End of the road for Ford Falcon and Holden Commodore

[GTRMagic]

Originally Posted by Casper

Did you look at the date before rushing in to post?

It has been repeated on a number of credible websites this week... in reality the link makes as much sense as the Nissan/Renault/Mitsubishi/Fiat deal...

They are all strong in their niches, but not across the whole market.
Ford is getting out of passenger cars, keeping sports performance platforms like Mustang and F-series trucks, while GM has strengths in passenger cars.

The world is an evolving place after all...

[Casper]

Perhaps link to the credible sites rather than a ten year old article that was most probably a beat up in the first place. I wonder if it was to be formally proposed whether it would be allowed to happen? Yes, anything can be proposed by anybody but certain things are somewhere on the other side of unlikely though not impossible.

[Just Do It!]

More modern link to the story - May 30 2019

[Casper]

Originally Posted by Just Do It!

More modern link to the story - May 30 2019

Thanks for the link but when it starts to get seriously discussed by the two companies then we have something to talk about but so far it is only the same story being regurgitated for column inches. The Renault/Chrysler/Fiat/Nissan/Mitsubishi situation has reached that stage of serious discussion but the final approval from the approving authorities will be hard to achieve . Japanese approval could be particularly difficult due to the Nissan/Ghosin legal issue now currently taking place. There has also been talk and I can't remember where I read it that serious consideration is being given to breaking up VW by the current management as it is too diverse to control properly. After all the acquisitions they have done VW have come to the conclusion that it is not a good business idea....maybe and watch this space would apply also on this story as some of this story is a few years old and has never gone beyond speculation to anyone's knowledge.

[Mixer]

FCA and Renault don't need Japanese approval. Nissan owns 15% of Renault and no seats on the board.

[Casper]

I must have known something or perhaps wiser minds prevailed

https://jalopnik.com/what-the-hell-h...sle-1835295448

[GreenMachine]

I am surprised it went south so quickly, but not that it went south.

When I looked at the statements attributed to the French and Italian governments (basically 'no pain in our patch'), they were so incompatible that either there was no point in consummating the merger, or one would have to back down.

It is possible that this is a temporary separation, to allow each to say, 'we tried', close a few plants, and hey presto the big pain has been inflicted and the way is now clear to reopen the talks because no big closures are envisaged.

However both have no declared that they are in play, and maybe a third party will appear and the water will get even muddier!

[Forda]

Holden MD resigns as sales slump to an all time low:

https://www.news.com.au/technology/i...d60e41e6c8eeec

That was Holden's 7th MD in 10 years too

[bluesport]

Originally Posted by Forda

Holden MD resigns as sales slump to an all time low:

https://www.news.com.au/technology/i...d60e41e6c8eeec

That was Holden's 7th MD in 10 years too

Worst result since 1948 apparently.

[Forda]

Originally Posted by bluesport

Worst result since 1948 apparently.

It would have to be a very real concern for Holden - they're no longer a top ten selling brand; and are close to being eclipsed by Isuzu, once their sub-brand/supplier.

Selling increasingly smaller quantities of Commodores each month would make the justification process for spending multi-million dollar amounts racing them each year very hard.

And given GM have exited other regions in the world recently, they must surely be watching carefully over the Australian operations now.

[Sandgroper]

No Longer are they Holden or a V8, times are a changin

Its a shame really for both Holden and Ford.

[Driver TBA]

Originally Posted by Forda

It would have to be a very real concern for Holden - they're no longer a top ten selling brand; and are close to being eclipsed by Isuzu, once their sub-brand/supplier.
.

and Isuzu only have 2 models in their showroom.

Other than engine, gearboxes and front sheet metal. Holden have those same models in their showroom.






Sent from my SM-G960F using Tapatalk

[Forda]

Foges on Holden's dire future:
https://autoaction.com.au/2019/12/03...-racing-future

Doesn't address though whether Supercars has any sort of contingency in place, should Holden disappear altogether.

[bluesport]

Originally Posted by Forda

Foges on Holden's dire future:
https://autoaction.com.au/2019/12/03...-racing-future

Doesn't address though whether Supercars has any sort of contingency in place, should Holden disappear altogether.

Will the contingency plan be GT3 or GT4???

[rich07]

Originally Posted by Forda

Foges on Holden's dire future:
https://autoaction.com.au/2019/12/03...-racing-future

Doesn't address though whether Supercars has any sort of contingency in place, should Holden disappear altogether.

That’s nice and all but I can’t see anyone or anything stopping Holden’s slide down the sales charts.

It’s sad but if you look at any of their product range and then look at their competitors and it’s hard to go with Holden’s offerings. I doubt even if they made a rear wheel drive V8 powered ZB it would do much.

[Forda]

Opel-sourced Commodore's future is in doubt, US version axed, Holden insiders claim the AU model will be phased out by late 2020.

https://www.caradvice.com.au/812053/...ture-in-doubt/

[GreenMachine]

The times certainly are changing, and there is some very big, very clear writing on the wall.

Will Ford and GM see enough return to maintain a Supercars role, any role let alone a dominant one, on the basis of selling a few Mustangs and Camaros (the Commodore has to be dead meat now)?

I reckon Supercars is dying, only waiting for the vet to come along with the humane killer. I used to think Ford was the weak link, but now I think GM will be the one to pull the plug.

Big question - will we see a reincarnation of touring car racing, in some shape or form? If so, in just what form will it reemerge? Is the economy generally, and the new car market in particular, strong enough to support it?

Or are we looking at a contraction back to a more club-racer scene? Can S5000 become the flagship, the drawer of crowds that will reinvigorate the racing scene?

[Razor]

Originally Posted by GreenMachine

The times certainly are changing, and there is some very big, very clear writing on the wall.

Will Ford and GM see enough return to maintain a Supercars role, any role let alone a dominant one, on the basis of selling a few Mustangs and Camaros (the Commodore has to be dead meat now)?

I reckon Supercars is dying, only waiting for the vet to come along with the humane killer. I used to think Ford was the weak link, but now I think GM will be the one to pull the plug.

Big question - will we see a reincarnation of touring car racing, in some shape or form? If so, in just what form will it reemerge? Is the economy generally, and the new car market in particular, strong enough to support it?

Or are we looking at a contraction back to a more club-racer scene? Can S5000 become the flagship, the drawer of crowds that will reinvigorate the racing scene?

TCR series is where it's at. Plus GT3 (I know it's pretty lean atm, but a little time, it could boom)

[Umai Naa]

Supercars missed the boat on both.

[bluesport]

GT3 has been an obvious choice for some time but not a good place for holden to go and play so we all got stuck with supercars like it or not.

[Sandgroper]

Well as of today the Commodore is no more.
Lucky enough I have an SS in the Garage for my memories !

[Razor]

Originally Posted by Sandgroper

Well as of today the Commodore is no more.
Lucky enough I have an SS in the Garage for my memories !

Same. Plus a GTS-R

[Forda]

So it's now official the Commodore will be gone - the signs have been there for some time, and plenty of hints have been given over the past couple of weeks.

Where to for Supercars, a series moulded to suit the Commodore, and the Falcon before it?
No other manufacturers seem to want to join, and Holden are on the ropes.

What will the value of Archer's $100M+ equity be, in a series without clear direction

[dsg]

Originally Posted by rich07

I doubt even if they made a rear wheel drive V8 powered ZB it would do much.

It's not? But I thought the Mustang was apparently the sports sedan.

Will Holden consider homologating the Camero or is it time to completely revamp the series?

[xrystl]

Originally Posted by dsg

It's not? But I thought the Mustang was apparently the sports sedan.

Will Holden consider homologating the Camero or is it time to completely revamp the series?

Holden don't import the Camaro, not made in RHD and Walkinshaw did look at it but it wouldn't fit and couldn't be massaged to fit in the current configuration.