Super TestCar reviews - Holden - Epica - sedan rangeHolden modelsResearch Holden OverviewDiesel at petrol model prices and more safety sees facelifted Epica undermine Camry11 Aug 2008 By CHRIS HARRIS WILL an inexpensive diesel engine option, a six-speed auto, standard ESC stability control and six airbags save the day for the unloved Epica mid-sized sedan? Don’t count against it, as Holden has worked hard to make the South Korean-sourced ex-Daewoo design a more appealing product in these days of high petrol prices and falling economic fortunes. But the EP Series II Epica has some formidable petrol-powered opponents other than the Toyota Camry that GMH is targeting – including the Mazda6, Honda Accord and Ford’s fine Mondeo. Model release date: 1 August 2008 to 1 February 2011 All car reviewsAlfa Romeo Abarth Alpine Alpina Audi Aston Martin BMW Bentley Chevrolet Chery Citroen Chrysler Dodge Cupra Ferrari DS Ford Fiat FPV Foton GWM Great Wall Holden Haval HSV Honda Hyundai Hummer Isuzu Infiniti Jeep Jaguar Lamborghini Kia LDV Land Rover Lotus Lexus Maserati Mahindra McLaren Mazda Mercedes-Benz Mercedes-AMG Mini MG Nissan Mitsubishi Peugeot Opel Proton Porsche Renault Ram Rover Rolls-Royce Skoda Saab SsangYong Smart Suzuki Subaru Toyota Tesla Volvo Volkswagen Previous modelBASED on the 2001 Daewoo Magnus that Australia never saw, the EP Epica replaced the unloved ZC Vectra from Opel as Holden’s mid-sized sedan entrant. Under the skin, however, lurked an older vehicle – a development of the 1997 Daewoo Leganza – so the front-wheel drive Epica had to rely on a low price to get noticed in its increasingly sophisticated sector. Two in-line six-cylinder petrol engines devised by Porsche were offered: a 105kW/195Nm 2.0-litre unit mated solely to a five-speed manual gearbox and a more popular 115kW/237Nm 2.5-litre six combined with a five-speed automatic transmission. Sales were never strong, so Holden replaced the EP with the Series II just 15 months later. |
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