Vectra be gone?

[digifish]

I read this on http://www.drive.com.au/Editorial/ArticleDetail.aspx?ArticleID=22354&vf=7

Seems Holden are going to drop the Euro vecrta in favour of more Daewoo crap :(

http://img.drive.com.au/drive_images/Editorial/2006/12/22/Epica_m.jpg

Holden’s plan to introduce a mid-size sedan in 2007 are more definite, if not yet official.

The Lion brand will continue with its policy of abandoning European-built GM product for cheaper options from Korea with the GM Daewoo-built Epica replacing the slow-selling Vectra.

Epica would be the fourth GM Daewoo vehicle to be imported to Australia, following the Kalos (rebadged Barina), Viva and Captiva, and would need to be priced from high $20K to target segment leaders Toyota Camry, Mazda 6 and Honda Accord Euro.

The Epica is already on sale in Europe, under the Chevrolet badge, but its two six-cylinder petrol engines don’t make as much sense for Holden as the four-cylinder diesel option.

While even the most powerful Epica in-line six, at 115kW, doesn’t come close to the least powerful Commodore’s 180kW V6, neither are especially fuel efficient in comparison – a critical factor for shoppers in the medium-car category.

The 110kW/320Nm 2.0-litre turbo-diesel is not only more frugal than even the 105kW six-cylinder petrol – 6.1 litres per 100km versus 8.2 – but the diesel Epica is also two tenths quicker from 0-100km/h than the 115kW petrol variant – 9.7 versus 9.9 seconds.

Those figures are based on models equipped with five-speed manual transmissions, but the diesel still has the edge in efficiency and performance when five-speed automatics are used.

[oneightoo]

yep, we've known for a while.. thats progress for you..

[xplosv57]

Yeah they dropped the euro Vectra from Holden a few months back, same time as the Cruze and the Zafira!!!

[blueraven]

9.7 sec 0-100??? thats slower than the crappy new barina!

i predict they will sell 5.

[astralopiteco]

In Brazil, the european version of Vectra in no longer available. Since 2005, Brazil has its own vectra, developed in Brazil. It is already being exported to several countries, maybe it will be Australia's next vectra too...

http://img187.imageshack.us/img187/1391/x06chvr048brlargerm1.jpg
http://img184.imageshack.us/img184/6729/x06chvr041brlargeyp1.jpg
http://img401.imageshack.us/img401/6311/x06chvr039brlargepf9.jpg
http://img149.imageshack.us/img149/816/x06chvr064brlargeqf1.jpg
http://img187.imageshack.us/img187/1671/x06chvr063brlargeza4.jpg
http://img222.imageshack.us/img222/9037/x06chvr062brlargesr6.jpg

More pictures:
http://gm.wieck.com/forms/gm/*query?ws4d_nav=true&search_criteria=BrasilVectra&source=all&page=1

[MatsHolden]

maybe it will be Australia's next vectra too...


Nah won't be. Epica is the mid sized sedan Vectra replacement. Won't sell two cars of the same size side by side.

[Diabolical]

Nah won't be. Epica is the mid sized sedan Vectra replacement. Won't sell two cars of the same size side by side.
Whats with the Astra and Viva then?

I think Holden is getting confused.

Edit: Just clicked the link, The Sebring looks horrid. Kinda reminds me of those slow motion scenes they always have in boxing movies, just needs more spittle flying from it.

[digifish]

In Brazil, the european version of Vectra in no longer available. Since 2005, Brazil has its own vectra, developed in Brazil. It is already being exported to several countries, maybe it will be Australia's next vectra too...



Interesting, that's using Astra body panels. I'd expect it's built on the Astra platform

http://www.autoblog.com/2006/10/20/opel-astra-sedan-unveiled-is-this-the-new-saturn-ion/

Indeed it is an Astra sedan...not a vecrta at all...

digifish

[MatsHolden]

Whats with the Astra and Viva then?

I think Holden is getting confused.

.

Different market. The Viva replaced the Astra Classic which was the TS Astra being sold along side of the AH Astra. The Viva (like the Astra classic was) is for people who want an AH Astra sized car without the price tag. With the way the market is in the midsized sedans, the Epica would draw a lot of sales away from the more expensive Vectra. On top of that the Commodore draws sales away from the Vectra as the Commodore is cheaper and you are getting more car for your dollar. Vectra just simply doesn't fit into the Holden range anymore, economically speaking.

[jvl]

Does this though mean that Holden will do the same when the AH Astra reaches the end of it shelf life ?

Holden seem to be bringing in a lot of Korean <insert expletive here> of late.

I'm wondering if the average Joe Blow or Jane Doe on the street knows or even really cares that they are driving a rubbish car imported from Korea. ie. are Holden's sales of Barinas etc falling or are people simply still buying them as as far as they are concerned a Holden is a Holden.

I was looking at getting an AH SRi T (or VXR) in a few years to replace my TS SRi T, however if this trend continues may have to re-consider.

[Tfer]

Yes, well I won't be buying any South Korean drivel to replace my Veccy at all. :mad:

Hmmm.... the 2.8l V6 twin turbo from the OPC Veccy is sounding more and more enticing. :D

[astralopiteco]

Interesting, that's using Astra body panels. I'd expect it's built on the Astra platform

http://www.autoblog.com/2006/10/20/opel-astra-sedan-unveiled-is-this-the-new-saturn-ion/

Indeed it is an Astra sedan...not a vecrta at all...

digifish

Yep, it is indeed an Astra sedan. However, in some growing markets like Brazil, it is rebadged to combine vectra's more prestigious name with astra's more cost effective platform. The result is a sedan with a much cheaper retail price comparing to the european vectra. In Mexico, the same model is sold as Astra Maxx.

[DirtyHarry]

importing korean built cars is a short term solution. in the end it will probably backfire for holden as the korean built cars will have alot of reliability problems and hence this will tarnish holden's medium/small car line up.

[digifish]

importing korean built cars is a short term solution. in the end it will probably backfire for holden as the korean built cars will have alot of reliability problems and hence this will tarnish holden's medium/small car line up.

Korean cars are improving tho. Look at Hyundai for example. The latest models are better than the Daewoo stuff Holden is importing.

I do think the Australian market do appreceate the Euro quality...but it's a different market segment, who are now shifting to Mazda 6 and 3's who may have bought a Euro Barina, Astra or Vecrta.

My other car is a 03 Passat (bought new), so the Astra CDTi has tempted me away from a Golf 2.0 TDI...so I am a market segment that they won't get with the Korean tin cans.

digifish

[jim7777777]

I had to laugh at a Ford ad during "The Panel Christmas Wrap."

There was a mock quiz and one of the questions was along the lines of "complete this famous Australian's name: Frankie J..."

The answer given was "Daewoo"

[01CDsedan]

I think it will sell pretty well, actually (once again merely proving that I don't agree with the received wisdom around here about the Daewoo products).

The job of the four cylinder versions - petrol and diesel - will above all else be to steal fleet sales from the Camry. If it beats Camry on price and fuel economy (which seems likely), then the fleets will spend their money with Holden rather than with Toyota, and that makes me very happy indeed. The diesel could also be a popular option with private buyers - the combination of fuel economy, space and value for money could be a big winner.

As to whether Epica will be able to cut it against the better mid-size players like the 6 and Accord Euro remains to be seen. Perhaps with the six cylinder engine and a high spec level it will, but the figures on paper for the engines don't look too good and don't make them look like drivers cars, so it could be a struggle.

Having said that, the Captiva is more than competitive in its segment and Epica could well do the same. I'll wait for the reviews before bagging it.