Holden Barina News

They bring glitz and glamour to the Clipsal 500 - but there's more than meets the eye when it comes to these grid girls. JESSICA (23) Usual occupation: Marketing co-ordinator at Stamford Hotels. How long have you been a grid girl? Three years.Why did you decide to be a grid girl? Having the chance to be involved with such an iconic Adelaide event as the Clipsal 500 is an amazing opportunity and every year I can't wait for February to come around.Best thing about being a grid girl? Working with such beautiful and amazing girls and meeting lots of interesting people.Worst thing? It only comes around once a year.Tell me about your usual day job: Busy!How different is your day job to being a grid girl? I work in a corporate environment, so it's nice to get all glammed up for the Clipsal 500 weekend.How do you think grid girls are perceived? For the most part, quite well. Clipsal always choose the girls who can best represent their company as well as themselves, and it shows through the amazing girls we have on the team. There will always be those few negative people no matter what you do.Do some people have the wrong perception of grid girls? Everyone in the team has and is achieving great things in their life. There is definitely more than meets the eye.V8 team of choice? It has to be Holden.What type of car do you drive? Hyundai Excel. KARA (25) Usual occupation: Miner/trades assistant/student.How long have you been a grid girl? Two years.Why did you decide to be a grid girl? When I was in high school I saw them and thought what a glamorous and amazing job that would be.Best thing about being a grid girl? The atmosphere and excitement of the Clipsal 500 is an amazing experience.What's the worst aspect? That Clipsal 500 only lasts four days and the week flies by too fast.Day job? I work at a mine site 600km from Adelaide, doing shutdowns as a gas tester and standby person. The site has both below ground and above ground plants. My job involves testing atmospheres where people will be working to make sure it is safe for them to do their job and to implement any precautions if necessary. When I am not in the mines I work as a trades assistant in Adelaide for a company that installs, repairs and maintains bore pumps. I am also studying my diploma in Occupational Health and Safety to gain a more permanent position in the mining industry.How different is your day job to being a grid girl? Extremely! I go from no hair and make-up, being hot and sweaty, dirty and wearing baggy overalls and a hard hat, to wearing gorgeous outfits made by an amazing South Australian designer with full hair and make-up and lots of people wanting to take photos.How do you think grid girls are perceived? They're an exciting addition to the racing scene, adding glitz and glamour.Do you think some people have the wrong perception of them? People will always have their own perceptions. But we get a positive response from the fans and spectators and we thoroughly enjoy what we do.V8 team of choice? Holden. Craig Lowndes for Red Bull Racing is always exciting to watch and is a real gentleman.What car do you drive? A 1993 Mazda MX5 Clubman.BRITTANY (20) Usual occupation: Sammy D Foundation volunteer, student, bartender at Sky City Adelaide.How long have you been a grid girl? Three years.Why did you decide to be a grid girl? I wanted to be a grid girl since I attended Clipsal 500 with my dad from a young age. Seeing the girls in their outfits looked like so much fun. Best thing about being a grid girl? Being on the grid and the Harley Davidson lap.Worst thing? Early mornings!Tell me about your day job? I volunteer on the Sammy D Foundation's Great Night Out blog-a-van, which goes around SA collecting video blogs from young people on their thoughts about alcohol-fuelled violence and what must be done about it. Several years ago a good friend, Sam Davis, was king-hit and died in an unprovoked attack, so it's good to spend time supporting the Sammy D Foundation set up in his memory, and help educate young people to understand why it's important to make good decisions, look after mates and ways to avoid violence. I'm also studying psychology and criminal justice at Flinders Uni.How different is your day job to being a grid girl? Being a grid girl we get to meet many different types of people, which is quite similar to what I do every day, just with less glitz.How do you think grid girls are perceived? Too often we're seen as being a bit 'ditzy".Do people have the wrong perception of them? I think some do. Most of us are either studying or in careers, as well as knowing a lot about the race.V8 team of choice? Holden.What car do you drive? Holden Barina. 

Paramount pictures is using the 2014 Super Bowl to give us our first taste of the upcoming film Transformers: Age of Extinction.The upcoming fourth instalment of the Transformers franchise brings a new cast led by Mark Wahlberg, and new Tranformers too in the form of Dinobots.The General Motors tie up continues too with the sometimes-Camaro Bumblebee, but the only products visible in this clip are a Chevrolet version of the Holden Malibu and a Chevrolet Sonic (Holden Barina).We also know that Autobot head-honcho Optimus Prime will transform (he, he) from a Peterbilt to a Western Star for the film, which arrives in cinemas mid-year. Watch the desktop version of the Transformers: Age of Extinction Super Bowl teaser here. This reporter is on Twitter: @Mal_Flynn

Think your 4WD can already go anywhere? It could easily get a whole lot tougher with these 'lock'n'loaded' tank tracks that will take your ute or suv to a higher level.Designed by US-based engineering firm AD Boivin, the Track N Go system is a quick-fit system that has you simply drive up onto the treads, lock them in place, remove the loading ramps -- and off you go to conquer new rugged territory.The treads are powered by your vehicle's tyres, making the whole operation simple. And while it's not the first tank tread kit we've seen, it's the first on the market to not require a complicated mechanical conversion to get going. However, they're not cheap, priced at more than $25,000 and heavy enough to set you back quite a bit on freight as well.And although we think they'd look the biz on the little Mitsubishi Mirage city hatch currently in the Carsguide test garage, sadly the Track N Go can only be used on V8 and V6 vehicles with a full 4WD two-stage (low and high) transfer case, leaf spring suspension and diff lock on the rear axle. So that means the test Holden Barina is out of the running as well.Watch the turn your car into a tank video on our desktop site.This reporter is on Twitter: @KarlaPincott 

As the Australian car sales race heads into the final quarter lap for 2013, most eyes are on what will be the top car. But further back in the field, there’s been a big improvement for several European models, which are posting sales lifts of up to 1000 per cent as a result of aggressive price cuts.Leading the charge is Fiat’s 500 which was slashed more than $10,000 in June, and now starts at just $14,000. This resulted in 310 buyers last month, compared to just 86 before the price drop. The little Italian car has increased in sales at the rate of 850 per cent every month since June, in a market that shrank by almost 15 per cent.Fiat as a whole is benefiting too, with the 1765 sales so far this year being more than a 500 per cent increase over the 328 at this stage in 2012. While the Fiat 500 is attracting customers, established competitors like the Holden Barina, Nissan Micra, Suzuki Alto and Swift and Toyota Yaris have meanwhile seen a decline in sales year-to-date.This means that for the first time, the 500 is outselling more than half its competitors. Meanwhile, Alfa Romeo’s small models, which also received price cuts recently, have returned positive results – albeit on fairly low numbers. MiTo has doubled in sales in the premium light car segment from 23 to 45, while its larger sibling, Giulietta – in a field that includes the Toyota Corolla, Holden Cruze and Mazda 3, found 324 new homes compared to just 88 before the new pricing strategy.The local HQ says the surge in sales is due to sharper pricing and specifications and more dealership support. “The success is a result of a combination of factors: an expanded and engaged dealer network, streamlined vehicle spec levels and sharper pricing – as well as strong and smart marketing support,” Fiat and Alfa Romeo spokesperson Karla Leach says.With the international launch of the new Alfa Romeo 4C sport car this week – estimated to cost somewhere around $75,000 when it arrives here -- the Italian brand is buckling up for the challenge of luring customers with a few more dollars to spend. Leach says Fiat and Alfa Romeo have serious intentions to keep strengthening their position here. “We have strong ambition for the continued growth of these brands in Australia,” she says. But it’s not just Italians aggressively tackling the entry level market.Renault last month introduced the cheapest Clio ever, firmly cementing the French brand into the budget light car segment with an entry-level price of under $17,000. Keen to be seen as a viable alternative, Renault has hit hard at competitors, offering five-year, unlimited kilometre warranty and fixed price servicing. Renault Australia managing director Justin Hocevar said at the Clio unveiling last month that the brand has high expectations of the car.“We have a fantastic value proposition in terms of a beautifully designed vehicle with high levels of personalisation, at an extremely competitive price.” he said. Traditional options like Mazda, Hyundai and Toyota still dominate the light and small car segments, but European rivals are fighting hard to gain credibility as mainstream brands.The big winners are the buyers, who may now afford to consider Italian design, French flair or German precision for the same price as more established mainstream manufacturers. The exception to the success story is Opel, which failed to accrue enough buyers in its very short stint in Australia. Despite competitive prices, the German brand disappeared in August, posting less than 1,000 sales this year between the Astra and Corsa small cars combined. 

That might sound like a silly answer to a serious question, but it's the best solution for optimum shopping in the back end of 2013. You see, Korea now makes better Japanese cars than the Japanese. And that's a fact.There are some exceptions, and some categories where the Koreans are still getting a foothold, but a Hyundai i30 or a Kia Cerato is a far better choice than a Mitsubishi Lancer, a Kia Sportage makes more sense than a Honda CR-V, and a Hyundai Santa Fe is much better buying than a Toyota Kluger.This Korean tide has been rising for a while, but it's now filled showrooms with quality cars that are backed by industry-leading five-year warranties with capped-price servicing costs. The two Korean juggernauts are also serious about tuning their cars for Australian drivers and roads, which is becoming a serious selling point and also a battlefield for bragging rights between Hyundai and Kia.Even Daewoo, which was absorbed into the Holden empire to provide cut-price cars such as the Barina and Captiva, is now doing a better job as the engineering and design expertise from Fishermans Bend is absorbed deeply into the Korean content on the cars. And don't forget that the Aussie-made Cruze compact, despite its local tweaking and assembly in Adelaide, began its life at the GM Daewoo division in Korea.Without getting into a history lesson, the seismic shift between Japan and Korea comes down to three things. First is the deep-seated rivalry between the two countries, second is the well-lit path to success blazed by Japanese makers including Honda and Toyota, and third is the Global Financial Crisis. How's that?Well, nothing makes a Korean businessman happier than beating a Japanese rival, even though the Japanese were the first Asian companies to achieve success in motoring thanks to cars like the Toyota Corolla, Honda Civic and the classy machines that followed. These days, the Nissan GT-R is a legend and the Toyota LandCruiser is an icon.So the Koreans assimilated the Japanese business model for cheap, reliable and sensible cars - think of the Hyundai Elantra and Kia Rio - and then found a way to build them with similar quality at a lower price. There was a time when the cabins of Korean cars stank - because of the 'release agent' applied to plastic parts - and the assembly was slipshod and downmarket, but not today. They also have aircon with Japanese efficiency, always a pointer to intelligent engineering in Australian weather.But it's the GFC which has made the biggest difference. While the Japanese brands panicked, cutting costs and stretching the lifetimes of their cars, the Koreans accelerated their development plans, brought new models, and invested in their dealerships in Australia.The results are obvious now as many Japanese cars - we're talking about the Honda Civic and Subaru Impreza - have lost their previous edge, while others - think Mitsubishi Pajero and Subaru WRX - are way overdue for a remake.In the meantime, Hyundai is now plotting a move upmarket with its luxury Genesis models and Kia is setting a global standard for quality styling thanks to its recruiting of design genius Peter Schreyer. Best of all, when you're buying, it's the driveaway pricing that's been a Korean signature since Hyundai blazed that trail in the 1990s to get nervous shoppers over the line.This reporter is on Twitter: @paulwardgover 

Holden has given its baby Barina a much needed boost. The turbocharged Barina RS has been confirmed for Australia and is due to arrive in local showrooms next month. Price is yet to be confirmed but expect an RRP between $20,000 and $25,000. Significantly this undercuts the Ford Fiesta ST hot hatch which starts at $25,990 and the Volkswagen Polo GTI which costs $27,990. However, the Barina RS is more of a “warm hatch” powered by a comparatively small 1.4-litre turbo engine (103kW/200Nm) compared to the Ford’s 1.6 turbo (147kW/290Nm) and the VW’s turbo and supercharged 1.4 (132kW/250Nm). But it is said to still offer zippy performance in an otherwise hum-drum category. The Holden Barina RS will be sourced from South Korea along with the rest of the Australia-bound Barina range, but a US-built version has already been on sale in North America for more than a year. Sold as the Sonic in the US (made in Michigan about 50km north of Detroit, the first Chevrolet small car made in the US in 40 years) it has received mostly positive reviews from an audience that customarily does not embrace small cars. Car and Driver magazine said: “We’re not quite ready to break out the ‘super’ prefix for the Sonic, but it does appear to mark the return of the American small car. This is not the second coming of the Volkswagen GTI, but the Sonic turbo injects some serious fun in a segment that usually puts performance on the back burner.” Among the few criticisms of the car, the magazine said it had a noticeable turbo lag, or delay in power delivery, at low revs compared to other models. Motor Trend magazine said: “Buyers hoping for a high-strung, highly caffeinated Sonic will likely wish for more performance. But compare the Sonic RS to other segment players, and the sum of its parts becomes hard to match.” Even the stern Consumer Reports rated it “very good”. This reporter is on Twitter: @JoshuaDowling  

Holden has confirmed the Barina RS will be launched before the end of the year – and that the first shipment has already hit our shores for final evaluation at the Lang Lang proving grounds and out on our roads. There are no details yet on price or specification. And while the overseas model is powered by a 103kW/200Nm 1.4-litre turbo four-cylinder, there are also rumours the newcomer might be getting the new 132kW/230Nm 1.6-litre turbocharged four that now tops the Cruze range. Dressing it up will be a sporty body kit with a large rear spoiler, front and rear fascias and side skirts, 17-in alloy wheels and a new RS-only hero colour: Orange Rock.   The interior gets RS-badged sports seats and a flat-bottomed steering wheel. Holden has put the Barina RS through extensive validation, and undertaken local engineering development on an electric power steering system unique to the Australian showroom. The current Barina range tops out at $20,990, so we can expect the price to be a few thousand above that, but still strategically positioned against the competition in an increasingly competitive segment. Its main rival will be the $24,990 Ford Fiesta ST, but with strong bids from the European contenders in the form of the $27,790 Volkswagen Polo GTI and $29,990 Peugeot 208 GTI. This reporter is on Twitter: @KarlaPincott  

Holden sold its last Combo in May and has no plans to import any more of the practical vans. The Combo was the last vehicle Holden sourced from its German sister company Opel.A few years ago, the company also took its Barina mini car and Vectra medium car from Europe but their replacements are now imported from the South Korean division of General Motors. It was not clear whether or not Opel would eventually introduce the new generation Combo van to local customers after the brand was launched in Australia last September.The answer turned out to be a resounding no given Opel's shock decision to pull the plug on its embryonic Australian operation in early August. Holden could still import the new Opel Combo and slap its own badge on the nose, but Holden spokeswoman, Andrea Matthews, tells Carsguide that isn't going to happen."There are no plans to replace the Barina Combo," she says. Ms Matthews said the business case just doesn't support bringing the new Combo to Australia. Given the competitive nature of the small van market in Australia, which involves everything from the Volkswagen Caddy to the Renault Kangoo and Suzuki APV, it is not hard to see how Holden reached that conclusion. 

Holden has upstaged luxury brands to be the first car maker in Australia to introduce Apple’s Siri voice control system.Not only is the Holden the first, it is also likely to be the most affordable car with the technology for some time.The system will debut in the updated version of the Holden Barina due in showrooms this month. The only catch: it is only available on the top-line Barina CDX which starts at $20,490, about $4500 more than the most basic model.In the past 12 months most car makers have expressed an intention to introduce Apple’s patented Siri voice control system to its cars.German car maker Mercedes-Benz was the first with Siri overseas but the technology isn’t due on models sold in Australia until later this year. The new Holden Commodore due in June is also expected to be Siri-ready.Technology experts point out that Apple’s Siri system works via the iPhones in any car when connected via Bluetooth. But the advantage of the integrated Holden system is that drivers can press a button on the steering wheel – rather than the phone – to activate Siri functions.“We’re very excited to be first car maker to offer Siri in Australia and to make it available on one of our most affordable models,” said Holden spokeswoman Andrea Matthews. “We hope this will enable more drivers to be less distracted behind the wheel.”This reporter is on Twitter: @JoshuaDowling 

The new top-spec Barina CDX will with six-speed automatic gearbox will be the first to feature the Holden MyLink system when it goes on sale in November, starting from $20,490 for the hatch and an extra $500 for the sedan -- $2500 more than the equivalent CD model.The MyLink system uses the content of compatible smartphones, connected via Bluetooth, input jack or USB, but adds a new level of access to internet radio and navigation. A touchscreen controller for the MyLink system displays images and videos, as well as information from the phonebook and music player.MyLink will us the Stitcher Smart Radio application, as well as giving access to a growing number of applications to access global music and podcast content, including Pandora Internet Radio and TuneIn Radio, offering access to free talk radio, music radio and podcasts on demand from around the world.The system also works with BringGo Navigation. A nav app which runs on the mobile device but is controlled and viewed on the MyLink touch screen. Holden says its new MyLink infotainment system is the next level of integration when it comes to cars and smartphones.Also on the features list are 17-in alloys, rear parking sensors, fog lights, leather-wrapped steering wheel and gearshifter, "Sportec" seat trim, trip computer, heated front seats, under-seat storage for the front passenger and MyLink.