New compact model by GM Holden

GM Holden will build an all-new small car in Australia alongside the country’s best-selling Commodorerange. The second carline will start in the third quarter of 2010 with support from the Federal and South Australian Governments. The car will be based on the Opel Astra & Chevy Cruze. The front-wheel drive model will be offered with an array of 4-cylinder direct injected petrol and diesel engines while Holden said that it is also considering a range of alternative fuel or fuel saving technologies including E85, LPG, CNG and start-stop hybrid capability. Further information/detail of the car and the retail price will be released later.

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HSV consider to expand new halo and entry-level models

GM's Australian performance arm, Holden Special Vehicles, had capped production of its Corvette LS7-powered HSV W427 super-saloon at just 200 units. Now, the performance division is pondering a new halo car that would be price below the limited-edition W427 but that would remain a permanent fixture in its lineup. The interest in the 505hp (375kW) HSV W427, which is based on the Holden Commodore, has inspired the company to branch out to expand its range. The W427 is currently selling for around AUD$150,000 ($102,000) in Australia, however HSV hopes to build a new model that would compete with European sports cars in the AUD$100,000 ($70,000) range once the production run of the W427 is completed.

Besides that, the Australian-based performance company is also looking to include a number of less expensive, smaller cars in its lineup to give the brand a mass appeal, reports Drive. Other changes at HSV include a renewed interest in alternative fuels, such as LPG and diesel. While traditionally HSV has been associated with big petrol V8 engines, the company is hoping to expand this brand image to appeal to a wider range of performance enthusiasts, who may not want a large performance sedan.

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Holden VE Commodore SS V 60th Anniversary Special Edition

Holden had unveiled it 60th Anniversary Special Edition which is the VE Commodore SS V.

The car is priced at $55,290 and will be available starting on 1 May 2008. Below are the specifications of the manual SS V from the press release.

* 20-inch 10-spoke alloy wheels (four)
* Colour Satellite Navigation
* Rear parking sensors
* Chrome surround exterior door handles
* High mount rear spoiler
* Special ‘60th Anniversary’ floor mats
* Special ‘60th Anniversary’ rear badge

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