Nother CarGuy

General Motors and Holden Special Vehicles have reached an agreement which will ensure the latter company remains active following the death of the rear-wheel drive Holden Commodore. Described as a "pivotal moment" in HSV’s history, the agreement paves the way for an assortment of new vehicles to come to Australia. There will be two "product streams" and the first will consist of the familiar vehicle enhancement program that is offered on existing Holden vehicles. An example of this is the new HSV SportsCat which is based on the Holden Colorado. The model features an all-new front fascia with a revised grille, tow hooks, and LED fog lights. Other notable features include new fender flares, a retuned suspension, and an increased ride height. Power is provided by a 2.8-liter Duramax Turbo Diesel engine that produces up to 197 hp (147 kW) and 368 lb-ft (500Nm) of torque. It can be connected to either a six-speed manual or a six-speed automatic transmission.  ...

Holden, in case you haven't noticed, doesn't manufacture automobiles anymore. It just brings in other GM products from elsewhere and sells them in Australia with lion badges on the nose. And the latest is the Equinox. Sold as a Chevrolet in America, the Equinox has now arrived Down Under as a Holden, offered in an array of trims and specifications ranging from $27,990 all the way up to $46,290 (in Australian dollars). That's a big range,  spread across a staggering escalation of six trim levels, separated by equipment levels and powertrain options. The base model comes with a 1.5-liter turbo four mated to a six-speed manual or automatic transmission. The larger 2.0-liter turbo engine pairs with a nine-speed automatic, and there'll be a 1.6-liter diesel arriving next year (following the gasoline models that roll out next month). Adaptive all-wheel drive is available on the penultimate LTZ model, and comes standard on the top LTZ-V. US pricing, in case y...

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles has stopped production of all its right-hand drive Chrysler and Dodge models. The vehicles were built at the company’s facilities in Windsor and Brampton, Ontario and the cancellation will impact countries including South Africa and Australia. FCA’s decision was reportedly made because it simply couldn’t justify the costs of building right-hand drive models for only a select few countries. The decision also means both the Chrysler and Dodge brands will leave the South African market entirely. “This unfortunate situation has arisen from our principals in the USA no longer building Chrysler or Dodge vehicles in Right Hand Drive configuration,” FCA South Africa chief executive Robin van Rensburg told Allpar. As recently as November 2016, Fiat Chrysler’s Australian division said it was evaluating a business case for right-hand drive versions of the Dodge Challenger and Charger. However, the brand’s recent announcement means this will no longer happen. ...

Hyundai has cleared the air regarding the availability of their  new generation 2017 Azera  in the USA: we won’t be getting it, and we’re not the only ones. Speaking to  Carscoops , a US spokesman for the Korean company said: “Hyundai will sell the all-new Azera in all global markets except for Australia, Europe and North America. The  all-new Azera  will not be sold in the U.S.” But here’s where things get a bit confusing, as the spokesperson added: “Considering the importance of Hyundai Motor's flagship model in overseas markets, Hyundai is currently reviewing the possibility of introducing a US-specific model that reflects the needs of customers in North America".  Does that mean Hyundai will develop and offer a different model based on the Azera for the States, or perhaps even market a restyled version of the car under their  just launched Genesis brand  as an entry-level premium sedan – think Lexus ES rival? We don’t know yet, but we did a...

The New South Wales Police Force has just taken delivery of a specially-equipped Audi S7 Sportback which will be used in a selection of community and youth engagement programs. The  S7 Sportback  has been lent to the Lake Illawarra Area Command and will be used for 12 months,  replacing the RS4 Avant  previously used by the department.  To make the car stand out on the street, it has been adorned in a unique livery selected by Facebook fans on the Audi Australia page last year. The livery consists of a blue and white chequered pattern on the lower third of the body as well as numerous police decals, including links to the department's social media pages. Discussing the car, managing director of Audi Australia Andrew Doyle said “The Audi S7 Sportback has a striking presence, thanks to its sophisticated design and the sound of its extraordinary twin-turbo V8 engine, and so it is perfectly suited to making an impact at the various events it will attend throughou...

With an array of upgrades that cover design, safety, technology, and drivability, the facelifted  Holden Colorado 7  will now be known as the Trailblazer, across the Australian market.  Developed in collaboration between Holden and GM Brazil, it features  exterior styling enhancements  such as the signature LED DRLs combined with chrome accents, which complement a more stylish front fascia and a more muscular design of the bonnet.  Step inside and you'll be greeted  by a new dashboard  with an updated center console, while more expensive versions add heated leather seats and Holden MyLink infotainment that works with a new 8-inch color touchscreen and comes with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.  A remote vehicle start system is also on the list of upgrades, along with voice recognition, sat-nav, electronic climate control and an extensive range of active and passive safety features that include Forward Collision Alert, Lane Departure Warnin...