In a Holden first the new LPG system will be available in models across all Commodore variants encompassing Sedan, Sportwagon, Ute and Caprice.

Plant Launch Operations Manager, Tony Sylvester said the introduction of the new LPG Commodore to the plant required a number of operational and technical enhancements to be integrated into the build process to accommodate the new model and technology.

“A number of changes across the site were made with the introduction of this model including unique body panels, changes to the facia assemblies moulded in our Plastics operations and a completely new fuel system put into place in General Assembly,” he said.

Where previously the LPG fitment of the dual fuel vehicles was completed off line, the introduction of the dedicated LPG system now required the capability to fuel vehicles with LPG during the build process to enable the car to be driven off the end of the line.

Holden has taken an innovative approach to overcome the cost and complexity of adding an additional fuel line into the plant. Holden Engineers have worked with the tank supplier to come up with the solution of providing pre-fuelled tanks which are then installed as part of the build process on the Chassis Line.

“By having the LPG tanks pre-fuelled when supplied has eliminated the need to install an LPG fuel line in the plant resulting in reduced costs for the program, increased productivity and has ensured that the introduction of the new model into the plant is smooth as possible,” Mr Sylvester said.

Launched in 2008, Holden’s Ecoline is about better fuel efficiencies today and next generation fuel advances for tomorrow that are better for the environment and affordable for the typical family. Four years later, Holden’s philosophy has not changed and the all-new dedicated LPG system perfectly epitomises the future-friendly strategy.

The dedicated LPG fuel system joins the line-up of Ecoline badged models currently produced at the Elizabeth plant that includes E85 capability across all Commodore and Caprice models, Spark Ignition Direct Injection (SIDI) on V6 models, Active Fuel Management (AFM) on automatic V8 models and a 2.0-litre diesel offering for the Cruze sedan and hatch.

“Whether it is performance, economy or size as the main driver for the customer’s purchase we have the flexibility and skill at our South Australian facility to build a variety of combinations to meet their needs,” Mr Sylvester said.

The introduction of the dedicated LPG Commodore is the latest model launch for Holden Vehicle Operations that in the last 12 months has seen the launch of the locally-made Cruze sedan and hatch line-up, model year enhancements to the Commodore and the introduction of the Chevrolet Police car program.

The all-new dedicated LPG range will be available in dealerships from next month.

Holden’s Program Engineering Manager for the LPG Commodore program, Brian McMurray, says the scope and exacting execution of this engineering program has ensured customers are buying a vehicle that is world-class for driveability, CO2 emissions and fuel running costs.

“The engineering team had three crucial targets for this program. To achieve less than 200 grams of CO2 per kilometre across the range, to ensure fuel running costs comparable to a small or medium-sized petrol car and finally, to ensure a seamless drive experience for customers familiar with a petrol Commodore,” said Mr Murray.

“I’m very proud to say that the team has achieved, or exceeded, those goals. After more than 1.3 million development kilometres and 78 testing and evaluation prototypes, the Holden engineering team has executed a no-compromise LPG experience.”

LPG injection system

At the very beginning of the LPG project, Holden engineers evaluated liquid and vapour-injection LPG systems. After preliminary research and building a proof of concept liquid injection prototype vehicle, it quickly became apparent that vapour injection was the only solution to achieving the program’s goals.

“Vapour injection provides lower fuel consumption and lower CO2 emissions compared to liquid, while vapour also uses fuel more efficiently with fewer pumping and parasitic losses,” said Mr McMurray.

“Vapour systems are less mechanically demanding and therefore better suited to the varying grades of LPG fuel found across Australia.

“Vapour is also best suited to the Australian climate, with more consistent start-up in hot climatic conditions.”

Powertrain

The heart of the LPG Commodore is the 3.6-litre, double overhead cam V6 engine, with four valves per cylinder. This engine has been designed to run solely on LPG and therefore has allowed for design optimisation in several key areas.

The entire LPG fuel system has seen significant development, with new fuel injectors, fuel rail and LPG fuel filter.

Specific fuel injectors have been developed, with these injectors target positioned within the engine to optimise fuel delivery – giving better performance, lower CO2 emissions and improved driveability and durability.

The fuel control system has also been optimised in the areas of fuelling, spark advance and cam positioning to ensure that the advantages of LPG are fully realised for lowest possible CO2 emissions and best performance and driveability under Australian driving conditions.

Additional highlights include hardened valves and valve seats to ensure long-term durability, while the heads and manifold are also designed specifically for the LPG Commodore to ensure optimised air flow and combustion.

As LPG contains a higher octane rating than petrol, new pistons of an optimised design have been used to raise the compression ratio to 12.2:1 to take full advantage of LPG fuel.

A particular highlight of the dedicated LPG Commodore is the new six-speed automatic transmission. Lighter, smarter and more refined, this new transmission boasts sophisticated control software that optimises shift patterns to provide outstanding driveability.

The end result is a world-class engine with excellent performance and outstanding fuel economy. Producing 180kW of power and 320Nm of torque, the dedicated LPG engine eclipses the outgoing dual-fuel LPG variant by 5kW and 2Nm. And yet the new LPG Commodore Omega sedan records 11.8L/100km on the ADR combined cycle, an improvement of 1.6L/100km – or 13 percent – compared to the dual-fuel LPG Omega sedan.

Depending on fuel prices, the Omega sedan will cost less than $1,300 per year in fuel to run, which is up to $800 a year cheaper than a 1.8-litre Toyota Corolla.*

Holden’s engineering work has ensured the entire LPG Commodore range has been awarded 4.5 stars by the Green Vehicle Guide, and exceeds “Beyond Euro 6″ exhaust emissions standards.

Combine these results with a range of more than 700km, and the LPG Commodore is a no compromise proposition, allowing customers the freedom and practicality of a large car without the large car fuel bills.

Additional highlights

Over the duration of the exhaustive LPG Commodore engineering project, numerous local engineering solutions were implemented by Holden engineers and suppliers. Several of these engineering innovations have been awarded patents.

Additional engineering highlights include the purpose-designed LPG vapouriser. This unit regulates the flow of liquid LPG, subsequently heating the fuel and causing it to vapourise, creating the vapour that is then injected into the combustion chamber. The vapouriser is another made-to-measure component, and is the only one of its type being used by an OEM manufacturer anywhere in the world on an engine of this capacity.

In order to use the vapouriser, Holden engineers had to create and execute new software to operate the vapouriser and integrate it into the powertrain system. This required unique code to be written for both the ECM and VCM management systems.

Spent exhaust gasses are managed through a specifically-designed exhaust system which is differentiated from the rest of the range by a single exhaust outlet, which also aids with refueling in hot climate conditions. This newly designed exhaust uses a twin-muffler system positioned mid-vehicle and is tailored to refinement, power and torque requirements for the LPG engine.

Refinement has also been paid special attention, with a specifically tailored noise and vibration package to ensure a pleasurable drive.

Safety

As with all Holden products, safety was an overriding priority throughout the LPG Commodore program. Like all VE Commodores, the LPG model goes beyond the mandated Australian regulatory requirements and scores the maximum five-star ANCAP safety rating while providing outstanding real-world safety.

With its incredibly rigid body structure with multiple load paths for maximum energy absorption in an impact, ESP standard on all models, as well as six standard airbags in every model, the Commodore remains one of the safest cars on the road today.

But the LPG program provided its own unique challenges to our safety engineering team.

LPG requires a larger tank than petrol in order to achieve a similar range, so to keep mass contained, Holden’s safety engineers developed a lightweight, 84-litre aluminium tank – which to our knowledge is the only mass-produced, OEM-equipped, aluminium fuel tank anywhere in the world.

In order to balance mass and weight distribution with our stringent safety requirements, the safety team relocated the tank rearward of the rear axle which was an intense engineering exercise in itself and required significant re-routing of the exhaust system among other modifications.

The tank itself is constructed from high-strength, multi-celled, aircraft grade extruded aluminium with strategically-placed additional aluminium protection plates.

The aluminium tank was the subject of intense research and development activity, including numerous simulated and physical tests of both the tank itself and in-situ within the vehicle in the form of nine barrier crash tests performed in-house.

Holden’s 2012 Colorado mini-site will go live today, coinciding with the arrival of a number of pre-production vehicles for local engineering evaluation and promotional activities to be held at Holden dealerships around Australia.

The 2012 Holden Colorado range will offer customers three body styles – single cab, space cab and crew cab – and offer two all-new 2.5-litre and 2.8-litre DOHC in-line 4-cylinder turbo diesel engines.

Both engines are tuned to deliver peak torque low in the rev range for maximum driveability and cargo carrying capability, while the 2.8-litre engine – when paired with the optional six-speed automatic transmission – produces 10 per cent more power and 40 per cent more torque than the outgoing 3.0-litre diesel powertrain it replaces.

The new Colorado will boast a class-leading 3.5-tonne towing capacity across the 2.8-litre turbo diesel range and an impressive 3.0-tonne towing capacity on all 2.5-litre variants.

An extensive list of safety features will be standard across the range, including driver and front passenger airbags, side curtain airbags, anti-lock brakes with Electronic Brake force Distribution and Electronic Stability Control.

Colorado will also be equipped with lifestyle and comfort features including Bluetooth® connectivity, air-conditioning, power windows, auxiliary plug and USB port, two auxiliary power outlets and iPod® compatible audio system.

Holden Executive Director Sales, Marketing and Aftersales, John Elsworth said the company had been working hard to finalise the local range ahead of the Colorado’s official launch since the show car was revealed at the Australian International Motor Show in Melbourne last July.

“The new Colorado is a new era for Holden LCVs and will play a vital role in our product renaissance. We’re so excited about its performance as a tough, daily workhorse and active recreational vehicle that we wanted to preview the range as soon as possible,” Mr Elsworth said.

“This is the most impressive light truck ever designed by General Motors, and we expect it to be a serious challenger in the competitive Australian light commercial market.

“Our diesel-only powertrain strategy means we’ll offer two very competitive, responsive engines that boast impressive towing capacity of up to 3.5-tonne, which we know our customers will love.

“A number of new Colorados are already out on the road gathering important data on engine and transmission performance, drive quality and suspension tune. This evaluation work will continue for the next few months to make sure it is perfectly suited for Australian roads and conditions.”

“And in the meantime customers will have the chance to inspect the new range at Holden dealerships from April, with a number of Colorados touring the country as part of our pre-launch roadshow.”

Holden is currently performing local development work on the new Colorado using a series of engineering tests, which includes a rigorous five-month real-world drive quality evaluation on Australian roads.

The Colorado workhorse will be put through its paces in a range of recreational activities typically experienced by light commercial vehicle customers, including four-wheel driving, towing, farming, camping and fishing.

Colorado pricing and full model line-up details will be announced closer to launch.

The imported model will be the third variant of Holden’s favourite small car and promises to combine the practicality of a wagon with the high-tech features and sporty style that has made Cruze sedan and hatch so popular.

The Chevrolet version of the Cruze wagon will make its global premiere at the Geneva Motor Show early next month.

The latest Cruze bodystyle complements sedan and hatch which have sold in excess of one million vehicles globally since the carline was launched in 2009.

Holden Executive Director of Sales, Marketing and Aftersales, John Elsworth said he was looking forward to welcoming the Cruze wagon to Australia.

“Cruze wagon ticks all the boxes, it offers distinctive design, dynamic driving, space and economy,” said Mr Elsworth.

“Cruze has been a fantastic success story for Holden, it’s been extremely well received by our customers making it Australia’s fifth highest-selling car in 2011.

“We’re confident Cruze wagon will take the nameplate from strength to strength and reach new customers who are looking for more versatility.”

The new wagon will feature generous storage space and a high level of standard features and safety that customers have come to expect from a Cruze.

Cruze wagon, at 4,675mm, is slightly longer than the hatch (4,510mm) and sedan (4,597mm) models. Load space ranges from 500 litres up to the window line in the rear to nearly 1,500 litres up to the roof top with the rear seats folded down.

The exterior design features a tapering single arch roofline and comes with roof racks as standard, providing convenience while maintaining a poised and sporty look.

More details will be released closer to the launch date.

According to official VFACTS figures released today by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries, Holden sales increased 8.1 per cent compared to January 2011 – well ahead of the market at 4.3 per cent – with the company selling a total of 9061 vehicles for 11.8 per cent market share.

The South Australian-built Cruze small car led Holden sales for the first time, with 2,445 sales for the month and 13.1 per cent share of the small car segment.

Cruze was closely followed by Commodore, which sold 2170 units in January for 49.7 per cent of the large car segment.

Holden’s seven-seat Captiva 7 kicked off 2012 as the second best-selling large SUV with 997 units and 13.8 per cent segment share. Its Captiva 5 stablemate also put in a strong performance with 662 units sold.

In only its third month of sales, the new-generation Barina Hatch contributed to an outstanding Barina result of 1,318 units and a healthy 13.8 per cent share of the competitive light car segment.

Holden Director of Sales Philip Brook said although January was traditionally a quieter month, recently-introduced models like the Series II Captiva, Barina and Cruze Hatch were proving hot property.

“Holden’s product renaissance is really picking up pace and key models are notching up very pleasing performances in their respective segments,” he said.

“We’ve got more exciting and diverse products in the pipeline, beginning with a new Barina sedan, which goes on sale this month. The sedan will add a new element of flexibility and choice to our Barina line-up, which is already a strong performer for Holden.

“As we speak, Holden experts are putting the finishing touches on the all-new Colorado light truck, and we expect it to be a serious challenger in the Australian light commercial market.

“And we’ve got a fantastic story to tell about our new mono-fuel LPG Commodore, which will offer customers large car practicality and reduced running costs, as we roll out the new LPG model line-up in the coming weeks.

“Our focus remains on building and selling the cars Australians want to buy and with a raft of new models due in the coming months, we’re looking forward to an exciting year ahead.”

After a record 15 years as Australia’s number one selling car, the Commodore – Holden’s steadfast local hero – closed 2011 in the number two position with sales of 40,617 units.

Having led year-to-date sales for seven months in 2011, the Commodore passenger range sold 2,814 units in December, making it Australia’s second most popular car for the year.

The Holden Cruze sold 2,783 units in December, placing it the fourth highest-selling car in December and fifth for 2011. Holden sold a total 33,784 Cruzes last year, an increase of 5,450 units or 19.2 per cent compared to 2010. It was also Holden’s best December Cruze result on record.

Elsewhere, Holden experienced a record December for its Captiva 5 SUV, selling 499 units, and the best Captiva 7 December result since 2009, with 992 sales.

The recently-introduced Barina hatch continued to attract new buyers, helping Holden to sell 1,343 Barinas in only its second full month of sales. The result was also the best December in the nameplate’s 26-year history in Australia.

Holden Executive Director Marketing, Sales and Aftersales John Elsworth said while market conditions had been challenging in the closing months of 2011, Holden still had much to celebrate.

“We’re extremely proud of Commodore. No other car in Australian history has been number one for 15 years in a row, and it’s an achievement Holden is very proud of,” he said.

“During Commodore’s 15-year reign as the number one car the local market has changed significantly with new brands and even completely new types of vehicles giving customers more options than ever before.

“Whole new segments and models have been created, which simply didn’t exist 15 years ago, and this has given Australian consumers unprecedented choice.

“For Commodore to remain so strong throughout this time is a testament to the innovation and talent within Holden and the local industry, which has consistently introduced new, world-class technologies and features alongside or even ahead of the competition.

“Right now, we’re focussing on selling the cars our customers want. Whether it’s a small or large car built at our local manufacturing operations or an imported model from our diverse product portfolio.

“Cruze is another great success story for Holden. Since we started to build the Cruze locally in our Adelaide assembly plant last year, we’ve introduced a range of new fuel efficient engines and launched a distinctive locally-designed hatch, and Cruze has been extremely well received by our customers.

“There’s no doubt we have a challenging year ahead in 2012 but we’re looking forward to the announcement of a new dedicated LPG Commodore in the coming weeks, which will offer significantly reduced running costs and lower carbon emissions, and the arrival of our new generation Colorado LCV mid-year.”

Holden’s December sales totalled 10,193 with a market share of 12.4 per cent. Overall, Holden sold a total of 126,095 units in 2011, bringing the company’s year-end market share to 12.5 per cent.

Federal Minister for Transport and Infrastructure, the Hon. Anthony Albanese MP, the Lord Mayor of Sydney, Clover Moore MP and the Ambassador for the United States of America, his Excellency Jeffrey Bleich were handed the keys for the first drive of Holden’s revolutionary vehicle.

An advocate for more sustainable transport in Sydney, Lord Mayor Clover Moore was one of the first members of the public to get behind the wheel today.

“Electric cars are a practical form of transport and are better for the environment,” the Lord Mayor said.

The Holden Volt represents a fundamental change not just for Holden, but for the entire Australian automotive industry.

The world’s first Extended Range Electric Vehicle (EREV), Volt spells the end of range anxiety for electric vehicles and begins a new era of technological leadership for Holden.

With its cutting-edge drivetrain, Volt is capable of up to 80km of pure electric driving from its lithium-ion battery – allowing the majority of Australians to complete their daily commute without visiting the petrol station.

That means emissions free motoring, a greatly reduced carbon footprint and at approximately $2.50 to fully recharge the Volt, it also means significantly reduced running costs.

Complementing the battery is a 1.4-litre petrol engine that acts as a generator, that when required recharges the Volt’s battery as you drive. With this unique range-extending mode, Volt is capable of more than 500km before recharging or refuelling is needed.

Holden Chairman and Managing Director Mike Devereux said the Holden Volt would be a game changer for Holden and the wider automotive industry in this country.

“Volt is the no compromise electric car. It’s electric when you want it and petrol when you need it,” he said.

“It’s among the most technologically advanced cars on the road anywhere in the world and spearheads Holden’s push to become a leader in technology and sustainable motoring.

“Volt will make driving more economical, more environmentally-friendly and will fundamentally change the way Australia thinks about alternative transport solutions.

“This is the start of something big for Holden and Australia.”

Volt can be recharged easily and seamlessly at any standard household power point, and a full charge takes approximately four hours with the 240V charge station – significantly less than most electric cars currently on the market. If a power socket isn’t convenient, Volt can simply be refueled with petrol and more than 500km of additional range is available.

Launched in February 2011, the Holden Series II Captiva range was enhanced with the introduction of six airbags – driver, front passenger, front side and curtain airbags – as standard on all models, an electric park brake and Hill Start Assist technology to prevent “roll-away” on inclines.
These features were added to Captiva’s already impressive array of active and passive safety technology including Electronic Stability Control system incorporating anti-lock braking, electronic brakeforce distribution, brake assist, traction control and active rollover protection.

All Captiva models are also fitted with a descent control system which maintains a slow speed for navigating steep downhill gradients.

Holden’s Vehicle Structure & Safety Integration Manager, Steve Curtis said it was great to receive a local endorsement for this globally successful car.

“We’ve been very confident in the Captiva’s safety credentials, particularly after the Chevrolet Captiva range was awarded a top five star rating from EuroNCAP in October,” Mr Curtis said.

“But it’s great to know that yet another Holden has earned the highest Australian safety rating.”

Captiva 7 SX diesel joins the Commodore, Cruze and Barina range which have all been awarded the maximum five star safety rating from ANCAP.

Mercedes-Benz has taken home three awards from 2011 Drive Car of the Year, including the Drive Car of the Year Overall winner award which went to the C 250 CDI.

The Managing Director of Mercedes-Benz Cars, Mr Horst von Sanden was very pleased by the win. “The latest C-Class has been an instant success not only here in Australia but also around the world. We worked hard with the factory to come up with the right specification that would add additional value to an already great car.

Winning two categories and taking out the overall 2011 Drive Car of the Year trophy is a very exciting and proud moment for Mercedes-Benz,” said von Sanden.

Not only was the C 250 CDI judged the best passenger car against the best of the best (regardless of category), the judges mentioned it was one of the toughest fields in the history of the award.

“Forty-six cars were selected across 13 categories in this year’s awards, with prices ranging from $18,990 to $340,000. They were chosen from more than 250 models driven by Drive journalists during the past 12 months”, said the Drive Team.

In the category Best Luxury under $80,000, the Mercedes-Benz C 250 CDI was up against some stiff competition but the “Mercedes-Benz C 250 CDI stood out in this category with its classy cabin, excellent road manners and super-efficient diesel engine.

Everybody wants more for less these days, and that premise is the key to the success of Drive’s Car of Year for 2011, the Mercedes-Benz C 250 CDI.

The family-sized Benz has more torque, or pulling power, than a lot of petrol-guzzling V8s, yet it uses less fuel than the average city runabout.

The secret to this impressive balancing act is the diesel engine that lurks beneath its stately bonnet”, said the Drive team about the category and overall winning Mercedes-Benz C 250 CDI.

In the Best Performance over $60,000 category, the C 63 AMG Coupé took out the award against two very different performance cars.

The Drive team including racing legend John Bowe said “The ballistic Benz bowled over the high-octane opposition in this year’s Drive Car of the Year awards with bullet-like acceleration and a wonderful exhaust note.

And it was a clear win for the Benz too. Everyone who drove it simply loved it”, said the Drive team.

Drive Car of the Year Overall winner – Mercedes-Benz C 250 CDI
Best Performance over $60,000 winner – Mercedes-Benz C 63 AMG Coupé
Best Luxury under $80,000 winner – Mercedes-Benz C 250 CDI

This first cutting-edge Holden Volt vehicle arrived into Australia from the United States and is a left-hand drive model that has been adapted for use by the engineering team to begin in-country validation and verification.

The Volt has been used for numerous engineering evaluation trips, seeing it drive to various places around the country including Sydney and Canberra.

Paul Gibson, Director of Electrical Engineering at Holden, said: “The engineering department will use these validation exercises to ensure the electrical infrastructure around the country supports the Volt and that the recharging process is as seamless as possible for customers,”

The Holden Volt represents a major milestone for the Red Lion brand.

Holden Chairman and Managing Director Mike Devereux said the Holden Volt will be a game changer for Holden and the wider automotive industry in this country.

“It is among the most technologically advanced cars on the road anywhere in the world and spearheads Holden’s push to become a leader in the field of technology and sustainable motoring.

“The Volt will make driving more economical, more environmentally-friendly and will fundamentally change the way Australia thinks about alternative transport solutions. This is the start of something big for Holden and Australia.”

Many of the Volt’s benefits are due to its groundbreaking propulsion system; the Volt was the world’s first electric vehicle with extended range capability. Driven purely by the advanced lithium ion battery, the Volt can drive on electric-only power using electricity stored in its 16 kW/h lithium ion battery.

When the battery runs low, a petrol-powered engine seamlessly operates to recharge the battery, thereby eliminating ‘range anxiety’ and making the Volt the most practical electric car on the market.

Owners of the Volt in the United States have recorded up to 2300km (equivalent) of driving before needing to refuel the petrol engine, which acts as a generator to recharge the battery (www.gm-volt.com).

Holden’s new dedicated Volt website has also launched today, head to www.holden.com.au/volt for more details on this ground-breaking vehicle.

The Holden Volt will go on sale in Australia towards the end of 2012. Further technical information and specification details will be released closer to launch.