Holden Barina Spark News

Australians used to be spoiled for choice.

If you can make it in New York, you can make it anywhere. The adage explains why car makers like to launch their latest and greatest at the annual New York motor show. Many of the cars unveiled there won't make it here in the near future, if at all. CarsGuide casts an eye over the models that will.The Chevy Spark arrives wearing a Holden badge in early 2016.The company has addressed criticisms of the previous model by upgrading the fabrics, improving the fit and finish and stiffening the chassis to improve roadholding.The new Spark's looks have been streamlined with a longer wheelbase and lower body and there's a new more powerful 1.4-litre engine.Holden vehicle performance director Ian Butler says local engineers will give the car a local suspension and steering tune. "We made sure the car remains fun and agile but will now deliver even more sophistication," Butler says.The Civic coupe concept previews the 10th generation small car that will reach showrooms late this year.Designed by Honda's US studio along with the sedan — Europe will shape the hatchback — the Civic uses shorter overhangs and sharper lines to differentiate itself from the unloved previous model.The new model will have a 1.5-litre turbo engine matched to a six-speed auto or continuously variable transmission.Honda Australia head Steve Collins says the Civic is a crucial model. "Because it is a global car, ours will share some of the styling characteristics with the car just launched in New York and it will also have design features specific to our region."More interior space and more upmarket interiors mark the new Optima.A big hit in the US — Kia sold 160,000 last year — the Optima hasn't enjoyed such success locally.Kia Australia spokesman Kevin Hepworth says the new car is a more refined package, headlined by a 2.0-litre turbo engine that pushes the car to 100km/h in just on seven seconds. "(It has) improved ride, more rear space and an engine that will be a class benchmark for power and economy," Hepworth says.Top-spec US models use a 360 degree camera, adaptive cruise control, autonomous emergency braking and blind-spot alert. The car is due in Australia late this year.The 570S is aimed squarely at the Porsche 911 Turbo and Audi R8 V10. Essentially a detuned version of the 650S supercar, the 570S nevertheless shares no panels with its big brother.The 3.8-litre twin-turbo V8 is retained, although outputs have been reduced to 420kW/600Nm. That's good for a 100km/h sprint time of 3.2 seconds.Its Australian launch is early 2016 — expect a price in the high $300,000s.The facelifted Outlander's most obvious change is the "dynamic shield" front end, to be worn by future Mitsubishis.Mitsubishi Motors Australia marketing head Tony Principe says the update includes revisions to the Outlander's suspension, steering and drivetrain."Outlander will continue to offer great SUV functionality, terrific fuel economy and low running costs," he says, "but it will now be significantly quieter, more responsive and even more enjoyable to drive, making it a real stand out in the medium SUV class."The Outlander is launched locally next week.The massive Lexus spindle grille and flared fenders make the new RX hard to miss. The SUV also gets a 50mm increase in wheelbase to differentiate it from its NX stablemate, but the extra length doesn't include an anticipated third row of seats.The vehicle will be sold with both a 3.5-litre V6 and a petrol-electric hybrid powertrain, each good for 221kW.The RX will have head-up display, 12.3-inch infotainment screen, heated rear seats, and optional 11.6-inch rear entertainment screens. Optional safety gear includes lane departure and blind spot warning, lane keeping assist and adaptive cruise control.Built on the same aluminium-intensive architecture that underpins the XE and F-Type models, the XF is up to 190kg lighter than the current model.Interior upgrades are just as impressive, from head-up display to 10.2-inch infotainment setup using a quad-core Intel processor and ethernet connectivity for super-quick response. Touch and voice control abet smartphone-style apps for everything from remotely warming the car to calculating owners' arrival time at a destination.A new 2.0-litre turbo diesel will be the entry point while its supercharged petrol V6 puts out 280kW. Prices are expected to start below $80,000 when the XF arrives here early next year.The Boxster Spyder is all about driving purity, so owners will have to operate the fabric roof by hand. Based on the design and mechanicals of the Cayman GT4, this is the most powerful Boxster yet — its 276kW 3.8-litre boxer six-cylinder is lifted from the 911 Carrera and matched to a six-speed manual transmission. Porsche quotes 4.5 seconds for the 0-100km/h sprint and fuel use of 9.9L/100km.The Spyder will arrive here in the third quarter, priced from $169,000.

The small-car segment has plenty of options - the players are frugal yet safe and well-appointed. Here are the best buys under $16K.

It's rare for car prices to go up these days but Holden has broken ranks. Price rises are more than rare are in Australia today. Or should that be less? In any case, we have all become much more familiar with price cuts than price rises as 67 brands battle to shift cars and make money down under.The sales slowdown over recent months means there has been far more dollar dealing, from special prices to run-outs on cars that still have many months to live, with no sign of widespread pressure to lift the bottom line.There is an occasional upward change but it's generally just a slight shift to coincide with a new-model introduction.So, when Holden makes an across-the-board move to raise prices - although the slow selling Volt escaped - it makes news.To provide some perspective, the last Hyundai increase in showroom stickers was $2000 on April 1 for the i30 Tourer, a move that came because the baby wagon is made in the Czech Republic. And it only applied to a single model."The increase was, unfortunately, a necessary one," says Hyundai spokesman, Bill Thomas."Generally, price planning is very much a long-term game, so we don't usually react to exchange rate fluctuations."If we did, we'd be altering prices every day."So, how does Holden justify its increases? "Pricing is made up of a range of factors," Holden spokesman George Svigos says."It's not on everything but it's not specific to imports or locally-made models. Commodore has gone up." Svigos says he is limited in what he can say because Holden cannot be seen to be trying to influence or manipulate the car market.That's unlikely with an upward push, which is in total contrast to its recent boost to warranty and servicing costs. "Holden is not trying to push the industry. It's more an accurate reflection of its recommended retail pricing," Svigos says."There is always competition and always someone doing a deal." So, does that mean Holden is just doing some paperwork, perhaps as part of a global change at General Motors, without expecting any genuine change to its transaction prices in Australia?"We continue to offer great value across our whole range. It's not like we're an expensive product. We're not Hyundai, but we're not Mazda or one of the premium brands," says Svigos."On pricing, there are a range of things to look at, from RRP to drive-away prices, special offers, factory bonuses, cashbacks..."CHOICES HOLDEN CAPRICE: 4/5 PRICE: From $54,990ENGINE: 3.6-litre V6 LPG, 180kW/320Nm TRANSMISSION: 6-speed auto, RWD THIRST: 12.1L/100km THE LOWDOWN: Standard LPG engine, 6.0-litre V8 as an option: says everything about the people who are buying the Caprice. It's mostly chauffeur drivers, or people who worry about the price of petrol, but who want all the luxury you can get in an Australian-built car. The Caprice is great and will be sadly missed.HOLDEN BARINA SPARK: 3.5/5 PRICE: From $12,890ENGINE: 1.2-litre 4-cyl, 59kW/107Nm TRANSMISSION: 5-speed manual, front-wheel drive THIRST: 5.2L/100km THE LOWDOWN: The cheapest Holden is cheap to buy, service and run. Cabin quality is not the best, the engine is not the best and the four-speed auto is not the best - but it's still a car worth considering if you're on a tight budget.HOLDEN CRUZE: 3.5 PRICE: From $19,890ENGINE: 1.8-litre 4-cyl, 104kW/175NmTRANSMISSION: 5-speed man/6-speed auto, FWD THIRST: 7.0L/100km THE LOWDOWN: The Cruze got off to a slow start in Australia but later changes at the factory in Adelaide and in the car itself have made it a better drive and better to own. It's still not a serious threat to the Mazda3 or Volkswagen Golf, but it's solid and sensible.SECOND-HAND HOLDEN COMMODORE: The first Commodore in 1978 was a winner, the latest one is the best Australian car of all time.Somewhere in the mix there is sure to be a pre-owned Commodore that ticks the boxes for most people.The big Aussie six might be thirsty, unless you go for LPG, but the rest of the package combines lots of space with affordable prices. A sporty Commodore, from the SV6 right through to an HSV hero, is also a top drive and incredible value against anything from Europe with similar grip and go.

Holden issues 11th recall so far this year, more than any other brand.Holden has issued its eleventh safety recall notice this year -- more than any other brand or any other time in Holden's history.Toyota has the second-highest number of recalls with six bulletins issued so far this year, while among the other Top Five brands Mazda and Hyundai have issued two each and Ford has issued one.The latest Holden bulletin is an expansion of a recall issued in January for the Barina Spark, at $13,990 drive-away the cheapest car in its range.In January, Holden recalled 102 Barina Sparks because the transmission mount "may develop a fracture" which could cause the manual gearbox to be unsupported and "lead to a loss of control of the vehicle".The latest recall has added 385 Holden Barina Sparks to the number of cars affected, bringing the total to 487 vehicles.Holden said it is a precautionary measure and there have been no reports of failures in Australia, "however we will always err on the side of caution … to ensure customer satisfaction and safety".It is the second recall for a separate issue for the Holden Barina Spark; last month it was recalled because the steering knuckle bolts may not have been tightened correctly and the steering could fail.Meanwhile, the Holden Commodore has been recalled five times in three months, the Holden Cruze has been recalled twice (one of which was the third recall for the same fault initially reported last year), and the regular Holden Barina model has been recalled once.The recalls.gov.au website has issued 11 Holden safety bulletins this year but, in a move likely to confuse consumers, it has removed the first one issued for the Barina Spark in January and replaced it with the latest one issued in August for the same fault.The Commodore and Cruze are made at Holden's factory in Elizabeth on the outskirts of Adelaide, but the Barina models are made in South Korea, where Holden is likely to source more cars from once it closes its Australian factories in 2017.Holden already sources most of the vehicles in its line-up from South Korea or Thailand but the company says in the future it will source vehicles from several divisions across the General Motors world.The next Commodore is likely to be sourced from Opel in Germany, say insiders, and Holden executives have already driven early prototype versions of the 2018 model.It means the Commodore will have come full circle; the first Commodore introduced in 1978 was an Australian-ised version of the large Opel sedan at the time.However, Holden is yet to confirm the new front-wheel-drive car will be called a Commodore.When asked why Holden had issued so many recalls, spokeswoman Kate Lonsdale said: "This is consistent with the approach being taken across (General Motors)."In North America, General Motors has come under fire for being slow to respond to a recall of defective ignition switches that have so far been linked to at least 19 deaths -- even though the company knew about the fault for 10 years.It has prompted US Senators to propose "life in prison" for car executives who try to hide recalls, and has led to a class action lawsuit against General Motors by at least 650 owners of the affected cars.Meanwhile, the Holden Commodore has narrowly avoided what could become Australia's biggest ever recall.The Chevrolet Camaro -- which shares its underbody and core components with the Holden Commodore -- has also been recalled because of a faulty ignition switch but Holden says the Commodore does not have the same defect even though it uses the exact same part.Holden Barina Spark recall

That might sound like a silly answer to a serious question, but it's the best solution for optimum shopping in the back end of 2013. You see, Korea now makes better Japanese cars than the Japanese. And that's a fact.There are some exceptions, and some categories where the Koreans are still getting a foothold, but a Hyundai i30 or a Kia Cerato is a far better choice than a Mitsubishi Lancer, a Kia Sportage makes more sense than a Honda CR-V, and a Hyundai Santa Fe is much better buying than a Toyota Kluger.This Korean tide has been rising for a while, but it's now filled showrooms with quality cars that are backed by industry-leading five-year warranties with capped-price servicing costs. The two Korean juggernauts are also serious about tuning their cars for Australian drivers and roads, which is becoming a serious selling point and also a battlefield for bragging rights between Hyundai and Kia.Even Daewoo, which was absorbed into the Holden empire to provide cut-price cars such as the Barina and Captiva, is now doing a better job as the engineering and design expertise from Fishermans Bend is absorbed deeply into the Korean content on the cars. And don't forget that the Aussie-made Cruze compact, despite its local tweaking and assembly in Adelaide, began its life at the GM Daewoo division in Korea.Without getting into a history lesson, the seismic shift between Japan and Korea comes down to three things. First is the deep-seated rivalry between the two countries, second is the well-lit path to success blazed by Japanese makers including Honda and Toyota, and third is the Global Financial Crisis. How's that?Well, nothing makes a Korean businessman happier than beating a Japanese rival, even though the Japanese were the first Asian companies to achieve success in motoring thanks to cars like the Toyota Corolla, Honda Civic and the classy machines that followed. These days, the Nissan GT-R is a legend and the Toyota LandCruiser is an icon.So the Koreans assimilated the Japanese business model for cheap, reliable and sensible cars - think of the Hyundai Elantra and Kia Rio - and then found a way to build them with similar quality at a lower price. There was a time when the cabins of Korean cars stank - because of the 'release agent' applied to plastic parts - and the assembly was slipshod and downmarket, but not today. They also have aircon with Japanese efficiency, always a pointer to intelligent engineering in Australian weather.But it's the GFC which has made the biggest difference. While the Japanese brands panicked, cutting costs and stretching the lifetimes of their cars, the Koreans accelerated their development plans, brought new models, and invested in their dealerships in Australia.The results are obvious now as many Japanese cars - we're talking about the Honda Civic and Subaru Impreza - have lost their previous edge, while others - think Mitsubishi Pajero and Subaru WRX - are way overdue for a remake.In the meantime, Hyundai is now plotting a move upmarket with its luxury Genesis models and Kia is setting a global standard for quality styling thanks to its recruiting of design genius Peter Schreyer. Best of all, when you're buying, it's the driveaway pricing that's been a Korean signature since Hyundai blazed that trail in the 1990s to get nervous shoppers over the line.This reporter is on Twitter: @paulwardgover 

An all-electric Holden Spark - nee Barina Spark - has made its US debut as a production-ready car with plans for sale in North America and across the pond in emission-conscious Europe. But Australia may not miss out. The Spark EV could become Holden's second electric car - after the Volt that debuts here next year - within three years. Holden spokesperson Kate Lonsdale says "we haven't dismissed the Spark EV". "We'll see how it performs in other markets before making a decision. Our focus is on Volt at the moment. We will continue to watch it (Spark EV) before making a decision." In a statement, Chevrolet says the Spark EV "will be sold in limited quantities in select US and global markets starting in 2013". Chevrolet's global vehicle chief engineer for electric vehicles, Jim Federico, says the car "offers customers living in urban areas who have predictable driving patterns or short commutes an all-electric option" "It complements Chevrolet's growing range of electrified vehicles, including the Volt extended-range EV and the 2013 Malibu Eco with eAssist technology." The Spark EV will use feedback from trial electric vehicles such as the Sail EV in China, the Beat EV in India and Cruze EV in Korea. "Our global demo fleets continue to provide insight into the needs of electric vehicle customers living in urban environments," says Federico. "The Spark EV is another step in Chevrolet's plan to provide customers with a variety of electrification solutions to address the lifestyle and transportation needs of people around the world." The Spark EV will use a nanophosphate lithium-ion battery pack powering an electric motor with a peak power output of  85kW. However, for durability the motor is rated at a sustainable 75kW. Batteries are from A123 Systems in the US that also supplies similar units for the Fisker Karma electric saloon. The Spark EV is expected to debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show on November 18.

Sonic is the new name chosen for the Holden Barina in the USA and the four-door sedan is unveiled at the Detroit motor show to highlight a production switch to an American factory. It's a sign that small cars will be big business in the USA inside five years, as well as proof that General Motors is going global at the bottom end of the business. Sonic will not be used as a name in Australia with the Barina badge to continue on both the new sedan and hatch, a pairing that will sit above the existing Barina Spark. The Barina hatch was first displayed at the Paris motor show last year and the sedan - as the Sonic - starred in Detroit with looks that point to a more upmarket approach to GM's small cars. "Sonic is a statement of what can be expected of this foundational brand in years to come," says Mark Reuss, the head of Chevrolet and former Holden boss who unveils the car as part of Chevy's 100th birthday celebrations. That approach will be reflected in the price, as the new Barina pair will have a $15,000-ish starting sticker, well up from the basic Barina Spark at $12,490. "This is Barina and the smaller version is Barina Spark," says Jonathan Rose, spokesman for GM Holden. "We're getting the sedan and hatch. The hatch will be later this year, around October, and the sedan about this time next year. The cars are coming from Korea. The US will build theirs locally." There is some impressive stuff in the Spark - yet to be confirmed for Barina - including 10 airbags and a sports suspension system tuned by the team behind Chevrolet's blaster car, the Corvette. Both cars will come with a 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine and a choice of manual and automatic gearboxes, unlike the Spark that is currently only sold as a manual. GM claims more rear-seat space than the Ford Fiesta and best-in-class boot space for the Barina sedan, as well as youth-essential features such as Bluetooth USB connectivity. The spirit of the SS Commodore could be tapped for a high-performance Barina. Chevrolet has a Sonic with a turbocharged 1.4-litre engine that makes 102 kiloWatts and a dress-up pack that is being considered for Australia. It is called the Z Spec is only billed as a concept car in Detroit but is clearly intended to put some punch into the Sonic is a country where small cars are still not particularly popular. GM Holden admits it can see potential in a Z Spec version of the Barina but is not making any commitment. "The Z Spec is a concept. No decision has been made on whether it will be introduced in Australia. We'll be sure to assess it," says Jonathan Rose.

The 66TDI Comfortline, priced from $22,350 (over the $19,850 CCOTY-winning petrol 77TSI Comfortline) saw off a strong challenge from Toyota's Camry Hybrid to seal a remarkable double for a brand whose Golf 118TSI won the 2009 CCOTY.The small South African-made hatchback got home with 31 points over the $36,990 Camry sedan, the first petrol-electric hybrid made in Australia, which scored 28.  The other challengers were both Holdens: the Korean-made Barina Spark city car, and the Commodore E85.Four of the Best Green Car's nine judges posted the Polo as their first choice, ensuring the narrow win.Judges were asked to consider the following these criteria:- Fuel consumption- Type of fuel and cost/availability- CO2 emissions- Impact on gross emissions (i.e. the net reduction in CO2 balanced against the expected sales of the vehicle)- Value of car- Safety of car- Technology of car- Function (including achievement of intended use, handling, performance)Aside from being the most frugal car in terms of fuel consumption, the Polo was felt by most to best satisfy all these stiff requirements.  Running VW's newest small capacity turbo diesel, the 1.6 TDI puts out 66kW (as its model name conveys) and an extremely useful 230Nm from 1750-2500 rpm. This low down torque gives the little hatch the assertive punch of a bigger engine and enables economical cruising.The five speed manual version uses as little as 4.0 litres per 100km in open road conditions and 5.8 in the city for a hybrid-challenging 4.7 litres in combined use.  The optional seven speed DSG adds $2500 to the purchase price, reduces combined fuel use to 4.6 litres while adding the convenience of an automatic transmission.Equally important in the context of the Best Green Car, the Polo TDI's emissions are a low 124 grams of Co2 per kilometre, 121 with DSG.  While priced above the most cars of its class, the new Polo has greater technical sophistication and badge desirability, while in terms of function it is almost as roomy as a Mark IV Golf of the 1990s.As a driving experience, it's shaded by its petrol sibling, which also runs only a little less lean at 5.5L/100km, but the TDI runs on diesel rather than comparatively expensive premium unleaded petrol and its 45-litre tank will require less frequent refilling.Judge Neil Dowling sees it was a "case of proven diesel technology fighting upstarts with hybrid power," noting that the Polo has a "particulate filter to get hydrocarbon emissions right down".Says Stuart Martin: "Volkswagen's new Polo might not be the cheapest contender in the Best Green Car field but experience says it's a first-rate package - the diesel engine's numbers are tough to ignore."Karla Pincott goes further: "The little VW shows that you don't have to sacrifice style, safety - or even driving dynamics - on the altar of greener fuel figures."But it was a near-run thing.  The Camry Hybrid found favour with guest judge, former rally ace and safety advocate, Ed Ordynski, who approves its combination of "remarkable fuel efficiency with strong performance, outstanding refinement and high safety levels and that efficiency gets better, the heavier the heavier the traffic".Carsguide managing editor Ged Bulmer was: "pleasantly surprised," by the Camry Hybrid, which is "better balanced, more sure-footed and a superior drive to its non-hybrid siblings"."As the first Australian-built hybrid it also represents an important dawn for local manufacturing of a technology that will only going to become more widespread," Bulmer says.Not that the others found no favour, Mark Hinchliffe saying the $12,490 Barina Spark is "the right frugal car for our times" and a "complete package with safety features such as six airbags and keen pricing".

The Spark, still to be confirmed but most likely to become a price-leading Barina in Australia next year, only manages a four-star score in the Euro NCAP tests.  It's not a bad result, but the NCAP benchmark now  — in Australia, Europe and Japan — is a five-star score.The Spark only misses five stars because ESP is not fitted as standard in Europe, although that is unlikely to be a problem in Australia as Victoria forces all makers to fit stability control on vehicles sold in the state from next year.The list of five-star NCAP successes grows through the latest testing to include the Mazda3 and Mercedes-Benz E Class already on sale as well as the BMW X1, Citroen DS3 and Peugeot 5008 expected here next year.The Holden Cruze, which already has a five-star tick thanks to ANCAP testing locally, is confirmed with five stars after crashes with a Chevrolet-badged left-hand drive model. And GM was praised by Euro NCAP for its overall safety work.  "The company has bounced back with two cars that have a commendable level of safety performance," says Euro NCAP chief, Dr Michiel van Ratingen, commenting on the Cruze and the latest baby Astra.Cars not sold in Australia to make the five-star hit list are the Infiniti FX, Mercedes-Benz GLK, Opel Astra and Volkswagen Scirocco while the Toyota Urban Cruiser, a Europe-only model, trailed the pack with a lacklustre three-star result. "The result from Toyota is disappointing, but in 2010, we predict further results like these as Euro NCAP’s next stage of the rating scheme kicks in and requirements become even tougher," says van Ratingen.Euro NCAP is pushing hard with testing, rating both seats and head restrains for whiplast protection as well as including a score for safety assistance systems. "The Citroën DS3, Infiniti FX, Peugeot 5008 and the Mercedes GLK have driver controlled speed limitation systems fitted as standard or soon to be introduced as standard. These systems greatly assist the driver in maintaining the safest speed according to the driving environment," says van Ratingen.