Holden Epica 2007 News

Holden chairman and managing director Mark Reuss is pushing the company into alternative fuels, using technology available from the General Motors' divisions. He says dedicated LPG products — the company has dual-fuel Commodore models — would use the latest fuel-injection technology to offer private and fleet buyers lower running costs. Ethanol-fuelled models running on E85 — 85per cent ethanol and 15 per cent petrol — would be offered on some models and diesels on others. Hybrids will follow, including Commodore and a smaller model. Holden next month will release a diesel version of its Epica small car to coincide with its Colorado light-commercial vehicle range that supersedes the Rodeo brand. It will be joined later by other Korean-sourced models including an updated Barina and Viva. Other diesels would be considered but the recent price rise of this fuel has placed doubt on the extent of the coverage. Also presenting problems is finding a suitable diesel engine for the Commodore. The move to alternative fuels and technology, together with a stream of vehicles from Korea, will put Holden back in market leadership “within a couple of years”, Reuss predicts. “In the not too distant future, you can expect to see Holden offering vehicles powered by dedicated LPG, ethanol and diesel and more fuel-efficient petrol engines and hybrids.” Reuss says Holden is looking at a range of options “rather than betting on one technology winner”. He says Holden was drawing on expertise from GM's global divisions. This move into unconventional technology is seen as boosting Holden's export potential. Australia's car industry is second only to minerals in export earnings and Holden is the biggest car exporter.  

The Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) awarded the mid-sized Korean-made car four stars for its occupant safety systems including side head protecting airbags on all models.

The car industry uses a web of alliances to survive.Lust, affairs, one-night stands, engagements, marriages and divorces — it can be hard sharing your love. It can also be expensive, especially if the human analogy is applied to the car business.DaimlerChrysler's recent divorce cost the now-solo Daimler AG a cool $33 billion.Daimler and its former partner, now known by her maiden name of Chrysler Group, still share the kids.These include shared components and manufacturing, including the Chrysler Crossfire (based on the previous Mercedes-Benz SLK) and Jeep Grand Cherokee, which uses Mercedes' V6 diesel engine and transmission.Daimler-Benz and Chrysler courted in the late 1990s, sealing their association in 1998 with a new name, DaimlerChrysler.The marriage was mutually beneficial. Daimler gained economies of scale and a new customer for engines, transmissions and an outlet for its old platforms. The previous Mercedes E-Class shares the same platform as the Chrysler 300C.Chrysler gained unprecedented, cost-effective access to the drivetrains used to power its distinctively styled cars.Of the divorce, shareholders of Daimler- Chrysler spitefully said “I knew it wouldn't work”.Marriages may be difficult, but alliances are what keep many car companies afloat.All these inter-relationships are spurred by one goal — profit. So competitive is the car industry that every dollar counts.Making cars cheaper improves profits, even if that means relocating factories to countries with low labour costs, non-existent unions and tax-free government incentives.Few would know that 10 models on the Australian market are made in Thailand. South Africa makes five, there's one from the Czech Republic, three from Slovakia, one from Poland, four from Malaysia and one from Indonesia.Build quality in most cases is as good as you'd expect from a country-of-origin factory.The biggest difference is manufacturing costs. Building a Volkswagen Golf in Germany, for example, costs substantially more than building the same car in South Africa. Sharing components such as engines, transmissions, platforms and bodies with a rival company — or at least one perceived as being a rival — is big business.The platform of the Mazda3 is similar to the Volvo S40 and Ford Focus. Ford has a big chunk of Mazda's shares and owns Volvo outright.The Toyota Aygo, a one-litre hatch soon to be sold in Australia, is built in the Czech Republic with the Citroen C1 and Peugeot 107. The only differences are interior trim, grilles, head and tail lights. Everything else, except the badge, is identical.General Motors has a giant web of ownership, component sharing and minor shareholdings. It owns Saab and Hummer, and rebadges cars including the Daewoo Matiz as Chevrolets.GM owned 20 per cent of Fiat until it dissolved the relationship in 2005. But retains component sharing deals and owns 50 per cent of Fiat's JTD diesel engine technology.GM also has 3 per cent of Suzuki (it had 20 per cent until selling down in March 2006) and 7.9 per cent of Isuzu.This relationship crosses with Fiat. Suzuki buys Fiat diesel engines for its European cars but also buys diesels from the PSA group (owner of Peugeot and Citroen) and Renault. Fiat this year will also supply diesel engine's to Saab.The Suzuki Splash, to be launched in Europe later this year is based on the Swift/SX4 platform, but will be rebadged the Opel/Vauxhall Agila for European sales.Fiat sells the Suzuki SX4 as the Sedici in Europe.Suzuki also owns 11 per cent of GM-DAT, the Korean-based company that makes the Holden Epica, Captiva, Viva and Barina.GM sold its 20 per cent of Subaru parent, Fuji Heavy Industries, in 2005. Fuji bought back most of the shares, though Toyota bought in and now owns 8.7 per cent of the company.Toyota also owns Daihatsu and has a big stake in Yamaha. Yamaha has an engineering alliance with Toyota — twin-cam engine and multi-valve heads included — and recently created the V8 engine for Ford-owned Volvo.GM also gets its Saab plant in Sweden to make the Cadillac BLS mid-size car, alongside its Saab 9-3 and 9-5.The Hyundai Sonata's 2.4-litre engine is shared with the Jeep Compass, Dodge Caliber, Chrysler Sebring and Mitsubishi Outlander.Renault has an alliance with Nissan and owns Samsung (Korea) and has a joint venture with Mahindra (India).Porsche's Cayenne SUV is built in Volkswagen's factory in Slovakia alongside the Volkswagen Touareg and Audi Q7. Porsche's Cayman is built in Finland. That's just the tip of iceberg.Peyton Place has nothing on these guys. 

It says the deal is legally binding and is not an opportunity to get a free car for a month.

But the offer does come with conditions: GM Holden spokesman John Lindsay says the money-back guarantee must be taken up within 30 days or when the mileage hits 1500km, whichever comes first.

GM Holden is fighting back in the car-sales war by entering a new model in the increasingly important medium-size segment and offering a unique “buy-back” scheme. The Holden Epica is the mid-size car taking on the Toyota Camry. On sale from today, it sits between the Astra and Commodore and will have small six-cylinder engines. Imported from South Korea, it will cost from $25,990, including alloy wheels, airconditioning, power windows and cruise control. GM Holden's new buy-back scheme is aimed at giving a point of difference to other brands. It gives other brand owners peace of mind in switching to Holden. The buy-back allows a private purchaser of a Holden Epica, who changes his or her mind in one month or 1500km and buys another brand car of equal or greater value, to get their money back. “Customers can see switching brands as a risk so, to provide reassurance and confidence, we are introducing this new offer,” Holden's marketing manager for small and medium cars Teresa Basile said. “Convincing buyers of other marques to switch is a key to achieving sales success.” The mid-size segment has become more important as such traditional Australian large cars, as Commodore, struggle largely because of high petrol prices. GM Holden's mid-size Vectra last year sold just 1510 cars, whereas the Toyota Camry sold 24,221 and, in the first two months this year, 6447, Vfacts figures from the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries reveal. Holden executive director of sales and marketing, Alan Batey, said the money-back offer would apply to Epicas bought by December 31 this year. “This offer is unique and a differentiated marketing tool to launch the new nameplate in this competitive mid-size segment,” he said. Epica in CDX form at $25,990 will have a two-litre, six-cylinder engine of 105kW power and manual gearbox with fuel economy rated at 8.2 litres/100km. Toyota Camry uses a 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine of 117kW power, from $28,000; Hyundai Sonata has a 2.4-litre four-cylinder of 118kW power from $25,990 and Mazda6 uses a 2.3-litre four-cylinder of 122kW from $28,285. Fast facts: Lexus LS460 On sale: NowPrice: $184,900Body: Sedan Engine: 4.6-litre V8 petrol; power 280kW@6400rpm, torque 493Nm @4100-2750rpm Transmission:Eight-speed sequential automatic, rear-wheel drive Fuel: 11.1 litres/100km (combined claim) Safety: The lot, including 10 (count 'em) airbags

Used car expert, Chris D'Sousa, says if you equip yourself with the right knowledge and the right frame of mind, you can find a good deal. And for cars up to $5000, you're best off looking for cars circa 1991 to 1995. D'Sousa, the operations manager for automotive information service Glass's Guide, says the car will generally have done about 180,000km to 240,000km but you can get ones with less kilometres if you look around and don't rush into a sale. In terms of models, he says the Japanese cars are best for reliability. "You could look at a Suzuki Swift or a Daihatsu Charade," he says. "Small cars would be the best way for younger people to go with a bigger range on offer. Nissan Pulsar, Toyota Corolla, Mitsubishi Lancer, Mazda 323, Honda Civic, Ford Laser, Daihatsu Applause, they're all reasonably reliable, providing they're in good condition." For those after a slightly bigger car, the Toyota Camry, Mazda 626, Ford Telstar and Holden Apollo are worth consideration. Even larger still, D'Sousa says there are many Falcons and Commodores available in this price range. But people should be aware these cars can be expensive to run and if you're working on a budget, smaller, four-cylinder engines are a better option. And when you've made that decision to buy a used car, D'Sousa says you should follow some important steps. "First they should identify the car they're looking for in terms of brand," he says. "If, for example, they like Corolla or Pulsar, they should understand prices and what your money can buy." For this, he recommends some research on websites, newspapers and magazines. Then you can begin the "window shopping" process. "Find a car closest to where you're living and have a look. Don't buy the first car you see, have a look at six or seven, it will give you an idea of what's good for your money." D'Sousa says buyers should be on the lookout for rust spots and should avoid buying cars from beachside areas if possible, as these are inclined to have some rust. Buyers should also be aware of poor repairs. "Drive the car, get a feel for it, does it handle well, check the oil is clean. If it's an auto, check it's changing gears properly, if it's manual, make sure the clutch isn't slipping." And if you don't know much about cars, be sure to get it checked by an expert. "Once vehicles get to these ages, they tend to suffer major mechanical faults if not serviced well," he says. When it comes to choosing a car, it can be a very emotional decision and D'Sousa warns that your feelings can get in the way. "Take someone with experience, such as a parent or friend, for a second opinion and to provide you with that balance," he says. "Some people buy with their heart rather than their head. With a car that age, it's very important you have a lot more than your heart." Airbags and ABS were just beginning to be introduced around 1994 and 1995 and D'Sousa says you may be able to find cars in this price range that have these features, mainly the larger ones. But he says these shouldn't be a priority and you should make sure the car is in good condition first. Newer cars could slip into this price range, with these features, and might seem like a bargain. But he warns the vehicle may be in poor condition. D'Sousa says another important step is to check the title to ensure the history of the vehicle. You can do this through the Register of Encumbered Vehicles (REVS). Some luxury European cars might also fit into this price range, but these often require expensive parts and are hard to service, so it may not be such a wise investment. D'Sousa advises people to stick to the more common cars and avoid vehicles with modifications. NRMA Insurance head of research Robert McDonald says when buying an older model make sure you do your homework and check for things such as collision repairs. McDonald also warns that modified vehicles are expensive to insure. "Modifications that can impact on insurance include increased engine size, expensive stereos, some alloy wheels, suspension lowering or raising, and expensive or elaborate paintwork. Check with your insurer first before buying or modifying a vehicle," he says.

The Epica becomes the fourth Korean-sourced product after the Barina, Viva and Captiva to join the local range.It is essentially a replacement for the Opel-built Vectra that was imported from Europe.The Epica will come with a choice of two in-line six-cylinder engines — a 2-litre or 2.5-litre CDX and CDXi.It comes from the General Motors plant in Bupyong in South Korea but extensive development was undertaken at Holden's Lang Lang proving ground outside Melbourne to tune its suspension for Australian conditions.While these highlight the arrival of Holden's first fresh product for 2007, the Melbourne-based manufacturer is also using the Brisbane show to launch a new Rodeo variant.The current Rodeo, which was launched at the Brisbane show a few seasons ago, will welcome a new turbo diesel powerplant.The 3-litre common-rail unit produces 120kW and is said to be the most powerful oil-burner to date in the Rodeo line-up.Another sure to attract its fair share of admirers is the Astra TwinTop, Holden's replacement for the convertible soft-top Astra.Following the trend set these days by the Europeans, Holden has moved to a metal folding top for the convertible Astra.It will share the limelight with the BMW 3-series convertible which makes its Australian debut in Brisbane less than two weeks after its international press launch in the United States.The Astra's metal roof, electronically controlled, takes 30 seconds to tuck away while the E93 model 3-series takes only 22 seconds.Holden says the new diesel Rodeo develops 25 per cent more peak power at lower revs and the new powerplant meets Euro 4 emissions standards.Along with the new oil burning engine there have been a few nips and tucks to its exterior with reworked front and rear fascias, a meaner induction bonnet scoop and updated fender flares.A comprehensive range of Holden's award-winning VE Commodores will dominate the stand including a cutaway display of the VE Calais V8 which won the CARSguide Car Of The Year in 2006.

The show, which opens on Friday, will feature the Australian debut of several models at the affordable end of the car world.Leading the way, Holden is expected to take the "top secret" covers off the Epica, its next lower-priced, mid-size sedan.The Korean-made Epica — tipped by dealers to start at $24,990, with the choice of two six-cylinder engines — replaces the European-made Vectra.The Epica will fit into the Holden line-up alongside the Barina and Viva, budget-priced Korean replacements for models previously designed and built in Europe.Malaysian brand Proton will launch its second-generation Satria Neo three-door hatchback in the city that has been its strongest Australian market.The Satria Neo, with a 1.6 litre engine, looks chunkier than its predecessor and will be $18,990 drive away.Honda will unveil a fresh-design CR-V all-wheel-drive wagon, with prices expected to start near $30,000.Nissan's compact Tiida model, given a $2000 price cut to start at $17,990, is expected to attract budget-minded shoppers. Like the Honda CR-V, production of the Tiida has been moved from Japan to Thailand.Continuing the price-down trend, Suzuki's new face will be the SX4, a 2.0 litre all-wheel-drive wagon that officially goes on sale on Thursday, priced from $24,990. It had been expected to be $26,990.French brand Peugeot will use the show for the Queensland unveiling of its new small car, the near-$20,000 207, about to go on sale with 1.4 litre, 1.6 litre and 1.6 litre turbo petrol engines, and a 1.6 litre diesel.The show, at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, South Bank, runs from Friday to February 11. It is open noon-10pm on weekdays, 10am-10pm on Saturdays and 10am- 6pm on Sundays. Admission is $16 for adults, $10 for children, and $42 for a family (two adults, three children).