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Eagle-eyed Carsguide reader David Fairley has snared the first shots of the new Holden Cruze undergoing local testing.
The heavily camouflaged car was spotted parked at Buxton, east of Melbourne.
Fairley says it looks like a cut-down version of the VE Commodore.
"Except that the roof line is sharper and the boot is different," he says.
Holden will not confirm it but this car is tipped to hit local showrooms next year as a replacement for the lacklustre Viva sedan.
Codenamed GMX071, it is obvious by the photos that Holden engineers are in the final stages of tuning the car for Australian conditions judging by the boxes filled with electronic measuring equipment taken out of the boot.
When the Cruze does hit showrooms, buyers can expect a substantial lift in quality, safety, performance and handling with the newcomer, as well as prices close to the current car's $18,490.
The stylish Cruze is also destined to be a global car for GM and will wear Daewoo and Chevrolet badges in other markets.
The front-driver goes on sale in Europe in March with the choice of either a 1.6-litre or 1.8-litre petrol four cylinder engines and a 2.0-litre turbo-diesel.
A turbocharged 1.4-litre four cylinder is also expected in some European markets.
Gearboxes are expected to be a choice of a five-speed manual or six-speed automatic.
The Cruze first aired at the Paris Motor Show in October, badged as a Chevrolet.
General Motors' vice president of global design, Ed Welburn, described the sedan as having a "sense of substance and style".
"Tight panel fits and shut lines, a restrained use of exterior trim, a dual bezel design on the headlights, an integrated rear spoiler _ everywhere your eye settles there are fine details," he says.
Just the sedan will initially be available with wagon and hatch variants expected to follow.
Compared to the Viva, the Cruze is 85mm longer, 65mm wider and 30mm higher.
The wheelbase, at 2600mm, is also 85mm longer, liberating more interior space.
The newcomer will be the first of the second-generation of Korean sourced cars that promises to be substantially better than the cars they replace.
Apart from the Cruze, Holden engineers are believed to be having more substantial input into the new-generation Barina, Epica and Captiva from styling and safety to quality and performance.
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