Dowling reckons End of road for Falcon and Commodore in 2016

[EgoFG]

Please, this is a Ford Forum, at least keep the thread titles positive !!

[Bobman]

The introduction of the XR6T and GT models really helped bring the model back up. Add to that nicer looks and many new changes (pretty much whole new car besides doors).

Felt very different to drive with the drive-by-wire as well, compared to the AU.

[tweeked]

According to JC of Motor

"At Holden's design centre in Melbourne today to get preview of VF Commodore, and MD Mike Deveraux has just confirmed VF will be followed by another Commodore, built in Adelaide, and built on one of two (yet to be determined) global platforms."

Good news

[BroadyFord]

That's one big yolk I see dripping down Dowling's face...

Holden Commodore will live on


http://theage.drive.com.au/motor-new...208-2e358.html

The Holden Commodore isn't dead after all.

The Australian car maker confirmed that the long-running nameplate will live on well into the next decade and continue to be built in Australia at its Elizabeth plant in South Australia.

Company chairman Mike Devereux dropped the bombshell today during a media preview for the heavily revised VF Commodore that it will reveal publicly on Sunday morning.

There has been plenty of speculation that Holden would drop the Commodore name when the VF is replaced by an all-new vehicle, based on a global General Motors model, that will be manufactured in Australia at the end of 2016.

"A lot of folks have been speculating about whether this is the last Commodore ... I can I categorically tell you we have already begun working on the Commodore that comes after this one," he said.

"People love this nameplate. We're going to have another one of these," Devereux said. "General Motors has started working on it, the team here is obviously involved in that as they are working on all sorts of different things and I will say no more of it.

"We will launch another Commodore after this one," he said. "This thing will run through end of '16, after that time we're going to be putting two architectures into the plant ... one of them will underpin the Commodore that replaces the VF.

"It's a huge year for Holden - we're back," he said.

But the new Commodore will be a very different beast from the one that goes on sale later this year. It is likely to be smaller and could be based on General Motors Malibu mid-size car, which could mean a switch to a front-drive layout and four cylinder engines.

There was speculation that the second vehicle to be built alongside the Cruze small car would be an SUV, but Holden believes that despite their popularity, an SUV would not generate enough sales to justify production.

Devereux has continually said that a second car on the company's Elizabeth production line would have to be a top-ten seller and last year there were no SUVs on that list. That means the next Commodore will compete against Toyota's four-cylinder Camry, which outsold the Commodore in the last three months of 2012.

[Bobman]

Haha, what an idiot and also a disgrace to Herald Sun who printed the rubbish.

Hope everyone bands together and hits back at him.

[b0son]

It makes sense. With the demise of the Falcon looking more and more likely, they stand to get at least some of those sales. Whether its enough, I have my doubts given the rate the large car segment is shrinking.

[Road_Warrior]

Originally Posted by BroadyFord

That's one big yolk I see dripping down Dowling's face...

And just to demonstrate how arrogant this guy is, look at what he is saying on Twitter:

Holden has not confirmed front drive mid size sedan but my sources say it's spot on - and NOT an SUV.

Holden will then say "we reassessed our position". It's all bollocks. All I know is to be wary about what GM execs say.

Why would Holden put a Commodore badge on a front drive car? Devereux won't be here by the time it launches.

Not wrong mate. I quoted the boss of Holden re Commodore dead in 2016. My expert opinion: today is a smokescreen.

[BroadyFord]

There's just one thing I don't understand: why is Holden screaming from the rooftops about its plans post-2016 and yet there has not been a peep from Ford?

[Bobman]

Originally Posted by BroadyFord

There's just one thing I don't understand: why is Holden screaming from the rooftops about its plans post-2016 and yet there has not been a peep from Ford?

Because the management team at Broadmeadows aren't very bright as can be seen with other concerns about the Falcon.

[GTP534]

Originally Posted by Bobman

Because the management team at Broadmeadows aren't very bright as can be seen with other concerns about the Falcon.

I don't know about that. There's more to Ford Australia than just the Falcon.

[Sprint]

The new falcon will be called the "Vulture" because everyone will be picking it too death.

[FPV GTHO]

Originally Posted by Bobman

Because the management team at Broadmeadows aren't very bright as can be seen with other concerns about the Falcon.

What is "not bright" about holding back info for products 3-5 years away?

Do you want another announcement like Focus that gets recinded when the dollars no longer add up?

[Bobman]

Originally Posted by FPV GTHO

What is "not bright" about holding back info for products 3-5 years away?

Next Falcon is not 3-5 years away and that's where the promotion should be from the team.

[morak001]

"But the new Commodore will be a very different beast from the one that goes on sale later this year. It is likely to be smaller and could be based on General Motors Malibu mid-size car, which could mean a switch to a front-drive layout and four cylinder engines."


This part of the quote to me just means the "badge" will continue on car that has zilch to do with any commodore, but then, do they still use a commodore badge now?

[FPV GTHO]

Originally Posted by Bobman

Next Falcon is not 3-5 years away and that's where the promotion should be from the team.

If you want to talk next Falcon then why comment about post 2016

[Bobman]

Originally Posted by FPV GTHO

If you want to talk next Falcon then why comment about post 2016

To put to rest the over-dramatic ramblings of Dowling and many others who have little clue about cars.

[Bossxr8]

Originally Posted by BroadyFord

There's just one thing I don't understand: why is Holden screaming from the rooftops about its plans post-2016 and yet there has not been a peep from Ford?

Because they have no post 2016 plans.

[stevz]

Originally Posted by morak001

"But the new Commodore will be a very different beast from the one that goes on sale later this year. It is likely to be smaller and could be based on General Motors Malibu mid-size car, which could mean a switch to a front-drive layout and four cylinder engines."


This part of the quote to me just means the "badge" will continue on car that has zilch to do with any commodore, but then, do they still use a commodore badge now?

Why on earth would they rebadge the Malibu as a Commodore when they are bringing out the Malibu to sell alongside the Commodore this year?
Dowling has proven that he has zero credibility and quite frankly I wouldn't even wipe my bottom with the worthless drivel that he writes.

[LeadFoot81]

Originally Posted by stevz

Why on earth would they rebadge the Malibu as a Commodore when they are bringing out the Malibu to sell alongside the Commodore this year?
Dowling has proven that he has zero credibility and quite frankly I wouldn't even wipe my bottom with the worthless drivel that he writes.

Maybe the VJ Commodore will be to the Malibu, what the Aurion is to the Camry. Different nose/tail and interior.

I think this is what will happen with Falcon and Mondeo/Fusion as well (if twinning Falcon with Mustang isn't feasible)

Fusion comes in AWD Ecoboost though which could make a kick *** Falcon!

[LeadFoot81]

Originally Posted by Kable72

It looked better. Wasn't an "in the eye of the beholder" car anymore. The new XR6T. A sexy GT and a base model that looked great.

If the AU had 'Eye of the beholder' styling, then the BA had safe (bland) styling that offended the least amount of people, hence buoying sales. In terms of making money, a very smart move.

[stevz]

Originally Posted by LeadFoot81

Maybe the VJ Commodore will be to the Malibu, what the Aurion is to the Camry. Different nose/tail and interior.

I think this is what will happen with Falcon and Mondeo/Fusion as well (if twinning Falcon with Mustang isn't feasible)

Fusion comes in AWD Ecoboost though which could make a kick *** Falcon!

I doubt it. Large fwd sedans have never sold in large numbers in Australia. 380/Magna tried and failed while Camry V6, Avalon and Aurion have never set the world on fire. AWD adds cost and complexity and affects fuel economy so I doubt they would go down that path either. RWD is ingrained in Commodore's dna and Holden would be well aware that making it fwd would destroy the nameplate. If Holden can't make the rwd Commodore sell, then I don't see how they could possibly make a fwd version viable.