SPY SHOTS : Production-ready 2011 Chevrolet Camaro Convertible spotted at Holden Plant in Australia !

We all know that the production 2011 Chevrolet Camaro Convertible is around the block, and will be released soon. However, for some who can't wait, there's NCE Camaro Convertible conversion offering. Nevertheless, with these new spy shots, the NCE conversion will very soon be sort of useless. Because what we have here, are spy shots of production-ready (even the paint), of the 2011 Chevrolet Camaro Convertible, that will be available in showrooms beginning of next year.

What's most interesting about these Camaro Convertibles, that they were found in GM Holden's Fishermans Bend plant in Melbourne, Australia. It's the same factory that also builds the Holden Commodore, which the new Camaro is actually based on. However, for a fact, GM say that the Camaro coupe is being built in GM's Oshawa plant in Canada; but could the Camaro Convertible be built in Australia, since these cars are fully production-ready and awaiting release? Well that's got to be a question to GM when they reveal the Camaro Convertible. On the other side though, the Camaro Convertible was spotted before on GM's Oshawa plant. Anywhere they're manufactured, the Camaro Convertible will carry over the same platform as the coupe; so the 3.6L V6 gets 304 hp, and the 6.2L SS V8 gets 426 hp with the manual, and 400 hp with the automatic.

Source : [Camaro5]

New Reveal : 2010 Holden Commodore SIDI

Introduction:

With many of the rear-drive family sedans are in-dangered species, the Australians are still primarily the ones who make the cheapest and the most fun out there. Yes, we are talking about the Holden Commodore, which the face of Australian RWD family sedan. The Commodore always had either two options, a base V6, and a massive American V8. For 2010 though, the Commodore SIDI line-up, adds a new small V6, a bigger V6, and the usual V8. Though styling hasn't changed, this still looks fresh, but we'll talk about the design when the next-generation Commodore comes-out.
Powertrain:

The 2010 Holden Commodore SIDI will newly come-up with a base direct-injection 3.0L V6, that puts-out 270 hp and 213 lb-ft of torque. Although this is the smallest V6 in a Commodore for the last decade, this V6 is actually as powerful as the current 3.6L V6. However, also for 2010, the 3.6L V6 is now rated at 281 hp and 258 lb-ft; though this engine is now an option. For the outrageous SS V8, it's the same 6.2L L99 V8 found in the new Chevrolet Camaro, so 400 hp and 395 lb-ft of torque. All engines also have replaced the 4-speed transmission, to Holden's new 6-speed automatic, with "Shift Tronic".
Fuel Economy:

The whole point that Holden actually moved-down for a 3.0L V6 as a base engine, is to save-up fuel and less CO2 for the environment. Holden says that the 3.0L engine gets up to 13% better gas mileage than the 3.6L, at 25 mpg at city, and 31 mpg on the highway. The extra power in the 3.6L engine doesn't get in the way of economy, so this engine get the same gas-mileage as last year. The new V8, with its Active Fuel Management, gets 16 mpg city, and 25 mpg highway.

Future Work:

This model-design of this Commodore will only last for 2010. So the 3.0L V6 Commodore is actually is a tease for the next year's all-new redesigned Commodore, that will come in end of 2010, as a 2011 model. Nonetheless, the next-generation Holden Commodore will get a new base engine, which is probably a turbocharged 4-cylinder, and the new 3.0L will be the mid-range, replacing the 3.6L. But we will always get the muscle V8, making this our favorite V8 muscle-sedan.

Source : [Holden via General Motors]

Top Gear Season 13 Episode 7: Vauxhall VXR8 Bathurst and Maloo at the track; Jay Leno a Star In A Reasonably Priced Car; ending video with V12 Vantage

It's the last episode of this season at Top Gear. We know it went so quickly, but the last show, the boys at Top Gear prepared a great show for their fans. This week, Richard Hammond hits out the Top Gear test-track, with two Australian Holden imports to prove a point. Hammond thinks that true sportscars are not only cheaper and more practical, but also better to drive than the business-men sports-sedan. He got to get the 2009 Vauxhall VXR8 Bathurst and the 2009 Vauxhall HSV Maloo. One is a supercharged 560 hp super-sedan, and the other is the fastest pick-up truck ever produced, or what the Australians call it a Ute. The Stig also recorded laps for the two.

Refresher:

- 2009 Vauxhall VXR8 Bathurst: Powered by a supercharged 6.2L LS3 V8, producing 560 hp and 527 lb-ft of torque. Launch to 60 mph comes in 4.6 seconds, on-wards to a limited top-speed of 155 mph.

- 2009 Vauxhall HSV Maloo Ute: Powered by a naturally-aspirated 6.2L LS3 V8, packing 420 hp and 405 lb-ft of torque. 0-60 mph is delt in 5 seconds-flat, and top speed is limited to 155 mph. That makes it the world's fastest Ute (pick-up)

In the Star In A Reasonably Priced Car, Jeremy Clarkson usually interviews British celebrates, that mostly are only known in the UK. This episode though, the all-time-great talk-show host Jay Leno. Surprisingly, Leno is actually a #1 petrol-head, and he owns 150 cars in his garage. Leno also got to set a lap-time in the Chevrolet Lacetti. Want to know more? Just watch the embedded video below.



Finally, we come to the end of this week's Top Gear Episode feature. Top Gear ended this season with a 4-minute scenery-drive in the amazing and fabulous Aston Martin V12 Vantage, that actually felt sad to end-in the show. Personally, this was the best bit in this episode and it's really worth the watch.

Top Gear will be back for a 14th season in the winter.

GM branches: HUMMER purchased by China's Sichuan Tengzhong; Koenigsegg interested in SAAB; 16 buyers interested in Saturn; Holden safe from bankruptcy

It just been days, that General Motor announced that it's entering Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection filing, which should clear off into a "New GM", that should be into the new business within 90 days. Well, GM immediately headed off for new changes. It was earlier reports that GM will focus on less brands and less cars, to produce better quality and better service.

Well first up, Hummer. It was reported earlier that two Arab investors were interested in buying Hummer's stake. However, it was announced today GM and China's Sichuan Tengzhong for Heavy Industrial Machinery reached a deal into the purchase of Hummer. That right, Hummer is now fully-owned by a Chinese company! GM said that Tengzhong is a "privately-owned company and a leading domestic manufacturer of road, construction and energy industry equipment." On Tengzhong side, they announced that Hummer will still be manufactured in the U.S, which will secure more than 3,000 American jobs in factories and management. Tengzhong plans to produce more Hummer fuel-efficient trucks, and spread Hummer dealers worldwide. - [The New York Times]

In other GM brands, there's Saab. Saab was once asking their originated Swedish government to take loans for their independence from GM. However, GM is still considering any profitable bids from other companies to sell it to. Well, it was also once reported that China's Geely automaker is in fact interested to buy stake in Saab. Joining Geely, a report from the Swedish financial daily newspaper, Dagens Industri, Sweden's own supercar builder Koenigsegg, is now one of the parties interested in buying General Motors' Saab brand. GM announced that Saab's new owner should be decided by end of June. - [Reuters]

GM is also considering on selling Saturn. Saturn is the GM brand that ships Opel vehicles to the states. Well, now after GM have sold Opel to Canadian auto part Magna, Saturn is in a deep downfall. Nevertheless, 16 companies (GM weren't allowed to announce who they are) are bidding for the purchase of Saturn from GM. The sale of Saturn should help GM repay some of its debts. - [Detroit Free Press]

Finally, there's General Motor's Australian branch, Holden. Holden is responsible for such great cars like the Holden Commodore (Pontiac G8 in U.S. and Chevrolet Lumina in the Middle East), and the all-new 2010 Chevrolet Camaro that shares platform with the Commodore. It was stated today that GM intends to keep its relationship with Holden, and that it's safe from any bankruptcy terms. "We don't anticipate GM's bankruptcy will have any direct impact on Holden's workforce, dealers, or suppliers," said Holden Chairman and Managing Director, Mark Reuss. GM also announced that Holden will be a big part of the 'New GM' after the bankruptcy Chapter 11 filing. - [Stuff.Co.Nz]

Report : Australia's Dog & Lemon Guide says Australian auto industry is doomed !

As we know, Holden is the face of the Australian car industry. However, Holden is actually owned by General Motors, and we know what that means these days. With the crisis following GM, Holden is effected too.

Clive Matthew-Wilson, editor of Australia's Dog & Lemon Guide and industry analysts, says there's no way around a central fact of Australian automobile production: "Australia's car factories are losing money on every vehicle they make." Because of that, he believes that there is no future for the domestic car industry Australia, no matter how much money the government provides to keep factories open.

So, not only is Holden effected, but Ford Australia as well. Because of the economic Australian auto shutdown, Ford Australia is losing money too. Wilson thinks that's because of the high prices of local Australian cars.

''Globally, there's a glut of new cars at bargain prices," he says, "yet Australia, which produces a small number of high cost cars, is trying to compete with countries like China.... The Australian car industry can re-focus on small cars, green cars, blue cars or red cars. None of this will make the slightest difference."

So overall, it seems the Australian is shutting down due to market consumer change.

To read more on Wilson's Australian auto industry analysts, click the source below.

Source : [Sydney Morning Herald]

SPY SHOTS : Australian company wants Pontiac G8 to be next police cruiser

This Pontiac G8 GT spotted sitting outside Holden head office looking ready to tackle some criminals in a Japanese tuner. As we all know, American muscles are best at being a police crusier. Simply beacause, they've got big V8s with massive torque, rear-wheel drive, and can hold-up a chase with no problems at all.

For instance, Police agencies across the United States and the world are chock full of Ford Crown Victoria police cruisers. In all, there are nearly half a million of Vitoria polices around the world. And because they've been in the police business for good-times and got old, the Dodge Charger has taken its place now. In the US, Canada, Mexico, some Asian countries, and even the Middle East are full of Dodge Charger police crusiers. Well, the Holden Commodore (Pontiac G8 in the picture) also wants to take part in the police department.

According to CarPoint, this Pontiac G8 police crusier is a prototype designed by National Safety Agency (NSA) for the Los Agneles Police Department (LAPD). NSA says that this G8 meets all the LAPD and the Association of Public Safety Communication Officials regulations. So it has several police-specific technologies on-board, including a integrated computer mounted into the dash.

Source : [CarPoint]

RumorMill : GM's Holden to Build New Compact Car with a 4-Cylinder Engine Based on Opel Astra & Chevy Cruze

Holden, it's known for its massive sedans and massively appealing V8s and low-prices. However, how will they do if they made small, compact 4-cylinder cars? Well, Holden announced that they'll be inderdoucing a compact car (sketch above) in late 2010 in both four door sedan and hatchback versions. The yet unnamed compact model will be based on GM's global Delta small car architecture that underpins the Chevy Cruze as well as the next-generation Opel / Vauxhall / Saturn Astra. Holden will also be offering their own 4-cylinder engine that they say will be more "sporty" than other Delta cars. However, if GM goes bankrupcy, Holden will cancel the project, obviously.

So if Holden does it, the new compact sedan will have to stave off competition from Toyota, Honda, Hyundai, as well as the parade of cheap Chinese cars. So can Holden convince the small sedan/ hatchback owners that Australia can do it? That's the answer to be found out in the sales report when this comes out in 2011.

Source : [Drive.com.au]