RE: HSV HRT 427
Discussion
apollo said: There is alot of conflicting info about Vauxhall's interst in bringing in Holdens. I have it on good authority that they will definately not.
Sorry pal, the Holden will probably be a Vauxhall if it's brought into this country. You only have to look at the VX220 as an example of the branding. The Holden badge isn't strong (or sexy) enough to become a premium marque.
Kevin Wale (Vx's MD) is well up for it, and could be persuaded either way.
This is all fact, not hearsay.
I don't see how you could sell a 7 litre monster under the dull as shite brand of people carriers / rep mobiles that is vauxhall. Clearly this car needs to stand alone with it's own identity. As it is the car has trouble with comparison to the premium german brands. If the public saw the cars as merely fast vauxhalls then they would sell even fewer. I wouldn't expect an imported corvette to appear with a shite vauxhall badge, so why do it here?
Again, take the VX220 as an example. It's totally a marketing exercise, but also a cracking car. Why else would Vauxhall make it, when you can already buy an Elise?
How many Corvettes, Camaros and Cadillacs do you see on the roads? Hardly a roaring sales success. Maybe they would do better if badged as Vauxhalls? Maybe Vx's brand awareness would rise?
And then think about the Opel Monza/Vauxhall Royale – a big coupé on the saloon's platform. What's stopping there becoming an Omega coupé?
Finally, check out the rest of Vx's range: turbocharged Astra hatch, Coupé and convertible, turbocharged Zafira, Vectra GSi etc, with more in the pipeline. Sure, it's no AMG – or even RS – brand, but the company is working on it.
Now, I'm not trying to sell Vauxhall as a great manufacturer (even though they often pay my mortgage); I'm just stating the facts.
And, anyway, would you refuse a Skyline just because it's a Datsun? Maybe you would. But I'd rather be seen in a VX220 than a Z3.
How many Corvettes, Camaros and Cadillacs do you see on the roads? Hardly a roaring sales success. Maybe they would do better if badged as Vauxhalls? Maybe Vx's brand awareness would rise?
And then think about the Opel Monza/Vauxhall Royale – a big coupé on the saloon's platform. What's stopping there becoming an Omega coupé?
Finally, check out the rest of Vx's range: turbocharged Astra hatch, Coupé and convertible, turbocharged Zafira, Vectra GSi etc, with more in the pipeline. Sure, it's no AMG – or even RS – brand, but the company is working on it.
Now, I'm not trying to sell Vauxhall as a great manufacturer (even though they often pay my mortgage); I'm just stating the facts.
And, anyway, would you refuse a Skyline just because it's a Datsun? Maybe you would. But I'd rather be seen in a VX220 than a Z3.
Please, please Vauxhall don't bring it in, HSV sort out your supply line into the UK one way or another and build yourselves a nice little niche over here. The big V8 manual coupe/saloon market is very limited and marketed right it might just work.All the road test reviews over the last two years in UK magazines have been superb on HSVs so the product is obviously there. Even this weeks Autocar mag has a little piece in the "diamond or dog" section and not for the first time Tiff approves.
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