[Oceania] Holden Cruze (Foto Ufficiali)

[simonepietro]

Autoblog.com

piattaforma Delta II , quella della cruze e future vauxhall/opel astra, tre volumi tradizionale e tre volumi a 5 porte ,motori a 4 cilindri a benzina con iniezione diretta e 4 cilindri diesel, i benzina saranno disponibili pure a E85-gpl-metano.

Inizio produzione alla fine del 2010 nella fabbrica di elizabeth, australia del sud e contemporaneamente a questo annuncio, il presidente della Holden afferma che la casa australiana ha ricevuto l'incarico di sviluppare nuove tecnologie per la riduzione dei consumi di carburante

(Australia will contribute A$149 million (US$102 million) over three years starting in 2009-10 to this project. This co-investment deal is the first grant of funds since the launch of the Government’s $6.2 billion New Car Plan for a Green Future, which is designed to transform the Australian automotive industry to produce fuel-efficient, low-emission vehicles and create high-skill, high-wage jobs.)

Modificato 13 Agosto 2009 da Touareg 2.5

[Touareg 2.5]

Mah.. sarà l'astra sedan.

[JOKEJOE]

Probabile che sia la Astra Sedan rimarchiata Holden.

[Touareg 2.5]

Era giusto sotto, unisco.

[simonepietro]

Holden has confirmed it will build a fuel-efficient small four-cylinder car in Australia from 2010 in response to changing buyer tastes.

Taking advantage of the Government’s $6 billion car plan, the new four-cylinder small car will be built at Holden’s Elizabeth plant in Adelaide alongside the Commodore.

It will be powered by a new four-cylinder engine and optional diesel engine and use 20 per cent less fuel than Holden's current V6-powered Commodore. The new small car could also eventually have a hybrid engine.

The new small car is expected to create more than 1000 jobs when production starts in the third quarter of 2010.

To be based on the Chevrolet Cruze that will be built in at least four other General Motors plants around the world, the new vehicle was announced to Holden staff and their families at a press conference attended by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and Industry Minister Kim Carr in Adelaide this morning.

The Holden announcement means that each of Australia's three car makers - Toyota, Holden and Ford - will be building a four-cylinder car by 2011. Each will also have either a diesel or hybrid engine.

Following on from the Torana, Gemini and Vectra the new Holden four-cylinder is planned to cement the future of local manufacturing by bolstering sales following a trend away from large cars such as the Holden Commodore and rival Ford Falcon.

Holden chairman and managing director Mark Reuss says the new small car will be powered by either an efficient direct injection petrol engine or a diesel engine.

"This is a pivotal moment and redefines our future in Australia," says Reuss. "It recognises the needs and demands of motorists are changing.

"We have been building Holden cars to suit the needs of Australian motorists for 60 years. These plans build on that tradition. We recognise the needs and desires of motorists are evolving with growing concern around environmental factors and shifting consumer sentiment.

"Such evolution calls for an innovative approach to complement our current offering."

Reuss says Australians are becoming increasingly aware of environmental concerns, not just the price of fuel.

"People are growing more aware of environmental issues. It’s about reducing our dependence on foreign oil and making motoring better for the envionrment."

"Just as our leading Commodore range will continue to undergo technological development, this new vehicle will cater for growing demand for smaller cars focussed on economy.

Reuss also says the vehicles Holden manufactures locally will continue to evolve.

"We are planning for the future to produce a wider range of cars in Australia to cater for a variety of driving needs."

Reuss says the new small car and associated Government funding paves the way for various fuel saving technologies, including a stop-start system that shuts the engine down when stationary.

He says Holden will also look at introducing a vehicle that runs on 85 per cent ethanol (E85), compressed natural gas (CNG) and LPG.

"It’s a great runway for future hybrid technology," says Reuss.

The new small car could also be exported to parts of Asia and other right-hand drive markets.

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd says the Holden small car will make motoring more affordable.

"This new Holden small car is about jobs, the environment and the family budget.

He also says there are substantial environmental benefits as the Government embarks on its carbon reduction plan.

"It will drive your dollar further, it will take carbon out of the atmosphere and drive jobs into the future."

Mr Rudd paid tribute to Holden managing director Mark Reuss, who has been in the job for less than one year but has already brought fundamental change to the way the company works.

"Mark Reuss brought a breath of fresh air to the way in which this company carved out its future in this country. We are 100 per cent committed to having a local car industry."

The total investment for the program is expected to be almost $400 million, an estimated half of which will be provided by Holden.

The Federal Government is providing $149 million of funds backed up by $30 million from the South Australian Government.

The new Holden small car is expected to begin as a sedan and hatchback but could spawn other variants moving forward.

"Further phases of this new small car will create even more jobs [in the future]," says Mr Rudd.

The Holden announcement continues the re-shaping of the Australian car industry along more environmentally-sustainable lines.

Ford Australia will begin building the Focus small car – including a fuel-efficient diesel version - in Australia from 2011, while Toyota will introduce a hybrid version of the Camry in 2010.

Holden has also considered a four-cylinder version of the Commodore. The last time Holden had a four-cylinder engine in the Commodore was in the early 1980s and the move turned out to be a sales disaster for the company.

But despite the recent fall in petrol prices, the move is not likely to have the same effect this time, as buyers have been flocking to smaller, more fuel-efficient cars for several years already.

Holden’s V6 Commodore remains the most popular car in the Australian market, but its sales are propped up by sales to big business and Government, which have been slower than private customers to switch to smaller cars.

In recent years Toyota’s Corolla has narrowed the gap on the Commodore and the Japanese small car outsold it early this year until Holden’s new Commodore wagon helped the nameplate re-assert itself.

The Commodore’s traditional rival, the Ford Falcon, has suffered from the changing buyer preferences even more, slipping to fifth place in the annual sales race after decades of being either the number one or number two car in the country.

At the moment, Toyota is the only local manufacturer to make a four-cylinder car. But its Camry, which shares underpinnings with the Toyota’s Commodore rival, the Aurion V6, has struggled this year, with sales down by 10 per cent.

Despite those concerns, today’s news is a welcome boost for the local industry, which has struggled against small imported cars in the past couple of years.

The introduction of a free-trade agreement with Thailand in 2005 has meant a flood of Japanese-designed, Thai-built cars that have made huge dents in the sales of locally-built cars. This year, Thai-built cars have almost outsold locally-built cars for the first time in history.

The announcement is also a shot in the arm for Holden’s local operation, which has no doubt come under scrutiny from its troubled US parent General Motors as it tries to bounce back from the brink of bankruptcy.

GM has indicated it may shed non-core brands and vehicle lines as part of a US Government-funded restructure aimed at re-shaping the company to better compete with its Japanese rivals.

Both General Motors and Ford have hinted that they may suspend development of rear-wheel-drive large vehicles, which could potentially cripple their Australian operations.

Holden leads General Motors’ rear-wheel-drive development program and exports re-badged Commodores to the United States under the Pontiac brand, while Ford Australia was positioning itself for a similar role in the Ford global empire.

Modificato 22 Dicembre 2008 da simonepietro

[simonepietro]

nessuna notizia del 1.4 turbo ECOTEC 0 ma verrà venduta con il 1.800 da 140 cv ecotec 1 e un 2.000 turbo diesel . Quest'ultimo sarà la versione GM dei mjet oppure il VM ?

inutile mostrare l'esterno perchè si tratta della solita operazione di clonazione del prodotto. Gli interni però danno l'impressione di essere più curati e molto biù eleganti senza la fascia di tessuto perimetrale.

Modificato 28 Febbraio 2009 da simonepietro

[simonepietro]

pare che da questa verrà derivata una ulteriore versione hatchback . Una trovata elegante del marketing per mascherare l'arrivo della versione australiana della nuova opel astra, posizionata magari più in alto ? Ricordiamoci che il pianale è sempre il medesimo ,il Delta II

Secondo uno dei boss holden , signor reuss ,disporrà subilto dell' ECOTEC 0 da 1.400 cc turbo, a differenza della sedan , con taratura sospensioni e sterzo di piglio sportivo.

Modificato 4 Giugno 2009 da simonepietro

[simonepietro]

la fabbrica di Elizabeth ha iniziato l'allestimento delle linee per l'holden cruze . Penso che si possa sostituire l'attuale titolo di questa discussione con l'originale che aveva al'inizio:

Holden Cruze

Holden is making changes at its Elizabeth plant in preparation for Cruze production.

Mr Reuss visited the plant to examine the work three weeks ago and says he was immensely satisfied with what he saw.

“It was probably one of the best days that I have had in a while,” he said. “It was really exciting and it is really neat to see the birth of a car in Elizabeth.”