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2009 Holden Cruze: Econobox Heads Down Under
Detroit, 12:36 AM
Tue Dec 8
30 posts in the last 24 hours
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2009 Holden Cruze: Econobox Heads Down Under |
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02/27/09
03/01/09
02/27/09
Fuck you, GM.
02/27/09
02/27/09
The Astra is one of the last Opel-supplied models to Holden--the only other vehicle is the Combo, a Corsa(?)-based delivery vehicle.
The Holden Cruze is significant because it's basically showing that Opel/Vauxhall won't be a part of the GM family of brands much longer.
02/27/09
I'm not so sure about that.
The entire Saturn lineup consists of re-badged Opels, and with the demise of Saturn, most of its lineup will be moved over to Buick.
02/27/09
The only rebadged Opel in Saturn's line-up is the Astra, which will hardly be missed. The Vue comes out of Daewoo, and the others are GM-US. Also, while the Buick Regal being sold in China that was supposed to be the Saturn Aura is based on the Vauxhall/Opel design, GM had always planned to produce that sedan in multiple locations, including China and the US.
02/27/09
The Aura is a re-badged Opel Insignia, the Vue is a re-badged Opel Antara, and the Saturn Sky/Pontiac Solstice share their platform with the Opel GT. Combine that with the fact that GM is planning on giving them a variant of the Volt named the Opel Ampera, I would say that odds are pretty good that Opel, and by extension Vauxhall, will remain in the GM fold.
02/27/09
The next-generation Aura was supposed to be an Insignia, but it's not here yet (besides, that's what I said). The current Aura runs on the US-Epsilon I platform, which according to Bob Lutz, is a completely different platform the European-Epsilon I. The Antara is the one you'll want to check--all the development work was done by Daewoo--not by Opel. And the Kappa cars are dead after this generation, with no replacements planned.
As for the Volt...I'll believe it when I see it.
02/27/09
It's possible that I missed that part about the Europe having a completely different global Epsilon platform than the US, but the Aura is a direct re-badge of the Insignia.
Much of the development work for the Antara/Vue (Theta platform) may have been done by GM's Daewoo divsion, but the point is that it remains a global platform, just like Epsilon, and if it is true that Saturn's lineup will be moved to GM, that would mean that there will be a Buick based on the Theta platform (along with the Equinox, Winstrom, Antara, Torrent, SRX, 9-4X, and potentially others). So from that standpoint, what sense does it make for GM to get rid of Opel or Vauxhall and almost completely give up it's hold in the European market, especially when it is so cost effective for them to share the cars almost directly with another brand, such as Buick?
The Kappa platform will be replaced by the slightly larger Alpha platform.
And here's the Jalopnik link for Opel's variant of the Volt, the Opel Ampera:
[jalopnik.com]
02/27/09
Also, all the development work for the GM Delta II platform, which will underpin the Volt, Ampera, Cruze, Orlando, Astra, and Zafira was done by Opel.
02/27/09
"the Aura is a direct re-badge of the Insignia."
No, it isn't. It is a direct rebadge of nothing. The Aura may be based on the old VECTRA estate's platform, but it shares no external body feature apart from some vaguely similar headlights. As has been mentioned, there was talk of the next generation Aura being a re-badged Aura, but that isn't going to happen now.
02/27/09
The Aura shares more with the G6 and NOTHING with the Vectra. The Malibu is actually a carbon copy of the Aura with a new body.
The Vue was a Vue before it was a Antara, that was imported to Germany
The Sky came first.
The only Opel Saturn has IS THE ASTRA. THATS IT.
02/27/09
I should hope so! *grin*
02/27/09
Who give a shit which came first?
Swallow_Doretti's original point was that Opel would be sold by GM as a result of it not being a viable brand, which is unlikely for several reasons: ALL of Opel's cars are based off of global platforms that have counterparts in multiple markets, which means that product development as a result of sharing global platforms is comparatively inexpensive, and Opel has traditionally been a reasonably strong player in the European market. As a result, it would make no sense for GM to cede or sell Opel/Vauxhall when development costs are low, profit margins are relatively high in comparison to those development costs, and are well-established in their markets.
So who gives a flying a fuck which brand name got which platform two weeks before the other brand name? The point is that Saturn and Opel share nearly ALL of their platforms, which, I will state once again, allows a great deal of flexibility in keeping the different brands viable.
It usually helps if you read the ENTIRE conversation for CONTEXT.
Thanks for playing, though.
02/27/09
02/27/09
Call me crazy, I'd rather have a Vega.
02/27/09
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02/27/09
I really don't want to buy yet another VW, I don't. But I'm still struggling to find another manufacturer that has more than one vehicle I like.
Danke, Mein Herr, may I have another?!
02/27/09
02/27/09
02/27/09
How long does it take we drive all the same car?
02/27/09
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02/27/09
03/01/09
02/27/09
GM, after slashing its high performance vehicle division and advertising budget, is also going to destroy international relations by announcing the Holden Cruze. The Holden version of the Cruze is exactly the same as the Chevy version. By exactly the same, I mean exactly the same.
Cruze is the first of GM's global platforms and proves how disconnected GM is from reality. Rather than import superior product from overseas into the US, they export subpar product from the US overseas.
Power comes from a 1.8L ECOTEC 4 cylinder or a 2.0L turbo diesel. No performance or fuel economy figures have been released, because GM doesn't realize that in this segment that is all that really matters. Based on the Chevy Cruze press release, the 1.8L gas engine should get 140 hp and the 2.0L diesel engine should get 150 hp. Still, no fuel economy information has been released even though they expect to launch in a few months.
GM Holden's Chairman toed the company line, but is thinking that it might be time for a career change.
Highlights of the Holden Cruze include Holden badges and right-hand-drive.
For further information about the Holden Cruze, please refer to the Chevrolet Cruze press release here:
[jalopnik.com]
02/27/09
I rarely read much of your restatements, but you are flat out wrong on this one.
This car was developed globally, and as for all the "superior" products available overseas, please point them out.
Compare the Cruze to the rest of the econoboxes it competes with (Tercel?) and it is a very competitive car, and a huge step up form our Cobalt.
02/27/09
I was playing on the perception that many of us, myself included, have that Aussie and European cars are superior to what we have here.
The Cruze, having been developed as a worldwide platform, should do well, and is a step up from what GM offers now. With GM's quality ratings now above Toyota's (along with Ford) this car should be superior to many -- if not all -- of its competitors.
My biggest gripe is the lack of performance and fuel economy information on a car this is supposed to launch in a few months.
02/27/09
Got it. Hard to pick which part of the translator is translating to sarcasm, and which is translating to other.
02/27/09
02/27/09
02/27/09
The "internet CEO's" are all over the place, and despite not knowing a damn thing about the actual business of making cars, are sure quick to know that doubling your development costs, tooling costs, etc is the only way to sell 40K units in Australia.
They sure better get something nicer than the globally developed (and very nice) Cruze.
The damn car was DESIGNED with the intent to be sold in all markets, under different brands depending on the local.
03/01/09
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