Holden Celebrates 60 Years as “Australia’s Own”

OUT There 58 - All Torque

Roderick Eime reviews the Lion’s progress.

Before General Motors Holden re-occupied their factory at Fishermen’s Bend after the Second World War, the product was flying out the door at 500mph.

During the desperate days of WWII, Fishermen’s Bend was turning out Beauforts and Beaufighers and developing the superior interceptor, the CA-15 Kangaroo. But with the end of war in sight, it was decided that Australia should develop its own car and the 48-215 (FX) was born inside the war machine.

The stylish, American-designed 6-seater was an instant best seller and now, 60 years later, Holden’s mainstay is still the country’s top selling sedan. Commodore first hit the streets in 1978 (VB), borrowing designs, not from the USA, but from European sibling, Opel. The venerable 202ci (3.3 litre), six cylinder engine still owed much of its technology to the original 132ci (2.15 litre) six in the 1948 FX.

The clunky 202 finally gave way to a silky smooth Nissan-sourced 3-litre SOHC six for the 1986 VL model. In 1988, the all-new top-to-bottom VN Commodore was released powered by the Buick 3.8 litre V6. The old-tech pushrod design drew murmurs from the critics, but the new Commodore was just the weapon Holden needed to counter its main rival, the Ford Falcon. By 1996, the Commodore was back on top and that’s where it has stayed.

Sales figures for 2008 released by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries show Australians purchased a total of 51,093 vehicles from the VE Commodore range.

Apart from the Kingswood-Commodore mainstay Holden, through GM international family brands Isuzu, Opel, Vauxhaul and Chevrolet, have introduced a wide variety of vehicles into the Australian market. From tiny Barinas to the gargantuan Suburban and Hummers, the range has had a model to suit all tastes and budgets.

Rural buyers have always been loyal to the Red Lion, buying utes, sedans and workhorses like the Rodeo. From 1980, the Isuzu-built Rodeo has been a popular 2WD and 4WD cab and trayback model for farm and trade work. In 2008, Holden introduced the Colorado model, based on the new generation Isuzu D-Max. In something of a marketing and branding shuffle, Isuzu D-Max utes will now also be sold and serviced separately through a new, independent dealership network.

In the dedicated 4WD and SUV market, Holden pinned its fortunes on the dainty Jackaroo for twenty years. Another rebadged Isuzu product known elsewhere in the world as Trooper and Monterey, it was discontinued in 2003. The AWD Adventra (Commodore) filled the gap uneasily until the introduction of Captiva in 2006.

Built by GM subsidiary Daewoo, the Captiva was inspired by the Chevrolet S3X concept unveiled at motor shows around the world in 2004. The style thematic is common across modern urban SUVs such as Honda’s CRV, Audi X3 and Volvo XC60 giving it a contemporary and sophisticated look. Today’s Captiva is certainly a long way removed from the early bouncy, boxy Jackaroos.

The man on the land, this land in particular, invariably has long distances to travel. Cruisey sedan-based, long wheelbase limousines like the Statesman have been a part of the Holden line-up since the legendary HQ was introduced in 1971. To counter the market domination by Ford’s Fairlane, Statesman added three inches to the wheelbase with most of the space dedicated to rear passenger legroom.

Statesman (and the up-rated Caprice) has always occupied the position of flagship in the Holden passenger range. The latest incarnation (WM) appeared in 2006. Powered by the current 3.6 litre V6 and 6.0 litre V8, the model is exported and rebadged under Buick, Daewoo and Chevrolet to such markets as Korea, China and the Middle East. As of Januray 2009, the V8 range will feature new Active Fuel Management (AFM) technology. Known elsewhere as “cylinder deactivation”, the system will cut fuel to four cylinders under light load to improve fuel efficiency.

Holden’s crystal ball shows a new small car production line planned for Adelaide in 2010 that will give the Australian automotive industry a new focus and pave the way for alternate fuel technologies like LPG, ethanol blends and Compressed Natural Gas (CNG).

To recall Henry Ford’s famous quote; “You can have any colour you like as long as it’s black.” It seems GM green is the new black.

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Tech Spot: Dropped Pots Not New

OUT There 57 - All Torque

With Honda beating the cylinder deactivation technology drum in their new TV ads for fuel-sipping Accord, you’d think this was the latest thing.

Also known as “Variable Displacement”, the concept has been around in one form or another almost as long as we’ve had cars and engines.

The idea is simple; it involves shutting down banks of cylinders according to engine load to reduce fuel consumption. It works best in V-engines with opposing pairs.

First seriously trialled during WWII, it wasn’t adopted commercially until Cadillac installed a V8-6-4 in their Seville model in 1981. In short it was a disaster and dealers resorted to deactivating the inadequate computer module to run the engines as full-time V8s. Mitsubishi had more success in the ‘90s, but also dropped the idea due to poor buyer response.

Chrysler, Mercedes-Benz and GM are all back in the “multi-displacement” arena now too.

With leaps in computer technology, Honda reintroduced Variable Cylinder Management (VCM) in their J-Series engines powering the award-winning, 8th generation V6 Accord and Odyssey.

Honda’s VCM in the 202kW 3.5-litre SOHC i-VTEC V6 deactivates specific cylinders by using the VTEC (Variable Valve-Timing and Lift Electronic Control) system to close the intake and exhaust valves while a control module cuts fuel to those cylinders. When operating on three cylinders, the rear cylinder bank is shut down. When running on four cylinders, the left and centre cylinders of the front bank operate, and the right and centre cylinders of the rear bank operate.

Mixed Messages for 2009 Vehicle Sales

While all brands acknowledge a trailing off of vehicle sales last year, there was definitely a silver-lining to Australia’s new vehicle sales figures.

Over one million new vehicles were sold in 2008, only the second time ever the seven-figure mark was reached. Toyota Australia delivered 238,983 vehicles, 2336 more than its previous record set in the boom sales year of 2007. Despite stiff competition from Toyota’s thrifty Corolla, Holden’s venerable Commodore was the best selling single vehicle for the 13th year straight.

“Sales in December held up well with buyers taking advantage of the many competitive opportunities available in the marketplace,” said Andrew McKellar, chief executive of the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries.

“We must be realistic about the outlook for the year ahead and acknowledge the impact that the global financial crisis is having on the broader economy,” he said.

“Nonetheless there are positives that will underpin demand in 2009, including lower fuel prices, reduced interest rates and the impact of additional fiscal measures implemented by the Federal Government,” Mr McKellar said.

Light commercial vehicles were a major contributor to the overall market result with the segment increasing 4.2 per cent during 2008.

The FCAI forecasts that 880,000 new vehicles will be sold during 2009.

Despite nervousness in many sectors, the cavalcade of 2009 new vehicle releases rolls on.

Audi will be particularly busy with their new A3 Sportback TFSI quattro in 1.4 and 2.0 litre. A new RS6 sedan, Q5 and S4 are due and a facelift for A6.

Ford are revealing a new Fiesta and facelifting Territory, Focus and Ranger.

Despite shelving their US export plans for the sauced-up ute, there will be an update for Commodore that will include cylinder-deactivation technology to improve fuel efficiency.

Any new model from the innovative Subaru stable is always eagerly anticipated and 2009 will see a new generation Liberty rumoured to be bigger, sexier and uprated.

Honda’s sub-$30k Insight hybrid should excite green car buyers when it arrives late in ’09, while the other eco-option, Toyota’s Prius appears in an upgraded Generation Three format with a solar roof as optional.

Under “unusual and surprising”, expect to see a 4-door Porsche sedan and diesel Cayenne, a mid-size Suzuki, a mini Alfa, a Chinese Chery and GM’s almost-forgotten Cadillac return to our shores.

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