Heck Yeah! Let's Align Pontiac With Holden! NOT!!!

[cire]

Ladies and Gentlemen, The Holden Cruze!:

Visit My Website

Source: Motor Authority

P.S.: Link has been fixed.

Edited February 27, 2009 by cire

[Camino LS6]

Link doesn't work

[cire]

I guess I'm being a pessimist or a realist, but I believe Holden will increasingly become more aligned with Chevrolet/Daewoo in the future. I wouldn't be surprised if the next gen Commodore doesn't turn out to be a rebadged LWB Eps II next gen Impala. If you don't like rebadged Chevy or GMDAT vehicles in Pontiac's lineup, then you definitely don't want Pontiac lined up with Holden.

I'm not implying that there is anything wrong with the Cruze or a LWB Eps II based Impala/Commodore. I'm just saying that aligning Pontiac with Holden will produce the same results for Pontiac's lineup that we all have been complaining about: Pontiac essentially being used as an outlet for rebadged Chevrolet products.

[cire]

Link doesn't work

Sorry! The link has been fixed.

[Intrepidation]

Yet another country that gets it before we do.

[Camino LS6]

Ugly little turd, isn't it?

[pow]

Yeah, I think I prefer the Torana.

At least the interior looks nice.

[cire]

Ugly little turd, isn't it?

I don't think it's ugly, but I would definitely delete the black plastic fakeout on the C-pillar (which comes in as the second most ridiculous and overused styling element of the decade next to fake front fender vents). The roofline would look sportier, less contrived, and more upscale if it simply followed the car's existing side window shape instead of trying to alter it with a cheap looking piece of black plastic (although the overall shape of the car would somewhat mimic the Mazda3). I would then completely surround the side windows with chrome instead of having it just follow the bottom of the window line. Other than that, I think it's a pleasant departure from the Cobalt as well as the last gen Lacetti/Forenza/Excelle.

My only hope is that the next gen Opel Astra sedan (which will probably be a compact Buick in North America) gets a completely distinct exterior design. A Chevrolet/Holden Cruze with a waterfall grille will not cut it for Buick.

[Camino LS6]

I think Corolla when I look at it, NOT an improvement over Cobalt.

[Oracle of Delphi]

I guess I'm being a pessimist or a realist, but I believe Holden will increasingly become more aligned with Chevrolet/Daewoo in the future. I wouldn't be surprised if the next gen Commodore doesn't turn out to be a rebadged LWB Eps II next gen Impala. If you don't like rebadged Chevy or GMDAT vehicles in Pontiac's lineup, then you definitely don't want Pontiac lined up with Holden.

I'm not implying that there is anything wrong with the Cruze or a LWB Eps II based Impala/Commodore. I'm just saying that aligning Pontiac with Holden will produce the same results for Pontiac's lineup that we all have been complaining about: Pontiac essentially being used as an outlet for rebadged Chevrolet products.

Realist ...

[Camino LS6]

Realist ...

If that's how it turns out, then all hope is lost.

2009: the year the automobile died.

[SAmadei]

I think Corolla when I look at it, NOT an improvement over Cobalt.

Its worse than a Corolla. Makes me ill just looking at it. Makes me think its a Kia attempting to make a older Accord.

[Blake Noble]

Smell that? That smells like EXCITEMENT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! coming in from Down Under.

What a lame ass car. I couldn't give a fiery flying f@#k.

Edited February 27, 2009 by YellowJacket894

[pow]

There's even a Holden Volt now... no joke:

http://jalopnik.com/tag/holden-volt/?id=51...ne=true&s=x

[cire]

There's even a Holden Volt now... no joke:

http://jalopnik.com/tag/holden-volt/?id=51...ne=true&s=x

If I'm not mistaken, the Volt has been an upcoming product on Holden's official website for quite some time now. I don't really view either product (the Cruze or Volt) as particularly shocking additions to Holden's lineup since it was obvious that GM was aligning Holden with Chevrolet/GMDAT anyway. Both products are global products that will be sold by different brands in different territories. The only exception with the Volt is that it will be badged an an Opel Ampera(?) (and a Vauxhall in Britain too, I guess) in Europe instead of a Chevrolet Volt (which makes sense given the car's price point; it would be impossible to sell this car by a brand that is considered a bargain alternative in the European market).

[cire]

If I'm not mistaken, the Volt has been an upcoming product on Holden's official website for quite some time now. I don't really view either product (the Cruze or Volt) as particularly shocking additions to Holden's lineup since it was obvious that GM was aligning Holden with Chevrolet/GMDAT anyway. Both products are global products that will be sold by different brands in different territories. The only exception with the Volt is that it will be badged an an Opel Ampera(?) (and a Vauxhall in Britain too, I guess) in Europe instead of a Chevrolet Volt (which makes sense given the car's price point; it would be impossible to sell this car by a brand that is considered a bargain alternative in the European market).

Oops! I was only partially correct in what I posted about the Volt already being on Holden's website. It has been there, but it still had the Chevy badge on it. Holden has just revealed it at the Melborne Auto Show with a Holden badge on it now (which is what the link in empowah's post is about). My bad!

I guess it's officially a Holden now. At least they didn't give it some contrived name like "Ampera".

Edited February 27, 2009 by cire

[the_yellow_dart]

I this an improvement over the Cobalt sedan? I'd say yes. Cobalt coupe, definately not.

Is there a coupe Cruze coming?

[Sixty8panther]

If that's how it turns out, then all hope is lost.

2009: the year the automobile died.

It's been on life support since the late 1970s.

[David]

Nice looking interior for an Ecobox car, but over all just bland and ok looking to me. IMO