Holden Announces Wagon To Join Cruze Line-up
A stunning new wagon will join Holden’s popular Cruze line-up within the next 12 months.
The imported model will be the third variant of Holden’s favourite small car and promises to combine the practicality of a wagon with the high-tech features and sporty style that has made Cruze sedan and hatch so popular.
The Chevrolet version of the Cruze wagon will make its global premiere at the Geneva Motor Show early next month.
The latest Cruze bodystyle complements sedan and hatch which have sold in excess of one million vehicles globally since the carline was launched in 2009.
Holden Executive Director of Sales, Marketing and Aftersales, John Elsworth said he was looking forward to welcoming the Cruze wagon to Australia.
“Cruze wagon ticks all the boxes, it offers distinctive design, dynamic driving, space and economy,” said Mr Elsworth.
“Cruze has been a fantastic success story for Holden, it’s been extremely well received by our customers making it Australia’s fifth highest-selling car in 2011.
“We’re confident Cruze wagon will take the nameplate from strength to strength and reach new customers who are looking for more versatility.”
The new wagon will feature generous storage space and a high level of standard features and safety that customers have come to expect from a Cruze.
Cruze wagon, at 4,675mm, is slightly longer than the hatch (4,510mm) and sedan (4,597mm) models. Load space ranges from 500 litres up to the window line in the rear to nearly 1,500 litres up to the roof top with the rear seats folded down.
The exterior design features a tapering single arch roofline and comes with roof racks as standard, providing convenience while maintaining a poised and sporty look.
More details will be released closer to the launch date.
Commodore and Cruze in the Top Five
For the first time since 2005, two Holden vehicles – Commodore and Cruze – have finished the year among Australia’s top five-selling vehicles.
After a record 15 years as Australia’s number one selling car, the Commodore – Holden’s steadfast local hero – closed 2011 in the number two position with sales of 40,617 units.
Having led year-to-date sales for seven months in 2011, the Commodore passenger range sold 2,814 units in December, making it Australia’s second most popular car for the year.
The Holden Cruze sold 2,783 units in December, placing it the fourth highest-selling car in December and fifth for 2011. Holden sold a total 33,784 Cruzes last year, an increase of 5,450 units or 19.2 per cent compared to 2010. It was also Holden’s best December Cruze result on record.
Elsewhere, Holden experienced a record December for its Captiva 5 SUV, selling 499 units, and the best Captiva 7 December result since 2009, with 992 sales.
The recently-introduced Barina hatch continued to attract new buyers, helping Holden to sell 1,343 Barinas in only its second full month of sales. The result was also the best December in the nameplate’s 26-year history in Australia.
Holden Executive Director Marketing, Sales and Aftersales John Elsworth said while market conditions had been challenging in the closing months of 2011, Holden still had much to celebrate.
“We’re extremely proud of Commodore. No other car in Australian history has been number one for 15 years in a row, and it’s an achievement Holden is very proud of,” he said.
“During Commodore’s 15-year reign as the number one car the local market has changed significantly with new brands and even completely new types of vehicles giving customers more options than ever before.
“Whole new segments and models have been created, which simply didn’t exist 15 years ago, and this has given Australian consumers unprecedented choice.
“For Commodore to remain so strong throughout this time is a testament to the innovation and talent within Holden and the local industry, which has consistently introduced new, world-class technologies and features alongside or even ahead of the competition.
“Right now, we’re focussing on selling the cars our customers want. Whether it’s a small or large car built at our local manufacturing operations or an imported model from our diverse product portfolio.
“Cruze is another great success story for Holden. Since we started to build the Cruze locally in our Adelaide assembly plant last year, we’ve introduced a range of new fuel efficient engines and launched a distinctive locally-designed hatch, and Cruze has been extremely well received by our customers.
“There’s no doubt we have a challenging year ahead in 2012 but we’re looking forward to the announcement of a new dedicated LPG Commodore in the coming weeks, which will offer significantly reduced running costs and lower carbon emissions, and the arrival of our new generation Colorado LCV mid-year.”
Holden’s December sales totalled 10,193 with a market share of 12.4 per cent. Overall, Holden sold a total of 126,095 units in 2011, bringing the company’s year-end market share to 12.5 per cent.
Cruze Hatch Ready To Take On The World
The launch of the all-new Holden Cruze hatch yesterday marks another milestone in Holden’s history as this Australian-designed model goes global for General Motors.
As Australia’s own small car, the Cruze hatch has been designed at Holden’s Port Melbourne design studio, is built in South Australia and has undergone extensive local engineering for Australian driving conditions and tastes.
Holden Chairman and Managing Director Mike Devereux said that Holden’s world-class expertise in design, engineering and manufacturing has delivered a Cruze hatch that is not only ideally suited to Australian customers and conditions, but one that also appeals to a truly global audience.
Cruze hatch has already launched to critical acclaim in the UK and Korea (where it wears a Chevrolet badge), and is destined to be sold in more than 60 countries.
“Cruze sedan is already a huge success in Australia, establishing itself as one of the top five selling cars in the market in just two years. With the addition of the new Cruze hatch we can now offer small car buyers a stylish and sporty home-grown alternative,” Mr Devereux said.
“The launch of this car today showcases Holden’s ability to design, engineer and build a car that is world-class and a genuine global player for General Motors.”
Extensive Australian testing and evaluation covered more than 140,000km and saw a number of key Australian engineering modifications made. Many of these engineering changes have now been adopted globally on both Cruze hatch and sedan.
Cruze hatch is available with a choice of three engines, three transmissions and four trim levels, meaning customers have a range of Cruze options to suit their particular wants and needs.
As part of Holden’s ongoing aim to provide great value for money and choice, the Cruze hatch is priced to match the Cruze sedan and shares the same high level of standard features and equipment.
Sporty Design and High Level of Standard Features
The design process was led by Holden’s Port Melbourne Design Studio. The brief was simple, but challenging: create a car that delivers a sporty and youthful look with a practical rear load space that was recognisable as an integrated member of the Cruze family.
It’s striking coupe-like profile accentuated by the low roof, short front and rear overhangs, rising belt line, and sculpted rear hatch topped with an integrated spoiler provide the Cruze hatch with a particularly athletic aesthetic.
The design of the front and rear fascia treatments emphasise the car’s wide, solid stance and contribute to its sharp and muscular presence.
Inside, the new Cruze hatch shares the sedan’s dual cockpit design with quality finishes, soft-touch components and an integrated centre stack that flows seamlessly into the centre console.
Holden’s designers have worked hard to produce a five-door hatch that is both stylish and practical with clever design delivering a rear load space that offers a 413 litre capacity from its well-finished luggage space. This expands to a large 1254 litre capacity when the standard 60/40 split rear seat backs are folded flat.
With the no-cost option full-size steel spare fitted, cargo volume is still a very competitive 325 litres, with multiple storage compartments built under the boot floor to provide nine litres of handy cargo space.
As with all Holdens, the new Cruze hatch is very well equipped for comfort and convenience with standard features across the range including:
- Bluetooth connectivity for hands-free mobile phone use from compatible devices
- Voice recognition for certain Bluetooth functions including dial, redial, save and add-voice tags
- Air conditioning
- Cruise control
- Trip computer
- Front and rear power windows
- Six-way adjustable driver and front passenger seats
- Automatic lights with programmable “follow-me home” headlight functionality and remote keyless entry
- Steering wheel-mounted remote audio and cruise controls
- Advanced six-speaker multimedia audio system with AM/FM radio, in-dash MP3 compatible CD player, and USB input with iPod compatibility to enable complete control of the device through the audio system controls.
- Cruze hatch CD models feature stylish 16-inch wheel covers
- Ice blue dash illumination
The mid-range CDX model gains:
- 17-inch alloy wheels (four)
- Front fog lamps
- Leather appointed seats, steering wheel and gearshift
- Rear park assist
- Three-setting heated front seats
- Exterior chrome headlights
Cruze hatch SRi adds an injection of sports DNA with additional features over the CD model:
- Sports body kit comprising unique front and rear fascias and side skirts
- Rear lip spoiler
- Front fog lamps
- Leather wrap steering wheel and gear shifter
- Chrome grille header and chrome insert door handles
- Five-spoke 17-inch alloy wheels (four)
- Seats with Sportec bolsters are available in a choice of Jet Black or Sonic Blue fabric depending on the exterior colour continue the sports theme
The top of the range SRi-V model combines all the sports features of the SRi and adds a sense of luxury with the addition of:
- Leather appointed seats that include a three-setting heating function for the driver and front passenger
- Passive entry and start with sensor key technology (keyless entry and push button start and stop)
- Rear park assist
- Large 7-inch full colour screen now adds touch-screen functionality to control the integrated satellite navigation and premium six-speaker DVD/CD audio system. This audio system not only offers MP3 and iPod compatibility via a USB connection but with a 10GB hard drive also enables storage of CDs and MP3s and the ability to pause live radio
- Voice recognition that allows voice control over certain radio, audio system and navigation functions including selecting radio stations, audio tracks, navigation settings and preset destinations.
Powerful and Economical Powertrains and Agile Dynamics
The new Holden Cruze hatch offers a choice of three powerful yet economical engines that offer the same level of refined performance and fuel efficiency as the Series II Cruze sedan range.
The Holden Cruze engineering team have ensured the CD and CDX hatch models maintain the same economical fuel consumption as the equivalent Series II Cruze sedan models. This has been achieved in part thanks to the sleek aerodynamic shape of the hatch and through a number of minor adjustments and modifications to mechanical components.
At the top of the range, the SRi and SRi-V Cruze hatch feature Holden’s latest generation, direct-injection turbocharged Ecoline 1.4 litre iTi (intelligent Turbo induction) engine that generates 103kW of power and a healthy 200Nm of torque over a wide rev range.
Despite offering the performance of a larger displacement engine, the 1.4 litre iTi returns 6.4 litres per 100 kilometres when paired with the six-speed manual transmission (CD model) and 6.9 litres per 100 kilometres when mated to the optional six-speed Active Select automatic transmission (CD model).
The mid-range CDX model offers a choice of a 1.8 litre ECOTEC petrol or Ecoline 2.0 litre turbo diesel engines, with the petrol engine developing 104kW of power and 176Nm of torque. Mated to the standard five-speed manual transmission, this engine delivers a fuel economy of 7.0 litres per 100 kilometres or just 7.4 litres per 100 kilometres when combined with the optional six-speed Active Select automatic transmission.
As the most fuel-efficient car built in Australia, the 2.0-litre diesel manual Cruze hatch offers a superb combination of economy and performance with maximum outputs of 120kW and 360Nm and a fuel consumption figure of just 5.6-litre per 100km with the standard six-speed manual gearbox and 6.7-litres when mated to the optional six-speed Active Select automatic transmission.
Buyers of the entry-level CD model are offered even greater choice with all three engines available with their respective standard and optional transmissions.
Like the Cruze sedan, its agile dynamic characteristics are ensured with a MacPherson strut front and Compound Crank Axle rear suspension for 1.8 litre petrol and 2.0 litre diesel models while the sportier 1.4 litre turbo uses a performance-tuned Watts Link rear suspension and electric power steering to provide enhanced sporting attitude and agility.
Safety First
While the new Cruze hatch is a stylish, sporty, practical and refined small car, Holden has ensured it also offers the highest degree of safety, with a five-star ANCAP occupant protection rating across the range.
With a particularly stiff and strong body shell, the safety performance of the car is enhanced by a long list of standard features across the range, including six airbags (driver and front passenger front and side and full-length side curtain), Electronic Stability Control incorporating anti-lock braking system, brake assist, electronic brakeforce distribution and traction control.
All five seating positions feature adjustable head restraints and three-point seatbelts with the front seatbelts offering sash height adjustment and pretensioners with load limiters. To help reduce driver leg injuries in a crash, Cruze also features a collapsible pedal release system.
New Cruze Hatch Now in Production
Holden celebrated the start of production of the all-new Australian-made Cruze hatch on the 25th of October, ahead of its launch in early November.
Designed and engineered for Australian conditions, the hatch joins Cruze sedan and local and export Commodore variants on the general assembly line at Holden Vehicle Operations in Elizabeth, South Australia.
Holden Chairman and Managing Director, Mike Devereux, said the new addition to the locally-made portfolio highlighted the flexibility of the Holden plant and workforce.
“It’s a challenging time for manufacturing, but Holden is one of the most flexible automotive manufacturing operations in the world and we’re incredibly proud of our capability,” he said.
“With Cruze hatch models going into production this month we’re now building 51 models across the global small car and Commodore short and long wheel base architectures, all on the same line.
“As global economic conditions changed we set ourselves a very clear goal to be profitable first and foremost on our domestic business. This means building in Australia the large and small cars that Australians really want to drive.
“This strategy is clearly paying off. Cruze has been a great success in the market and our locally-made vehicles account for nearly 60 per cent of Holden’s new car sales this year.”
Cruze Program Engineering Manager, Peter Siablis, who was present for the start of production this week, said the hatch had been specifically engineered for Australian driving styles and road conditions.
“We clocked up a further 140,000 kilometres testing the new Cruze hatch on local roads which helped us develop a number of enhancements for the hatch which we’ve also applied to the model year 2012 Cruze sedan,” he said.
“When customers get behind the wheel next month we think they’ll feel the suspension changes we’ve made which improve steering response, ride quality and add a sense of refinement to the overall driving experience.”
Cruze hatch line-up and pricing mirrors Cruze sedan, with two petrol engine choices including the 1.4iTi and 1.8 litre, as well as a 2.0 litre diesel. Cruze hatch will be launched on South Australian roads on 8 November.
The Cruze localisation program received co-investment from the Federal Government’s Green Car Innovation Fund and the South Australian Government.
Cruze Hatch Joins Holden’s Growing 5-Star Line-Up
Holden’s soon to be released Cruze hatch has been awarded the highest possible five-star safety rating from the Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP).
Launching in November, the Australian designed and built Cruze hatch maintains the high safety standards set by the Series II Cruze sedan which went on sale earlier this year.
Like the sedan, hatch receives the maximum safety rating thanks to standard fitment of a comprehensive range of high-technology active and passive safety features.
Six airbags including driver and front passenger, front side impact and side curtain airbags, electronic stability control, anti-lock braking system, electronic brakeforce distribution, traction control and a collapsible pedal assembly system all come standard.
The entire Cruze range also benefits from a robust body structure and a technically advanced chassis system which delivers enhanced accident avoidance capabilities.
Energy-absorbing load paths protect the passenger safety cell and offer optimum protection in the event of a collision.
GM Holden Chairman and Managing Director, Mike Devereux said Holden had always been very confident in the real world safety capabilities of Cruze.
“We knew we were building an extremely safe car but it’s great to get this third party recognition,” Mr Devereux said.
“The high level of safety features is just one of the many reasons Cruze has been so well received in this country, making it Australia’s third best selling passenger car in 2011* with just one body style.
“With stunning Cruze hatch styling, a high level of standard features and now this safety stamp of approval, we believe we’re on to a real winner.
“We can’t wait to get the hatch version into our showrooms next month and into customer’s hands.”
*Year to date VFACTs figures as at August 2011
New Features & Pricing Announced on Cruze Range
Holden will introduce Bluetooth as standard across the Australian-built Cruze sedan and soon to be released hatch range, enhancing the popular vehicle’s appeal even further.
The integrated feature, previously a $600* dealer fitted accessory, will be standard as part of a model year 2012 Cruze update on sale from mid-November.
Holden Director of Marketing, Simon Carr, said the addition of the technology was in response to consumer demand.
“Bluetooth has become an increasingly important feature for many motorists so it made sense to make it standard on Holden’s second best-selling carline,” Mr Carr said.
“Bluetooth is now standard across a number of Holden’s most popular carlines including Commodore, the all-new Barina and now Cruze.
Two new colours will be introduced in the model upgrade and will be available on all locally built cars.
Perfect Blue, a bright solid blue based on Peter Brock’s Formula Blue, will replace Voodoo, and Chlorophyll, a metallic teal, will replace Poison Ivy.
Mr Carr said minor price changes would accompany the upgrade but was pleased to confirm there would be no premium for the sporty hatch over the sedan range.
“The Cruze CD and CDX range’s recommended retail price will increase by just $250 while the SRi and SRi-V models will increase by $500 to take into account other new inclusions to be announced closer to launch,” he said.
“We’ve made a commitment that the Cruze range will continue to stand for outstanding value for money and when you take into account the amount of standard features and its five star safety credentials, it’s hard to argue.”
The recommended retail price (excluding delivery and govt. charges) of the Cruze sedan and hatch range is as follows:
- Cruze CD 1.8 litre petrol man/auto $21,240/$23,240
- Cruze CD 1.4 litre iTi petrol man/auto $22,490/$24,490
- Cruze CD 2.0 litre diesel man/auto $25,240/$27,240
- Cruze CDX 1.8 litre petrol man/auto $24,740/$26,740
- Cruze CDX 2.0 litre diesel man/auto $28,740/$30,740
- Cruze SRi 1.4 litre iTi petrol man/auto $24,990/$26,990
- Cruze SRi V 1.4 litre iTi petrol man/auto $28,490/$30,490
Year to date the Holden Cruze is Australia’s third best selling passenger car.
New Colours for Holden Commodore and Cruze
Holden will introduce two new eye-catching colours for its home-grown Commodore and Cruze ranges, including the upcoming locally-designed Cruze hatch.
The new colours, named Perfect Blue and Chlorophyll, have been designed by Holden’s Port Melbourne-based Colour and Trim team to adorn its local sports line-up for the new manufacturing year, MY12.
Holden’s classic new Perfect Blue exterior colour pays homage to Australian motorsport legend Peter ‘Perfect’ Brock and his famous Formula Blue HDT Group A VK SS Commodore, which became an instant collectible when it was launched in 1985.
Working from the original paint chip from Holden’s extensive design archive, Holden Colour and Trim’s Charlene Spiteri designed a cleaner, brighter reinterpretation of Formula Blue using new paint and colour technologies. The result is a restyled blue which retains the solid appearance of the original paint with subtle metallic highlights at close range.
Holden Chief Designer Sharon Gauci said Holden had a unique relationship with Peter Brock during his 40-year motorsport career so Perfect Blue was particularly special.
“We wanted the colour to express that unique connection Holden had with Peter, who was an incredibly talented man and a fine ambassador for Holden. Peter left a lasting impression on Holden and our company heritage so Perfect Blue is our way of celebrating his achievements,” she said.
“Perfect Blue strikes a balance between matching the original and creating a new colour that’s sympathetic to the modern surface body language of Commodore and Cruze.”
Chlorophyll, the second all-new hero colour for MY12, captures the fashion-driven trend for rich colours inspired by natural, environmental elements.
A sophisticated teal chromatic bright, Chlorophyll is designed with layers of colour that create an element of surprise and strong colour shifts as you move around the car.
Both Perfect Blue and Chlorophyll will be available on MY12 Commodore and the MY12 Cruze range launched later this year.
Cruze Hatch Revealed at 2011 Melbourne Motor Show
Holden’s latest home grown hero, the highly-anticipated Cruze hatch will make its local debut at the Australian International Motor Show in Melbourne.
Displayed in stunning show form, the Cruze hatch show car premiered at last year’s Paris Motor Show and serves as a precursor to the production model which will be built in South Australia.
Designed and crafted by Holden’s Port Melbourne design studio, the Cruze hatch will join the successful Series II Cruze sedan line-up, which has rocketed up the sales charts since local production began in March this year.
Holden Chairman and Managing Director Mike Devereux said the introduction of the stylish Australian-born hatch would bolster the Cruze line-up.
“Cruze has been a stand-out success, from the moment it launched it quickly became one of the country’s favourite nameplates,” he said.
“We achieved this sales success with only one body style, so we’re looking forward to adding this great looking hatch to the range and seeing Cruze go from strength to strength. We think the hatch will hit a sweet spot with buyers looking for great design, versatility and practicality.
“We’re very proud of the finished product, our contribution to the global design program and that our Cruze hatch will be rolling off the Elizabeth assembly line and into dealerships later this year.
“Importantly Cruze hatch represents yet another step in the Holden product renaissance, which is giving people more and more reasons to consider the lion badge.”
Locally Designed and Built
The Cruze hatch show car has been adapted to reflect Holden’s design DNA with an almost coupe like appearance with a low sweeping roofline and rising belt line.
Featuring the same dynamic proportions that have seen the Cruze sedan win favour around the world, the hatch stands out for its short front and rear overhangs and wide stance, helping it appear planted and secure on the road.
Holden designer Martin Love, a key player in the hatch program, said Cruze hatch design had to appeal to a broad range of customers to compete in the booming small car market.
“The customer base for a compact hatch is perhaps the most diverse imaginable,” Mr Love said.
“A vehicle in this segment needs to appeal to families through to empty nesters, as well as young, urban professionals.”
“When we designed the hatch, we needed it to be eye-catching and youthful yet sophisticated, and still provide practicality, features and comfort families need.
“We wanted to do something sporty and dynamic that would stand out against conventional hatch backs and we’re really proud of the result.”
Local launch
The Cruze hatch has already made its sales debut under the Chevrolet banner in several markets including the United Kingdom and Korea.
Meanwhile, Holden is conducting its final pre-launch evaluation of Cruze hatch on Australian public roads and at the company’s Proving Ground in Lang Lang, Victoria.
Pricing, full specifications and features of the full Cruze hatch range will be announced closer to launch later this year.
Commodore, Cruze & Captiva Lead the Way in May
Holden led the Australian car market in May during a challenging period for the automotive industry, according to official VFACTS figures released earlier today.
Holden’s home-grown heroes, Commodore and Cruze, were the highest-selling passenger vehicles in May, contributing to Holden’s total market share of 14.4 per cent.
Commodore retained its position as Australia’s favourite car for the fourth month in a row with 3,504 sales and 60.9 per cent share of the large car segment. The result also placed Commodore number one in year-to-date sales.
The increasingly popular Cruze became the second highest-selling passenger car in May and topped the small car segment for the first time, recording sales of 2,914 units.
Captiva rounded out Holden’s positive month with combined Captiva 5 and 7 sales topping 1,606 units. Captiva 7 led the Medium SUV segment with 1,010 sales and 18.8 per cent share.
Holden Executive Director of Sales, Marketing and Aftersales John Elsworth said Holden was happy with its May result and acknowledged the difficult circumstances many of the competitors were facing.
“After a slow start to the year and a challenging few months for the global and local car industry, May has been a positive result for Holden,” he said.
“Public reaction to our new and improved Series II range of models is pleasing, and we’re seeing strong enquiry and sales across a number of Holden carlines.
“It’s an exciting time for Holden. Series II Cruze sales are gaining momentum each month and the punchy 1.4-litre iTi powertrain and the new SRi and SRi-V sports models have exceeded our expectations.
“The work we’ve done to make Commodore even more family-friendly with clever multimedia technology and improved fuel economy has paid off and it continues to do well for Holden.”
“We’ve got a great product portfolio with the right mix to respond to customer requirements.”