CSP
Banned
From: Holden hints again at Torana future - drive.com.au
Holden hints again at Torana future
Ian Porter, The Age, June 10, 2008
Four years after revealing the Torana concept car, Holden is again suggesting it is looking at building a smaller car alongside the Commodore.
Holden has given the strongest indication yet that it will start producing a smaller car locally.
Long touted as a new Torana, the car is expected to be a size down from the Commodore and could use a smaller version of the V6 engine made at Fishermans Bend.
Holden also plans to step up the pressure in the fuel economy war, where the Commodore has been lagging the Toyota Aurion and the new Ford Falcon.
Holden boss Mark Reuss said on Friday a range of engine technologies was working its way through the development system towards the Commodore production line.
While stressing that the Commodore was still Australia's best-selling car, Mr Reuss suggested Holden was assessing a second model.
"We have a lot of opportunities to do other different product offerings if we choose to do that in Australia," he said.
"We have to be competitive here to do it. We are. Those discussions are very much part of our product planning."
As long ago as 2004, the company showed a concept car, billed as the new Torana, at the Melbourne Motor Show. Based on a cut-down Commodore platform, it was a medium-sized hatchback that promised to be smaller and lighter than a Commodore.
Mr Reuss also said some of the more advanced engine technology Holden was already making for overseas customers at its V6 engine plant was also making its way towards the Commodore.
Holden already makes V6 engines with direct injection and a smaller, turbocharged version of the V6, but these versions are for export only at the moment, to companies including Saab and Alfa Romeo.
Mr Reuss said that in "three to four years" Commodore buyers could expect cars powered by LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) and cars that would run on ethanol.
A senior executive from Holden's parent company General Motors recently revealed that a petrol-electric Commodore hybrid was set for 2010.
He said these would be the first steps in a longer program based on a $40 million expansion and technology investment made at Fishermans Bend in the last year or so.
Asked why there are no direct injection or turbocharged Commodores now, director of manufacturing Rod Keane said it would take some time.
"We have looked at the rollout of technology appropriate to the marketplace and all of those things fit on a time line," he said.
"Obviously, we will continue to flow them through our markets, domestic and exports, as we go forward."
Mr Reuss said Holden was not convinced about diesel technology. "I'm not sure diesel is flavour of the month - if you look at diesel prices, they are at the very least unstable and variable," he said, referring to diesel prices that have been consistently higher than petrol prices.
"Diesel has a place in every market ... but diesel is not a silver bullet for fuel economy and cost," he said, citing studies.
"You find that LPG and other technologies are equal to, or better, at the current prices of these alternative fuels," he said.
"And if you want to look to the future with ethanol and the unleveraging of foreign oil in this country, those technologies become much more compelling in this market than diesel does."
Holden hints again at Torana future
Ian Porter, The Age, June 10, 2008
Four years after revealing the Torana concept car, Holden is again suggesting it is looking at building a smaller car alongside the Commodore.
Holden has given the strongest indication yet that it will start producing a smaller car locally.
Long touted as a new Torana, the car is expected to be a size down from the Commodore and could use a smaller version of the V6 engine made at Fishermans Bend.
Holden also plans to step up the pressure in the fuel economy war, where the Commodore has been lagging the Toyota Aurion and the new Ford Falcon.
Holden boss Mark Reuss said on Friday a range of engine technologies was working its way through the development system towards the Commodore production line.
While stressing that the Commodore was still Australia's best-selling car, Mr Reuss suggested Holden was assessing a second model.
"We have a lot of opportunities to do other different product offerings if we choose to do that in Australia," he said.
"We have to be competitive here to do it. We are. Those discussions are very much part of our product planning."
As long ago as 2004, the company showed a concept car, billed as the new Torana, at the Melbourne Motor Show. Based on a cut-down Commodore platform, it was a medium-sized hatchback that promised to be smaller and lighter than a Commodore.
Mr Reuss also said some of the more advanced engine technology Holden was already making for overseas customers at its V6 engine plant was also making its way towards the Commodore.
Holden already makes V6 engines with direct injection and a smaller, turbocharged version of the V6, but these versions are for export only at the moment, to companies including Saab and Alfa Romeo.
Mr Reuss said that in "three to four years" Commodore buyers could expect cars powered by LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) and cars that would run on ethanol.
A senior executive from Holden's parent company General Motors recently revealed that a petrol-electric Commodore hybrid was set for 2010.
He said these would be the first steps in a longer program based on a $40 million expansion and technology investment made at Fishermans Bend in the last year or so.
Asked why there are no direct injection or turbocharged Commodores now, director of manufacturing Rod Keane said it would take some time.
"We have looked at the rollout of technology appropriate to the marketplace and all of those things fit on a time line," he said.
"Obviously, we will continue to flow them through our markets, domestic and exports, as we go forward."
Mr Reuss said Holden was not convinced about diesel technology. "I'm not sure diesel is flavour of the month - if you look at diesel prices, they are at the very least unstable and variable," he said, referring to diesel prices that have been consistently higher than petrol prices.
"Diesel has a place in every market ... but diesel is not a silver bullet for fuel economy and cost," he said, citing studies.
"You find that LPG and other technologies are equal to, or better, at the current prices of these alternative fuels," he said.
"And if you want to look to the future with ethanol and the unleveraging of foreign oil in this country, those technologies become much more compelling in this market than diesel does."
