Holden's LPG range released including Caprice, SV6 and Sportwagon

[Brazen]

Looks no way near technically good as the EcoLPI, my ute would thrash these Holdens. But the no loss of bootspace with full sized spare is perhaps more important for some buyers??

LPG Caprice should be a win with limos and cabs (or as a 'green' ministerial vehicle?) . And expect to see a million fleet LPG Sportwagons.

http://www.goauto.com.au/mellor/mell...25799F0014F564

Pricing revealed for more extensive new Commodore LPG range as Cruze prices rise
9 February 2012
By MARTON PETTENDY
HOLDEN has revealed prices for its new and expanded dedicated-LPG Commodore sedan range, along with price increases for its smaller Australian-made stablemate, the Cruze.

Twelve new sedan and ute models will be available when the upgraded single-fuel Commodore LPG range is officially launched on February 21 - including Sportwagon, Caprice, Equip and SV6 versions for the first time - each with a six-speed automatic transmission instead of the outgoing dual-fuel LPG Commodore’s archaic four-speed auto.

Prices start at $37,990 plus on-road costs for the 2012 VE Commodore Series II Omega Ute, making Holden’s new dedicated LPG ute $900 cheaper than before at base level, but still more expensive than Ford’s new dedicated-LPG MkII Falcon EcoLPI ute (from $31,090 cab-chassis, or $31,490 with styleside tray).

New to the Commodore-based Ute range is the SV6 LPG model, priced at $41,990 plus ORCs, which will be a direct rival for the Falcon XR6 EcoLPI (from $37,890 cab-chassis, or $38,190 styleside).

A new Equipe variant will open the revised Commodore LPG sedan line-up at $40,490 - $1900 less than Holden’s previous Commodore LPG sedan price-leader but still $755 more than Ford’s equivalent MkII Falcon XT EcoLPI sedan ($39,735 plus ORCs).

Left: Holden Omega Ute and Berlina sedan. Below: Holden Cruze sedan.

The 2012 Commodore Omega LPG sedan will cost $2000 more at $42,990 plus ORCs ($600 less than before), while the upgraded Berlina LPG sedan is priced from $45,990 (up $100) and the new SV6 LPG sedan is $46,290 plus ORCs - $3300 more than the XR6 EcoLPI sedan (from $42,990).

The all-new Commodore Sportwagon LPG range, which has no direct competitor in the absence of an LPG-fuelled Territory, will open $2000 higher than the sedan from $42,490 for the new Equipe LPG.

Mirroring the Commodore LPG sedan range, the Holden’s LPG wagon range also includes the Sportwagon Omega LPG (from $44,490), the Sportwagon Berlina LPG (from $47,990) and the Sportwagon SV6 LPG (from $48,290).

Topping Holden’s fresh LPG range is the new long-wheelbase Caprice LPG sedan, priced from $64,990 - $2500 more than the entry-level 3.6-litre Caprice V6 (from $61,990).

Technical details are yet to be revealed, but GoAuto understands Holden’s new dedicated LPG range will be powered exclusively by a 3.6-litre V6 that produces 178kW at 6000rpm, which is up from the previous dual-fuel LPG V6’s 175kW.

However, its peak power output falls short of the entry-level Commodore’s 3.0-litre direct-injection SIDI petrol V6, which offers 190kW at 6650rpm along with 290Nm of torque (the old LPG engine already bettered it at 318Nm), not to mention the 3.6-litre SIDI V6’s 210kW/350Nm outputs.

The performance of Commodore’s new dedicated LPG system, which retains gaseous multi-point injection technology, is also eclipsed by the Falcon’s more advanced liquid injection LPG system, which was developed by Orbital and is also employed by HSV’s V8 range.

In Ford’s case it delivers more performance than the Falcon’s 4.0-litre inline petrol six, at 198kW and 409Nm.

Official certification figures also reveal the new LPG Commodore models will retain the same 2100kg braked towing capacity as 3.6-litre petrol models – up from 1200kg for 3.0-litre petrol models – while all Commodores can tow 750kg unbraked.

Tare weights for Holden’s new Eco-branded dedicated LPG system - which will dispense with the conventional space-sapping boot-mounted gas tank – will start at 1710kg for the base Omega sedan, 83kg more than the petrol Omega sedan.

The single-fuel LPG system, which will incorporate an under-floor gas cylinder, not only paving the way for a return to LPG in the Sportwagon but potentially gives sedan and ute models a cargo advantage over the EcoLPi Falcon and aftermarket systems

We understand LPG Commodores will lose no boot space, unlike Falcon EcoLPi sedans, which have a shallower boot than petrol models but also lose the full-size spare wheel as standard equipment.

Meantime, Holden has revealed price increases of between $250 and $1300 for its smaller Cruze sedan and hatch range, following the release of its more expensive new Barina sedan range earlier this month.

As we’ve reported, the new Barina sedan is now available from $16,490 - $200 more than before and $500 more than the new TM-series Barina hatch (which itself increased by $1200 at base level) upon which is based.

Effective from February, the entry-level Cruze 1.8 CD sedan and hatch now cost $21,490 plus ORCs – up $250 or 1.2 per cent from their former base price of $21,240.

The Cruze 1.8 CD auto is now $23,790 plus ORCs (up $550 or 2.4 per cent), with 1.4-litre turbo CD models undergoing similar price hikes to $22,740 and $25,050 respectively.

The Cruze 1.8 CDX manual has been discontinued, while the auto rises $300 to $27,040.and 1.4T SRi models hike by $1000 or four per cent ($25,990 manual) and $1300 or 4.8 per cent ($28,290 auto), with SRi-V models up by the same amounts to a respective $29,490 and $31,790.

Diesel-powered Cruze models have undergone the same price increase and now start at $25,490 for the 2.0 CD manual, increasing to $27,790 (CD auto) and $31,040 (CDX auto), with the diesel CDX manual also discontinued.

[Joe5619]

How did they get around the boot thing?

Also, price increases for local Cruze!!! For all those thinking local small car is the next best thing to slice bread.. With the dollar where it is, imported car pricing would have downward pressure & here we have the local Cruze going up, by as much as 1,300!! That is going to be hard work against cheaper imports..

[Brazen]

Originally Posted by Joe5619

How did they get around the boot thing?

It looks like thery were able to put the LPG tank in where the petrol fuel tank lives rather than where the spare tyre is, as in the Falcon, but no details have been shown yet.

[Bossxr8]

Look how much more expensive it is than Falcon EcoLPi, and its not even half as good a system, running on the old spec non DI 3.6.

179 kw lol. Makes less power than a Falcon 6 did 10 years ago.

No suprise Cruze has gone up in price, its the 3rd time it has happened since it was made here. It went up a few hundred when it was released, then went up again about 6 months later, and its now gone up again.

It was all smoke and mirrors about it costing about the same as the Korean made versions, now they are putting it up to roughly how much it really costs. They just kept the price down initially to make it look like it was going to cost the same as the Korean versions. Everyone knew that was BS, there's no way the real cost of an aussie made Cruze is even close to what it would be in Korea, cheaper labour, operating costs and economies of scale etc.

Dangerous thing to do in such a cost sensitive segment like small cars. This will cost them sales, cause less people will be willing to pay the same price for a Cruze as a superior vehicle like a Focus, 3, Lancer etc.

[PoweredByCNG]

This is a joke, surely.

How hard would it have been for GM Holden to use the old variable inlet/exhaust version of the V6 that produced 195kW / 340Nm in petrol form as a base for the dedicated LPG engine? That would make the engine more competitive with Ford's offerings.

Having said that, no GM HFV6 engine can match Ford's I6, even if Ford's engine lacks direct petrol injection.

This is a perfect opportunity for Ford to push their superiority, both in terms of price and technology. Now let's watch Ford's advertising department make the EcoLPi fail.

[Luke Plaizier]

Given it costs more, and has much less power, I'm betting the Drives and Wheels of the world will be putting the emphasis on the boot size. Heck, give the Ecoboost LiLPI and it would put out more power than that!

I notice no consumption values listed yet either. Sequential Vapour Injection might be more efficient than you're old Gas-Ring converters, but I can't see how it would be able to match Liquid Phase Injection. So costs more, less power, and uses more fuel. Bizarre position to put yourself in isn't it. Market your way out of that one!

"But hey, look at the boot!"


Lukeyson

[PoweredByCNG]

But hey, it's a Holden. Bogans will buy it no matter how good the competition is!

[phillyc]

Originally Posted by Luke Plaizier

Given it costs more, and has much less power, I'm betting the Drives and Wheels of the world will be putting the emphasis on the boot size. Heck, give the Ecoboost LiLPI and it would put out more power than that!

I notice no consumption values listed yet either. Sequential Vapour Injection might be more efficient than you're old Gas-Ring converters, but I can't see how it would be able to match Liquid Phase Injection. So costs more, less power, and uses more fuel. Bizarre position to put yourself in isn't it. Market your way out of that one!

"But hey, look at the boot!"


Lukeyson

GM Holden LPG when compared to Ford Falcon EcoLPi technology will have
* less power,
* less torque,
* higher asking price (between $755 and $6900!) damn thats alot of LPG
* higher fuel consumption. (no way to recoup the higher purchase price)
* about 20-30L of extra boot space.

So, bootspace will be exactly what drivel and carsguide etc will focus on!

[TMC]

Originally Posted by PoweredByCNG

But hey, it's a Holden. Bogans will buy it no matter how good the competition is!

Yeah. If Holden do it, it's "amazing" "best thing since the wheel"

If Ford do it, it's a "lump of crap" despite the technical advances.

[XRtowcar]

Maybe mounting the tank on the roof?
Cant see why they didn't go liquid injection.

[Brazen]

But in a way doesnt packaging sell? I've never heard anyone praise the performance of the 4speed auto Forrester but it's a huge seller. And wouldn't people who buy a large car want to have cargo room? I don't know I think solving the packaging issue may be more important than it having 200kw. Even if it is crapper compared to the Ford.

[TMC]

Originally Posted by Brazen

But in a way doesnt packaging sell? I've never heard anyone praise the performance of the 4speed auto Forrester but it's a huge seller. And wouldn't people who buy a large car want to have cargo room? I don't know I think solving the packaging issue may be more important than it having 200kw.

Give me 200kW any day.

[OzJavelin]

First thing that comes to my mind is that Holden seemed to have made LPG available across the range ... All I've seen of EcoLPIs so far is XTs .. Nice was for Ford to guarantee only Fleet sales ..

[Luke Plaizier]

Well then you haven't looked hard. EcoLPI is in XR6, G6, G6E and Ute.

Other than Ford not advertising EcoLPI whatsoever, which log have you been hiding under?


Lukeyson

[jpd80]

Prices start at $37,990 plus on-road costs for the 2012 VE Commodore Series II Omega Ute,
making Holden’s new dedicated LPG ute $900 cheaper than before at base level, but still more expensive than
Ford’s new dedicated-LPG MkII Falcon EcoLPI ute (from $31,090 cab-chassis, or $31,490 with styleside tray).

He, He, Haw, Haw , the fight back begins, better system , miles cheaper......

[z80]

Oh oh.....

It has a spare wheel, and no loss of boot space.

The Holden salesmen will unfortunately have a good argument that the punters can understand...instead of techno babble.

Private buyers who buy LPG cars really aren't interested in a performance package.

Some designers in Ford need a barbed wire pull through for the spare tyre strategy in the Falcon.

[janddbone]

A dedicated wagon with a spare tyre still in the floor... Something Ford never got done...

[PoweredByCNG]

A potential loss in 34L of bootspace compared to the Commodore won't be much of a dealbreaker in my personal opinion. The FG Falcon has the largest luggage space in its class, so any loss in luggage space due to the EcoLPi package is actually minimal compared to even the petrol variant of the opposition. More importantly, the EcoLPi has a more usable flat load boot compared to the indented boot of the petrol variant.

The usable capacity of the Commodore tank package is yet to be seen. I am guessing that it will be less than 88L. With the additional of a 6-speed gearbox compared to the current dual fuel Commodore variant as well as a custom calibration for LPG, the fuel consumption of the dedicated LPG Commodore will probably drop to on a par with the EcoLPi Falcon at around 12.5L/100km (down from 13.4L/100km), seeing as the HFV6 is more economical in urban conditions than Ford's I6.

Still, I'm left puzzled. If you were to show a foreigner the specifications of both the Ford EcoLPi Falcon and the Holden LPG Commodore, you'd have a difficult job explaining why the latter sells better...

[jpd80]

We'll see, both Holden and Falcon offer their buyers something different in the product mix, I'm thinking that fleets
will probably prefer Falcon over Holden but private buyers may just cotton onto the Holden LPG as giving the spare
tyre and similar performance to 3.0 SIDI so maybe the expectations of buyers will be on par there...

[madmelon]

How could an engine that size possibly have less torque than the 3L DI? Surely it'd be above the 300 mark!

[jpd80]

Originally Posted by madmelon

How could an engine that size possibly have less torque than the 3L DI? Surely it'd be above the 300 mark!

It does, the last LPG version with 4-speed and mixer had 318 nm, the new version will have more torque..

[PoweredByCNG]

Originally Posted by jpd80

It does, the last LPG version with 4-speed and mixer had 318 nm, the new version will have more torque..

Not mixer. BRC injection.

[jpd80]

Originally Posted by PoweredByCNG

Not mixer. BRC injection.

oops sequential vapour system on dual fuel but still worse than mixer E-gas...
funny that could not work out why it was so hungry on gas, compromised by the need for petrol?

[PoweredByCNG]

Originally Posted by jpd80

oops sequential vapour system on dual fuel but still worse than mixer E-gas...
funny that could not work out why it was so hungry on gas, compromised by the need for petrol?

But it aren't that thirsty on gas. Running on petrol, that engine returns 11L/100km (slightly more than the petrol-only version due to the extra weight). Running on LPG, the figure increases to 13.4L/100km - a 20% fuel consumption penalty - pretty typical for injected LPG.

Also, the only reason why the dual fuel Commodores are worse than the E-gas Falcon is that they have far less torque - 318Nm compared to 371Nm. The BRC injection system is far superior to the Vialle mixer system.

[1TUFFUTE]

Originally Posted by phillyc

GM Holden LPG when compared to Ford Falcon EcoLPi technology will have
* less power,
* less torque,
* higher asking price (between $755 and $6900!) damn thats alot of LPG
* higher fuel consumption. (no way to recoup the higher purchase price)
* about 20-30L of extra boot space.

So, bootspace will be exactly what drivel and carsguide etc will focus on!

well if they buy holden wagons cus of the space...over a mondeo..they dont stand a chance.
oh and the prices OMG...how can they be up to 7ooo$ more for a ancient tech car with no power...HUH. The way i see it all ford has to do is spam emails to every buisiness in aus saying well beat holdens prices for gas cars by 7g bwhahaah

wow i really cant believe what im reading...wait i have to go...got a bunch of mates im dying to tell the good news too....

[jpd80]

Originally Posted by PoweredByCNG

But it aren't that thirsty on gas. Running on petrol, that engine returns 11L/100km (slightly more than the petrol-only version due to the extra weight). Running on LPG, the figure increases to 13.4L/100km - a 20% fuel consumption penalty - pretty typical for injected LPG.

careful, those figures for the dual fuel are misleading as they are combined petrol/LPG:

Holden's listed fuel consumption for the car on gas is 16.0lt/100km while its petrol consumption of 11.7lt/100km is slightly higher than the petrol-only Omega's 10.9l/100km. This is due to the nearly 100kg of extra weight from the additional 73 litre gas tank that sits in the boot.

Also, the only reason why the dual fuel Commodores are worse than the E-gas Falcon is that they have far less torque - 318Nm compared to 371Nm. The BRC injection system is far superior to the Vialle mixer system.

The Alloytec is not a good engine, it never lived up to the hype, the Ford Duratecs are way better and still PFI.

[1TUFFUTE]

I CANT WAIT FOR THE PRESS TO TEST AND COMPARE THESE AWESOME NEW GAS CARS....

[mik]

delete.....

[PoweredByCNG]

Originally Posted by jpd80

careful, those figures for the dual fuel are misleading as they are combined petrol/LPG:

Not quite right. 11.7L/100km and 16L/100km refers to early revisions (e.g. MY06/MY07). Consumption has steadily declined with later models.

[2011G6E]

Unless you live outside the capital cities, you have no idea how big a thing it is for a car not to have a proper spare tyre.

Hell, out here, the first thing people demand in a new car isn't power, isn't 0-100 times, it's a full sized matching spare, as you can easily be 200km+ from the nearest place that even looks like being able to source a tyre for you. In fact both the Ford and Holden dealers in Rocky said they just automatically fit full sized matching spares to any car they order in at no extra cost, as they know the score and where a lot of thier buyers come from.

A bit less power? Who really cares when you can only do 100 or 110 before Plod puts his foot down on you with the camera-infested highway. Full sized spare and no loss of boot space? That will be a big drawcard...as I said, outside the capital cities...