2012 Chev Malibu to replace Epica

[csv8]

Slow-selling medium car out as Holden targets new rival for Toyota Camry.

Holden will be hoping for some Californian cool to rub off on its replacement for the lacklustre Epica.

The slow-selling mid-sizer is on the way out as Holden plans to get serious in its fight against the Toyota Camry. The replacement is expected to be the 2012 Chevrolet Malibu and the local model is likely to carry the same name when it arrives Down Under.

Holden will also ditch the Epica name for the new medium car that will replace the South Korean-sourced Epica that has struggled to entice buyers since it was launched in 2007.


The local car maker sold only 1842 Epicas in 2010 and the model has continually languished behind rivals such as the Mazda6, Ford Mondeo, Honda Accord Euro and dominant Camry.

Holden boss Mike Devereux admits the car has been a let-down and promises the new car will be "extremely different" to the current Epica.

"We'll have a replacement in that Camry/Accord segment for Epica, which I think will be a much better representation of what we can do. We will likely not call what we bring to that segment an Epica," says Devereux.

The new Malibu tipped to be powered by General Motors' 2.4-litre four-cylinder and the 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder Ecotec, abandoning the six-cylinder engine used by the Epica.

The switch to four-cylinder petrol engines would overcome one of the car's biggest faults, according to Devereux.

"The segment is a four-cylinder segment and we didn't have a four-cylinder in that vehicle," he says.

"It was a problem for me in my last job in Dubai as well. A lot of people were looking for small four-cylinders in a medium-sized vehicle and we only had six-cylinder to offer. I think from a powertrain standpoint, the expectations of the market and the product didn't match. And that's a pretty tough thing to overcome.

He dismissed suggestions that Holden could consider abandoning the segment given the success of the Cruze small car and Commodore positioned either side of the Epica.

"I think we should have an entry [to the medium-car segment]," says Devereux. "We will have applicable to this market options from our global stable to fill that niche.

And I think there is enough volume there, with a properly contented product and a world-class execution, I think there is certainly enough volume in that segment to warrant having an entrant. We just haven't taken advantage of it with our current product."

Devereux also gave the strongest indication yet that the company would offer a seven-seat wagon variant of the Colorado ute. There's no official confirmation yet, but the seven-seater Colorado is expected to arrive early in 2012.

"We have a fantastic new product coming and that will tick all the boxes that it needs to tick," he said.

Quizzed about the possibility of SUV spin-off, along the same lines as the Mitsubishi Challenger and Nissan Pathfinder, Devereux was coy.

"Could be a good idea to do more than a pick-up. Who knows?" says Devereux. "It could be something we might want to look at."

[BigBlue]

Ye Gods ...not ANOTHER attempt by Holden to market a mid sized Camry beater.

Let's hope they do a better job on this than on the Vectra and Epica.

Peter.

[Kryton]

They actually still sell the Epica?
Do they really think there is room for it, especially with the Cruze in the line up.
Makes you wonder.

[kenz]

They'll sell a tonne of them if they keep the chev badges on. Everyone loves a chev badge

[Road_Warrior]

Houston, we have a problem.

[Iggypoppin']

This will* work.







*won't.

[jpd80]

So much for Opel Insignia, that was a much better looking car than Malibu.....

[imugli]

Originally Posted by jpd80

So much for Opel Insignia, that was a much better looking car than Malibu.....

Opel are coming to Oz as a stand alone brand, with separate dealer network. We'll see the Insignia, but as a competitor to the likes of VW, not Camry.

[chevypower]

Originally Posted by imugli

Opel IS coming to Oz as a stand alone brand, with separate dealer network. We'll see the Insignia, but as a competitor to the likes of VW, not Camry.

separate issue, but I wonder if this means the end of Vauxhall. Opel becomes global, and Chevrolet replaces Vauxhall. Buick and Cadillac go global. I can see this happening. Time may be running out for the Holden name.

[HULK EF]

lol at the name..

[2.8L Hilux]

Good. The Epica is one of the worst looking cars on the road.

[Sprint XR8]

Spy Photos: 2012 Chevy Malibu

http://blogs.insideline.com/straight...vy-malibu.html

[Airmon]

Anyone else think it looks like a Mitsu 380?

Interesting they say they couldnt provide a 4cyl variant for the Epica. When I was shopping around for a mid-sized 6cyl car there were none around and the Epicas 6cyl was about on par for power/torque and economy then its competitors 4cyls. Not that it would have made much difference day to day driving, it just shows the perceptions people have towards '6cyl' cars, especially in Oz when they're typically large cars.

[Yellow_Festiva]

Originally Posted by Airmon

Anyone else think it looks like a Mitsu 380?

Yup...

[Paxton]

Originally Posted by Yellow_Festiva

Yup...

Indeed.

It will probably sell better than the Mitsubishi did, unfortunately.

[Yaw]

Originally Posted by Iggypoppin'

This will* work.







*won't.

I would have given rep for that if we still had rep points.

[The G6ET Spot]

Originally Posted by Paxton

It will probably sell better than the Mitsubishi did, unfortunately.

Indeed it will as the journo's will think it is the great car around seeing it has a Hlden/Chev badge on it.

[Gobes32]

Is it the same size as a Cruze?

[OzJavelin]

Originally Posted by Airmon

Anyone else think it looks like a Mitsu 380?

Personally .. No. I think the 380 was cleaner, neater design. To me it looks like an Americanized Korean car. Sorry to say it but the Yanks just can't build a nice looking 4door car anymore .. And I own two cars from the long defunct AMERICAN MOTORS

[Foobar]

Originally Posted by csv8

The local car maker sold only 1842 Epicas in 2010 and the model has continually languished behind rivals such as the Mazda6, Ford Mondeo, Honda Accord Euro and dominant Camry."

Epic(a) Fail?

[naddis01]

What!!! There were 150 morons a month buying those things.

[Chilliman]

If the Malibu does well I can only think that it will be at the expense of the Commodore - sort of like what Cruze is already doing to it.

[4.0i OHC]

Originally Posted by The G6ET Spot

Indeed it will as the journo's will think it is the great car around seeing it has a Hlden/Chev badge on it.

Paul Gover has stated on 3AW (to callers that were considering buying the Epica) that the Holden Epica was a poor choice of car. If someone like Paul Gover criticised the Epica, that speaks volumes about the quality of the car. It must have been truly abominable.

[XD 351 Ute]

Way to go, ruin another classic car name with a new piece of junk.

Ed

[Yellow_Festiva]

Originally Posted by Gobes32

Is it the same size as a Cruze?

Slightly longer and wider. This is a mid sized car, up against the likes of Mondeo, Mazda 6, Camry etc.

[spvd02]

I think holden may be trying to steal some of Ford's potential sales of ECOboost Falcon by offering a 4-cyl alternative.

[Ford_The_Win]

I thought the Curze was the midsize Mazda 6/Camry equivalent? Midsize 4 pot? I don't think there is a big enough gap in the market for this car. Aside from the Commodore, Holden's smaller vehicles have never sold that well compared to the Japanese competiton.

[burnz]

Originally Posted by Gobes32

Is it the same size as a Cruze?

looks like a cruze...

i think the jurno put up the wrong picture, to me it looks like a cruze in camo.
the bonnet line and boot line are identicle, door handles alloy wheels the same front aprin..

CDX to be exact..

[MethodX]

Hopefully its a good car and it sells, or at least gets ppl into Holden Showrooms.

[Iggypoppin']

Originally Posted by MethodX

Hopefully its a good car and it sells, or at least gets ppl into Holden Showrooms.

Or not? Holden doesn't need a car like this. It's money down the drain developing a car to combat cars like camry, Mazda 6 and mondeo. Those 3 cars are well established names and will not lose many if any sales to a rebadged chev Malibu. Holden should stick to what it does best if they want to make money and increase sales(commodore) and not invest cash into poor selling, poor quality mid size sedans that only numpties buy at a rate of 1,000 odd a year(less than monthly commodore sales).