Holden Spark knocks Woody

Unlikely, it shows the youthful fun factor for a car that will eventually be sold alongside the Barina in GM Holden outlets. The look of the Woody van was added to the Spark in Europe as a summer teaser and a way to lure Gen Y buyers to a car with a Chevrolet badge on the other side of the world.

He will have a similar starting spot when he arrives in Australia as Holden makes a double-edged effort with Barina and Barina Spark sometime in 2011. There's no word yet on the likely price or arrival of new models, but the new Barina - called the Chevrolet Aveo - is already being tested, and Holden is believed to be waiting for the newcomer before taking second place in the kids' car class.

Meanwhile, there's no chance of a lifetime warranty on new Holdens, even though the brand's subsidiary Red Lion has just struck a deal in the UK. Vauxhall currently provides a lifetime warranty on all new vehicles from the date of registration with a package that covers all major components.

There's a hitch - because lifetime coverage is tied to the first owner - but Vauxhall says it will still have the 160,000-kilometre protection package regardless of owner. And owners still have to visit the Vauxhall dealer every year for a free vehicle inspection.

Vauxhall is also working on a lifetime buy program for second owners, but the British move has not sparked any reflection in Australia. "Holden has no plans to introduce this kind of guarantee," Holden spokeswoman Emily Perry said.