"Holden is set to let customers shape the end of local car manufacturing by building the cars people want

csv8 · 15-08-2016, 09:31 PM

"Holden is set to let customers shape the end of local car manufacturing by building the cars people want to buy.

Unlike Ford, which shut down ute production months ahead of the Falcon's demise, Holden plans to offer a full range of Commodore-based cars before closing its factories in the fourth quarter of 2017.

The brand is stockpiling V6 engines ahead of a planned shutdown of its Melbourne engine plant in late 2016. Holden managing director Mark Bernhard says it will have enough engines to meet customer demand for V6 and V8 models in the locally-built Commodore's final year.

"We've certainly got estimates around what we think V6 and also V8 volume will be next year," he says.

"We work though those plans with the supply chain, and as the engine plant closes a little bit earlier, we've got to estimate what those volumes are.

"The current plan is that we will produce V6, V8 and all three body styles all the way through.

"But again that will go down to customer demand."

Having already built its final ute, Ford will put an end to Falcon and Territory production on Friday October 7. Holden will build its last Australian-assembled Cruze that day, but it won't say exactly when the last Commodore will roll down the Elizabeth production line in 2017.

"We're working towards a closure sometime in the fourth quarter," Bernhard says.

"It's too early to plan to be planning any dates specifically around when that is. It's going to get a lot of complications around what volumes are and things like that, so that's a decision I'm certainly not making today."

Holden is expected to release a final update for the Commodore in 2017, and Bernhard expects the car to have strong demand "right across the portfolio", from entry-level V6 versions to top-flight V8 halo models.

Without confirming specifics, Holden spokesman Sean Poppit says the brands has "tricks up its sleeve" when it comes to the final year of Commodore production, which is likely to feature a special edition or two.

The brand plans to match customer appetites, striving to make sure that anyone who wants to buy a final-year Australian Commodore is able to get their hands on one.

That said, Bernhard is at pains to point out that the Commodore name will live on after the death of Australian-built models. Holden is expected to offer Europe's Opel Insignia sedan as a successor to the locally engineered large car.

The Holden chief says "The next Generation Commodore will have the performance and the technical capability behind it to carry the commodore nameplate". http://www.drive.com.au/motor-news/h...08-gqo0x8.html

.:4:. · 15-08-2016, 09:33 PM

Shame there is no demand for the holden v6 for marine purposes...

csv8 · 15-08-2016, 09:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by .:4:.

Shame there is no demand for the holden v6 for marine purposes...

Boat anchor !!!

Smoke Pursuit · 16-08-2016, 09:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by csv8

Boat anchor !!!

Really?? But haven't you been saying for years how much better the Calais is over the corresponding Ford product?

I bought a Calais V V6 earlier in the year as a work hack for the Mrs and its been a fantastic car all round.. It's no slouch either with 0 - 100 of mid to low 6's.

Waiting with interest to see what the final Commodores have.

csv8 · 16-08-2016, 10:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Smoke Pursuit

Really?? But haven't you been saying for years how much better the Calais is over the corresponding Ford product?

I bought a Calais V V6 earlier in the year as a work hack for the Mrs and its been a fantastic car all round.. It's no slouch either with 0 - 100 of mid to low 6's.

Waiting with interest to see what the final Commodores have.

Never said the Calais was better, just Ford has no comparable car, G6E lacks the tech and V8 option.

Big_Daz · 16-08-2016, 10:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by csv8

Never said the Calais was better, just Ford has no comparable car, G6E lacks the tech and V8 option.

Up until the VF Series 2 I would have thought the G6ET would have been more than sufficient to show the V8 Calais the door, now the Calais gets the LS3 im not sure this is still the case...

A G8E with a Blown 5 litre would have been awesome, even in 315 trim, just a bloody shame Ford didn't build them...

As for the Tech/Interior.. the VF Commodore have it WAY over the FGX when it comes to that... No matter how much some people want to fight it...

**Dave R** · 16-08-2016, 02:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Smoke Pursuit

Really?? But haven't you been saying for years how much better the Calais is over the corresponding Ford product?

I bought a Calais V V6 earlier in the year as a work hack for the Mrs and its been a fantastic car all round.. It's no slouch either with 0 - 100 of mid to low 6's.

Waiting with interest to see what the final Commodores have.

The V6s are actually pretty well sorted in the VF, they just carry their boat anchor rep from the VE days. We tested a '13 SV6 against a '15 XR6 and the SV6 could not be beaten in a straight line, it wasn't gutless down low like they used to be either. Hard to lose a reputation once you've got it though.

Mercury Bullet · 16-08-2016, 02:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Adrenaline

The V6s are actually pretty well sorted in the VF, they just carry their boat anchor rep from the VE days. We tested a '13 SV6 against a '15 XR6 and the SV6 could not be beaten in a straight line, it wasn't gutless down low like they used to be either. Hard to lose a reputation once you've got it though.

Isn't the SV6 a lot more powerful than the standard V6 though?

I drove my sisters V6 not long ago and it was a POS.
Had to rev the bejesus out of it.

XBGTFGGTP · 19-08-2016, 02:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Adrenaline

The V6s are actually pretty well sorted in the VF, they just carry their boat anchor rep from the VE days. We tested a '13 SV6 against a '15 XR6 and the SV6 could not be beaten in a straight line, it wasn't gutless down low like they used to be either. Hard to lose a reputation once you've got it though.

I have them as rentals, you still got to drive the crap out of them to make them go down low. Falcon much better low down until the V6 start's revving, but are good on fuel.

malazn mafia · 15-08-2016, 10:02 PM

Holden say they can build what I, the customer wants? So can they build FG-X Falcons post October? where do I sign ?

CyberWasp · 15-08-2016, 10:06 PM

If Holden was building the cars people want to buy then why are they closing?

**Polyal** · 15-08-2016, 10:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CyberWasp

If Holden was building the cars people want to buy then why are they closing?

Why stop spinning BS even to the end....

FERG_51 · 15-08-2016, 10:29 PM

Stock piling v6, that shouldn't be too hard probably only need a handful.

**Falcon Coupe** · 15-08-2016, 10:39 PM

So who asked them to build a "Homer".

mcflux · 16-08-2016, 08:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by csv8

"Holden is set to let customers shape the end of local car manufacturing by building the cars people want to buy.

Two words: Commo McDoreFace

SpannerXR8 · 16-08-2016, 10:53 AM

October 7 will be a sad day for this country, an thriving industry of the past destroyed!!

Big_Daz · 16-08-2016, 10:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpannerXR8

October 7 will be a sad day for this country, an thriving industry of the past destroyed!!

Well not really, Holden are still going to be manufacturing until late next year...

Very very sad day for us Ford Lovers, Yes bloody oath, but the industry still has a bit over 12 months left in it yet...

**Kingsley** · 16-08-2016, 11:06 AM

Half their luck. Pity Ford didn't do something similar.

FPV6 · 16-08-2016, 03:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daz290

Half their luck. Pity Ford didn't do something similar.

Pity nether of them did this for the past 20 years.

What happened to the old days were you bought your car and you actually had options like drag pack rally pack etc. the options are a cargo barrier and roof racks and a thrule luggage thing on your roof WTF

Dauphin · 16-08-2016, 12:26 PM

From the title of the story I expected them to start allowing customers to build base model Omegas with GTS drivelines if they wanted. It just seems to be PR BS to keep Holden in the news.

Dr Terry · 16-08-2016, 01:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dauphin

From the title of the story I expected them to start allowing customers to build base model Omegas with GTS drivelines if they wanted. It just seems to be PR BS to keep Holden in the news.

The last Omega was a VE, built back in Feb 2013.

Dr Terry

falconhell74 · 16-08-2016, 12:41 PM

I might have to ask if they will build a HSV, GTS, clubsport with a v6 alloytec

Sprint XR8 · 16-08-2016, 12:42 PM

"Building the cars people want" is PR spin for building only to order for the final months.

Nikked · 16-08-2016, 01:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by csv8

"Holden is set to let customers shape the end of local car manufacturing by building the cars people want to buy.

"The current plan is that we will produce V6, V8 and all three body styles all the way through.

"But again that will go down to customer demand."

So, Just like Ford did with the ute, once customer demand drops, so will the product...

Next...

Quote:

Originally Posted by csv8

Without confirming specifics, Holden spokesman Sean Poppit says the brands has "tricks up its sleeve" when it comes to the final year of Commodore production, which is likely to feature a special edition or two.

Shame ford didn't do this, a final GT or Sprint version of the falcon would have been awesome!

menil · 16-08-2016, 01:54 PM

'As for the Tech/Interior.. the VF Commodore have it WAY over the FGX when it comes to that... No matter how much some people want to fight it..".
__________________How many people use the TECH you speak of, Nikon & Canon have stopped development on cameras as the average Joe cant use them and I suspect the same with cars I know I wont use any more than the radio and cd in my new Falcon.

**PridenJoy** · 16-08-2016, 02:12 PM

I know nothing about Commodore V6s. What's the actual difference between the VE and VF versions?

Express · 16-08-2016, 05:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PridenJoy

I know nothing about Commodore V6s. What's the actual difference between the VE and VF versions?

Ones slow and the other is slower.

**Bluehoon** · 16-08-2016, 07:23 PM

Engines will be most interesting. Especially their solutions to Euro 6...

.:4:. · 16-08-2016, 07:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bluehoon

Engines will be most interesting. Especially their solutions to Euro 6...

Euro6? Will it run on farts? How will it go if there is any follow through?

**Dave R** · 16-08-2016, 02:27 PM

I'm no expert on their V6s but as I understand it they went through 3 V6s with VE, starting with the non-DI version which was a genuine boat anchor, which was replaced by GM's LLT V6 (SIDI) which was better, then for MY12 they replaced that with a yet again improved version called LFX (same output on paper but peak power made higher, peak torque made lower, new cylinder head, manifolds etc), for 2013 (VF) they revised the tune and added a lot of sound deadening around the firewall so it didn't sound thrashy like prior years and up until MY15 they could run on E85.