http://carsguide.news.com.au/news/st...E21822,00.html
Hoping for Lion's share
Jaedene Hudson
04feb05
At a time when Ford's Territory SUV has stolen the show with record sales (more than 13,750) since launch and many awards (including CARSguide's Car of the Year), the Adventra V6 is a must-win for the Lion.
Holden unveiled the Adventra V6 yesterday culminating an $18 million development program.
"The Adventra is a very important car for us," says Holden chairman and managing director Denny Mooney. "It will make more of a direct competitor and there are definitely customers out there who don't want an eight they want a six."
Mooney is confident it can win back some of the buyers who went to Ford looking for a V6 option. "I think there is a possibility, I mean there were some issues and some drawbacks with the V8 and they have been addressed with the V6."
The Adventra V6 will be on sale from April and will be available in three models: SX6 ($40,990), CX6 ($46,990) and LX6 ($52,990). They will join a revamped LX8 ($56,990).
The SX6 is $2000 cheaper than the base Territory AWD and $3990 cheaper than Toyota's entry-level Kluger.
The V6 models house Holden's 190kW Alloytec 3.6-litre V6 under the bonnet and the new five-speed transmission.
Holden also unveiled a surprise model: an all-wheel-drive version of the V6 One Tonner, the first of its kind in the market.
Another arrival is the V6 Crewman AWD (Crewman Cross 6). Both utes share the 175kW 3.6-litre V6 and a four-speed auto.
All the AWD models use Holden's Cross Trac AWD system. Cross Trac is a permanent, traction control-based AWD system which has a rear-wheel-drive biased torque split of 32 per cent front and 62 per cent rear.
The LX8 gains the 250kW 5.7-litre V8.
All V6 models feature hill descent control (forward and reverse), electronic stability program, cornering braking control, electronic brake assist and electronic throttle control and 200mm ground clearance.
The V6 variants have a bolder face than the current Adventra with twin bonnet lines, a broader air intake, black mouldings and aluminium plates.
Standard features on the SX6 include: driver, front passenger and side airbags, 17-inch alloys, rear park assist, CD player, cruise control, auto headlights, airconditioning, power windows and mirrors, remote tailgate window operation, and cargo blind.
Additions on the CX6 include: leather trim and leather steering wheel, transmission shifter and handbrake handle, six-disc CD, electronic climate control and front reading lights.
The top-of-the-line LX6 and the LX8 additions include an electric sunroof, level ride suspension, 10-speaker stereo with subwoofer and 260W amp, electric front sport seats and dual zone climate control.
Holden's new light commercial range cost $12 million and testing was carried out as far away as Sweden. Last year Holden grabbed the number one spot for LCV's and these new models see the number of LCV model variants rise to 55.
The commercial range has been expanded and the new One Tonner Cross 6 has a few surprises.
Holden is marketing the new car as the "ultimate traddie's vehicle".
"One Tonner Cross 6 pushes the envelope even further because there is simply nothing like it in the market," Mooney says.
"We are not sure of what demand we will have for this sort of vehicle but with the flexibility of the AWD system it really was easy to produce.
"The One Tonner in AWD will be attractive to some people and we already have the hardware in the plant so it was easy."
The One Tonner Cross 6 has a higher ground clearance than its rear-wheel-drive stablemate (235mm kerb) and sits on 16-inch rubber.
It has a ramp break angle of 19.5 degrees (kerb), an approach angle of 21 degrees and a maximum carrying capacity of 828kg.
The One Tonner takes on the new Adventra-style face and has a new fabric trim.
Standard features include: driver airbag, power windows and mirrors, four-way electric seats, cruise control, auto on/off headlights and steering wheel mounted stereo controls. It has a new brake booster and master cylinder and uses the Bosche 8 ABS system with brake assist.
The Crewman Cross 6 steps up into 17-inch shoes, adds a passenger airbag, leather wrap steering wheel and sports trim. It can carry 781kg and has a ground clearance of 226mm (kerb). The Cross 8 is now powered by the 235kW V8 and adds electronic climate control and sports gauges.
Holden will release a SX8 model exclusively for the country's police service.
While he did not want to "tip Holden's cards on the table," Mooney says development of a medium-sized SUV has already begun.
"There is some growth in a segment in the SUV market and you can bet we are looking at something for that."
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Personally i think Holden will be lucky to get another 200 sales per month because of this. The V6 you'd expect because of the car's bulk wont improve economy as much as people want it to, the stylind looks too oddball now with a clean VZ bonnet and top grille and the SUV styled bumper and they still havent fixed the issues with the front suspension when on road. At least its got the 5 speed which puts it ahead of the Territory, but equal with the Kluger still
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) Commodore, most likely Monaro and SS first, followed by the option for it on the whole range within 1-2 years, following Holdens habits of releasing new technologies
