Holden’s 5 Star Line-Up Gains Another Member
Holden’s Series II Captiva 7 SX diesel has secured a maximum five-star safety rating from the Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP).
Launched in February 2011, the Holden Series II Captiva range was enhanced with the introduction of six airbags – driver, front passenger, front side and curtain airbags – as standard on all models, an electric park brake and Hill Start Assist technology to prevent “roll-away” on inclines.
These features were added to Captiva’s already impressive array of active and passive safety technology including Electronic Stability Control system incorporating anti-lock braking, electronic brakeforce distribution, brake assist, traction control and active rollover protection.
All Captiva models are also fitted with a descent control system which maintains a slow speed for navigating steep downhill gradients.
Holden’s Vehicle Structure & Safety Integration Manager, Steve Curtis said it was great to receive a local endorsement for this globally successful car.
“We’ve been very confident in the Captiva’s safety credentials, particularly after the Chevrolet Captiva range was awarded a top five star rating from EuroNCAP in October,” Mr Curtis said.
“But it’s great to know that yet another Holden has earned the highest Australian safety rating.”
Captiva 7 SX diesel joins the Commodore, Cruze and Barina range which have all been awarded the maximum five star safety rating from ANCAP.
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.”
New Series II Holden Captiva
The introduction of new-look Series II Captiva 5 and Captiva 7 models have given Holden’s strong-selling SUV range even more widespread appeal.
High-performing new generation petrol and diesel engines matched to smooth six-speed transmissions and exceptionally competitive pricing are the big Captiva stories.
There’s more power on tap across the range, complemented by fuel efficiency gains on all models.
The seven-seat Captiva 7 range now offers three new powertrain options including a price-leading 2.4 litre four-cylinder petrol variant, a 2.2 litre turbo diesel and the Commodore-proven performance benefits of Holden’s advanced, Australian-built 3.0-litre Spark Ignition Direct Injection (SIDI) V6.
Captiva 5 buyers get the choice of a turbo diesel powerplant for the first time while refinements to all Series II models deliver quieter cabins and improved ride and handling quality.
The makeover is accentuated by striking new design treatments and additional convenience features which include Bluetooth connectivity and wireless music streaming on all seven-seat models.
Captiva’s safety features have also been enhanced with the introduction of six airbags as standard on all models, an electric park brake and Hill Start Assist technology to prevent “roll-away” on inclines.
Holden Chairman and Managing Director, Mike Devereux, said updates to the Series II Captiva were intended to build on the strengths of an already successful model range in a growing market.
“The introduction of three powerful new generation engines, each providing a performance boost and fuel efficiency benefits will make compact and medium SUV buyers sit up and take notice,” Mr Devereux said.
“That’s on top of the fact that Captiva 5 and 7 continue to hit all the right notes in terms of good looks, high-ride comfort, safety features and flexibility.
“They’re more well-specified than ever and our pricing structure means they remain excellent value for money with each recommended retail price $2000 lower than the previous model.”
Performance and Fuel Economy
Three new Captiva engine choices – a 2.4 litre DOHC four-cylinder petrol with variable valve timing, 3.0 litre SIDI V6 and a 2.2 litre turbo diesel – each paired with six-speed transmissions, spearhead the Series II line-up.
The new powertrain combinations deliver fuel efficiency savings across the board while generating more performance punch than previous models.
The Captiva 7 range now includes a two-wheel-drive (2WD) model powered by a 2.4 litre four cylinder petrol engine. It delivers fuel economy of 9.1L/100km (ADR081/02) – the most fuel efficient petrol seven seater in its class, while producing 123kW of power and 230Nm of torque.
The new, perky 2.2 litre turbo diesel SX model, delivers fuel economy of 8.1L/100km, 135kW of power and 400Nm of torque – a 25 per cent increase on its predecessor.
All-wheel-drive (AWD) Captiva 7 CX and LX models offer a choice of the 2.2 litre turbo diesel or 3.0 litre SIDI V6 powerplants. The 3.0 litre V6 produces 190kW of power and delivers fuel economy of 11.3 L/100km.
Meanwhile buyers of the Holden Captiva 5 compact SUV may now choose between an AWD 2.2 litre turbo diesel model and a 2WD 2.4 litre four cylinder petrol model which offers 19 per cent more power than the engine it replaces.
Styling
The smart Series II Captiva 5 and 7 feature dynamic new front-end styling, dominated by bold facia treatments which delineate differences in character.
Captiva 7 sports a robustly assertive look with its new twin portal grill flanked by prominent fog lamps. Elongated prism style headlamps sweep back to wheel arches which now accommodate three wheel sizes -17-inch (SX), 18-inch (CX) and 19-inch (LX).
The bonnet surface is re-shaped and sculptured; turn signals are integrated into external mirrors; and a clear lens tail lamp design updates the rear end.
The more Euro-style compact Captiva 5 is set apart by a subtle new grille treatment with mesh detailing, echoed in the slim air intake below. Chrome-surround fog lamps make a stylish statement while tough five-spoke 17-inch alloy wheels accentuate an athletic stance.
Interior
Featuring abundant space and a standard equipment list to match, all Series II Captiva 7 cabins include MP3 compatible CD players with auxiliary input, Bluetooth® for hands-free calling or music streaming, plus air conditioning, leather wrap steering wheel and cruise control.
The CX model ups the luxury factor even further with climate control, Sportec bolsters, driver information display and Rear Park Assist, while the range-topping LX adds leather appointed seat trim, Satellite Navigation, Rear View Camera, USB port and a 7-inch multifunction touch-screen.
Clever flush fold second and third row split seating, easily transforms the Captiva 7 from spacious seven-seat people mover to ample cargo carrier. Smart storage spaces are in abundance, including centre console and second row armrest compartments, front and rear cup holders, and front and rear door pockets.
The inclusion of the electric park brake also adds elegance to the interior by removing the bulky lever and creating space for a multi-purpose storage compartment.
The Captiva 5 cabin is also equipped with stylish features including a six-disc MP3 compatible CD player, semi-automatic climate control system, leather wrap steering wheel, front and rear park assist, cruise control, trip computer and driver information display as standard.
Safety and driving dynamics
Captiva’s impressive array of active and passive safety technology is augmented at Series II with the inclusion of side impact airbags as standard across the range, bringing the airbag total to six.
An Electronic Stability Control system incorporates anti-lock braking, electronic brakeforce distribution, brake assist, traction control, active rollover protection and the active AWD system which determines requirements for optimum traction.
Series II also sees the introduction of Hill Start Assist (HSA) technology across the Captiva range. It holds the vehicle on gradients of 3 per cent or steeper for 1.5 seconds after the brake pedal has been released, to assist in a smoother and safer drive away from standstill.
Captiva models are also fitted with a descent control system which maintains a slow speed for navigating steep downhill gradients.
Front and rear park assist comes standard on Captiva 5 while Captiva 7 CX features rear park assist and Captiva 7 LX combines rear park assist with a standard rear-view camera.
Re-tuned chassis dynamics and improvements to steering feel contribute to a more refined ride quality and sharper handling feel. A hydraulic control feature automatically adjusts the suspension to maintain a level ride height on the Captiva 5 Diesel and all Captiva 7 models.
Colour Selection
Captiva 5 and Captiva 7 SX, CX and LX are available in a choice of nine exterior finishes including three new colours exclusive to the Series II range. They are:
- Olympic White
- Ironite
- Desert Sand (new colour)
- Carbon Flash
- Thunder Grey
- Moulan Rouge Red (new colour)
- Nitrate
- White Pearl (new colour)
- Midnight Blue
Captiva’s market appeal hits the sweet spot
Holden’s popular range of Captiva SUVs has claimed back-to-back victory in the carsales.com Ltd People’s Choice Awards.
In a highly competitive field, the multi-purpose Captiva range claimed the prize for the most popular medium-sized SUV.
Carsales.com Ltd, Australia’s number one automotive classifieds company, announced the award today after online car buyers voted for their favourite vehicles using one of its many websites, including carsales.com.au, CarPoint.com.au and Redbook.com.au.
Carsales.com Ltd’s Chief Executive Officer Greg Roebuck said the awards were the only popular poll where car buyers determined the awards themselves.
“Captiva has been a strong performer since its launch and has now won the medium SUV category two years running,” Mr Roebuck said.
“In the face of strong competition from a growing number of brands and models, this year’s result is a strong vote of confidence in the Captiva from private new car buyers.”
Holden Executive Director for Sales, Marketing and Aftersales, John Elsworth said the award reflected Captiva’s capacity to cater for a wide variety of motorists.
“The Captiva range really provides buyers looking to purchase a mid-sized SUV with a variety of options, whether it be the European-inspired Captiva 5 or the ever-practical Captiva 7,” Mr Elsworth said.
“We believe Captiva represents the best all-round value in the medium SUV market and it’s pleasing that customers are telling us the same thing.”
Votes for the People’s Choice Awards were collected from the Carsales Network websites between 1 November, 2009 and 31 October, 2010.
Captiva’s win capped off a successful awards period for Holden which also saw the Commodore range claim the People’s Choice award for Australia’s most popular large car.
Commodore on top, as Series II makes its mark
With VE Series II hitting showrooms this month, Commodore has continued its reign as Australia’s favourite car, selling 3674 units in August, up 10.4 per cent on same month last year.
According to figures released today by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries, Commodore contributed to Holden’s total sales of 11,146 vehicles for the month of August up 17.3 per cent from the same month last year, taking market share to 13 per cent for the year.
Holden’s Executive Director, Sales, Marketing and Aftersales, John Elsworth, said the strong sales pointed to continuing success of Australia’s newest Commodore range being released this month.
“With VE Series II unveiled this week, we’ve taken Australia’s most popular car and made it even better – introducing clever multimedia technology and improved fuel economy,” Mr Elsworth said.
“We’ve also added flex-fuel capability to models powered by the 3.0 litre SIDI V6 and 6.0 litre V8 engines, enabling them to run either on petrol or Bio-ethanol.
“We think customers will be really impressed by our new range which boasts a 6.5 inch full-colour LCD touch screen with full Bluetooth®, USB, iPod® and MP3 integration all the way from Omega to Caprice.”
Strong Commodore sales were complemented by sales of the popular Cruze, Holden’s second best-selling carline. With 2383 vehicles sold in August and 18,965 this year, sales of this impressive small car were up 20.9 per cent on the same month last year.
“From 2011, Cruze will join its big brother Commodore, in coming off the line at Holden’s Elizabeth plant, making it the only small car made in Australia.
“The local manufacture of Holden’s best sellers is a real boost for local manufacturing in South Australia and our national automotive industry,” Mr Elsworth said.
August also saw strong Captiva sales of 1317 units, up 27.7 per cent on August last year, giving Holden its best SUV August sales on record. Barina, too, performed well, with 1325 units, up a considerable 64.8 per cent on the same month last year, and resulting in the highest August Barina sales on record.
Commodore and Captiva Best on a Budget
Top-selling models in Holden’s popular Commodore and Captiva range are the most affordable to own and operate in their segment, according to a recent study conducted by the RACV.
The RACV’s 2010 ‘Drive Your Dollars’ survey, which ranks vehicles according to the costs associated with ownership and daily driving, highlights the two Holden nameplates as best in class.
When compared to a host of models from rival brands, Holden’s popular dual fuel LPG Commodore was identified as the cheapest car to own and run in the large car segment.
Commodore models powered by Holden’s frugal 3.0 litre SIDI V6 engine claimed a second place ranking, ahead of competitors from Ford, Toyota and Honda.
In the highly competitive mid-sized SUV market, RACV acknowledged Holden’s Captiva 5 as the most affordable car to own and operate. Holden models again claimed claimed the top two positions in this category, with SUV stable-mate, the Captiva SX 2.0 Litre Diesel, ranked in second place.
Holden’s Director of Marketing Philip Brook said the survey results recognise the company’s reputation for providing customers with strong value for money.
“The results of this study highlight just why Holden continues to be the smart choice for Australian motorists,” Mr Brook said. “We are committed to ensuring that our vehicles offer strong value for money and remain affordable for customers to own well beyond a sale at a dealership.
“It is pleasing to see our commitment to products that represent outstanding quality and value for money recognised in this way.”
RACV’s calculations for the survey were based on a distance travelled of 15,000 kilometres per year and an ownership cycle of five years.
The RACV media release outlining its 2010 ‘Drive Your Dollars’ survey can be found under the news section at www.racv.com.au