Holden Barina 2006 News

The Holden’s new generation Barina sedan - an extended version of the hatch - has just landed in showrooms with a starting price of $16,490. However the sedan has more cargo space than its sibling storing 502 litres compared to the 290 litres the hatch offers with the seats up. The Barina sedan comes equipped with standard features including Bluetooth phone and audio streaming, USB input and iPod connectivity, steering wheel controls, cruise control and ‘follow me home’ headlights, as well as interior storage options. Like the hatch the 4-door sedan is powered by a 1.6 litre, 4-cylinder petrol engine equipped with standard 5-speed manual or 6-speed automatic and shares a five-star ANCAP safety rating. The hatch has sold 1,318 units since its release last November and Holden spokesman John Elsworth says the sedan will be “an excellent addition to the range”. “The addition of the sedan variant adds a new dimension of practicality and flexibility to the Barina range,” he says.

Industry figures released this week show the real boom in the market has been in four-cylinder cars valued at less than $25,000.Known as the light car segment, sales in the division are up 22.7 per cent for the year to date on last year, while the large car segment is down the same figure. Last month light cars were up by 31.4 per cent on August last year.Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries chief executive Peter Sturrock says this trend has increased over the past couple of years, with a recent acceleration put down to high petrol prices."Well, quite simply because they are more fuel efficient, small and less expensive to purchase in the first place and they're less expensive to run," Sturrock says.A total of 10,806 light cars were sold last month and 77,650 sold this year, which is 14,346 more than last year. Leading the line-up is the Toyota Yaris, with a starting price of $14,990, which recorded 2673 sales in August, taking the total to 18,064 for the year to date.Added to this figure are the remaining 304 Echos that Toyota has sold this year, before the nameplate was changed to be consistent with the Yaris badging used in Europe.Hyundai's small Getz, named Australia's Best Small Car for 2005 by Australia's auto clubs, has also achieved an increase in sales, with 1738 models sold last month, and 13,863 for the year, an 18.4 per cent improvement over the same period last year.Getz prices start at $13,990 and stretch to $18,380. The cheapest car on the market, the Holden Barina, starting at $13,490, has the third highest sales for the segment, with 1091 sales in August and 9567 for the year to date.The Barina is followed by the Suzuki Swift, Honda Jazz and Kia Rio, all recording between 5500 and 6800 sales each for the year-to-date and just under 100 sales in August.Sturrock says while fuel prices are contributing to a shift to these cars, good value at a low price is also converting buyers."The small cars now are very well equipped," he says. "Some years ago they were the basic models, but now they're well equipped with safety and anti-theft, occupant protection, airbags and ABS, and they often have Electronic Stability Control."Features in this segment on cars such as the Yaris and Getz include front airbags, an MP3 compatible CD system, airconditioning, power windows, central locking and ABS. Some even come with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution and anti-skid technology.Holden's Barina offers airconditioning as standard, a feature that has to be bought as an option in the $34,990 base model VE Commodore Omega. The Hyundai Getz also offers a five-year/130,000km warranty.Toyota spokesman, Mike Breen, says this segment also offers a good alternative to second-hand cars."With the options that you can get on a brand new car, plus the new car warranty, it's quite appealing, especially to younger people," he says. And it seems a wide variety of buyers are purchasing these light cars, from students through to families and retirees.Hyundai spokesman Richard Power says its small cars, the Getz and Accent, are finding a market among a variety of drivers."We get quite a few young people buying it as their first new car and there's loyalty from senior motorists, who don't need a big car any more and are very attracted by the long warranty," he says. Overall, the car market has dropped by 3.4per cent on last year, with 642,383 vehicles sold, a decrease of 22,513 vehicles. August was also down from 2005 by 4516 vehicles.In the small car segment, sales are up 3 per cent year-to-date, with the Toyota Corolla the segment leader with 4147 sales in August and 31,705 Corollas sold this year. But small car sales also experienced a slight drop last month, down 1.3 per cent or 244 vehicles.Sturrock says that although the large car segment is down by 26,461 vehicles, it is still an important part of the market."It has reduced over time from what it was to where it is today," he says. "But it's still about 25 per cent of the passenger car market. You see very strong interest in the new Holden Commodore and the new Toyota Camry, there's been an excellent reaction."WHAT'S SELLINGToyota Yaris 18,368Hyundai Getz 13,863Holden Barina 9567Suzuki Swift 6703Honda Jazz 5936Kia Rio 5579Ford Fiesta 4407Mazda2 3934Hyundai Accent 3593Mitsubishi Colt 1516VW Polo 1337Peugoet 206 1071Citroen C3 486Proton Savvy 357smart fortwo 326Renault Clio 173Citroen C2 139smart forfour 132Fiat Punto 113Daihatsu Sirion 40Proton Satria 9Suzuki Ignis 1*Source: VFacts (light car sales 2006 to end August)Note: Yaris sales includes 304 Echo salesTHE CHEAPIESHolden Barina from $13,490Hyundai Getz from $13,990Proton Savvy from $13,990Toyota Yaris from $14,990Hyundai Accent from $15,990Mitsubishi Colt from $15,990Suzuki Swift from $15,990Ford Fiesta from $15,990Honda Jazz from $15,990Kia Rio from $15,990Mazda2 from $16,335Peugeot 206 from $16,990VW Polo from $16,990

The Fiat Punto is of particular interest at the Adelaide Motor Show because it signals the return to Australia of passenger cars under the Fiat banner. The Punto is the number one selling small car in Europe so far this year and is sure to shake things up in Australia when it arrives in the middle of this year. Returning to passenger cars in Australia with a small car is a well-researched move for Fiat, at least according to movements within the local industry.Holden boss Denny Mooney stated clearly that 2005 was the year of the small car, at least for the Elizabeth-based manufacturer. With new models fl owing into the country from around the world, obviously the bosses at many other marques think a similar way.The trend to smaller cars began in earnest last year – in line with rising fuel prices. A total of about 90,000 light and 215,000 small cars were sold last year, with lights up 6000 units on the previous year and smalls up 34,000 units. In September, Toyota’s 1.8-litre four-cylinder Corollas out-sold the Holden Commodore – widely considered to be Australia’s favourite car – by about 100 units.There is no suggestion that Mr Mooney and other Holden heads were simply reacting to that little towelling by Toyota when it began rolling out its lightweight Korean-built products including Barina and Viva late last year, but it is indicative of how local makers have had to arrange their product line-ups to be competitive. Holden, with its highly successful Astra models and the Barina and Viva ranges, now has its largest fl eet of small car options – many of which will be at Wayville.Toyota certainly has not dropped the ball. Its Echo replacement, the Yaris, is selling like little hot cakes in its hatch version – with the recently released sedan model also expected to draw plenty of attention in coming months.Ford Australia boss Tom Gorman said heading towards the end of last year that Ford had completely under-called the growth in the small car segment. Ford struggled to get the number of Focus vehicles it could sell out of its South African plant. But the Blue Oval badge company will this year try to excite the small car segment with its much anticipated XR5 Focus.All the while, Asian car makers including Hyundai, with its award-winning Getz, and Kia with an all-new Rio range, added to the competition.Nissan has chipped in with the new Tiida and the Suzuki Swift last year won CARSguide Car of the Year as the small car range grew dramatically. As the popularity of the segment grows, so too does the commitment to safety.Toyota, with its Yaris range, appears to be leading the way. But other manufacturers, particularly Hyundai – with its safety pack on the Getz – judged Australia’s Best Small Car by the nation’s motoring organisations – also have not ignored the issue of safety.

The national launch of the Echo replacement brought in media from around the country to witness what is becoming a battle of the boot bulge in the light car class.It follows GM Holden's recent launch of the sedan version of its Korean-built Barina. The only other light car sedan is the Kia Rio, also from South Korea. All will be on show in Brisbane.The first body blow in the battle was felt by Barina which scored a poor crash-test rating this week for its European equivalent — the Chevrolet Aveo — in the European New Car Assessment Program. Holden disagrees with the testing procedure and has asked for the car to be retested. Meanwhile, the Japanese-built Yaris received a maximum five-star occupant rating in the same tests.Barina delivered a counter blow, coming in at $14,490 for the five-speed manual and $16,490 for the four-speed auto, which undercuts the Rio at $15,990 (manual) and $17,990 (auto).Yaris will cost $17,690, up $1200 on the Echo manual sedan, and $19,190 for the auto, an extra $1400, but still under the $20,000 barrier.It now includes a host of standard safety features such as ABS, brake assist and electronic brakeforce distribution, while Barina features ABS as part of an $1190 option pack which also includes 15-inch alloys. Rio does not have ABS.Yaris, Barina and Rio sedans come with dual airbags standard, but Yaris has optional front side airbags and full-length curtain shield airbags for an extra $750.Barina features the same 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine as the hatch with 76kW of power, the Kia also has a 1.6-litre engine with 82kW, while the smaller 1.5-litre Yaris engine produces a comparable 80kW. The 1.3-litre VVT-i engine option is only available on the Yaris three-door hatch.The Yaris sedan is in a different league with its high level of standard specification that includes electronic throttle, electric power-assisted steering, and tilt and telescopic adjustable steering wheel.There is a host of accessories, including touch-screen satellite navigation, a six or four-disc MP3-capable CD changer, parking sensors and 15-inch sports wheels.Yaris sedan is longer and wider than the Echo sedan, but with the same turning circle of 9.8m and a lower roof. Toyota claims it is now a roomier car for passengers as well as cargo with a 475-litre boot, up nine litres on Echo.The chassis has been made more rigid to match the larger footprint on the road with a substantial front cross member and a series of body braces and reinforcing panels. The more rigid chassis also contributes to lower cabin noise which is further reduced by an aluminium cylinder block, a fully balanced crankshaft and an aerodynamic body.Suspension also has been beefed up with multi-leaf control valve dampers to reduce body roll as well as soak up bumps in the road.The new sedan is one of the first developed under Toyota's Eco-Vehicle Assessment System which measures the environmental impact from its production to its use and even to its eventual disposal.Environmental impact is reduced through use of water-based paint, elimination of PVC, fuel-efficient engine, power-saving air-conditioning and easier dismantling for recycling.Yaris sedan comes in nine colours; six are new and three are shared with the hatchback. Inside, Toyota introduces a new colour option they call "grege", a combination of grey and beige.Toyota executive director of sales and marketing David Buttner says the sedan bridges the gap between the hatch and the Corolla "without disadvantaging any model".

The high-octane Car-nival, planned to coincide with the opening of the Brisbane International Motor Show, will be the first of its type in the River City and will officially launch the 2006 V8 Supercar Championship Series.All 31 drivers, 20 team cars and 15 25m "B-Double" transporters will be on display.A similar gathering in Sydney last year attracted up to 15,000 rev-heads.Former series champion and Team Betta Electrical driver Craig Lowndes said while the popularity of the sport was growing, combining the events was a chance to extend the base. There are up to four million V8 fans in Australia."We think this will get the awareness out to a wider group of people and not just bashing the heads of those who are already converted," Lownes said.The list of motor show cars ranges from the $13,000 Holden Barina to the Pagani Zonda two-seat roadster, priced at $1.3 million.Motor Show organising committee chairman Chris Beecham said two Australian vehicles — the 300km/h Redback Spyder coupe and the $120,000 Croc Chopper custom motorcycle — were also expected to draw the crowds."It's the exotic cars people love to see, they come for those, having a once-a-year opportunity to compare everything under one roof. We proved that with last year's show, when we had a fantastic list of exotics and a record 128,000 visitors," Beecham said.Visitors to the show will be the first to see a record line-up of more than 50 new cars making their Queensland debuts.Manufacturers with models making their debuts include Alfa Romeo, Audi, Bentley, BMW, Ford, Holden and Lamborghini.Fiat returns after a long absence with the Grande Punto, Jaguar debuts its XK roadster and Mazda shows its MX-Crossport concept car.The tally of new models not seen before in Queensland is believed to be the biggest since the annual motor show launched in 1962, according to Beecham."There will be cars people have never seen before and might never see again except in a magazine, plus an unprecedented opportunity to see more than 50 of the absolute latest cars at least double what we've had in recent years — even before they appear in the showrooms."With around 40 car and motorcycle brands on show, Mr Beecham said the greater commitment of manufacturers and importers was warranted by the growing stature of the Queensland motor industry."Queenslanders bought around 22 per cent of all new vehicles last year, a record 216,000 units, and it's predicted our market will eventually surpass Victoria's," he said."The Queensland motor industry comprises more than 10,000 businesses, which employ around 70,000 people. What you'll see at the motor show will be not only fabulous cars but also a vital sign of our industry's strength."The Brisbane International Motor Show, founded in 1962, is organised by the Australian Automobile Dealers Association (Queensland), a division of the Motor Trades Association-Queensland.

The FJ Holden hot rod throwback will be a highlight of the Brisbane Motor Show from March 3-12 in the Brisbane Convention Centre.Built at the reasonable cost of $300,000, the Efijy was seen as an economic way of showcasing Holden's passion and talent when the company was enduring a tough time.It is clearly a throwback to the FJ and a creation which designer Richard Ferlazzo can be proud of.There is a bit of a mish-mash of everything in the car including Corvette running gear and components from many of Holden's suppliers.The bold 6-litre V8-powered custom coupe was an exercise Holden engaged in to show off its talents and passion as a car-proud bunch of petrolheads.The brand has gained presence and punch and an enormous amount of exposure and therefore the $300,000 was money well spent.GM Holden boss Denny Mooney said pictures of the Efijy had been used in magazines throughout the world and the car was in demand for overseas motor shows.Also, Holden will show its first diesel passenger car, the 1.9-litre Astra diesel, the just-released Barina sedan and the S3X which is the pre-production name for its new SUV.The Brisbane show will feature almost 40 brands, more than 50 new models, the national launch of the Toyota Yaris sedan, the return of several exotic marques such as Porsche, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Jaguar, Bentley, Maserati and Lotus.Supercars will hog the limelight with the $1.3 million Pagani Zonda V12 roadster and the 380km/h Redback Spyder built by hand in a Melbourne airport shed.The show also will feature a strong element of entertainment with the V8 Supercars season launch on the first Saturday, the ongoing building of a specialised chopper bike throughout the duration of the event, a collector number plate auction on the Wednesday, and daily Harley-Davidson fashion parades.Patrons also can win a SsangYong Kyron sports utility vehicle by clipping out a coupon which will appear in the show guide published in The Courier-Mail on March 1.There is also a Bug Jive 50cc scooter up for grabs every day of the show.Tickets to the show are available now online at www.brisbanemotorshow.com.au until February 24.Patrons who buy their tickets before then will go into the draw for a five-night holiday for two on South Molle Island including return airflights and transfers.Tickets are also available at CityTrain stations.