FJ HOLDEN

1953 FJ Holden

The FJ Holden was launched in October 1953, and although not the first Holden but an updated version of a car that was nearly five years old it has become the icon of Australia in the 50s and 60s. The FJ introduced the long-running Holden policy of facelifting. No glassware or external sheet metal was changed, the main styling changes being a new grille, different hubcaps and bumper bars and more chrome on the body. Few changes were made to the mechanics; both engine and gearbox from the 48-215 were… Read more

HOLDEN HG

In July 1970 Holden released the model HG, a slightly restyled version of the HT. The HG range comprised 13 models including sedans, wagons, panel vans and utilities. It was the first Holden model launch to include the commercial vehicle range and showed that GMH, having previously concentrated on increasing production output, had now expanded their design and development group to the point where they could cope with a much increased workload. With previous model releases it was several months later that the new commercial range saw the light of… Read more

HOLDEN CASCADA 2015 – 2017

Holden Cascada is the soft-top convertible version of the Holden Astra, both coming from Holden’s German affiliate, Opel. It was launched here in April 2015, but didn’t prove to be as popular as it deserved and was quietly slipped off the new-car price list midway through 2017. At almost 4.7 metres long the Cascada is significantly bigger than its European convertible competitors so can provide reasonable comfort for four full-sized travellers. As is common in this class, taller occupants in the back may have to do a deal with those… Read more

HOLDEN’S CALL TO ARMS WITH ‘BIG GUN’ ACADIA

Since retiring from vehicle manufacture in Australia, Holden has been battling relevance in the marketplace. However, while the genuine born-and-bred Aussie car may have become a thing of the past, that could be about to change with the arrival of the Acadia. Okay, so the Holden seven-seat sports utility vehicle may be assembled in the United States but it’s a fair dinkum product made solely for Down Under by Holden engineers and designers. Holden chairman and managing director Dave Buttner says there is still a latent passion for Holden product,… Read more

HOLDEN ACADIA GETTING CLOSER

The new Holden seven-seat Acadia is due to arrive in Australia midway through October. Powered by the latest iteration of the renowned 3.6-litre V6 engine that drives through a nine-speed automatic it will be offered in both 2WD (the front wheels) and 4WD versions. Holden’ engineers and technicians were involved in the design throughout Acadia’s development and tens of thousands of road testing was done in this country. Though not aimed at full-on offroad driving the big Holden SUV has a Traction Select System which allows the driver to alter… Read more

HOLDEN / OPEL ASTRA 2004 – 2017

2004 Holden Astra CD

From 1996 the Astra was imported from the Opel in Europe but rebadged as a Holden. Holden Astra was sold as the AH Series from November 2004 until 2009. However, Holden chose to sell low-cost models of the otherwise-superseded TS series when the AH series was introduced. These had the title of Astra Classic. A major makeover of the AH in March 2007 saw a facelift and improved engine performance. Then came the start of some marketing mistakes. The Astra AH models discontinued in 2010 to be replaced by cheaper… Read more

HOLDEN ACADIA – FINAL TESTING IS UNDERWAY

Holden Acadia seven-seat SUV isn’t due to go on sale until the final quarter of this year. But many are already on the road in Australia on their final stages of real world testing. Two years of Australian engineering input to the Acadia have already been carried out here and in the USA and a 30-car fleet will cover about 1.5 million kilometres as the final stages of development. The real-world test program is not only to check that Acadia drives well on our roads, but also to fine tune… Read more

HOLDEN TRAX 2013 – 2017

2013 Holden Trax

Meet the Holden Trax, a small SUV with big style and lots of personality. Based on the underpinnings of the Holden Barina the Trax has a taller body for added interior room. Trax first arrived here in August 2013 and has sold moderately well since then. When SUVs began to gain in popularity the larger ones were often seen as being 4WDs with all that means in rugged build and tough off-road ability. Thankfully, the little Trax and others in this class don’t even pretend, rather they have a go-anywhere… Read more

NEW HOLDEN EQUINOX TURBO-DIESEL

Holden has introduced a new 1.6-litre turbo-diesel engine to the Equinox SUV range, one that’s rated with fuel consumption from just 5.6 litres per hundred kilometres. The third engine in the Equinox range, the 1.6-litre turbo-diesel engine has power and torque of 100 kW and 320 Nm respectively. It’s mated to a six-speed automatic and available in front-wheel-drive or all-wheel drive. The diesel joins the 1.5-litre and 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engines that have been offered since Holden Equinox was launched in November 2017. Diesel Equinox is on sale now and comes… Read more

NEW COMMODORE PERFORMANCE FLAGSHIP

We’ve recently reviewed the new ZB Calais Tourer wagon and the mid-spec Commodore RS-V Liftback. This week we’re looking at the VXR, the performance flagship of the new Commodore range which ostensibly replaces the previous SS and SS-V models. However it can hardly be called an apples-with-apples comparison. The new Commodore VRX comes with a 235 kW / 381 Nm V6 engine and a nine-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive. The superseded Commodore SS had a 304kW / 570 Nm V8, six-speed auto and rear-wheel drive. The use of all-wheel… Read more