cadillac.   GMC, Vauxhall, Holden and Buick feed off the other brands.  The only models unique to Buick are  La Crosse and Enclave.  Buick and GMC are given unique trim and some styling cues.  GM is leveraging its brands globally to suit the market globally. 

My 16 Malibu drives and feels unlike any of the old GM products.  GM is truly designing for global platforms and feel.  And it's great.

AU has not much more than only a 1 million vehicle sales a year.  Their products they were building were not in line with what was going on globally.  I think if their buyer base gets more in line with global offerings, and maybe they improve their ability to be a manufacturer again, then maybe Holden won't have to rebadge.  The global GM offerings are far better than any homecooked AU stuff.  (That comment would exclude the SS / commodore high performance models, which are niche products anyways)

[oldshurst442]

34 minutes ago, dfelt said:

 What is wrong with a corvette based SUV? Trailblazer AWD SS that I own is a blast to drive. The GMC Typhoon was a blast. We need a V series Escalade. That would get me to trade in my current one. For those of us not fitting into performance cars, we need performance SUVs.

What is wrong with a Corvette based SUV? Trailblazer AWD SS?

Its because it dont exist anymore!!!

But then again, a Trailblazer was not CUV...

A Trailblazer was a midsized real Sports Utility Vehicle capable of real Sports Utility Vehicle kinds of stuff.

 

A small Tracker, was also a real Sport Utility Vehicle capable of real Sport Utility Vehicle kinds of stuff.

Making these types of vehicles ripe for any performance oriented pleasures.

.

Or this guy for that matter...

 

Or this guy...

 

But this guy, just seems sooooo fake to me...CUV/SAV...not good!!!

 

Cadillac needs to attract the faker, wannabes. Minus a few dudes that actually know what the V Series stuff is all about, just like the M stuff from BMW enthusiasts. But now, fake latte swilling wannabes just buy badges. Cadillac needs that type of buyer...

Chevrolet's performance cars and trucks on the other hand, are for the REAL car and truck enthusiasts.

Over simplified and generalized theory I know.

Im not writing a thesis paper for Harvard...sarcasm for laughs is what this is...including and especially the last bolded sentence I wrote in this post...

 

 

Edited January 21, 2017 by oldshurst442

[G. David Felt]

13 minutes ago, oldshurst442 said:

What is wrong with a Corvette based SUV? Trailblazer AWD SS?

Its because it dont exist anymore!!!

But then again, a Trailblazer was not CUV...

A Trailblazer was a midsized real Sports Utility Vehicle capable of real Sports Utility Vehicle kinds of stuff.

 

A small Tracker, was also a real Sport Utility Vehicle capable of real Sport Utility Vehicle kinds of stuff.

Making these types of vehicles ripe for any performance oriented pleasures.

.

Or this guy for that matter...

 

Or this guy...

 

But this guy, just seems sooooo fake to me...CUV/SAV...not good!!!

 

Cadillac needs to attract the faker, wannabes. Minus a few dudes that actually know what the V Series stuff is all about, just like the M stuff from BMW enthusiasts. But now, fake latte swilling wannabes just buy badges. Cadillac needs that type of buyer...

Chevrolet's performance cars and trucks on the other hand, are for the REAL car and truck enthusiasts.

Over simplified and generalized theory I know.

Im not writing a thesis paper for Harvard...sarcasm for laughs is what this is...including and especially the last bolded sentence I wrote in this post...

 Thanks that was a good response and yes we need real performance based AWD / 4x4 trucks and SUV's. Caddy needs the wannabe's on V for the added profits it helps the company with, but no reason to not also let the CUV have some fun.

I agree that I hate the BMW Coupe X series, ugly, useless in regards to the examples you supplied.

But then I would never take my SS off road and I doubt anyone would take their GC SRT off road also. Kinda like the Porsche SUV.

[hyperv6]

5 hours ago, regfootball said:

My 16 Malibu drives and feels unlike any of the old GM products.  GM is truly designing for global platforms and feel.  And it's great.

AU has not much more than only a 1 million vehicle sales a year.  Their products they were building were not in line with what was going on globally.  I think if their buyer base gets more in line with global offerings, and maybe they improve their ability to be a manufacturer again, then maybe Holden won't have to rebadge.  The global GM offerings are far better than any homecooked AU stuff.  (That comment would exclude the SS / commodore high performance models, which are niche products anyways)

Yes AU has always been behind the curve on hardware and styling. They because of a small market have often just gotten left over designs and out going things. 

Lets face it the Zeta was old but it was good it was around after GM killed RWD here and needed a quick fix. It worked till they got things sorted. 

The RWD market like the rest of the world is shrinking. In AU sales have continued to decline year after year. GM was the last real hold out of a non imported model. 

Moving forward they will get the new stuff like the rest of us. It should prove to be a better sales option to dis throne the Mazda 3 and other imports that were taking the sales. 

The enthusiast there may not think this but as for the future of Holden and the GM market there it is the only way they will survive. I just hope the next gen Camaro can be converted to a Holden model for them. 

5 hours ago, dfelt said:

 What is wrong with a corvette based SUV? Trailblazer AWD SS that I own is a blast to drive. The GMC Typhoon was a blast. We need a V series Escalade. That would get me to trade in my current one. For those of us not fitting into performance cars, we need performance SUVs.

Nothing wrong with a sport model CUV but only as long as it is profitable and you can sell more than 5K units per year. I love my HHR SS but lets face it they sold so few it was not really worth the effort. Also they would need to have a quality AWD system. 

The Jeep is cool but I bet they make little to no money with as few as they sell. 

As for Corvette leave them out of it. A Corvette is not a brand and it is a 2 seat sports car. If you want to do it and do it right make it a GMC and get the higher price. Make the Denali name really mean something there other than some chrome and stitching. 

I know Porsche has some but they are not call 911 as it too is a model and where else would Porsche sell them. Chevy is the established brand as is GMC so let them so the work. It would enhance their entire line. 

Note too if you do the CUV sport packager do it all right. All we need is some guy thinking he has a sports car and all he has is a over powered top heavy CUV that will roll and he will sue your ass for it. 

Edited January 21, 2017 by hyperv6

[G. David Felt]

WOW, Had no Idea how small the AU market was till I read some of the stories on the links and got pointers to the 2016 final numbers for Holden. They placed 4th dropping out of the top 3 positions with only 94K auto sold. They lost 3rd place by just a few more Camry that were sold, first time ever Toyota beat Holden in AU. 

Holden responded that this was due to the shift from cars to CUV/SUVs and that their Dec numbers placed them above Toyota solid in the #3 spot and that their shift from a car dominance to a CUV/SUV will allow them to take back their market share and best brand sold in AU.

Gonna be interesting is all I can say!

The Final product line of V8 RWD inspired Local built Holdens are hot!

https://www.wheelsmag.com.au/news/1701/sprung-hsvs-final-model-line-up-caught-in-the-wild

Love the Ute, too bad it never made it here.

[Suaviloquent]

It's great that the Holdens are finally getting some love.

 

Also, I think for a change, it's interesting that their cuv/suv offerings look like they came from completely different manufacturers.

 

None of that "every vehicle is just a variation of the same sausage."

 

Well, niche market, so the cost cutting way actually gives them variety. YES!

[cp-the-nerd]

On 1/21/2017 at 0:06 AM, daves87rs said:

True, but why change the car when it looks good? Sometimes it's not worth changing something just for the sake of it.....

I'm talking about the way they didn't even make a new grille for the Holden emblem. They punched out GMC and just filled it with chrome.

[G. David Felt]

40 minutes ago, cp-the-nerd said:

I'm talking about the way they didn't even make a new grille for the Holden emblem. They punched out GMC and just filled it with chrome.

I totally agree with you, how hard would it have been to use the mold, change the center section to remove the rectangle and have a properly centered Holden logo. This just screams old GM cheap to me. I would question the wisdom of this when they could have so easily redone the grill that fits in there with a proper Holden badge.

[Robert Hall]

On 1/26/2017 at 10:24 AM, cp-the-nerd said:

I'm talking about the way they didn't even make a new grille for the Holden emblem. They punched out GMC and just filled it with chrome.

Probably just a Photoshop someone spent 5 min on, adding the tiny license plate and badge.  Note that it's LHD>..