2017/18 Commodore?

[johnydep]

It's a front drive concept, its the right size & it's designed here, built in China.

Hope it happens, though the article makes it sound like a very remote possibility.

Buick's new Avenir concept has been hailed a "celebration" of Holden's local design team.

The design team based at Holden's Melbourne headquarters was chosen by the General Motors leadership to not only design but also build the Avenir concept ahead of the company's American studio.

Speaking at the unveiling of the Avenir ahead of the 2015 Detroit motor show, Alan Batey, GM North America president and former Holden managing director, said the Australian team will play a crucial role for the company into the future, despite the closure of its local manufacturing operations by 2017.

"I'll always have a part of me in Holden," Batey said. "This is a celebration of Fisherman's Bend and the team we have down there, they are the best. It's not by chance they were selected to work with our team here. There are a lot of our people here tonight."

Asked why they were chosen, Batey said the Holden team remains highly respected by General Motors management that includes another former Holden managing director, Mark Reuss who is now head of GM's global product development, and New Zealand born GM President Dan Ammann.

"They just do great work… They always exceed everyone's expectations. Mark, as you know, like myself is always going to have a part of him embedded in Holden," Batey said.

Batey added: "We've got a lot of capability down there and a lot of experience and we're going to leverage it and use it and that isn't going to change… Holden will play a key role in our future design work."

Ammann said the Holden team did "great work" while Reuss said the company would continue to utilise the local design team long after production stops in Australia.

"Holden has got an incredible design capability and they have an incredible engineering capability and we leverage that all over the place with all our different regions and countries with capabilities," Reuss said.

Holden employs approximately 140 designers at its Melbourne studio to work on three key areas - advanced design for GM in general as well as future production cars and concept cars like the Buick.

Holden design director Richard Ferlazzo was joined by six colleagues from Melbourne in Detroit for the Avenir's unveiling.

Although Ferlazzo is eager for the design studio to continue to work on future production cars for overseas markets – such as the Chevrolet Camaro which it turned from a concept into a production-ready model – he admits that concepts like the Buick Avenir will be the brand's biggest showcases.

"Yes, that's our service that we provide to any brand for Ed Welburn [GM's global design boss] another interpretation, from another studio that can detach itself a bit and offer something fresh," Ferlazzo told Drive.

He also revealed that it was the Holden studio's decision to make the Avenir a large sedan, not any directive from GM management.

Whether the Holden team, or any other GM development team, get to turn the Avenir into a production car remains uncertain.

Batey, Reuss and Ammann all stressed it is currently strictly a concept.

"What it ultimately comes down to is a business case," Batey said. "And at this point in time we haven't even started looking at a business case. This was done, honestly, as an appreciation to show the world what we can do with Buick."

Reuss was equally cagey but didn't rule out the possibility of the Avenir making Australian showrooms wearing a Holden badge.

"There's no Buick in Australia so it would have to be something different in Australia. We'll see," he said.

[arronm]

And I thought the FGX was ugly. Yuk

[graphicgoose]

http://www.caradvice.com.au/329796/h...e-beyond-2017/

[FGX008]

Originally Posted by johnydep

It's a front drive concept, its the right size & it's designed here, built in China.

Hope it happens, though the article makes it sound like a very remote possibility.

You can see the VF influence! I would not be surprised to learn it was designed around the VF's base architecture.

[SensationFG8]

That's actually not too shabby, plenty of potential there and much nicer than the Mazda they're currently pushing.

Maybe if they at least do awd it will fill the SS gap.

[buggerlugs]

That grille worries me. How the hell do you attach the chev badge on to that ?

[mtbkym01]

Originally Posted by buggerlugs

That grille worries me. How the hell do you attach the chev badge on to that ?

[MITCHAY]

If Holden can not get something remotely comparable to a Commodore, I think they will drop a lot of volume. I would not buy anything other than a Commodore from their range as it stands.

I would however buy a Fiesta, Focus, Mondeo etc from Ford.

[zilo]

I reckon they might sell about 140 of them, cause that's how many Australians will be employed to make it...

Made In China? To flog back to us?

Stick it where the sun don't shine GM or err...ummm "Holden"....LOL.

[mtbkym01]

Originally Posted by MITCHAY

If Holden can not get something remotely comparable to a Commodore, I think they will drop a lot of volume. I would not buy anything other than a Commodore from their range as it stands.

I would however buy a Fiesta, Focus, Mondeo etc from Ford.

This exactly, the Craptiva and it's siblings really are pieces of junk

[mr smith]

Holden are doomed..

[danzvtil]

"The design team based at Holden's Melbourne headquarters was chosen by the General Motors leadership to not only design but also build the Avenir concept ahead of the company's American studio."

"He also revealed that it was the Holden studio's decision to make the Avenir a large sedan, not any directive from GM management."

What, so they WERE selected to do it but they weren't?? Im confused.
I call BS on the whole it could come to Australia thing, this is a China specific model by looking at specs, GM aren't going to pay for its design team just to design this for fun.

[deadfish2]

There was an article the other day that confirmed from head honcho of Holden that a Chinese based commodore isn't coming to Australia...

[deadfish2]

[/URL]

[arronm]

FWD cars are for your mum...

[Nikked]

I'd be impressed if mum had a Cooper S.

[Bossxr8]

Good to see the Holden execs already realise the only way they can sell it, is to confuse idiots by calling it Commodore.

[MethodX]

Thought this was 4wd.
Looks good anyway.

[Windsor220]

So basically nobody knows whats going on

[GTP-RPD]

I hope the link works.

[URL="http://www.wheelsmag.com.au/news/1501/2018-commodore-already-in-australia/[/URL]

[GTP-RPD]

Take 2

http://www.wheelsmag.com.au/news/150...-in-australia/

[1TUFFUTE]

And people wonder why I, among others bag Holden/GMH!
Looking at ford and Holden is like chalk and cheese right now.....and for the far foreseeable future!

[MethodX]

Originally Posted by 1TUFFUTE

And people wonder why I, among others bag Holden/GMH!
Looking at ford and Holden is like chalk and cheese right now.....and for the far foreseeable future!

For no reason really.
Ford is leaving... you should be bagging them.

[deluxe_]

Originally Posted by MITCHAY

If Holden can not get something remotely comparable to a Commodore, I think they will drop a lot of volume. I would not buy anything other than a Commodore from their range as it stands.

I would however buy a Fiesta, Focus, Mondeo etc from Ford.

Agreed. The Holden range doesn't seem to offer anything appealing or doesn't have the winning edge over its competitors. We can safely conclude that the driving force of the Holden brand is only commodores, without it, the entire brand is at risk of collapsing entirely.

[Vormund]

FWD? Other places were saying it's RWD. Look at the proportions of the front section.
http://blog.caranddriver.com/qa-buic...rive-flagship/

[ebv8]

if its FWD they will sell as many as they did malibu's

Commodore enthusiasts will either buy a Camaro or Colarado (maybe not the colarado)
Falcon enthusiasts will buy a Mustang or a Ranger

a FWD car will never replace the Commodore or Falcon!

FWD buyers will still buy Toyota's, Mazda's & Hyundai's

[zilo]

Originally Posted by ebv8

if its FWD they will sell as many as they did malibu's

Commodore enthusiasts will either buy a Camaro or Colarado (maybe not the colarado)
Falcon enthusiasts will buy a Mustang or a Ranger

a FWD car will never replace the Commodore or Falcon!

FWD buyers will still buy Toyota's, Mazda's & Hyundai's

FWD cars are already replacing comnmodores and falcons mate.

Just look around at any traffic lights..

[johnydep]

Originally Posted by ebv8

if its FWD they will sell as many as they did malibu's

Commodore enthusiasts will either buy a Camaro or Colarado (maybe not the colarado)
Falcon enthusiasts will buy a Mustang or a Ranger

a FWD car will never replace the Commodore or Falcon!

FWD buyers will still buy Toyota's, Mazda's & Hyundai's

I prefer rear drive, but the writings on the wall - http://www.wheelsmag.com.au/news/150...-in-australia/
Jacoby also essentially admitted the imported Commodore would not be rear-wheel drive, instead relying largely on front-wheel drive, with four-wheel-drive models for some applications.

“I’m coming from a front-wheel-drive group – the VW/Audi Group [referring to his previous posting] – with this company we don’t believe there is a true disadvantage between a front-wheel-drive Audi, at the time, towards a rear-wheel-drive BMW,” he said. “You know that BMW is changing its entire C-segment vehicles to front-wheel drive?”

[ebv8]

Originally Posted by zilo

FWD cars are already replacing comnmodores and falcons mate.

Just look around at any traffic lights..

i'm talking about the enthusiasts cars like XR6t, SS and so-on

[Dr Smith]

Originally Posted by MethodX

For no reason really.
Ford is leaving... you should be bagging them.

oh wait and Holden is staying with 100+ designers while Ford will struggle with over 1000+ designers, engineers and who ever else is needed... which one will pour more into the Australian economy post 2017. Anyway back o/t, nice design but I can sense Holden and it's International execs need to work out their lines before doing pressers.