Effective end of Australian designed Commodore

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-11-03/holden-commodore-design-to-go-overseas/3616190

The peak group representing Australian engineers say it fears Holden is preparing to shift the design work for its iconic Commodore car overseas.

The Association of Professional Engineers, Scientists and Managers (APESMA) believes Holden is close to a decision and says such a move could cost 350 jobs at Holden's Fishermen's Bend site in Port Melbourne.

Not happy at all if true.

Ha - sell outs.
Go GM!!!!

well thats just crap aint it.

so Ford are losing the Falcon and Holden losing the Commodore

So Bathurst will be...............maybe Production cars Lambo/Ferrarri/mosler/Viper/BMW ....and who says history never repeats.
Class A and C here we come again....

Recoil, read the whole thing mate, not selling out, being taken over is very different.

What Ford is doing is closer to selling out by not supporting their brand or their race teams

regardless how come Aussie cars cant be manufactured anyway, stupid idea across the entire motorvehicle industry ...but it does leave the door open to someone coming in and creating a specialist Aussie Car manufacturer (kinda like Aston Martin- Mosler etc)

The problem with Ford is that the Falcon is far superior to everything Ford USA produces, yet it will not allow Ford Australia to export the Falcon and allow the exposure it deserves. One would logically think that since GM now relies on the Holden developed Commodore platform, the obviously superior Falcon would do the same for Ford USA? Methinks a bit of "American pride" is blocking it, they just can't admit the best 4 door Ford saloons are made by Australia.

Envy The Best wrote:The problem with Ford is that the Falcon is far superior to everything Ford USA produces, yet it will not allow Ford Australia to export the Falcon and allow the exposure it deserves. One would logically think that since GM now relies on the Holden developed Commodore platform, the obviously superior Falcon would do the same for Ford USA? Methinks a bit of "American pride" is blocking it, they just can't admit the best 4 door Ford saloons are made by Australia.

+1!!!!

wasnt the new Camaro based off a clubsport chassis? or was it an SSV one? not sure but i know that the americans came to us for the chassis.

Well all VE type vehicles are all based on the same platform, just with a different body around it.

The Camaro did indeed use the Commodore platform, however i believe it is also true that the bodywork was also done by Australians too.

this sucks, Holden Commodore is a great car

@Envy - Yeah the yanks just sometimes look like they have no idea.. I remember when the early versions of the 5th Gen Mustangs were released with leaf rear suspension.. I mean come-on, Ford have a performance icon to their nation and they go and stick outdated truck suspension under its ass just to save a grand or two per unit in manufacturing costs.. Really?!?!

Your right though, the Falcon would do well as an export, well at least the BA and BF would, much like VE Commodore is.. Ford US should do what GM US did and just accept that Aussies make better cars than they do and adopt the better chassis..

So Bathurst will be...............maybe Production cars Lambo/Ferrarri/mosler/Viper/BMW ....and who says history never repeats.
Class A and C here we come again....

+1..
I actually enjoyed ATCC way more than V8 Supercars, there was a real "horses for courses" thing going on. Personally I would have kept watching V8s if they allowed more manufacturers and models.. 2 model series is a bit meh to me.. All inherent character strength and weaknesses of the cars themselves are removed with blueprint formulas.. Imagine if it was just "Supercars" and Teams could run a race spec XR6 turbo instead of the XR8, we need a bit of diversity, need to shake things up a bit..

I did a quick search on the Zeta chassis and found this:
http://www.motorauthority.com/news/1032749_gms-rwd-zeta-platform-will-live-on-but-in-smaller-cars

The Zeta is used what seems like everywhere through GM.. I wasn't aware that the Camaro bodywork was Aussie designed though as it does seem to have a large American influence to it..

A link at the end pointed to the Alpha chassis:
http://www.motorauthority.com/news/1026253_details-of-gms-alpha-platform-revealed

Does anyone remember the hot pink Torana Concept, Holden did a few years back? If I can remember correctly, and I may be wrong here, I think they were looking at running 3.0L or 3.2L twin turbo V6's, possibly alloytec TTs, can't remember.. From memory AWD was also on the table for the Alpha chassis..

It would be sad to see Holden move more designs offshore, I really like the fact that our little convict born nation can produce something that in general, is well designed and manufactured.. Well at least regarding Holden, the Commodore is anyway.. Mind you Holden did pour over 1 billion into its design..

Now, just for laughs:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zeta_(automobile)
It seems Zeta has come along way since its inception, I especially like the 500cc two-stroke "sport" model..[quote]

Boomslangnz wrote:this sucks, Holden Commodore is a great car

Only because you think its a import

BRING BACK GROUP A!!!!!!!!

NoRecoil wrote:

Boomslangnz wrote:this sucks, Holden Commodore is a great car

Only because you think its a import

Erm....why would i think that? Its Australian designed.