With the Australian public viewing the new range-topping Holden Barina CDX last month at the Australian International Motor Show, Holden last week has confirmed pricing. Offering a host of features including the all-new Holden MyLink premium infotainment system, Barina CDX will be available with a new six-speed automatic transmission in both hatch and sedan and recommended retail price of $20,490 and $20,990 respectively. Holden Marketing Manager for Small, Medium and Electric cars, Emma Pinwill said pricing for the new model represents great value for the small car buyer. “At only $2,500 more than the equivalent CD model, the CDX represents great value and is loaded with a high level of specifications and features.” Holden MyLink offers a seven-inch colour touch screen radio capable of displaying music, videos, photos and contacts for hands-free calling. Launching with the StitcherTM Smart Radio embedded application, the Holden MyLink system will be supported in the future with additional apps that offer drivers added information and entertainment options, such as Pandora® Internet Radio, TuneIn Radio and BringGo Navigation.  In addition to Holden MyLink, Barina CDX highlights include:

• 17 inch alloy wheels (4)
• Front foglamps
• Reverse park sensors
• Electric power steering
• 7” colour touch-screen
• Leather steering wheel & transmission shifter
• Sportec seat trim
• Heated front seats
• CDX badge
• Trip computer
• Storage tray under front passenger seat
• Sunglass holder
• Chrome exterior accents

The Barina exterior colour palette features seven choices, which are:

• Summit White
• Satin Steel Grey (prestige)
• Nitrate Silver (prestige)
• Velvet Red
• Boracay Blue (prestige)
• Snowflake White Pearl (prestige) (New Colour)
• Carbon Flash Black (prestige)

MY13 Holden Barina Recommended Retail Pricing: CD Hatch Manual – $15,990 CD Hatch Auto – $17,990 CD Sedan Manual – $16,490 CD Sedan Auto – $18,490 New CDX Hatch Auto – $20,490 New CDX Sedan Auto – $20,990  

Depending on which era you were born in Beep Beep will probably mean one of two things. Your either a baby boomer/gen x and you will probably think of the road runner from the Loony Tunes. Or you’re a gen Y and you’ll think of the beep beep Barina ad campaign from Holden. The Barina may not have the catchy slogan any more, but will the Barina be like the road runner and outsmart the competition (coyote) or will the coyote finally have his day and turn the tables.

The Barina is a car that has been in the Australian car market for several years. During its time it has undergone more major facelifts then a Hollywood actor. With ties to Suzuki in its earlier days, Opel in the middle stages, Daewoo in the later stages and finally Chevrolet in its most recent showing, it definitely has tried to keep up with its appearances. Unfortunately had the Barina continued its relationship with Opel, in my opinion, we would have a much more aesthetically pleasing car, though there are positives to the current design especially the aggressive and almost nostalgic circular headlights. It’s hard not to think back to the Barinas glory days when it seemed every second P plater had a Barina for a car. It is clear that all departments have come together and are still focusing on the young and first car owners. An example comes straight from the marketing department where the ads show young couples heading out for a road trips while another example is the motorcycle inspired instrument cluster which is one of the focal points of the interior. Other internal features include Bluetooth, multi-media audio, steering wheel controls and more which is quite a good offering for such a sharply priced car. The steering wheel is surprisingly sporty while the rest of dash has a high concentration of plastic, though it is a quiet pleasant. From a standing start the 1.6ltr DOHC 16 valve engine sprightly runs through the first and second gears of the 6 speed automatic which our test car had been coupled to. However, highway cruising is where you start to notice the short legs of the engine and that is mainly due to its capacity, although Holden have given this 1.6 high performance figures. A down side to the increased performance is the fuel efficiency which can counteract some of the appeal for city driving when trying to keep efficiency to a maximum. On more of a novelty factor is the sports shift on the automatic gearbox, instead of mimicking a sequential gearbox they have decided to use two buttons on the gear shaft. It is hard not to think of it being almost Playstation like even though you do get used to it, it is still just doesn’t feel right. For those disconcerting parents who think that all P platers are reckless drivers, yes figures may agree with you, you can put your mind at ease if your kids were to drive the Barina. With the highest possible ANCAP safety rating (5 stars) being awarded to the car it is somewhat of a reversal to some years ago when small cars had issues with the crumple zone, it has to be given to the engineers which now have created such a safe, car especially for the price of the car. With features such as Electronic Stability control, ABS Brakes, traction control and 6 airbags you can see why the Barina is still a popular choice among the younger drivers. If you have decided that the Barina is the car for you, Holden have simplified the process significantly so that there are only 3 main choices to make. What body type? Which Colour? Which Transmissions? It’s basically as easy as that, so commitment phoebes you can breathe a sigh of relief that you don’t have to make too many decisions. A small complaint I had with the car had to do with the electronic instrument cluster. While some readings are good to see in a digital form, there are still things that are better seen in an analogue form ie. Fuel levels, even though the readings are broken down to 1/12^th it can still be difficult to judge how much fuel you actually have and if you can make it to a more convenient servo. A solution to this would be to break it down into even further increments possibly 1/16^th increments would prove a more satisfying and reassuring level for the driver. ADM Opinion There is no doubt that the Barina represents excellent value, but there is also a lot of manufactures seeking your business. The small car segment is such a crowded market and you would be able to find exceptional value with a lot of manufactures these days. Refering back to my earlier comments about the road runner, there is no doubt that the coyote has caught up in some aspects but the Barina still manages to keep its head in front in other areas. If you are a fan of the design and looking for a zippy inner city car, this is an excellent choice. However, if you were to do more highway driving it may not be the best choice. Ultimately what I would like to see is a Barina designed and built in Australia, based on the success of the Cruze, this could be another popular Australian car. Likes Style Drive Price Dislikes Dash Cluster Engine Power Transmission Sports Shift Features Barina Hatch with 5-speed manual transmission - $15,990 Barina Hatch with 6-speed automatic transmission – $17,990 *Prestige Paint is a $500 option Key Features

• ·         1.6 litre, DOHC 16 valve 4-cylinder engine
• ·         4-speed automatic transmission or 5-speed manual transmission
• ·         Anti-lock Braking System (ABS)
• ·         Steering wheel mounted audio controls
• ·         Air conditioning with variable temperature control
• ·         Power windows, front and rear
• ·         Front and side impact airbags for driver and front passenger
• ·         Front seatbelt force limiters
• ·         Front seatbelt pretensioners
• ·         45-litre Petrol tank capacity
• ·         Front ventilated disc brakes. Rear drum

ADM gives the Holden Barina 3 out of 5 helmets   Written by Jason Sharman

The first new manufacture to the V8 Supercar championship will unveil its Car of the Future (COTF) on Tuesday 30 October in Melbourne. The highly-anticipated release of the Altima COTF by Nissan will also be streamed live online via YouTube, giving fans in Australia and across the globe the chance to see the first glimpse of the spectacular race car. The unveiling of the Nissan Altima will be a historic moment for the sport of V8 Supercars, which has been the domain of purely Ford Falcons and Holden Commodores for the past two decades. Nissan Motorsport will campaign four Altimas in the V8 Supercars Championship starting in 2013 and will be powered by the quad-cam, 32-valve, production-based Nissan VK56DE engine that was unveiled in September of this year. Nissan will undertake two exciting and innovative online broadcasts to ensure that fans can be a part of this momentous occasion and share in Nissan Motorsport’s journey to the grid. A live feed of the Altima V8 Supercar unveil will be streamed via the Nissan Australia YouTube channel, YouTube.com/NissanAustralia, beginning at 10:30am AEDST on Tuesday 30 October 2012. Following the morning unveil, Nissan will then host a Google + Hangout On Air with driver and team Racing Director Todd Kelly, as well as the Altima V8 Supercar, from the team’s headquarters in Braeside, Melbourne at 5:00pm AEDST that evening. This online video conference will see Kelly provide an in-depth explanation of the Altima race car and offer fans the chance to ask questions about Nissan’s all-new, ground-breaking V8 Supercar. For a video promoting the unveiling of the Nissan Altima and the two live streamed events visit http://youtu.be/KFTuLELr1qo.  

Australian’s got to see a new tough off road 4×4 when Holden showed off the Colorado 7 in its first official appearance in Sydney last Thursday at the Australian International Motor Show.  The sale date is set for December this year and the Colorado 7 has all the good bits of an off road vehicle wrapped up in a neat package of a large SUV. The development of the 7 was in tandem with the Colorado ute and they share the same diesel engine. Offering a full-size seven-seat interior, plenty of cargo space and a chassis configuration designed specifically for the SUV. The Colorado 7 will be available in two specifications, the well-appointed entry level LT and top-spec LTZ. Colorado 7 also shares its safety credentials with its Colorado Crew Cab stable-mate which is recognised with a 5-star ANCAP safety rating.  Colorado’s robust structural design is backed by a comprehensive array of safety features with Electronic Stability Control, dual front airbags and full-length curtain airbags that extend to the third row among the list of standard equipment. One power train and transmission combination will be available. The powerful 2.8-litre diesel engine with a 6-speed automatic transmission will be standard on both LT and LTZ Colorado 7 models. The Duramax diesel engine achieves 132 kW power and 470 Nm of torque. The high-tech diesel engine is designed to achieve a balance of load-carrying performance and fuel economy and returns 9.4 litres per 100 kilometres and 252 grams of CO2 per kilometre. The new SUV will be able to tow 3,000kg thanks to the torque and strength and robust driveline. Colorado 7’s chassis has been engineered independently of the Colorado LCV and is biased towards passenger comfort.  While both models share an independent double wishbone front suspension set up, Colorado 7 features a five-link live axle rear suspension configuration that’s unique to the SUV and coil springs front and rear. Colorado 7 has a part time four-wheel drive system with transfer case, with low and high ratio gears, shift on the fly and Limited Slip Differential. Hill Descent Control enhances Colorado 7’s already formidable 4X4 capability. The 7’s interior dimensions enable a spacious and practical layout, with seven seats fitted across the range.  With the second and third row seats folded, Colorado 7 can accommodate as much as 1830 litres of cargo.  Holden Executive Director Sales, Marketing and Aftersales John Elsworth said the Colorado 7 was the first of two new SUVs Holden will introduce in the next 12 months. “The SUV market is booming right now, and the Colorado 7 gives us another solid opportunity to tap into this fast-growing area of the market,” he said. “Colorado 7 is the first true heavy duty off-roader to wear a Holden badge in around 10 years and matches the Colorado for genuine buyer appeal, bold design and advanced diesel engine technology. “Colorado 7 is a true seven-seat, full-size 4X4, which is ideal for customers shopping for an SUV that can take them off the beaten track and still carry the family and haul cargo at the weekend.” “It was designed to stand side-by-side with the Colorado LCV at the Holden dealership, and will complement our Captiva range by offering a serious alternative. “And with gutsy performance from our proven Duramax 2.8 diesel engine, Colorado 7 is set to become the toughest Holden off-roader we’ve sold to date.” Photos by Rudi Khoury

Holden marked this year’s Australian International Motor Show with debuts and first sales. The Cruze welcomed a sibling as the new Cruze Sportwagon made its Australian debut. This much anticipated model will join the Cruze line-up early next year. The Sportwagon will be offered in only two model variants, the CD with the choice of a 1.8-litre petrol or the 2.o-litre turbo diesel and the CDX which will come equipped with a 1.8-litre petrol engine. Both variants in the range offer generous load space, Bluetooth connectivity with voice recognition, cruise control and iPod integration with steering wheel controls as standard. The Cruze Sportwagon has the same safety features and body structure that earned the Cruze sedan and hatch a five star safety rating from the Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP).  These safety features include six airbags, rear park assist and electronic stability control including anti-lock braking system and traction control. John Elsworth, Holden’s Director of Sales, Marketing and Aftersales, said the imported model would be the third variant of Holden’s popular small car and gave Holden a fantastic opportunity to reach new customers. “For customers looking for more versatility out of a mid-size vehicle Cruze now offers the perfect solution – the practicality of a wagon with the high-tech features and sporty styling that has made Cruze an Aussie favourite,” Mr Elsworth said. “This nameplate has sold in excess of one and a half million vehicles globally since it was launched in 2009 and there’s a very good reason for this – it’s a great car. “This wagon is the perfect addition to the Cruze range and like the Commodore Sportwagon before it; it will put excitement back into this traditionally conservative segment.” While the new child was welcomed to the Holden family, the keys to the first Holden Volt sale were handed over. The US Ambassador to Australia, Jeffrey Bleich, was on hand to receive the keys from Holden’s Chairman and Managing Director Mike Devereux. With two weeks before the Volt goes live on the market, the handing over the keys was a big step forward for Holden. Mr Devereux said the US Ambassador’s keen interest in Holden and its products highlights the strong trade relationship between Australia and the US. “Being part of a global organisation means we can choose from the best cars in the GM portfolio and export the cars we specialise in to other markets like the US,” he said. “We have a really strong history of selling our cars to the US, most recently the Chevrolet Caprice police patrol vehicle and the Chevrolet SS performance sedan that Holden will begin exporting to North America in 2013.” Ambassador Bleich said he decided to purchase a Volt for the US Embassy after attending Holden’s Volt pre-launch event in Sydney last year. “Volt is really an outstanding piece of technology and it’s a great example of the power of US innovation to create economic opportunities while generating solutions to global challenges like climate change and energy security,” Ambassador Bleich said. “I’m glad to see the Volt coming into the Australian market, because like the United States, Australia is interested in reducing dependence on oil and promoting energy conservation. “Besides handling beautifully, Volt is a very sleek car and has a great look.  We’re really looking forward to having the Volt in our Embassy fleet.” Photos by Rudi Khoury