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The Cruze hatchback and sedan last month outsold the Commodore for the first time ...
A wagon will soon join Holden’s best selling car, the Cruze.
The new wagon model to be released next year will not be built here but in South Korea even though the company admits it has the capacity to build them at its Elizabeth plant in Adelaide.
The Cruze hatchback and sedan last month outsold the Commodore for the first time to become the most popular Australian-made car. But when the third variant, a wagon, goes on sale early next year, it will be sourced from South Korea.
Holden spokeswoman Kate Lonsdale said the company had the capability to build the wagon at the Elizabeth plant in Adelaide, but have no plans to do so.
"Could we build it here? Absolutely, we have the capability to do so, and it is certainly something we can look at in the future, but by importing the vehicle we get a great opportunity to test the market's reaction to a wagon of this size," she said.
"We're still working out what the volumes would be and to tool up for a new variant where the volumes might be niche, we need to work out if it's a good business move," she said.
The Chevrolet version of the Cruze wagon, conceived by Cruze hatch designer Leigh Mitchell, will make its global debut at the Geneva Motor Show next month.
The Cruze has sold more than one million units globally since it was launched in 2009 and Holden executive sales and marketing director John Elsworth is looking forward to the wagon.
"Cruze wagon ticks all the boxes," he said – just not the one marked “Australian-made". We're confident Cruze wagon will take the nameplate from strength to strength and reach new customers who are looking for more versatility," Mr Elsworth said.
The new wagon is about 80mm longer than the sedan and boasts a 500-litre cargo space.
Holden won't release any details on what engines will be offered with the hatch until closer to its launch but expect the current engine line-up of two petrol and one turbodiesel to be replicated in the wagon range.
Also yet to be confirmed is the MyLink infotainment system that is being introduced on top-spec Cruze models this year, which integrates the owner's smartphone into the car, offering a link to playlists, photos, phone books, data, videos and even some satnav phone apps.
