Holden confirms mini, talks up SUVs

Holden, the car company that doesn't talk about future product ... except when it does, has confirmed an all-new second generation Barina Spark mini-car will launch in 2016 in Australia and a Captiva SUV replacement is on the way along with an "all-new, world class SUV".

But in its latest pronouncement it has stopped short of confirming the Cruze small car production will continue all the way to the end of 2017 when local manufacturing ceases.

The latest instalment in Holden's future product drip-feed came last Friday when General Motors international operations boss Stefan Jacoby announced the appointment of the Australian Mark Bernhard as the company's next chairman and managing director.

A plan for 24 "major new vehicle launches" and 36 new powertrain combinations by 2020 was also revealed. A GM spokesman later clarified these launches would be for major upgrades as well as new generation models and additional nameplates for the line-up.

"Every year Holden will introduce four to five brand new models in this market with an appropriate powertrain combination," Jacoby said.

"GM is investing millions of dollars to broaden the Holden product portfolio and deliver world-class vehicles."

However, when quizzed on the local future of Cruze, which has just been facelifted in Australia but is headed into a new generation overseas, Jacoby was far less bullish.

"It is very much depending on future product strategy and we cannot comment on that this afternoon," Jacoby said.

He did, however, affirm the doors at Holden's Elizabeth plant would stay open until late 2017 building the Commodore: "We are committed to maintain production in Australia until the end of 2017."

Jacoby's admission that the Barina Spark is coming makes sense because the donor vehicle has broken cover overseas. But talking about the SUVs, which are in no way guaranteed to be the next vehicles in-line for launch after the Spark indicates Holden is conscious of its weakness in the booming area of the market.

Holden ranked number seven in SUV sales in 2014, despite finishing second overall in the new vehicle market according to officials VFACTS figures.

Jacoby said the new models would "ensure comprehensive offerings in the crucial SUV market segment."

Jacoby wasn't expanding on just which SUVs would be coming to Australia or timelines, but it would make sense for the Captiva replacement to be the Buick Envision, a model launched in China late in 2014 and due to start spreading throughout the GM world from this year. The US Lambda platform large SUVs – the GMC Acadia, Chevrolet Traverse and Buick Enclave – are also due for an overhaul soon.

The Envision is 4667mm long – about 100mm longer than a Toyota RAV4 – and powered by a 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine in its China trim.

Another SUV likely to be on the Holden shopping list is a high-end Opel that will be in production before the end of the decade. Holden has already said a third of its future model line-up will be sourced from GM's German unit.

In January at the Detroit auto show Jacoby revealed a two-door sports car, most likely with a V8 engine option, would be coming to Australia around the time local manufacturing capability ceased in late 2017.

Jacoby mentioned that car again on Friday: "Holden will have a true sports car in its future product portfolio, which has truly Holden DNA as the ingredients for this crucial halo car here in Australia.

Last year it was confirmed that the Opel Astra, Insignia and Cascada convertible would join the Holden line-up in mid-2015.

The Astra was sold as a Holden through three generations and briefly as an Opel here. The Insignia was also sold as an Opel in Australia in 2012-13 until GM's German unit pulled the pen on its year-old Australia sales unit.

The next generation Insignia is expected to be the basis for the next Commodore, which will be the first imported version of the car and the first with front-wheel drive and without a V8 engine.

As reported on Friday, Jacoby made it clear that the objective for Bernhard and Holden remained the number one sales position in the marketplace by early next decade. Holden has run number two behind Toyota since 2003, but importers Mazda and Hyundai are closing in.

"We need to have an aspirational objective and that objective goes to what Holden has as potential," said Jacoby. "It is an iconic Australian brand. Since 1948 we are producing cars under that iconic brand name and we have success and we want to continue with that success.

"And of course as General Motors, as one of the biggest global auto manufacturers we have the aspiration to be number one."