Holden welcomes new Chevrolet Corvette

It won’t be a huge seller, but Holden expects the all-new 2020 Chevrolet Corvette to deliver other significant positives for the brand.

The mid-engined C8 Corvette was unveiled last week in California and at the same time it was confirmed for right-hand drive production and Australian release.

It is expected to hit Holden showrooms in late 2020 or early 2021.

It will be the first time since the demise of the locally-built Commodore in late 2017 that Holden will have a rear-wheel drive V8 model to offer buyers, albeit one expected to be priced closer to $150,000 than $50,000.

“It’s fabulous to have a rear-wheel drive V8 back in the Holden portfolio,” Holden executive director sales Peter Keley told carsales.com.au.

“Obviously there is still a demand for that type of car. Is there anything we could have done differently? No there’s not, but there is still a demand.”

Holden’s sales and image have both been struggling in recent years, but the confirmation of Corvette has already brought positive response that Keley expects to flow on into the arrival of the car.

“It creates confidence,” said Keley. “There’s a huge vote of confidence being shown by General Motors in right-hand drive markets.

“It’s a huge vote of confidence for our dealer network and it just generates excitement.

“Even though it is not a Holden-badged product, having the story about the Corvette and having Holden in that story certainly doesn’t hurt.

“I think it helps people start a positive conversation around the brand. If it brings people into the showroom to have a look and they buy something while they are there than that’s great.

“It’s just good.”

The first hints the Corvette was on the way were dropped as far back as 2015, although as much speculation then centred on the Chevrolet Camaro as the Corvette.

Keley confirmed Holden put plenty of pressure on its parent for the Corvette.

“At the end of the day we were certainly looking for a rear-wheel drive sports car and we expressed a strong desire for the car,” Keley said.

“I can’t say that the case was purely decided on Holden, but obviously Holden’s voice and volume helped make it a reality.

“You don’t announce right-hand drive at launch unless it’s been approved for some time.”

“I think at the end of the day too, being the General Motors flagship, If you are going to do that … you are saying it’s a true flagship then doing it for the world makes a lot of sense.”