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GM Holden manufacturer from Australian has announced plans to build a new small car based on the Delta platform which is also the basis of the Chevrolet Cruze and Opel Astra 2010. Unlike traditional Holden new car will be driving the front wheels and features new technologies to improve fuel economy.The new car will be available in both sedan and hatchback body style when it goes into production in the summer of 2010 at the Elizabeth manufacturing facility in South Holden Australia. The majority of car design and engineering will be conducted at Holden's Port Melbourne headquarters in Victoria, ensuring that the production model will have a unique appearance that was built specifically for the Australian market.
Powertrain options will include a variety of four-cylinder petrol engines with direct injection and at least one diesel. Engineers are currently looking into the possibility of offering the new car with start/stop technology and the ability to use alternative fuels such as E85, LPG and Compressed Natural Gas (CNG).
GM Holden will build an all-new small car in Australia alongside the country’s best-selling Commodorerange. The second carline will start in the third quarter of 2010 with support from the Federal and South Australian Governments.
The vehicle will be based on General Motors’ global Delta small car platform and feature new technologies to increase fuel efficiency and reduce greenhouse emissions. The new front-wheel-drive vehicle will be built as a sedan and hatch at GM Holden’s Elizabeth manufacturing facility in South Australia. Design and engineering work will take place at the company’s headquarters in Port Melbourne, Victoria.
Start-stop hybrid technology and capacity to run on alternative fuels such as E85, diesel, LPG and Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) are all being considered for the vehicle’s development.
It will be GM Holden’s first locally produced car beyond its current range of larger vehicles since the Asian economic crisis ended Vectra production in 1998.
The program will require 500 to 600 existing employees at Elizabeth and is estimated to provide 500 to 600 local supplier positions. GM Holden Chairman and Managing Director, Mark Reuss said the announcement provided opportunity to take a leading role in developing alternative fuel and fuel saving technologies in Australia for Australians.
Mr Reuss said the program would be a major contributor to the economy, generating an estimated $70 million to $80 million in wages and $30 million in research and development.
“Together with Government, we are extending the scope and consumer appeal of our local manufacturing efforts,” Mr Reuss said.
“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.
“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.
“We are planning for the future to produce a wider range of cars in Australia to cater for a variety of driving needs.”
Flexible manufacturing infrastructure will be introduced to the Elizabeth plant to make it capable of producing a series of GM global vehicles in years to come.
It also provides opportunity to develop an export program for the vehicle, particularly to other right hand drive markets around the world.
The architecture was primarily developed by GM Europe in Russelsheim, Germany for GM markets around the world. Local design and engineering work on the Australian vehicle will take place at GM Holden’s Port Melbourne headquarters in Victoria.
Direct injected petrol and diesel variants of the vehicle will be produced with GM Holden considering a range of alternative fuel or fuel saving technologies including E85, LPG, CNG and start-stop hybrid capability. Further details about the vehicle including its nameplate, design specifications and pricing will be determined closer to the time of production.
Given the competitiveness of the small car segment, key decisions will be made to ensure the first Australian-made small car choice for many years will be a compelling one.
