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By
EWAN KENNEDY
6 March 2006
This is the vehicle for which Holden dealers have been clamouring for
years. Ever since the demise of the Frontera and Jackaroo 4WDs because
their maker, Isuzu, pulled out of the passenger vehicle market, Holden
has been hamstrung in the sales race. A race that sees mid-size 4WDs (or
SUVs, if you prefer that term) being snapped up in ever-increasing
numbers by Australians.
Now GM has displayed a new 4WD vehicle it calls
Captiva at the 2006 Geneva Motor Show. It will be sold in
Australia as a Holden, and take on the names of various other
marques, including Chevrolet, in various world markets.
Interestingly, there is a major Australian input
in the new Captiva. Stylists, Mike Simcoe (of Monaro fame) and Max
Wolff are both former Holden guys.
Another strong Aussie connection is the
3.2-litre V6 petrol engine, which is built by Holden in Port
Melbourne. It’s a smaller brother to the Holden V6 and will be
used in tens of thousands of Captivas worldwide.
A lot of testing of the upcoming Captiva was
done in Australia, both on the open road, particularly in the heat
of the outback, and at the Holden test facility at Lang Lang.
Early press photographs of the upcoming Captiva
appear to show it is little changed from the Chevrolet S3X we
reported on when we saw it at the GM-Daewoo design studio in Seoul
last year. It has modern lines with some interesting styling
touches, particularly at the shapely rear.
The S3X was displayed at the recent Melbourne
International Motor Show and is also being viewed by the public at
the current Brisbane show.
Sadly for Holden and its dealers, the Captiva is
still quite a time away. Holden won’t specify a date, prices or
equipment levels at this stage, simply saying, "… it will
be in the showrooms in the second half of 2006".
At this stage we do know that Captiva will be
4635mm long, 1850mm wide and 1720mm tall. This it slightly smaller
than the final Fronteras, but modern design has come a long way in
space efficiency and a Holden insider who has driven the Captiva
says it has a more spacious cabin than the Frontera.
Captiva will have either two or three rows of
seats and be able to carry up to seven people. The same Holden
insider says that there is room for adults in all seats. However,
these guys can be on the optimistic side and we will see for
ourselves when we get to drive the vehicle.
The four-wheel drive system will be an active
one, meaning the Captiva will save fuel by normally being driven
only by the front wheels, bringing in the rear wheels on demand as
conditions become slippery. Interestingly, Captiva will be
specified with electronic traction control as well as all-wheel
drive so is shaping to be a very safe vehicle.
Holden has run second to Toyota in the overall
sales race for the last few years, citing the lack of an SUV as
being a major reason for that situation. With the all-new Holden
Captiva (not to forget the new VE Commodore) coming later this
year, the 2007 sales race is shaping up to be a most interesting
one.
© Copyright
Marque Publishing Company
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