Corvette coming to Australia?

[fgpsi]

Holden to get Corvette as a hero car once the factory closes?

By Joshua Dowling


Two years ago the boss of General Motors told News Corp Australia the Corvette was heading Down Under. The next day his executives said he was mistaken. Now it seems the Corvette really is coming this time.

The iconic Chevrolet Corvette sports car is heading for Holden showrooms to become the brand’s hero car once manufacturing comes to an end in 2017.

The boss of General Motors’ international division, Stefan Jacoby -- the man who in December 2013 made the tough call to close the Elizabeth assembly line -- told Australian media in Detroit that Holden will have a "halo model" after the V8 Commodore dies.

Mr Jacoby stopped short of confirming which car it will be, but there are only two V8 performance vehicles in the GM line-up that could possibly fit: the new Chevrolet Camaro or the next version of the Corvette.

However the Corvette is tipped to be the favourite given that the new Camaro has not been developed for right-hand-drive, whereas the timing of the Corvette’s model change over works in Australia’s favour. The other option, the Cadillac V8, will not fit a steering wheel on the right-hand-side of the car because the engine is such a tight fit.

“We will bring a true sports car to Australia for the brand Holden,” said Mr Jacoby. “It will be something which fulfills the requirement of a true Holden sports car.”

Beyond that, Mr Jacoby was coy about giving any further details other than it will be a V8 and arrive in 2018.

This means that although V8 versions of the homegrown Ford Falcon and Holden Commodore may be reaching the end of the road forever, both will be replaced by iconic US muscle cars.

Ford is due to release the Mustang at the end of this year priced from $50,000 while the Corvette is not due in Australia showrooms until 2018, the year after the Holden factory closes in Elizabeth.

There is one catch however. The flagship version of the Corvette will likely have a price close to $100,000 -- the same as a current HSV GTS sedan -- by the time exchange rates and shipping costs are taken into account.

Nevertheless, the news will be a relief to rev heads because Holden was facing a future without a V8.

http://www.carsguide.com.au/car-news...0#.VLSNbPMazCQ

[blk6t]

Would be awesome to see the Corvette sold in Australia. I don't think it should ever have a Holden badge though...

Gotta say, if I had the option of a new GTS or new Corvette, I'd probably go the Corvette over the GTS if pricing was the same.

[fgpsi]

Holden badges on a corvette ? :p

[galaxy xr8]

Ok so who replaced Camaro with Corvette, there is an exact same media release but the models have been switched around..lol...

It is a JD article ?.

[fgpsi]

Originally Posted by galaxy xr8

Ok so who replaced Camaro with Corvette, there is an exact same media release but the models have been switched around..lol...

It is a JD article ?.

I read the article and it say that corvette was developed for rhd whereas camaro was not..

[galaxy xr8]

Originally Posted by fgpsi

I read the article and it say that corvette was developed for rhd whereas camaro was not..

There is another article floating around that is virtually word for word as that above but claims it to be Camaro not Corvete as the Corvete was never intended to be RHD...

And as that article above is written by yours truly J Dowling... then say no more.

[Grippy]

Originally Posted by galaxy xr8

Ok so who replaced Camaro with Corvette, there is an exact same media release but the models have been switched around..lol...

It is a JD article ?.

The one in this thread?

http://fordforums.com.au/showthread.php?t=11430957

[malazn mafia]

Corvette ftw. And for goodness sake retire that lame lion badge for good, better than letting it left to rot on GM Korea aka Daewoo vehicles..

[fgpsi]

Originally Posted by malazn mafia

Corvette ftw. And for goodness sake retire that lame lion badge for good, better than letting it left to rot on GM Korea aka Daewoo vehicles..

They'll just throw the lion on the opels and call it commodore ..

[HO 3]

Originally Posted by fgpsi

They'll just throw the lion on the opels and call it commodore ..

I'm already worried what they will throw the Falcon badge on when they decide to resurrect the brand in 5 or 10 years time

Cheers Mick

[steve.zissou]

The corvette is a crazy fast car. I remember driving one thinking it would be a bit more nimble than a commodore with the same v8. was i wrong. They are awesome and freaky fast (another level up from the mustang)

I have a secret feeling we will be seeing more and more yank cars popping up here soon as they engineer RHD into the next models.

I am sure Cadillac will have something eventually and well also get a pick up from some one (that will be a winner for who ever gets in first)

[Nikked]

Camaro makes more sense then the 'vette, especially if its to be a quasi SS replacement. Next 'vette is rumored to be mid-rear as well. Not to mention that the Holden badge on a Corvette would be incredibly hard to swallow.

[Bushbasher]

I was going to read the article till I saw who wrote it. Then I decided not to waste my time because there's nothing that bloke has written, that I can remember, that has any real credibility.

[zilo]

Drove the Corvette for a fortnight last year.

Yeah it's fast....but everything else is a piece of garbage.

The interior was done by a crack dealer, the seats are childish and wreck your spine.

The fuel economy is aweful.

Visibility is woeful.

The bodywork is pathetically plastic.

At the end of the day anyone in their backyards could make similar power with a V8 and no weight.

It doesn't handle particularly well either.


So...no thanks, I won't be buying one.

[danthefordman]

Originally Posted by zilo

Drove the Corvette for a fortnight last year.

Yeah it's fast....but everything else is a piece of garbage.

The interior was done by a crack dealer, the seats are childish and wreck your spine.

The fuel economy is aweful.

Visibility is woeful.

The bodywork is pathetically plastic.

At the end of the day anyone in their backyards could make similar power with a V8 and no weight.

It doesn't handle particularly well either.


So...no thanks, I won't be buying one.

Interesting comments, my friend has a Z06 i think, the one with no interior, race spec etc and his comments are very similar. He says it it is hot, harsh loud uncomfortable doesnt go around corners but goes like stink. He still loves it though. Also, he was warned about tyres when he first got it. Was told they were difficult to get and needed to be imported. He never got around to sorting it and blew a tyre one day and had to wait several months to get replacements from the US.

[malazn mafia]

Originally Posted by zilo

Drove the Corvette for a fortnight last year.

Yeah it's fast....but everything else is a piece of garbage.

The interior was done by a crack dealer, the seats are childish and wreck your spine.

The fuel economy is aweful.

Visibility is woeful.

The bodywork is pathetically plastic.

At the end of the day anyone in their backyards could make similar power with a V8 and no weight.

It doesn't handle particularly well either.


So...no thanks, I won't be buying one.

Funny enough, sat in drivers seat of a Lamborghini and could say exactly same thing. In that class of car it's form over function.. and someone could remove all the excess fat out of xr6 turbo, up the boost and have a quicker, more practical car with better visibility, and have enough money left to invest in real estate..

[zilo]

Originally Posted by malazn mafia

Funny enough, sat in drivers seat of a Lamborghini and could say exactly same thing. In that class of car it's form over function.. and someone could remove all the excess fat out of xr6 turbo, up the boost and have a quicker, more practical car with better visibility, and have enough money left to invest in real estate..

Try a Tesla.

[Boza]

Isn't corvette it's own brand now sort of like what dodge did with the ram trucks they are a separate brand now from dodge just called ram trucks. I heard somewhere that the same is with the corvette it's not Chevrolet corvette any more.

Still plastic junk that the uanks are pedaling as a super car which it's not I have been in a few c4's 5's and 6's and they all rattle and shake and squeak and just didn't leave a good impression.

[P6LTD351]

Do people really think that GM would cheapen the Corvette by calling it a Holden?

Geez...Camaros and Corvettes may be sold here in Australia but there is NO WAY they will be a Holden.

SAABs were also sold in Holden dealerships a while back. Were they known as the Holden SAAB? No. Holden Hummer? No.

Please. Holden is more dead than Ford. And here is the value of a Ford being a Ford the world over. He who laughs last, laughs hardest.

[MethodX]

Originally Posted by P6LTD351

Do people really think that GM would cheapen the Corvette by calling it a Holden?

Geez...Camaros and Corvettes may be sold here in Australia but there is NO WAY they will be a Holden.

SAABs were also sold in Holden dealerships a while back. Were they known as the Holden SAAB? No. Holden Hummer? No.

Please. Holden is more dead than Ford. And here is the value of a Ford being a Ford the world over. He who laughs last, laughs hardest.

What difference does it make, when GM is GM?

Ford has lost divisions, should we be laughing.

[GTP-RPD]

Originally Posted by MethodX

What difference does it make, when GM is GM?

Ford has lost divisions, should we be laughing.

Yep correct....

The only difference is the make over Holden dealerships will go through when they have there new GM and Chevrolet corporate signage installed.

[zilo]

Originally Posted by GTP-RPD

Yep correct....

The only difference is the make over Holden dealerships will go through when they have there new GM and Chevrolet corporate signage installed.

My bet is more than half of the GM dealers will either fail or switch allegiances to another importer.

[LoudPipes]

Originally Posted by P6LTD351

Do people really think that GM would cheapen the Corvette by calling it a Holden?

Geez...Camaros and Corvettes may be sold here in Australia but there is NO WAY they will be a Holden.

You’re right.

GM has repeatedly said there is no way Chevrolet icons like Corvette or Camaro will ever be rebadged anywhere in the world.

If they do come to Australia it will be as they are and what would be the point of rebranding them anyway, who would it fool?

[Bossxr8]

Didn't that same guy from GM say it won't be anything currently in production? That would rule out Corvette.

But after seeing who wrote the article then it's no surprise he is peddling complete BS.

[GTP-RPD]

I don't know.

I think they will just diversify under the GM banner.

[Windsor220]

So they wont be a Holden halo car then. Unless they plan on something else.

[LoudPipes]

Originally Posted by Windsor220

So they wont be a Holden halo car then.

Barina Spark

[MethodX]

That's odd hearing that they don't handle. They seem to get respectable times around the nurburgring.
The new model is supposedly a step up in quality.


Corvette.. like Mustang would sell itself, all Holden dealers would have to do is hang a Corvette sign up.

[LoudPipes]

Originally Posted by MethodX

That's odd hearing that they don't handle. They seem to get respectable times around the nurburgring.
The new model is supposedly a step up in quality.

Like the Mustang they are an Icon in the US but are also seen as to use an Aussie term, a bit boganish.

Many models where considered ordinary over the years, slow, poor handling, uncomfortable, poverty packs and so on and to be honest, the Mustangs had a pretty rough period as well.

The Corvette in recent years has gone through a metamorphous as has the Mustang and the improvements have been out of sight.

But in saying that they still have flaws compared to the high end competition and that is reflected in their prices.

I haven’t driven the newer models but for me the Corvette in particular with it's trying to be hard core has has always felt a bit brittle to drive.

[steve.zissou]

my comment on how good the vet is are based on the current model which is a huge (and i mean huge) step up. The C7 is much better than the c6.

The c6 we have here are like BA falcons (worse due to conversion work). The new mustang hasnt improved as much as the vette in my opinion. I dare any one to drive a c7 vette and not be mega impressed (I need to make some better business card for my next trip to the US and see if i can swing a z06 test drive)