1
The Series II VE Commodore
By Stuart Livesey on Sep 01, 2010 in General Motors Holden
It’s a mid-model-life facelift so don’t expect too much to have changed … unless your big on infotainment systems
Category: General Motors Holden
Holden Captiva – an introduction
Despite some early bad press the Holden Captiva has been a success story for Holden
Holden Berlina Sportwagon – the road test
I discover why people continue to buy the Holden Commodore.
Holden Berlina Sportwagon – first impressions
Maybe it’s no surprise that the Holden Commodore is still sells so well.
Holden Commodore – Australia’s Top Selling Car in 2009
There’s no doubt we still love our Holden Commodores
Good News For Holden
Production at Holden’s engine plant is up and now they’re heading back to two shifts.
Holden Missed the US Market Again
Holden misses out again as Chevrolet narrows the field of candidates for the next Chevy Impala.
Holden Sportswagon Delivers Fuel Economy
Holden Commodore produces the best fuel economy of any standard Australian-built car.
Going Off-Road with Your XBox
What do you get when you cross a Toyota Tacoma with an XBox?
A Holden With a Fuel Consumption of 1 Litre per 100Km?
Ok, so my maths is a little fuzzy and the actual figures may be just over a litre per 100km but that’s what General Motors and the United States Environmental Protection Agency are suggesting you will get from General Motor’s new electric car, the Chevrolet Volt.
The Volt is expected to go on sale in the [...]
What Now for Holden?
So General Motors … the parent company for Holden … is now in bankruptcy. While that’s a position that few could have imagined a year or two ago it’s a reality and it’s giving General Motors a chance to restructure.
That restructuring includes selling off a large chunk of GM Europe … almost certainly to a [...]
The End of Pontiac – Bad News for Holden
By Stuart Livesey on Apr 28, 2009 in General Motors Holden
Yesterday General Motors officially announced that it was dropping the Pontiac brand from its line-up and cutting around 21,000 jobs in the Pontiac plants in the United States. Sadly that’s very bad news for Holden who build the Pontiac G8 at their plant in Adelaide.
Holden had hoped to build around 30,000 G8 models a year [...]
Holden to Cut Production in South Australia
By Stuart Livesey on Apr 03, 2009 in General Motors Holden
Holden has announced that it will reduce output at it’s Elizabeth plant by cutting out the afternoon shift. Workers on the afternoon shift will be retained but will operate on a week on, week off basis with the morning shift.
The Australian managing director of Holden is expected to make an announcement about the moves later today.Â
Mixed News for Aussie Car Makers
Even though it’s only lunch time there’s been some good and not so good news announced for Aussie car makers.
In an announcement that must have stunned many in the car industry Toyota announced yesterday that it was going to close it’s plants for a total of 11 days in February and March because demand for [...]
Holden Airbag Recall
By Stuart Livesey on Dec 01, 2008 in Commodore
Holden will soon be writing to the owners of 8792 Commodores to notify them of a potential defect in the driver’s side airbag.
According to the recall notice “The driver’s side airbag attachment within the seat assembly may not be to specification and may allow the side airbag to become detatched.”
According to one newspaper report the [...]
Now It’s Holden’s Turn to Cut Production
By Stuart Livesey on Oct 15, 2008 in General Motors Holden
Early yesterday the word was out that Ford was planning to cut around 500 jobs from their Victorian operations because demand for their big-car products was down. By late yesterday afternoon it was Holden’s turn to announce reductions that will impact on over 3,000 works in South Australia.
It appears that Holden may not be cutting [...]
Holden’s Hybrid Car
If there is one thing that both Ford and Holden are lacking in Australia it’s a hybrid car to attract buyers who want to be environmentally friendly.
Sadly neither of the big two seem interested in filling that gap anytime soon. Holden may have unveiled the Chevy Volt at the Sydney Motor Show last week but [...]
A Measure of Performance
When we look at a new car the real enthusiasts among us want to know about that car’s performance. How many seconds does it take to reach 100km/h is one popular measure of a car’s performance.
When we look at a car manufacturer’s performance we begin to look at how much money they’re making … or [...]
A Week in Australian Car Manufacturing
They say that a week in Australian politics is a long time and that’s something that could also be said about the Australian car manufacturing industry. Last week we had the bad news of the Bracks Report into Australia’s car industry and this week we’ve begun to see and feel the pain.
Ford have announced that [...]
General Motors’ Plant Closures Come to Australia
Earlier this week General Motors announced that it would be closing four plants in the United States and Canada in a cost-cutting exercise that see a reduction in GM’s production of trucks and SUV’s. That was probably to be expected as the cost of fuel rose and the demand for big vehicles diminished.
What was not [...]
Good News for Holden
At last there’s some good news for Holden and the motor industry in South Australia. Holden has announced that it will soon be exporting two new cars for the American market from their plant in Adelaide.
Both vehicles will be marketed in America under the Pontiac brand and one of the two will be an Americanised [...]
Holden and Ford – the Message is …
… not happy Jan!
The JD Power Group are well-known in the United States for their annual surveys of car buyer satisfaction. Big brand-names like Mercedes have not faired well when consumers are asked to comment on how satisfied they might, or might not be, with the car they’ve purchased and the service they have received.
Now [...]
Holden Recalls the VE Commodore
A frayed fuel hose that could result in a fuel leak that could then lead to a fire has encouraged Holden to issue a recall notice for VE and WM model Holden Commodores.
This recall involves an extensive number of vehicles across a range of Vehicle Identification Numbers. Those involved fall within the following ranges:
VE [...]
A Holden V8 Where Less is More
The Australian International Motor Show is on in Sydney at the moment and Holden has taken the opportunity to unveil a concept car fitted with a variable V8.
Under load it will fire on all eight cylinders but at cruising speed the engine will shut down four of its cylinders to improve fuel economy.
At the moment [...]
The Face of Australian Motoring is Changing
By Stuart Livesey on Jul 28, 2007 in Ford Australia, General Motors Holden, General News, Mitsubishi, Toyota, cee'd
We’ve always been a nation of big car buyers. There was a time when you weren’t a real man unless you drove a six cylinder, a V8 or even a big 4WD and you could have been considered unpatriotic if you drove anything but a car built in Australia – unless of course you were [...]
Holden and Ford Suck – It’s Official!
Holden and Ford have long been Australian icons and they have a very vocal following among motoring enthusiasts … but out in the real world they just plain suck … and it’s official … almost.
It seems that a comsumer website here in Australia – ProductReview.com.au asked owners to rate their vehicles in a number of [...]
Holden’s Efijy Named US Concept Car of the Year
It might be last year’s car but it certainly remains a real eye-catcher and now it’s hit the big time in the United States.
The announcement was made today at the Automotive Hall of Fame in Dearborn Michigan that the Efijy had beaten a field of 32 other concept cars and 11 pre-production models.
The photo was [...]
Holden Cuts 600 Jobs
Holden has announced that it will be cutting 600 jobs from its Adelaide workforce. Holden says that increased efficiency at it’s Elizabeth plant and the end of production of the VZ models has meant that 600 positions have become surplus to requirements.
Would Holden be Brave Enough?
Would Holden ever give fans a voice?
Earlier this week Holden’s American cousin – Pontiac – opened Pontiac Underground, a new website designed to:
“designed to tap into the “street-level” energy of fans from all its active and retired brands by uniting and introducing the hundreds of offline and online groups already in existence”
With the slogan of [...]
The Pontiac G8
Australian Muscle in America
by Stuart Livesey
Pontiac will be releasing a new sports sedan in America later this year and once again some Australian muscle will be available in the US. The Pontiac G8 will be a re-badged version of the current Holden SS Commodore built in Holden’s Adelaide plant.
Previously a slightly softer version the Holden [...]
Wheels Car of the Year
All I can say is Hmmm.
The Wheels Car of the Year has just been announced and it happens to be the VE Commodore – the modern vehicle that has a fuel consumption slightly worse than my seven year old Hyundai and a spare wheel that is not really designed for Australian conditions.
If I was the [...]
Job Cuts at Holden
First it was Ford and now Holden is shedding staff
Holden announced yesterday that they would be cutting 200 positions from their engine assembly plant in Melbourne before Christmas.
Earlier this year the plant, which produces a four cylinder engine mainly for export, was operating at full capacity but since August demand for the engine has [...]
Holden Recalls More VE and WM Series Commodores
11,584 VE and WM sedans and wagons to be recalled
This recall affects all VE and WM model Commodores built prior to 11 September 2006 because of a potential problem with rear seatbelt buckles. A spring within the assembly could be bent and this may cause the belt to release when in use.
Holden says that owners [...]
Holden Recalls the VE Commodore
.. and the WM series as well.
It seems that Holden has discovered a problem with the fuel line and one hose in particular may be faulty and so all Commodores manufactured in July and August this year will be recalled.
Holden says that the problem has the potential to cause a fuel leak although there have [...]
Ajax Fasteners Manages to Survive For Another Week
By Stuart Livesey on Aug 16, 2006 in Ford Australia, General Motors Holden, General News, Mitsubishi, Toyota
Ajax Fasteners, the parts manufacturer that supplies specialest screws and clips to all four Australian car manufacturers has managed to stay in business until at least Friday.
Aussie Motoring reported back on August 12 that the company was on the brink of collapse and if it did go the consequences for Ford, Holden, Mitsubishi and [...]
The Australian Car Manufacturing Industry – Teetering on the Brink of Collapse
By Stuart Livesey on Aug 12, 2006 in Ford Australia, General Motors Holden, General News, Mitsubishi, Toyota
It’s hard to believe but that headline is closer to fact than fiction. As reported on August 8 in More Supply Problems for Holden and Ford the industry is in dire trouble as another parts supplier is on the brink of closure.
Ajax Engineering Fasteneters, a company that supplies fasteners and bolts for Holden, Ford, Toyota, [...]
Australian Car Sales Slide
By Stuart Livesey on Aug 03, 2006 in Commodore, Falcon, Ford Australia, General Motors Holden, General News, Kia, Toyota
The Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries announced today new car sales continue to lag behind sales for the same time last year. 1079 fewer new vehicles were sold during July than for July 2005. That monthly drop now means that 3.1% fewer new cars have been sold so far this year compared to the same [...]
Ford’s Response to the New Holden VE Commodore
‘Check back next month’ seems to be the main response when Tom Gorman, Ford Australia’s president was asked what Ford was planning on doing to meet the new competition.
Ford will be releasing an updated Falcon next month but one thing Ford claims it won’t be doing is cutting prices to keep Falcon sales happening.
VE Commodore Production Under Threat
By Stuart Livesey on Jul 26, 2006 in Commodore
The industrial dispute involving pars supplier Huon Corporation may be over for Ford and Toyota but Holden is still not receiving the parts they need to continue production.
Ford and Toyota both signed on to a rescue package for the troubled parts supplier but Holden has not yet agreed to it.
Workers at Huon’s Bendigo [...]
Holden VE Commodore Pricing and Fuel Consumption
By Stuart Livesey on Jul 25, 2006 in Commodore
Holden have finally announced the fuel consumption figures for the new Holden VE Commodore.
I think most people might have expected better figures than these but most of them are slightly down on the figures for the last Commodore.
The VE Commodore’s fuel consumption varies from 10.9 litres per 100km for the base model Omega with [...]
Holden VE Commodore
By Stuart Livesey on Jul 23, 2006 in Commodore
The Holden VE Commodore is definitely the car on everyone is thinking about at the moment. Even the release of the new Toyota Camry isn’t arousing as much interest – even though it’s more likely to be the vehicle that people would tend to buy in these days of high petrol prices.
If you would like [...]
The New Commodore is Almost Here
Holden’s new VE Commodore has been launched – although you won’t find one in a showroom just yet. This model is said to be the first all new Commodore since 1997 and despite years of work and a lot of testing Holden have not yet been able to produce fuel consumption figures.
Despite some criticism from [...]
What Exactly is Electronic Stability Control?
With Holden’s announcement last week that it would introduce Electronic Stability Control to it’s next Commodore range the Australian motoring public were exposed to some interesting technology has the potential to save a lot of lives.
Aussie Motoring sent feature writer – Russ Egan – out into the World Wide Web to find out just what [...]
Holden Announces Electronic Stability Control
By Stuart Livesey on Jun 21, 2006 in Commodore, General Motors Holden, General News, Holden Special Vehicles
Holden announced today that electronic stability control would be included as standard equipment on it’s new range of VE Commodores, Statesman, Caprice and Captiva modelsdue out later this year.
Electronic stability control helps drivers maintain control of their vehicles and prevent crashes by immediately identifying when the vehicle skids, swerves suddenly or when road conditions [...]
Holden Offers a Refund
If you bought a vehicle from Holden during October and November 2005 you may be entitled to a refund.
During October and November of 2005 Holden ran a special promotion where it offered new vehicles at the same rate that employees would pay. “You Pay What We Pay” was the name of the promotion but [...]
Holden Torana LC XU1
Feast your eyes on a fully restored Holden Torana XU1, the dream car of half the petrol-heads in Australia in the early 1970s.
The XU1 was a car that won touring car races and some of the roughest rallies in Australia when driven by such household names as Peter Brock and Colin Bond.
This particular car [...]
A Fiery Finish to the Melbourne Formula 1 Grand Prix
The engine in Jenson Button’s Honda exploded into flames just metres short of the finish line in today’s Melbourne Formule 1 Grand Prix.
The race was no kinder to Australia’s Mark Webber who was leading the race on lap 23 when a gear box failure forced him to withdraw.
The race was ultimately won by Fernando [...]
The Holden Efijy
By Stuart Livesey on Mar 20, 2006 in Concept Cars
This Holden concept car made its first appearance at the 2005 Sydney Motor Show and has been a big hit at motor shows across the country ever since. Despite what many people think, not one part of the vehicle has come from the original FJ Holden. Instead, so many parts that look familiar, like the [...]
Holden Issues a Recall
Holden has issued a recall that affects over 90,000 Commodore sedans and utilities built between April 2003 and December 2005.
The recall was issued after Holden identified a problem with side airbags that “inflated under circumstances which did not warrant inflation.”
Holden will rectify the problem free of charge through Holden dealerships.
Over 30,000 export Commodres have also [...]
Holden Tigra
By Stuart Livesey on Feb 04, 2006 in Tigra
It’s built in Germany by Opel on the bare bones of last year’s Holden Barina and Holden expect the car to appeal to women but the fact is that the Holden Tigra is turning heads wherever it goes.
It looks like a hard top but it’s really a convertible and you can have one for just [...]
