Holden talent targeted by Vietnamese startup

Friday, 28 February 2020

Holden Commodore SSV Redline test.

A new report out of Australia is indicating new kid on the block, VinFast, is snapping up Holden engineers as it prepares to establish a Melbourne-based engineering centre to support an upcoming Australian launch.

Carsales.com.au says VinFast is eyeing up General Motors' design and engineering facilities in Melbourne, including the Lang Lang proving ground. It talked to VinFast deputy chief executive, Jim DeLuca, who said: 'We are interested in any type of vertical integration that makes us more efficient and the business more cost effective.'

The move comes after the Vietnamese carmaker established an engineering base in Port Melbourne last December. Deluca said it will employ 'a few hundred' engineers at the new facility, some of which will be ex-Holden talent.

This is VinFast's upcoming sedan, based on the F10 generation of BMW 5 Series. Looks good, no?

These people will join other Aussie automotive managers, like Shaun Calvert, who worked for Holden and GM from 2001 to 2017, and is currently VinFast's global vice-president of manufacturing and engineering. Other big Holden names include Kevin Yardley, who spent 25 years with Holden and GM and Joe Sawyer, who worked for Holden for 23 years.

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Styling for both of VinFast's upcoming models was penned by Pininfarina, so you'd be excused for thinking it looks rather Italian.

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VinFast is working to hire ex-Holden talent and acquire GM's Melbourne-based facilities, including the Lang Lang proving ground. Holden engineers, a GM V8... Sounds like a familiar recipe.

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VinFast currently has two models in the pipeline, both using BMW underpinnings. The LUX A2.0 is a sedan based on the F10 5 Series while the LUX SA2.0 is an SUV based on the F15 X5.

Both are powered by the BMW N20 turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder, making 130kW and 170kW (depending on tune) connected to a ZF eight-speed automatic. Rear-drive is standard while the SA SUV will get optional all-wheel drive.

Italian design juggernaut Pininfarina was tapped to pen the looks and the results are pretty spectacular..

Interestingly, VinFast is working on a special 6.2-litre V8-powered version of the sedan, which could use an LS V8 and would explain the interest in Holden engineers.

We might be dreaming but we know the F10 5 Series platform can house a V8 under the hood. If it comes in rear-drive, could VinFast be quietly attempting to revive the glory days of the V8 Commodore?

We could even speculate further and assume that the LS V8 above is an LS3, one of GM's standard crate engines and, incidentally, the same V8 used in the VF II Commodore and various HSV creations from 2008. If VinFast does take that route, a manual transmission could be on the cards.

Of course, that's all just rather hopeful daydreaming. Nothing has been set in stone yet, although the links are certainly there…