Holden boldly going after SUV market
SPORT is still a priority for Holden and Bathurst credibility still counts, yet changing consumer trends that signalled the end for Australianmade six and eightcylinder performance sedans have also accelerated the intent to hit a different kind of track.
The importance of sports utilities to Holden’s future was shared at an event for Equinox, a key car in a model revival and sales lift plan that will deliver five SUVs, four of which have now been identified.
A fiveseat mediumsized SUV, Equinox follows the Trax and Trailblazer that are already here and, with a December 1 onsale date, precedes the Acadia sevenseater — that will replace the Captiva — by a full six months.
Even though it’s cited as genuine GM international fare, New Zealand is the 171st country it ships to, from the look of it (there was no driving), Equinox has a bluecollar Chevy air to its shape, fitout and finish.
But it has undergone a localised tuning programme that covers suspension damper tuning and steering and ESP recalibration.
There are no prices yet, but the specifications will be strong and there’s a broad front and fourwheeldrive line with three turbocharged engines — a 127kW/275Nm 1.5litre petrol, a 2.0litre (186kW/350Nm) and, from mid2018, a 102kW/325Nm 1.6litre diesel. The 1.5 and 1.6 run a sixspeed auto; the 2.0litre has GM’s new ninespeed auto. Anyway, back to that mystery fifth SUV? Might it be the Sportswagon Tourer, a tallerstanding crossover edition of the nextgeneration ZB Commodore range on sale from next February?
Local boss Kristian Aquilina reckons this format is a potential hitmaker here.
Derived in look and technical specifications from the Opel Insignia Country Tourer revealed at the recent Frankfurt motor show, the Sportswagon Tourer aimed at the Subaru Outback owner.
Commodore has tried to win over that buyertype before with the Commodore Adventra wagon of the early 2000s, but Aquilina says not only are sales conditions more conducive now, but the Tourer, which has 20mm more ground clearance than the standard Commodore Sportwagon and is 20mm longer, is better sorted, too.
The variant leverages a number of new technologies, including an advanced twinclutch torque vectoring system and switchable drive modes with a Sport and offroad optimised option.