Holden promises to improve its small cars

Stung by criticisms of its small and medium-sized cars, Holden has embarked on a program to improve their driveability and desirability.

The upgrades will include drivetrain and chassis tuning and a concerted effort to improve the content level and sophistication of its sub-Commodore line-up.

The first evidence is this week’s launch of the updated Barina Spark and higher-spec Barina CDX, but significant improvements will also flow in to next year’s locally-manufactured Cruze upgrade.

The all-new Malibu mid-sizer and Trax mini-SUV are also subject to this policy.

The move is a belated response to the loss of credibility suffered by Holden small cars since it abandoned expensive European sourcing of models such as the Opel Corsa, Astra and Vectra, replacing them with legacy GM Daewoo models from the mid-2000s.

Since then there has been a roll-over into better engineered models based on new General Motors architectures, but that hasn’t stopped criticism of the driving experience of Cruze and the Korean-built Barina and Barina Spark.

Unflattering comparisons with cross-town rival Ford’s excellent Focus, Fiesta and Mondeo – all European sourced – as well as the superiority of the locally built Territory over the ageing Korean-built Captiva have been acknowledged at Fishermens Bend.

Essentially, Holden wants to retain its cheaper Korean manufacturing source for much of its line-up, while incorporating local drivetrain and suspension tuning and the higher specification levels of Chevrolet versions of these cars sold in North America.

For instance, the Chevrolet Cruze’s 1.4-litre turbo-petrol engine and Watts Link rear suspension only became available here when production of the popular small car shifted from Korea to Australia.

And the 1.4-litre turbo-petrol engine is also offered in the Barina in the USA, where it is sold as the Chevrolet Sonic RS hot-hatch. That model is definitely on Holden’s wish list.

“One of the things we have learned about our manufacturing footprints around the world is that Australia among right-hand drive markets is a bit unique in terms of its specification vis-à-vis South Africa or India or Asia - it is a fairly sophisticated market, and whatever components sets we get in the USA we need them here full stop,” explained GM Holden Managing Director Mike Devereux.

“So we will be extremely aggressive in making sure our manufacturing footprint has the type of stuff you all know that we need in our cars, whether it’s the driving components, suspension components, or different types of options you (the media) criticise us for not having in our vehicles.

“We need to take full advantage of the fact we have very, very capable calibration engineers for engines … and we have really good ride and handling people. Where we can we need to do proper regional tunes.”

The Spark mini-car has added a four-speed Aisin automatic transmission mated to a new 1.25-litre four-cylinder engine, while the cable-operated clutch in the manual is replaced by a superior hydraulic clutch.

The Barina CDX replaces the base model’s hydraulic-assist steering system with an electric set-up tuned for Australian conditions by Holden chassis guru Michael Barber.

The car also runs 17-inch Continental rubber, a new re-calibrated ‘Gen II’ version of the GM GF6 six-speed front-wheel drive transmission and introduces the MyLink app-driven infotainment system to the Holden range.

Next up in March will be a revamp of the locally built Cruze, which will include engine updates for both the 1.8-litre base petrol engine and the 1.4-litre turbo-petrol, the introduction of the Gen II GF6 transmission and MyLink.

There has also been extensive chassis tuning, which Holden insiders are confident now takes the Cruze past its recently reintroduced technical close relation, the Opel Astra.

Holden’s Imported Vehicle Planning and Program Manager Peter Roberts admitted the process of making significant changes to global models was not easy.

“We know what we want in our cars, it’s just a case of whether we can get it out of a manufacturing plant that is building 200,000 cars a year and we want 8000 that are built differently and that’s always a challenge.

“Our manufacturing plant in Adelaide is the same. They don’t want to do something that is different - it is a lot of work to do it and to get it through all our GM systems is difficult.

“It has taken a lot of work by our local Cruze team to get that (next year’s changes) approved by all global players and things like that.”

Holden has also confirmed the Malibu, which arrives from Korea next June, will have local ride and handling tuning and offer the latest generation of MyLink.

The Trax, also Korean-built, should launch next July following extensive local testing.

Of course, all this development work and launch activity must fit in around the not insignificant task of rolling out the VF Commodore.

Motoring.com.au understands Holden plans to reveal the car as early as mid-February and then stage a staggered series of technical and feature reveals before media drives in May and a June on-sale date.

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