Holden To Produce Hybrid Cars By 2010

[carnut01]

looks (http://www.drive.com.au/Editorial/ArticleDetail.a spx?ArticleID=52633) like Holden are set to start producing a Hybrid Commodore within the next couple of years:cool:

they are also evaluating (http://www.drive.com.au/Editorial/ArticleDetail.a spx?ArticleID=52635) the reintroduction of a 4 cylinder commodore as well:eek:

[monarocveightz]

Great news:)

[Mux]

What a joke.

[barnart]

looks (http://www.drive.com.au/Editorial/ArticleDetail.a spx?ArticleID=52633) like Holden are set to start producing a Hybrid Commodore within the next couple of years:cool:

they are also evaluating (http://www.drive.com.au/Editorial/ArticleDetail.a spx?ArticleID=52635) the reintroduction of a 4 cylinder commodore as well:eek:


4 Cylinder Commodore, that is the biggest laugh I have had for a long time.

[Chev_350]

4 Cylinder Commodore, that is the biggest laugh I have had for a long time.

why...

the article states they sell them overseas with 4 cylinders (wonder which markets?) plus the Camry is sold with a 4 pot and it isn't that much smaller.

Although 4 cylinder Camaro, that is a laugh......

[brchi17]

I would have though that the only 4 cylinder going into a Commodore would be a turbo diesel

[Jace]

You guys may think a four cylinder Commodore is a laugh, but in these day's of higher & higher fuel prices it may be the way of the future. It may not be for everyone BUT if Holden wants to remain competive in the market I would think it would be looking at such options.

Probably all the average company rep/goverment worker really needs to get about town.

I personally would stick to at least a 6 cylinder, but when you think of four cylinder Commodore I imagine you are all having visions of the diabolical 1.9 litre Starfire VC/VH days. (hardly comarable to the new age 4 cylinder engines!!!!!;))

[Patterson]

I personally would stick to at least a 6 cylinder, but when you think of four cylinder Commodore I imagine you are all having visions of the diabolical 1.9 litre Starfire VC/VH days. (hardly comarable to the new age 4 cylinder engines!!!!!;))

Ahh the good old days...

Its like putting a Barina engine in a Hummer...

You'd like to think the new 4 cylinder will be a big one preferably with a turbo...

[hobby]

Dammed if they do

Dammed if they don't

[GOBBO]

i think you will find most people who will buy a commodore will still ether want a v6 or a v8 i honestly cant see the four cyl being a big hit .
look back when ford brought out the ea and you had the choice of 3.9 six or a 3.2 six
and the 3.2 did not last very long due to lack of intreast .
i think its a safe bet to say aussies still like there big engines

[f1webber]

Back in the VN days the Kiwi's had the camira 2.0 4 cyl in the base model.
My dad was a GM dealer so i borrowed one to move house one weekend.
It was a wagon and i have got to say even with the back full of all my stuff it still
went pretty good and seemed to be geared right.
Sure it was not as good as the 6 or 8's but it did surprise me how well it went.

[Nick Short]

Ug like Commodores, Ug must have V8, Ug no like 4 cylinders, even though Ug not know that there have been some very good 4s. In the Rest of the World it is no longer the Stone Age...

When petrol is rarer than gold and Holden hybrids are scooting around, you can all polish your V8s on the driveway and wish you could actually drive the thing like you used to...

[monarocveightz]

Ahh the good old days...

Its like putting a Barina engine in a Hummer...

You'd like to think the new 4 cylinder will be a big one preferably with a turbo...

If you read the article...it says that the Motor going into the Camaro is a 2.0L 4 cyl Turbo......

Which apparently could produce around the same performance as the base 6 cyl...

[carnut01]

If you read the article...it says that the Motor going into the Camaro is a 2.0L 4 cyl Turbo......

Which apparently could produce around the same performance as the base 6 cyl...
exactly - although the 'traditionalists' wouldn't like the idea of a turbo-4 commodore, there is no reason why it couldn't be as quick or even quicker then a commodore 6 if the turbo is configured that way - sort of like the Ford XR6T being almost on par with the Xr8 in performance.

only downside would be it will give the idiots another hot-4 to tool around in:rolleyes:

[monarocveightz]

exactly - although the 'traditionalists' wouldn't like the idea of a turbo-4 commodore, there is no reason why it couldn't be as quick or even quicker then a commodore 6 if the turbo is configured that way - sort of like the Ford XR6T being almost on par with the Xr8 in performance.

only downside would be it will give the idiots another hot-4 to tool around in:rolleyes:

As long as it's not a crappy motor like the Starfire.....I'm fine with it..If it keeps the Aussie car's alive, it's gotta be a good thing.

Hybrids are a bit of a gimmick IMO....but they do there job....I have no problem with one going in a Commodore, as long as it does it's job well

[carnut01]

also, i am sure that a lot of Fleet companies are moving away from 6's in favor of the 4's like the Corolla due to the rising fuel prices, so if they can get into the 4 cylinder market and it helps keep the Aussie car industry alive and viable, then who cares what they build. So what if Holden build 4 cyl Commodores and Ford start building the Focus - still better then Mitsubishi building nothing!

[Designer]

- sort of like the Ford XR6T being almost on par with the Xr8 in performance.

only downside would be it will give the idiots another hot-4 to tool around in:rolleyes:

Almost on par ???
Fords XR6T destroys their 8

[Martin Thomas]

The 2 litre diesel in my Captiva dragged 3 adults, 2 kids and a full cargo area around just fine.. We must remember that most drivers aren't enthusiasts lke a lot are here. Just like you are happy with your current clothes/kitchen/garden/stereo there are enthusiasts who would snub their noses at them..

Also, the new donk will be going up against an old, unrefined V6.

Probably one of the toughest, smartest decisions Holden/GM have made, IMHO..

[GOBBO]

[QUOTE=monarocveightz;250809]As long as it's not a crappy motor like the Starfire .


ohhh shudders ..... the starfire is only good for one thing boat anchor along side the camira engine ..

[lukey73]

I like the way Holden as pushing LPG, as they cant supply the things! I have lost order's as they cant supply LPG Ute's, we get told 3 months which turns into 6 which then turns into we dont know when.

I went to a meeting the other day and was told it was 2012 before we would get a diesel or hybrid Commodore and then this article comes out saying 2010. I for one dont really see it being available then but here is hoping hey get it right or the Holden brand will be tarnished.

The Captiva diesel is a great car, so good on fuel and plenty of power, hopefully get a motor as nice as that for the Commodore. The Epica has a diesel variant coming shortly with a few upgrades i reckon this thing will be a massive seller, its the same size as the old VR/VS Commodore which isnt that small.

[barnart]

My Dodge Nitro has a 2.8 CRD, turbo, intercooled diesel motor, weights more than a Commodore, has a bucket laod of power. Last week I did Redcliffe Qld to Melbourne in 18.2 hrs non stop apart from food & fuel, pushing very hard (160 in some areas), I was getting 640K out of 70LT tank before the fuel light came on at that pace. If Ford/Holden want to keep making cars they must go Turbo diesel quickly

[brchi17]

so the ole dodge is all good then scotty ???

Thinking about it, even with my crappy maths 640km from 70lt isn't all that flash....what's that work out to be something like 9km/lt...My Gen III will do better than that :p

[Martin Thomas]

Aerodynamics and Nitro do not go hand in hand, though, do they?? ;)

[brchi17]

Aerodynamics and Nitro do not go hand in hand, though, do they?? ;)

it's American, what else do you expect....I doubt they even know about the constant rise of petrol prices & he need to be more fuel efficient...:D lol

[carnut01]

ohhh shudders ..... the starfire is only good for one thing boat anchor along side the camira engine ..
Why stop at the Camira engine - why not use the whole car as an anchor? Oh wait, they probably use them as replacements for the tires on the side of the pier nowadays:p:D

[barnart]

it's American, what else do you expect....I doubt they even know about the constant rise of petrol prices & he need to be more fuel efficient...:D lol


Yes ,but it looks good

[Leigh]

Some people need to look at their history a bit better...the Camira motor was exported all over the world during and after the Camira's demise...some might be quite surprised at the cars it turned up in!

Yes, the early versions were crap, but so were the early LS1's!

Reminds me of a Midnight Oil song...must have a...

PS I thought the starfire engine was the crappy one in the Torana's and Commodores. The Camira had a different engine...

[whitlam]

PS I thought the starfire engine was the crappy one in the Torana's and Commodores. The Camira had a different engine...

Your right and from what I've read the Camira had the updated 2.0L version

As a reaction to the 1979 fuel crisis, Holden also produced the Commodore Four, which sold in only modest numbers in the domestic market. This model used Holden's 1.9 L Starfire engine (a four-cylinder version of the 2.85 L inline-6 engine) from the defunct Holden Sunbird (http://wikicars.org/wiki/en/index.php?title=Holde n_Sunbird&action=edit), which was also used in the Australian Toyota Corona at the time. The Commodore Four was loathed by many people for the lack of power, but remained popular in some export markets and was sold to the end of the VN series, but by then featuring the Family II (http://wikicars.org/wiki/en/index.php?title=GM_Fa mily_II_engine&action=edit) 2.0 L engine (same engine used in the Holden Camira) in the late 1980s. The base model was now badged as Commodore L.

[lukey73]

Your right and from what I've read the Camira had the updated 2.0L version


The JB had the Family 1 motor being a 1.6

JC went to 1.8

JD got the great Family II 2.0 which was the best of the lot.

The N13 Pulsar also had the same motor ( the square looking one from mid-late 80's )

[Leigh]

The JB had the Family 1 motor being a 1.6

JD went to 1.8

JE got the great Family II 2.0 which was the best of the lot.

The N13 Pulsar also had the same motor ( the square looking one from mid-late 80's )

Just corrected your post Luke...no such thing as a JC Camira:p

Calibra also ran the motor...

[lukey73]

Just corrected your post Luke...no such thing as a JC Camira:p

Calibra also ran the motor...

Ah you missed the irony in that !!! Did it on purpose;)

[Leigh]

I got the joke Luke;) (hey now you gotta twitch too:p)

Should point out that Holden still make the Family II (see here (http://www.goauto.com.au/Mellor/Mellor.Nsf/story2/ 9D7A03154BEBBEE9CA2573070005C27B))

[Skaife fan]

My first car was a UC Torana with the Starfire 4 and 4 on the the floor.I paid about $600 for it and thrashed it for about 2 years never had any problems with it then sold it for $500.
Bring back the Starfire i say .:D

[Nick Short]

Turbo diesels will give the torque people fear they'll miss - see the new Audi R8 supercar! Or the R10 racer. Engines with cylinders that can be shut off (you don't need 300kW trundling in traffic), alternative power sources - all will have to come whether people like it or not. As for insisting that any car you buy has to be able to tow a 10m boat up a steep slope......the day will come when you won't be able to do it.

Back in the 1880s: "Apparently that new internal combustion engine will replace the horse". "Never! I like to manfully make my horse rear up on its hind legs - no car can do that. And I can ride across country AND jump over fences. Cars can't do any of that. No, you'll never get me in one of those cars". Times change.....

[Leigh]

Too true Nick. Working in the technology sector, people fear replacement/disruptive technologies more than anything else!

The reaction here is just an extension of the NIMBY reaction being seen across the world...Not In My BackYard...