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Farewell Holden Commodore. Holden has officially announced it will be retiring the Commodore by the end of 2020, ending one of the most iconic nameplates in Australia since its introduction in 1978.

The news comes as Holden revealed its plan to focus entirely on SUVs and light commercial vehicles – the most buoyant market segments at the moment. The company says streamlining its portfolio is consistent with market trends and customer preferences.

“Holden is taking this decisive action to ensure a sharp focus on the largest and most buoyant market segments.

“So far this year SUVs and Utes have increased to 76 percent of Holden sales, a trend we only see continuing,” he said.

The company has elected to retire the ZB Commodore and the BK Astra in 2020.

At its peak, the large car segment in Australia accounted for 217,882 sales in 1998. This year it is projected to come in at about 8,700 units.

“The SUV segment is approaching half a million units, and LCVs over 200,000 units. That’s where the action is and that’s where we are going to play,” Mr Aquilina said.

The new Holden boss also paid tribute to the Commodore nameplate and its place in the Australian automotive industry over time.

“The decision to retire the Commodore nameplate has not been taken lightly by those who understand and acknowledge its proud heritage,” he said.

“The large sedan was the cornerstone of Australian and New Zealand roads for decades. But now with more choice than ever before, customers are displaying a strong preference for the high driving position, functionality and versatility of SUVs and Utes.”

Both the Commodore and Astra will continue to be sold throughout 2020 until existing stock runs out.

Its demise is a far cry from the nameplate’s glory years from 1996 to 2010 where it was the most popular car in Australia for 15 years straight. Since its introduction 42 years ago, there has been 16 generations of the Commodore: VB, VC, VH, VK, VL, VN, VP, VR, VS, VT, VX, VY, VZ, VE, VF and the ZB.

It caps off one of the most turbulent times for Holden, with its November sales the lowest in the company’s 70 year history. For perspective, Toyota and Ford sold more Hilux’s and Rangers than the entire Holden range.

The company also recently lost its captain, with Chairman and Managing Director, David Buttner leaving after just 16 months at the helm.

On a brighter note, Holden is getting ready for a series of new launches, including the MY20 Equinox in the first quarter of 2020 followed by a significant MY21 upgrade to the Colorado, before culminating with the highly anticipated mid-engine right-hand-drive Corvette next year.

The post RIP Holden Commodore: Holden drops iconic nameplate from line-up appeared first on ForceGT.com.

Vauxhall has unveiled its facelifted Insignia, and dependent on where you live, aka the Holden Commodore here in Australia, the Opel Insignia in Europe, and Buick Regal in the US and China.

Scheduled to debut at the Brussels Motor Show in January, the minor refresh brings a revised six-point front grille, rejuvenated headlights and new front bumper with vertical side openings and circular fog lights to the front fascia.

Around the back, the update appears to be limited to the revised rear bumper that now incorporates the exhaust pipes.

Vauxhall says the styling tweaks were designed to make the Insignia/Commodore more coupé-like.

No interior shots have been release but the 2020 model is set to receive a new wireless phone charger, as well as an updated infotainment system. We can also expect fresh trims and materials.

Similarly, we’ll have to wait till the official reveal to see if the company has made any changes under the bonnet of the car.

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Following five months of dedicated work, a uniquely restored Holden Monaro has been unveiled by Supercars racing driver Craig Lowndes today at GM Holden’s headquarters in Port Melbourne.

The finished Monaro is a unique one-off creation of Project Monaro and a lucky Holden customer will soon be handed the keys to this very special prize car.

“I wish I could take it home myself actually. It really is a one of a kind Holden Monaro, and it drives incredibly well,” Craig Lowndes said.

What started as a well-worn 214,000km 2004 CV8 Monaro, is now a stunning tribute to the commitment and capability of Holden and a small group of enthusiastic project partners.

The specially developed Panorama Blue Suede paint, developed by PPG and applied by Holden Certified Collision repairer B&A in Melbourne, is what makes the stunning initial impression.

Holden made significant improvements in the big three driving dynamics – Go, Stop, and Turn. The original LS1 5.7-litre V8 engine received a complete hand re-build by Maurice Fabietti, who runs the ACDelco Pro Slammer Monaro drag racing team. Modifications were numerous, including a Chevrolet Performance camshaft from Eagle Auto and some cylinder head finessing.

A US spec GTO exhaust system deals with the spent gasses and adds some handy rumble. The additional engine output is managed by a heavy-duty rework of the original transmission by FluidDrive – to GM global specifications.

The big coupe was fitted with AP Racing brakes, similar to those from HSVs of the era, and the suspension was improved by Sachs Performance in conjunction with Triple Eight Race Engineering. The latest Bridgestone high performance S007A tyres complete the handling package.

The bespoke bonnet scoops, front splitter, fuel filler door and a lip spoiler, were all conceived by Holden Design department. They were brought to life by HP-EVOK3D; 3D printing solutions partner to the Red Bull Holden Racing Team.

The interior was fully refreshed by Auto Image Interiors, again using inspiration from Holden Design. Finishing touches like unique badges, build plates and wheel centre treatments were all created as one-off parts by long term Holden supplier LNI.

When Project Monaro hit the test track at the Holden Proving Ground in Lang Lang Victoria, Lowndes was even more impressed.

“How awesome is this car – it is seriously something special and it sounds great! I’ve had an absolute ball driving this around,” said Lowndes.

Holden’s lead Performance Engineer Rob Trubiani accompanied Lowndes for his initial drive evaluation. Rob has been responsible for the way that Holdens drive and handle for the past 23 years.

He has been refining and fine tuning the Project Monaro, and has taken it through a mix of the Holden Proving Ground tests to ensure everything is working as it should.

“Some of the tests we put Project Monaro through were similar to the tests our talented Engineers put the original V2 Monaro’s through almost 20 years ago, it’s a great car to drive and someone is going to be very lucky when they win it,” he said.

Holden has documented the build of Project Monaro in a series of videos hosted by Craig Lowndes – watch the final installment below.

The post Project Monaro sees a CV8 Holden Monaro brought back to life appeared first on ForceGT.com.

The 7-seat SUV has become the modern definition of a family car, loved for its space, comfort and versatility. With the market segment saturated with no less than eight players, which of these family buses should you spend your hard earned money on?

Here, we take a look at the three latest releases into the segment: the all-conquering Mazda CX-9, the excellent Hyundai Santa Fe, and newcomer Holden Acadia.

To fully explore what these full-size SUVs have to offer, we have gathered the range-topping grade of each model and put them through their paces.

Price and Features

Priced at $60,500 plus on-road costs, the 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe Highlander is the least expensive of the pack and comes packed with all the bells and whistles that would satisfy even the most demanding of families. The long list of standard features includes all-wheel drive, an 8-inch infotainment system with satellite navigation, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, 7-inch instrumentation cluster, wireless phone charger and head up display.

Creature comforts usually found in luxury cars such as heated steering wheel, heated and ventilated front seats, heated rear outboard seats and panoramic glass sunroof have also made it to the top-spec Santa Fe.

And of course, essential safety features are all there to keep everyone safe and they include 6 airbags, forward collision avoidance with automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, lane keep assist and surround view monitor.

The Santa Fe goes a step further with a feature called Safety Exist Assist that is designed to prevent accidents by automatically and temporarily locking the doors when vehicles are approaching from behind. The doors are unlocked when it’s deemed safe so that passengers can exit the car safely. The feature, which is unique to the Hyundai, was put to the test and it worked brilliantly.

The 2019 Mazda CX-9 pushes further upmarket with the introduction the new range-topping CX-9 Azami LE. Coming in at $64,990 plus ORCs, the Mazda asks for quite a fair chunk more than the Hyundai but costs less than the Holden of equivalent spec. It does come with some really nice details which we will cover in more detail in the next few sections but you could save about $1,500 by buying the Azami grade that is basically spec’ed the same as the Azami LE, only missing on some interior wood trim and other minor aesthetic details.

Feature wise, the CX-9 is neck and neck with the Santa Fe, matching it in everything from occupant comfort and entertainment to safety and driving aids, with notable differences being the presence of rear climate temperature control and heated outboard mid-row seats in the Mazda that are missing in the Hyundai, and the inclusion of third-row air-con vents in the Korean car which are nowhere to be seen in the Japanese car.

The Mazda is the only car here with just a regular sunroof, as opposed to the panoramic sunroof in the Hyundai and dual-panel sunroof in the Holden. It’s also the odd one out without a one-touch second-row seat slide and tilt feature, requiring a two-step process to move the seats forward.

Holden’s American-sourced Acadia has the priciest sticker of the lot if we are comparing apples with apples. While the Santa Fe and CX-9 are both all-wheel drive only in range-topping form, the Acadia can be had with either AWD or 2WD in every grade. For a fair pricing comparison, we are looking at $67,490 plus ORCs for the flagship Acadia LTZ-V all-wheel drive, but the price drops to $63,490 for the 2WD version, which is what we have on test here.

As expected from a top-spec model, and just like the Santa Fe and CX-9, the Acadia LTZ-V is equipped to the brim. While its specifications largely mirror those of the Hyundai and Mazda, there are a few exceptions. The Holden is only car here without a head-up display and sunshades for the middle row, the former a major oversight for a range-topper. And like the Hyundai, it’s also lacking heated rear outboard mid-row seats.

Ventilation is available across all three rows with roof-mounted air-con vents, with the third-row also offered with a single USB charging port that you won’t find in the other two contenders.

Exterior

The Santa Fe is a good looking car from every angle, with elegant lines and classy touches accentuating its nearly perfect proportions, though some find may the oddball front lighting layout – daytime running lights at the top cluster, main and high beam at the bottom – a little hard to digest.

True to its American roots, the Acadia looks big and brash, with plenty of chrome highlights and a boxy styling overall. It’s a rugged design for sure and one that stands out, but like the Hyundai, some of those truck-like styling element can be divisive.

While there’s no mistaken both the Santa Fe and Acadia are offerings from mainstream brands, the CX-9 on the other hand looks more like a product from a premium marque. With a sculpted body serving as a backdrop for smooth lines and fine details such as that imposing yet beautifully crafted grille, there just isn’t a single bad angle about the car. In the upper spec variants such our Azami LE, the CX-9 can easily flirt with luxury cars costing twice as much.

Interior

Unlike the exterior, things are definitely a lot more conventional on the inside of the Santa Fe, with the sweeping layered dashboard giving a sense of space and the grooves on the speaker cover and upper seat cushion adding a touch of style.

Some of our testers – myself included – are not huge fan of the optional ($295) dark beige two-tone leather interior, feeling it looks too chocolatey and earthy, though there’s no denying the trimming is incredibly detailed and thorough. And the rest of the cabin echoes this high quality build and finish, with all contact points trimmed in soft touch surfaces and the interior as a whole largely devoid of harsher, scratchier plastics.

If the Mazda’s exterior has managed to impress us, then the interior has simply blown us away. The entire look and feel of the cabin speak of top-class luxury, with soft surfaces adorning the upper dashboard and door trim, lifted by premium glossy trim in the lower centre console and lavish leather upholstery. There’s also a sweeping single piece of aluminum across the dashboard, emphasizing width.

The cabin is impeccably well put together, with faultless fit and finish and a tactile feel to all switches, buttons and knobs. In fact, it would come as a surprise to many that this cabin belongs to a car costing just sixty odd grand. It’s in a different class to that of the other two cars.

The Acadia’s interior is the least impressive of the three, both in terms of presentation and fit and finish. Like the exterior, the cabin design is more utilitarian than stylish, with big squarish buttons littered around the place and a bulky steering wheel devoid of styling elements.

Build quality is also questionable in certain areas, such as the sharp edges on some of the cheap-feeling hard plastic trim pieces and worse, the rubber trim cover surrounding the wireless phone charging pad peeling off.

Things don’t get better either when you start using the interior with the tactile feel of many switches feeling cheap thanks to lots of play when activated, particularly the handbrake button and gear selector. The infotainment touch screen is also too upright, when it should be angled slightly for easier operation and better visibility.

All three SUVs offer comfortable seating for occupants in the first and second row, it’s in the third row where things vary between the models. The Santa Fe has the tightest third row space, with them only good for small children. The Acadia and CX-9 both can accommodate adults in the third row but only the latter has sufficient leg and head room to keep occupants back there happy for longer than just trips to the local shopping mall.

In terms of ease of access to the third row seats, the order changes for the Holden and Mazda, with the Hyundai again offering the tightest access with second row seats that slide forward the least, while the Holden granting the widest entry thanks to rear doors that open up to near 90 degrees and the large aperture of the door opening itself.

The Acadia takes it home for the third row with the largest window of the three, which together with the rear sunroof, let in the most amount of natural light into the third row.

The Santa Fe does, however, compensate its less practical third row with large storage compartments around the cabin, with the most voluminous centre storage (the CX-9’s is painfully tiny while the Acadia is nearly as big) and extra storage above the glove box and under the rear air vents.

The pendulum is swung once again in Holden’s direction when it comes to cargo space. With the third row up, the Acadia has a usable 292 litres of boot space available that can extend to a capacious 2,102 litres with both middle and third rows dropped. In order to get the mid-row 60/40 seats flat however, you will need to remove the centre headrest which again, is a poor design decision.

The CX-9 offers 230 litres of boot space, expanding to 1,641 litres with the mid and third row seats tumbled. The Santa Fe’s boot space is the smallest in all configurations, with the figures coming in respectively at 130 and 1625 litres.

Performance

The Santa Fe Highlander sports a 2.2-litre four-cylinder turbo diesel under the bonnet producing 147kW and 440Nm, making the Hyundai the least powerful but the one with the most torque in this company.

It’s not the most refined diesel powerplant out there, with a distinct clatter to it on idle and when accelerating at lower speeds. It does settle down considerably once on the move and in the higher gears. On the freeway, there’s nearly no signs of a diesel tickling up front, and not only that, the whole cabin is quiet too with minimal road and wind noise intrusion.

With peak torque holding from a low 1,750 to 2,750rpm, the engine gets you moving and up to speed briskly, with torrents of pull in the mid range for swift overtaking. It’s got everything needed to handle the near 2 tons of weight and more.

The CX-9’s 2.5-litre direct-injection turbo petrol engine outputs 170kW and 420Nm, eclipsing the Santa Fe in power but falling shy of it in peak torque, which also arrives 250rpm higher at 2,000rpm.

Being petrol fueled, the CX-9’s engine is inherently quieter and more refined than the Santa Fe’s oiler. But that itself is an understatement because this mill is one of the best turbo petrol engines we have come across, delivering responsive power and diesel-like grunt without the slightest hint of turbo lag.

The Mazda feels strong across the rev range, as the turbo four shows no signs of fading until around 5,000rpm where peak power is produced. It’s got everything on the Hyundai, only better.

The job of hauling the hulking Acadia falls to the atmospheric 3.6-litre petrol V6 with cylinder deactivation which offers up 231kW at 6,600rpm and 367Nm of torque at 5,000rpm. As the most powerful but the least grunty among the group, the V6 serves up plenty of poke that comes on linearly as it revs out. It’s also the smoothest and most refined engine here, not to mention one that also makes the best noise up top.

The power comes on early enough and if you wind it out you can really get up and going at pace. Beware though as the throttle is almost too eager on dip in and there’s no Eco mode to dull it down leading to unwanted front wheel spin on our tested 2WD version. This means a delicate touch is required on the throttle.

Like the engines, the transmissions can’t be more different between the SUVs. While they are all torque converter automatics, the Santa Fe sports eight ratios, the CX-9 has six, and the Acadia packs nine. It must be said that none of these cars have an inferior gearbox, as they are all very smooth and match well to their respective engines.

That said, the Mazda’s six-speeder does deliver the quickest and crispest shifts, which endow the SUV with the sportiest feel among the three. Meanwhile, the Acadia’s nine-speed ‘box feels the most relaxed and discrete, with the best refinement in this company, though the manual gear shifters on top of the gear lever itself is a poor design as the buttons are tiny and counter-intuitive.

When it comes to fuel economy, it’s not hard to guess the winner and loser. Being diesel-powered, the Santa Fe is inherently the most efficient, returning an average real-world fuel economy figure of 8.8L/100km. The CX-9 slots in the middle with an average of 10.3L/100km, with the Acadia surprisingly not far behind at 10.5L/100km.

On paper, the Santa Fe, CX-9 and Acadia are respectively rated at 7.5L/100km, 8.8L/100km, and 8.9L/100km on the combined average.

Ride and Handling

In terms of ride comfort, all three SUVs perform remarkably well, soaking up bumps and ruts with aplomb to deliver the kind of plush ride expected of a family SUV. However, the Acadia, having been intensively tuned for Aussie roads, does deliver a slight upper edge in overall ride quality than the other two on Australia’s varying road surfaces. As mentioned earlier, these SUVs are also impressively quiet on the freeway, with wind and road noise very well insulated.

There’s no denying the sheer size of these vehicles on the road as they weigh in near two tonnes. However, it’s not as noticeable as you’d expect as they all have crisp turn-in and good body control.

That said, the Mazda does offer the most car-like drive with the most feel and cohesiveness through the steering, along with the tightest body control.

Verdict

When it comes to big 7-seat family SUVs, the acceptance criteria is simple. There needs to a spacious interior loaded with creature comfort and the latest tech, matched with decent power and neat handling. On that brief, our contenders have all managed to deliver quite comfortably. But we are here to pick a winner and so the finer details come to play.

In terms of the third row seats, the Santa Fe has the tightest accommodation and access, while CX-9 has the most space and the Acadia has the widest access.

The CX-9 has the best interior of this lot, with the Acadia being the least impressive. The Mazda also wins on having the most premium-feeling and intuitive infotainment system, head-up display (HUD) and digital instrumentation, while the Acadia loses points for not even featuring a HUD.

With the best ride and handling balance in this company, the Mazda wraps it up as our favourite in this comparison, with the Hyundai coming in a close second for its excellent price versus value proposition.

This leaves the Acadia in the last spot. Despite its strong engine and comfortable ride, there’s still lots of room for improvement in interior presentation and overall quality, and for its high asking price there’s no excuse for leaving the odd features out when then are available in both the other two SUVs.

Pricing and Specifications

	Hyundai Santa Fe Highlander	Mazda CX-9 Azami LE	Holden Acadia LTZ-V 2WD
Price (Excl. on-road costs):	From $60,500 As Tested: $61,639 Tested options: ·         ‘Rain forest’ metallic premium paint – $695 ·         Dark beige leather trim – $295 ·         Tailored carpet floor mats – $149	From $64,990 As Tested: $65,290 Tested options: ·         Machine Grey Metallic paint – $300	From: $63,490 As Tested: $63,490 (2WD)
Country of Origin:	South Korea	Japan	United States
Warranty:	5 years/unlimited km	5 years/unlimited km	5 years/unlimited km
Warranty Customer Assistance:	1 year roadside	Optional yearly plans	1 year roadside
Service Intervals:	12 months/15,000km	12 months/10,000km	12 months/12,000 km
Engine:	2.2-litre four-cylinder common rail direct injection turbo diesel: 147kW @ 3,800rpm, 440Nm @ 1,750-2,750rpm	2.5-litre turbocharged direct injection four-cylinder petrol: 170kW @ 5,000rpm, 420Nm @ 2,000rpm	3.6-litre direct injection V6 petrol: 231kW @ 6,600rpm, 367Nm @ 5,000rpm
Transmission:	8-speed automatic	6-speed automatic	9-speed automatic
Drivetrain:	All-wheel drive	All-wheel drive	Front-wheel drive
Combined Fuel Consumption (L/100km):	Claimed: 7.5 Tested: 8.8	Claimed: 8.8 Tested: 10.3	Claimed: 8.9 Tested: 10.5
Body:	5-door wagon, 7 seats	5-door wagon, 7 seats	5-door wagon, 7 seats
Safety:	5-star ANCAP, 6 airbags, ABS, BA, EBD, ESC, Downhill Brake Control, Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist, Driver Attention Warning, Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist, Lane Keeping Assist, Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist, Emergency Stop Signal, Tyre Pressure Monitoring System, Rear Occupant Alert, Safe Exit Assist, Advanced Smart Park Assist System, Surround View Monitor, ISOFIX	5-star ANCAP, 7 airbags, ABS, EBD, BA, VSC, Lane Departure Warning, Lane-Keep Assist System, Blind Spot Monitoring, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Emergency Brake Assist, Emergency Stop Signal, Smart Brake Support, Smart City Brake Support, Driver Attention Alert, Traffic Sign Recognition, High Beam Control, Hill Launch Assist, Trailer Stability Assist, G-Vectoring Control, 360-degree view monitor, front and rear parking sensors,  ISOFIX	5-star ANCAP, 7 airbags, ABS, EBD, BA, VSC, Lane Departure Warning, Lane-Keep Assist System, Blind Spot Monitoring, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Emergency Brake Assist, Emergency Stop Signal, Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist, Automatic Emergency Braking, Traffic Sign Recognition, High Beam Control, Hill Launch Assist, 360-degree view monitor, front and rear parking sensors,  ISOFIX
Dimensions (L/W/H/W-B) mm:	4,770/1,890/1,705/2,765	5,075/1,969/1,747/2,930	4979/1916/1762/2857
Tare Mass (kg):	1,995	2,000	1,938
Entertainment:	8.0-inch colour touchscreen, satellite navigation, AM/FM/DAB+, Bluetooth, USB, AUX, Apple CarPlay /Android Auto10-speaker Infinity premium audio system with external amplifier	8-inch MZD Connect colour touchscreen with multi-function commander control, satellite navigation, AM/FM/DAB+, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay /Android Auto, USB, AUX, iPod294W Bose Premium 12-speaker audio system	8.0-inch touchscreen with satellite navigation, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay /Android Auto, DAB+ digital radio, and active noise cancellation 8-speaker audio system
Rating:

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Holden has announced a series of upgrades and enhancements across the new 2020 Colorado range.

Chief among these is the permanent addition of the robust and practical LSX as a new addition to updated Colorado line-up. Combining rugged simplicity with bold looks and formidable off-road capability, and having proved itself as a limited edition special in MY19, the Colorado LSX is Holden’s new entry level ute for working or playing hard.

The top of the line Z71 Colorado also hardens its stance in MY20 with rugged fender flares and a bash plate now standard on the flagship model. A convenient new ‘soft drop’ tailgate is also exclusive to the range topping Z71, while the mid-range LTZ 4×4 gains leather trimmed seats with the front ones now heated.

A new fleet customer focused, tow bar equipped LTZ+ variant is also available with its payload re-rated to just under 1000kg – meaning it is now accessible to customers seeking to acquire a Colorado via novated leasing.

Both Colorado Z71 and LTZ also gain a premium DuraGuard spray on tub-liner as standard equipment. A Holden instigated development on the RG series Colorado resulted in the DuraGuard spray on tub liner, a first for the company with this technology and one that will result in extra convenience and utility for customers.

In an environment where a ute is rapidly becoming an Aussie’s best automotive friend, Holden has introduced an accessory pack strategy for Colorado owners designed to make it as easy as possible for them to customise their utes precisely to their needs and how they actually use them.

Painstaking research into customer preferences has produced Holden’s range of factory backed Colorado accessory packs known as Tradie, Farmer, Black, Rig and the range topping Xtreme.

The Tradie pack is expected to be the most popular and includes a towing package, side and rear steps, a roof tray, 12V auxiliary power, floor mats, canvas seat covers, weather shields, bonnet protector and cup holders.

Holden says many tradies will add further equipment to the MY20 Colorado to suit their particular trade, but the Tradie pack is a great start right off the showroom floor.

2020 Holden Colorado Specification

Standard across the range

• 2.8L Duramax turbo diesel engine (147kW)
• Holden MyLink infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
– 7″ colour touch-screen
– 6-speaker audio system (Crew Cab only)
– USB input with iPod connectivity
• 7 airbags
• Electric power steering
• Leather wrap steering wheel
• LED DRLs
• Remote window activation
• Rear Park Assist
• Rear View Camera
• Hill Start Assist
• Electronic Stability Control
• Hill Descent Control
• Body coloured exterior mirrors with side turn signal
• Power adjustable exterior mirrors
• Vinyl floor (Single & Crew Cab only)
• Rear ventilation duct (Crew Cab only)
• DuraGrip system featuring Helical Limited Slip Differential (LSD)
• Full size spare wheel

LT (4×2 only) with additional features to the LS:

• 17″ Alloy wheels (5)
• Digital audio radio (DAB+)
• Carpet interior flooring
• Tailgate lock
• Front fog lights
• Side steps

LSX 4×4 Crew Cab additional features to the LS

• 18″ Arsenal Grey metallic wheels (5)
• Gloss black front grille
• Extended sports bar – black
• Fender Flares (F & R) – black
• Soft tonneau cover
• Rear “COLORADO” decal
• Tailgate lock
• Digital Radio (DAB+)

LTZ/LTZ+ additional features to the LS

• Holden MyLink infotainment system with:
– 8″ colour touch-screen
– Embedded Satellite Navigation
– Embedded Voice Recognition
– 7-speaker premium audio system (Crew Cab only)
• 18″ alloy wheels (5)
• Remote engine start+
• Front park assist
• Digital Radio (DAB+)
• Forward Collision Alert with head up warning
• Lane Departure Warning
• Tyre Pressure Monitoring System
• Electrochromatic rear view mirror
• Heated exterior mirrors
• DuraGuard Spray-on tub-liner (pick up models only)
• Power folding exterior mirrors
• Rain-sensing wipers
• LED tail lights
• Soft tonneau cover
• Alloy sports bar
• Electronic climate control
• Chrome exterior mirrors with side turn signal
• Chrome exterior and interior door handles
• 6-way electric adjustable driver’s seat
• Leather-appointed seat trim with heated front seatsº (NCO)
• Rear Privacy Glass (available on Crew Cab only)
• Carpet interior flooring
• Front fog lamps
• Side steps
• Tailgate lock

LTZ+ additional features to the LTZ

• Towbar

Z71 additional features to the LTZ

• 18″ Arsenal Grey metallic wheels (5)
• Z71 embroidered front seat headrests
• Sailplane sports bar & side rails with Z71 graphics
• Unique soft tonneau cover
• Gloss Black exterior door handles & exterior mirrors
• Black tailgate handle
• Black body side mouldings
• Z71 hood decals
• Roof rails
• Unique front fascia with integrated nudge bar
• Gloss black front grille
• Fender Flares (F & R) – black
• Underbody protection (Stage 1)
• Soft drop tailgate

2020 Holden Colorado price (excluding on-roads)

Manual          Auto

LS 4×2 Single Cab Chassis              $31,690
LS 4×2 Crew Cab Chassis                $36,690
LS 4×2 Crew Cab Pick-Up               $38,190
LT 4×2 Crew Cab Pick-Up               $41,190
LTZ 4×2 Crew Cab Pick-Up             $44,690
LS 4×4 Single Cab Chassis               $37,490       $39,690
LS 4×4 Space Cab Chassis               $43,190
LS 4×4 Crew Cab Chassis                $43,490       $45,690
LS 4×4 Crew Cab Pick-Up               $44,990       $47,190
LSX 4×4 Crew Cab Pick-Up            $46,990       $49,190
LTZ 4×4 Space Cab Pick-Up           $51,190
LTZ 4×4 Crew Cab Pick-Up            $50,490       $52,690
LTZ+ 4×4 Crew Cab Pick-Up          $51,520       $53,720
Z71 4×4 Crew Cab Pick-Up             $54,990       $57,190

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Holden has streamlined its 2019 Astra Hatch range by dropping both mid-range manual variants and culling some options and paint choices. 

Although the same four-tiered range first introduced in 2017 remains – comprised of the R, R+, RS, and RS-V – the middling R+ and RS models will now no longer be offered with a manual gearbox as before, seeing the six-speed automatic now made standard.

However, the price-leading R and range-topping RS-V will still be offered with a six-speed manual – the former to help it keep to its sub-$22k price-point, and the latter to appeal to ‘purist’ motoring enthusiasts.

Changes beyond the dropped manuals are minimal, with the R and R+ variants sporting different 17-inch alloy wheels for 2019, along with a tweaked front bumper.

In a not-so-positive change, however, several colour options have been dropped including Carragreen. The RS-V’s optional Matrix LED headlights have also been cut, although the $1,990 Touring Pack – which adds adaptive cruise control, high-speed AEB, and a sunroof – remains available.

As before, the same two engine options underpin the range, with a 1.4-litre turbocharged four-cylinder – making 110kW and 240Nm in automatic variants, but 245Nm with a manual ‘box – fitted to the R and R+ models, while a 1.6-litre turbo unit putting out 147kW/280Nm is still standard in RS and RS-V variants.

List pricing remains the same as before for the remaining variants in the range, with the R manual being the tip-in point at $21,490, before the range tops-out at $31,740 for the RS-V automatic.

However, drive-away deals are currently being offered on the R manual for $20,990 and the R+ automatic for $22,990, with both including a promotional five-year unlimited kilometre warranty.

Note: With no pictures of the tweaked MY19 R and R+ models yet available, we have instead used shots of the MY17 RS-V manual which hasn’t received any major styling adjustments for 2019. 

2019 Holden Astra Hatch pricing

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In news just in, General Motors is said to be pulling out of Australia, although the Holden badge may stay.

Holden’s American owners, General Motor is reportedly in talks to divest itself from its Australian operations, following a similar move in Europe where it sold Opel and Vauxhall to the PSA Group two years ago.

If true, Holden’s future will rest with Inchcape Australia, the importer of Peugeot, Citroen and Subaru vehicles, which is said to be in talks with General Motors to take over the sales, marketing and distribution of Holden vehicles.

Stay tuned for further developments.

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HSV has announced a new limited-run variant of the pumped-up Colorado SportsCat – the SportsCat R – that sports a host of cosmetic changes to set it apart from the standard model.

Priced from $65,990, Holden’s performance arm claims the R model will “take the vehicle’s distinctive street presence to another level” with a stealthy new look, sporting Mineral Black paint exclusively, a gloss black grille and lower front fascia, and gloss black 18-inch six-spoke forged alloy wheels – the same design as those on the standard SportsCat, and similarly clad in Cooper Zeon LTZ Pro Sports tyres.

Standing out on the blacked-out body are a number of red highlights on the bonnet, lower grille, tonneau cover, and doors, along with some HSV decals on the side of the tray.

Additionally, the R model picks up the SportsCat+’s bulged bonnet and optional sail pane as standard equipment, while it’s AP Racing big brake kit will be available as a $1,995 option.

Otherwise, the SportsCat R’s standard equipment mirrors that of the standard model, and it sports the same engine as the rest of the SportsCat and wider Colorado range – a 2.8-litre Duramax turbo diesel producing 147kW and 500Nm, which is paired exclusively to a six-speed automatic in the R.

Just 100 SportsCat R models will be produced in total, with 98 destined for Australia and just two destined for New Zealand.

HSV Colorado SportsCat pricing

HSV Colorado SportsCat R options

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Holden has finally announced pricing and specifications for the all-new American-made 2019 Arcadia, with a three-tiered line-up and sharpened drive-away pricing from the get-go.

The range kicks off with the base LT 2WD, which is priced from $42,990 drive-away with these current deals, while the range tops out at $67,990 drive-away for the LTZ-V AWD.

Built in Tennessee and badged in its home market as a GMC, the Acadia sports just one engine – a naturally aspirated 3.6-litre V6 similar to that in the ZB Commodore that produces 231kW and 367Nm – which is backed by a nine-speed automatic and the choice of either front- or all-wheel drive across the range.

Holden claims fuel consumption figures of 8.9L/100km for front-drive variants, while all-wheel drive bumps that figure up to 9.3L/100km, with idle start/stop and the active fuel management cylinder deactivation system included to help it achieve those figures.

With the Arcadia being a petrol-only proposition, it leaves room for the Trailblazer as the brand’s diesel-powered seven-seat offering, while pitting the new model up against other petrol-powered offerings, the Mazda CX-9 and Toyota Kluger.

All models come well equipped from he entry-level up, with the base LT including push-button and remote start, automatic halogen headlights, LED taillights, three-zone climate control, heated wing mirrors, privacy glass, and 18-inch alloys, along with manually adjustable cloth-trimmed seats and sliding second-row seats.

Stepping up to the mid-grade LTZ nabs you power-adjustable and heated front row seats and leather upholstery for all three rows, along with rain-sensing wipers, auto-dimming mirrors, wireless phone charging, a powered tailgate, front foglights, and a different set of 18-inch alloys.

The range-topping LTZ-V sets itself apart by offering nicer soft-grain leather upholstery, front seat ventilation, seat and mirror positioning memory for the driver, a dual-panel sunroof, an eight-speaker Bose stereo, adaptive cruise control, HID headlights, body-coloured lower body cladding, and larger 20-inch wheels.

The LTZ-V also sports ‘FlexRide’ adaptive dampers, with this suspension setup and the normal configuration for LT and LTZ models having been locally tuned to suit Australian tastes.

Across the board, all models receive an 8.0-inch touchscreen with satellite navigation, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, DAB+ digital radio, and active noise cancellation. The voice control system has also been calibrated to work more cooperatively with Australian accents.

As for safety, the Acadia range comes standard with autonomous emergency braking with cyclist and pedestrian detection, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assist, lane departure warning, rear cross-traffic alert, trailer sway control, and traffic sign recognition across the board.

You’ll also find seven airbags, two ISOFIX and five top-tether child seat mounts, and a reversing camera on the inside, although the LTZ-V bumps that up to a 360-degree camera.

The Acadia range is set to hit showrooms in full scale around mid-November, with only pilot-build cars available for test-drives currently. Any orders placed before November 11 will see customers receive a $1,000 gift card on top of the current drive-away deals.

Pricing

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