Commodore going Hybrid??

[adrenaline]

Holden is going ECO?

23 June 2006
Paul Gover

A hybrid-powered Holden Commodore could be born out of advanced research being done in Australia for General Motors.

Petrol-electric drive systems are being researched and developed by GM Holden with backing from the Federal Government in a program that is jointly funded with $50 million from the Automotive and Competitive Investment Scheme.

The program includes research on direct fuel-injection for Holden's Global V6 engine, the two-mode hybrid program and alternative fuels. Work's being done on human-machine interface development and global smart-architecture design.

"We want to be ready. We want to do the development work so that, depending on how the fuel price and economics do, we are ready to run," the chairman of GM Holden, Denny Mooney, says.

He admits Holden is looking closely at hybrid drive for a future Commodore, a program that has already come up with a late 1990s teaser concept car, the ECOcommodore, which even did escort duties at the Sydney Olympics. Mooney says: "Absolutely. The big if is, (whether) it is economical. At $70 a barrel (for oil), (hybrid) is still not economical -- but at some time there is a path when it makes sense."

Mooney says Holden's latest dip into the ACIS funding is vital to the company, just as it is to the other three local carmakers.

It has just had its biggest backing after relatively minor projects in the $2-$3 million range.

Mooney says the total ACIS pool is more than $150 million on a range of projects and he says he believes Ford is also using some of its backing to help develop a diesel engine for its Territory.

"The Government looks at the proposals," he says.

"They involve leading-edge technologies. It makes sense."

He says ACIS support gives the companies backing for future products, cements links between industry and government and also shows that Australia is a country where there is a co-operative approach within the motor industry. It's important for us that the government assistance keeps the intellectual property in Australia and keeps us very competitive on doing the work.

"It also shows industry and government can work together.

"That's important to the senior leadership of GM. Around the world you are looking at industry relationships with government and labour ... and you're looking for stability, certainty," Mooneys says.

He also says the ACIS and the GM Holden projects help to build a bank of talented people in Australia and ensure a smooth work flow through departments at its Fishermans Bend design and technical centres in Melbourne.

"We have engineers and a good relationship with the universities. It's important for us to keep all our engineers employed," he explains.

"We go through peaks and valleys with development of new vehicles. We have more than 1000 engineeers working in the organisation and you want to keep that employment level. Otherwise, you have to let some go and then re-hire for various projects. And it also keeps our people motivated.

"Holden is the largest private spender on R&D in Australia -- more than $200 million a year on engineering and ... we've invested $1.8 billion over three years."

The Daily Telegraph

So $50 Million funding aye? I thought the government gave up on Holden I guess not.

A Hybrid Commodore would be very interesting... 2009-10 maybe?

[SlickHolden]

50 mill is that all.
I remember that ecocommodore. I'm no fan of hybrids, they are piss weak and don't really give you that much of a gain over petrol cars anyway.

[fpv_gtho]

Hybrids i think have to have a CVT, or for some strange reason only come with one, and CVT technology isnt good enough to handle to much more than 300nm torque.

Commodore's probably still a bit big for that right now, they might have to wait for other technologies to catch up beforehand.

[adrenaline]

Remember not so long ago there was a hybrid engine mentioned that could do 380nm?? I cant be bothered looking into older threads...

[SlickHolden]

I'll be interested when they build one with 600Nm Sounds like a V8 and drinks like a 2cyl

[adrenaline]

bring it on!!

[SlickHolden]

And is cheap as a XT Executive

[Lagonda]

Originally Posted by fpv_gtho

Hybrids i think have to have a CVT,

Nope.

[Blue Supra]

Originally Posted by SlickHolden

I'll be interested when they build one with 600Nm Sounds like a V8 and drinks like a 2cyl

i wonder if you can turbo the petrol half of the engine?

worlds first hybrid drifter

[IBrake4Rainbows]

It's not a bad idea if you think about it - no doubt they could engineer the powetrain to be adapted into the US versions of Zeta platformed vehicles and WHAM! instant environmental credibility.

I doubt they'd sell many in Australia, but with Fuel on the up and up, they're bound to sell a few.

The issue is that Toyota actually loses money on Hybrids sold. I doubt GM can afford to do that to any vehicle at the moment.

[2ndclasscitizen]

Originally Posted by Mooney

Absolutely. The big if is, (whether) it is economical. At $70 a barrel (for oil), (hybrid) is still not economical -- but at some time there is a path when it makes sense.

How stupid is this guy? A hybrid is more economical than a normal car, not always by a lot, but it still is, and when fuel is that expensive, hybrid makes even more sense. Can you imagine how well a hybrid Commodore would sell? They could make 2 different ones. One with a big 4 cyl + hybrid to give people an option instead of a V6 and then a V6 with hybrid like the GS450h instead of a V8.

[SlickHolden]

Originally Posted by Blue Supra

i wonder if you can turbo the petrol half of the engine?

worlds first hybrid drifter

Now i would buy that

[adrenaline]

Originally Posted by 2ndclasscitizen

How stupid is this guy? A hybrid is more economical than a normal car, not always by a lot, but it still is, and when fuel is that expensive, hybrid makes even more sense. Can you imagine how well a hybrid Commodore would sell? They could make 2 different ones. One with a big 4 cyl + hybrid to give people an option instead of a V6 and then a V6 with hybrid like the GS450h instead of a V8.

Would you pay $40,000+ for a 4cyl hybrid commodore? Holden can't just charge an exec/ omega pricepoint for hybrid technology...the same way you can't get a prius for camry money...people will look at the hybrid and think "for the same price I can get an SV6"...

Although...throw in the that wanker that says "Holden means a great deal to Australia" and they will sell their asses off.....

[SlickHolden]

You mean Dave Hughes?? Every Ford guy hates him i dont know why

[2ndclasscitizen]

Originally Posted by ADRENALINE

Would you pay $40,000+ for a 4cyl hybrid commodore? Holden can't just charge an exec/ omega pricepoint for hybrid technology...the same way you can't get a prius for camry money...people will look at the hybrid and think "for the same price I can get an SV6"...

I obviously missed my point. With a 4cyl hybrid, they could market it by saying 'performance of a 6 with economy of a 4', just like Lexus does with their hybrids.