Holden model roll-out continues

Holden will plug several gaping gaps in its aging model portfolio over the next 12 months with the release of the new Malibu medium sedan, new Trax small SUV and new utility-based Colorado 7 large SUV, in addition to next year’s heavily upgraded VF Commodore.

Speaking at the launch of the range-extending Volt plug-in hybrid last week, Holden CEO and Managing Director Mike Devereux told motoring.com.au that what were glaring weaknesses in key segments for Holden would become strengths of its revamped 2013 line-up.

“Malibu will join our line-up (in 2013. It will replace) the Epica, which probably, for some people, wasn’t the best targeted vehicle we could have brought to this market,” admitted Mr Devereux.

“The medium-size segment, or D-car as we call it... are typically a petrol four-cylinder configuration. We did not have a petrol four-cylinder configuration in our entry Epica, and hence it wasn’t that popular.

“Some of you would say there are other reasons the Epica wasn’t that popular, and I would understand you saying that.”

The candid admission came ahead of a guarantee by the Holden boss that the brand would do better for Australian buyers of mid-size sedans.

“This (Malibu) is a global world-class car and we make absolutely no apologies or excuses for this car. It has fantastic infotainment and absolutely the right kind of powertrain. Plus we did the chassis dynamics right here (in Australia),” Mr Devereux asserted.

Given GM’s current engine offerings elsewhere, that should see Malibu arrive in Australia with the choice of a 2.4-litre four-cylinder petrol outputting 123kW/225Nm and a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel offering 120kW/350Nm.

There’s no word yet on the hotter Malibu LTZ, which is available in two output levels overseas, depending on market.

They include a 2.5-litre model that outputs 147kW/259Nm or a 2.0-litre high-output turbocharged four-cylinder offering 193kW/353Nm. It’s believed Holden will lay more of its Malibu cards on the table at the Australian International Motor Show in October.

Ahead of the launch of the all-new ‘VF’ series Commodore in May, Holden will also unveil a pair of SUVs it says will give it the product needed to challenge the Toyota juggernaut Down Under.

“One of the biggest weaknesses we have in our portfolio is that we really don’t have more than just the Captiva range of SUVs,” explained Mr Devereux. “And we duke it out with the likes of Toyota who have five, six different SUVs.”

“We shore that up in Q4 (2012) with Colorado 7 SUV. A large, body-on-frame full-size truck,” Mr Devereux said, referring to the Toyota Prado-sized SUV. “And then next year at the other end of the spectrum we have Trax.”

Mr Devereux said the pair of SUVs will give Holden the clout it needs to be a serious player in SUV segments that have drawn customers from other parts of the brand’s own portfolio.

“So if you think about it, we have Trax in a market that has grown about 60 per cent this year. Small SUV sales are absolutely exploding and that growth is coming from all kinds of segments,” Mr Devereux concluded.

The Trax, spied undergoing transmission calibration tests in Port Melbourne recently, is likely to be motivated by the choice of a 1.4-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol -- the same as that found in Cruze -- or a 1.7-litre turbodiesel.

Expected to be positioned beneath the Captiva in Holden’s SUV line-up with a Mitsubishi ASX-style $25,000 starting price, it will be launched in the first quarter of next year.

Read the latest news and reviews on your mobile, iPhone or PDA at carsales' mobile site…