2012 Holden Malibu 'revealed'

[Brazen]

I actually dont think it will sell well at all...

There is not liftback or wagon body so most mid-sized buyers will look elsewhere, ala Mondeo and Mazda6.

Camry gets away with being sedan-only purely due to massive fleet and government sales.

[MITCHAY]

I reckon it looks great

[Franco Cozzo]

BAZINGA! Thats what I'm talking about. Awesome interior.

[LANKY 1]

The centre screen folds up also

http://andoniscars.blogspot.com/2011...#axzz1Jxn7rG2I

[Road_Warrior]

Originally Posted by Brazen

I actually dont think it will sell well at all...

There is not liftback or wagon body so most mid-sized buyers will look elsewhere, ala Mondeo and Mazda6.

Camry gets away with being sedan-only purely due to massive fleet and government sales.

Liftbacks - since when are they important to mid-size market share? Also the Epsilon II platform has a wagon variant in the Opel Insignia (a variant of which was spied in the US recently with a Buick front end on it) so there is every chance a wagon variant may appear.

[Rog246]

All-new ride and handling package engineered for best-in-class performance???
Yeah right...best in class up against the likes of Mazda 6 Honda Accord Euro, Camry etc ...........I think not. I've driven a few GMH world class cars according to the motoring scribes( well Australian ones anyway) and I'm still waiting to be surprised let alone impressed. It falls into the same category as Holden being the 1st car manufacture in Australia !
That along with it being Australia's own car, designed and engineered here. To the best of my knowledge the only Holden TOTALLY designed & engineered here was the HQ- if old farts like me think back, about 1/2 way thru its 1st year of production is when FORD took the top spot ! Show me were I'm wrong please!
The ute an Australian idea, designed BY an Australian designer and built here in the 30's by Ford who were manufacturing here then...some 15-20 yrs before GMH was even invented !

Rog 246

[vztrt]

Originally Posted by Rog246

To the best of my knowledge the only Holden TOTALLY designed & engineered here was the HQ- if old farts like me think back, about 1/2 way thru its 1st year of production is when FORD took the top spot !

Well the VE is pretty close to it.

[Rog246]

Originally Posted by vztrt

Well the VE is pretty close to it.

Pretty close to it doesn't cut it Daniel Like most things automotive everything is an evolution.. What we see on the outside is just window dressing, its what's underneath that counts.
Don't misunderstand me here I'm not anti Holden, but having worked not only in the industry but also in PR, he who puts the most spin in things get to make the news! Ford have been consistently outspun by GM for over 20 years, and they can't go on living on past glories. They need to be really proactive. Mind you it doesn't help that most of the motoring media here are beholdin' to Holden. Look at nearly every Ford product release and there will be a speel about a similar Holden product quite often in the pages leading up to the FORD article!
It does not help Ford's case
Rog

[vztrt]

Originally Posted by Rog246

Pretty close to it doesn't cut it Daniel Like most things automotive everything is an evolution.. What we see on the outside is just window dressing, its what's underneath that counts.

The the VE is not the old opel chassis stuffed with overseas engines. Yes the alloytec and LS motors are o/s designs. But it is a much better then the previous commodores.

The major unfortunate for the VE is the high amount of foreign imported parts, but unfortunately that's the way things are going.

[janddbone]

I actually like it, but not the stupid name!

[XRtowcar]

You sure they aren't model sharing with Toyota?

[stevz]

Originally Posted by XRtowcar

You sure they aren't model sharing with Toyota?

I can't see any similarities apart from the colour.

[XRtowcar]

Are you blind?
Similar crease through the doors and door handles.
Similar bonnet styling.
Similar side window treatment.
Similar mudgaurd profiles.
It looks like they had the contract for the next generation styling exercise and kept it for themselves.

[BHDOGS]

awesome more bits of car stuck together with no imagination all cars are getting to the point there just tin copys ves fgs bring back some flair ffs instead of this watered down appeal to everybody crap far as im concerned holden and ford can both go down the tube because there building boring replicas anyway.

[Windsor220]

GMs cars would look ok if they fixed up those stupid grills. They look huge and ugly.

[ivorya]

Still looks like they've got some one from deawoo to design the car.

Doesn't get a rise from me.

[stevz]

Originally Posted by XRtowcar

Are you blind?
Similar crease through the doors and door handles.
Similar bonnet styling.
Similar side window treatment.
Similar mudgaurd profiles.
It looks like they had the contract for the next generation styling exercise and kept it for themselves.

Nope... You are clutching at straws.

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by Windsor220

GMs cars would look ok if they fixed up those stupid grills. They look huge and ugly.

I quite like the look of those.

The car is obviously designed for the American market, by an American company.

Everyone is saying "I don't think that will sell well at all", did you also say the same about the Falcon? Because that ain't selling too good, yet everyone here thinks its the pinnacle of modern design. I think its time we take off the blue tinted glasses.

You forget its going to be sold by Holden who can do no wrong in the eyes of the public and the media, "Australia's own", none of this American crap like Ford, right?.

[vztrt]

http://theage.drive.com.au/motor-new...421-1dqaq.html

Fuel-sipping Malibu wiped out for Australia
Barry Park
April 21, 2011

An eco version of Holden's new mid-sizer will go to the back of the launch line.

General Motors will roll out a fuel-sipping version of its Chevrolet Malibu mid-size car before it gets more mainstream models - but the car maker is unlikely to do the same when it wears a Holden badge.

Mark Reuss, the former chief executive of GM Holden who is now in charge of GM's US operations, said it was unlikely that GM would lead its international roll-outs of the Malibu with the economy model that cuts fuel use significantly.

Instead, the brand is likely to launch with a more conventionally engined 2.5-litre car that will use 20 per cent more fuel per kilometre than the 2.0-litre "eco" model.
Advertisement: Story continues below

The Malibu will be sold into more than 100 countries from next year, starting with its US market introduction.

The Eco Malibu will feature technology such as an active grille that can close shutters to make the car more aerodynamic when it doesn't need as much cooling.

Ford is pushing itself heavily as a green brand in the US, claiming it now has four models that slip in under the magic 40 miles per gallon figure - a theme that was repeated often during other car makers' reveals at this week's New York motor show.

Despite their similarities in size - the Malibu is not much smaller than the Commodore, Reuss says buyers won't be confused in the showroom.

"They're very different cars," he says. "One is front-drive, and the other is rear-drive. I don't think buyers will have any trouble."

[kpcart]

Originally Posted by XRtowcar

Are you blind?
Similar crease through the doors and door handles.
Similar bonnet styling.
Similar side window treatment.
Similar mudgaurd profiles.

just like ford fg copied the holden ve. who cares, it looks like a great car, much better then the epica and a worthy big brother to the cruze and little brother to the ve.

[chevypower]

Originally Posted by XRtowcar

You sure they aren't model sharing with Toyota?

Toyota had a red car with 4 doors and 4 wheels first, what the heck is GM thinking? Did they not think that anybody would notice?

[Bossxr8]

Originally Posted by Big Damo

BAZINGA! Thats what I'm talking about. Awesome interior.

Are you serious, tacky fake woodgrain and brown dash. Thats hideous colour selection.