Official: Holden to make Trax

Holden has confirmed it will introduce its first bona-fide compact SUV in Australia next year, in the form of the all-new Barina-based Trax.

Today’s announcement, which also reveals that Holden engineers are already performing engine and transmission calibration work on the all-new baby-crossover in Australia, sets up a tantalising showroom battle next year between a number of new entrants in the nation’s booming compact SUV segment.

Chief among them will be Ford’s all-new EcoSport, which will slot beneath the Kuga (which in itself will make way for the redesigned Escape in 2013) in the second half of next year, while GM’s upcoming Opel brand is also considering the local release of the closely related Mokka.

While Opel’s Mokka, if it is sold here, is likely to be positioned upstream of Holden’s version in terms of price – which should be closer to that of Volkswagen’s Tiguan - both the Trax and EcoSport will compete directly with the fastest-selling sub-compact models in Australia’s booming compact SUV sector, which has swelled 57.3 per cent so far this year.

Chery’s 2.0-litre front-wheel drive J11 is currently Australia’s cheapest SUV at $17,990 drive-away, but more direct rivals for the Trax and EcoSport will include circa-$25,000 2WD versions of models like Mitsubishi’s ASX, Nissan’s Dualis, Skoda’s Yeti and Jeep Compass.

Although motoring.com.au understands Toyota is at least five years away from producing a city-SUV to slot beneath its RAV4, which will itself be renewed in the first quarter of next year, Hyundai previewed its intention to offer a smaller SUV than the ix35 (currently priced from $26,990) via the ix-Metro concept at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show.

Chevrolet’s version of the five-seat Trax, which will be sold in 140 countries globally, will make its world debut at the Paris Motor Show in September, alongside Opel’s all-new premium city-car, the Adam, which is also expected to eventually be sold in Australia.

The Trax will be a significant shot in the arm for Holden’s relatively flimsy SUV line-up, which currently only comprises the Captiva 5 (from $27,990) and Captiva 7 (from $32,490), but will be bolstered early next year by the rugged full-size Colorado 7 off-road wagon.

Holden says its most affordable SUV will combine SUV toughness and small-car convenience with a muscular exterior design, plenty of cargo space and class-leading technology.

“This is another great example of Holden bringing the best new vehicles from GM’s global portfolio to Australia,” said GM Holden Executive Director of Sales, Marketing and Aftersales, John Elsworth. “With cars like Trax we continue to deliver world-class vehicles that meet the changing needs of customers.

“Trax will deliver the flexibility, great fuel economy, advanced safety features and car-like handling that more and more customers are looking for in today’s SUVs.”

The company's press release also revealed a number of Trax models will soon undergo public-road testing by Holden engineers, as part of the company’s involvement in the car’s global development program.

“Holden is well recognised within the GM world for our expertise in engine and transmission calibration and we are very pleased to be involved in the development of this important vehicle,” said Holden Director of Powertrain Engineering, Simon Cassin.

“We are working closely with the homeroom on global calibration work and of course making further refinements to ensure Trax will be well suited to Australian roads and conditions when it arrives next year.”

Due on sale in Europe in the first half of next year, the Chevrolet Trax is essentially a revised version of the Buick Encore that debuted at this year’s Detroit show and the Opel Mokka that made its global debut at Geneva in March.

Chevrolet has said the five-seat Trax will go on sale globally following the release of the mid-size Malibu sedan and five-door Cruze wagon, both of which are also due in Holden showrooms within 12 months.

Like the Encore and Mokka, the Trax is based on the same new compact platform that underpins Holden’s new Barina and should therefore be offered with the same engine line-up, including 1.6-litre naturally aspirated petrol, 1.4-litre turbo-petrol and 1.7-litre turbo-diesel engines matched with six-speed manual and automatic transmissions. All manual versions of the Mokka will be equipped with a fuel-saving idle-stop system.

Both the Trax and Mokka are expected to be offered in both all-wheel drive and price-leading front-drive configurations, and both models should boast up to 1372 litres of loading space and up to 19 storage locations.

If the Mokka is any guide, advanced Trax technologies will include a front camera system that includes Lane Departure Warning (LDW) and Traffic Sign Recognition, plus Advanced Adaptive Forward Lighting (AFL+) including bi-Xenon headlights with High Beam Assist (HBA).

Both the 4.28-metre Mokka and Trax will come with electronic stability and traction control, as well as Hill Start Assist, Hill Descent Control and at least the option of 18-inch alloy wheels.

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