Holden Adventra Expedition
During my 20 years as a motoring journalist I have built up a strong and healthy relationship with the people of General Motors, initially with the Australian operation at Holden and more recently with the team in the Middle East.
There have been many highlights along the way from being part of a Holden team match racing two America’s Cup-winning 12-metre yachts on Sydney Harbour in 1990 to climbing behind the wheel of the 2009 Camaro prototype for a memorable lap of the Homestead Speedway in Miami more than two years before its public release.
With a fellow journalist and photographer, in 2004 I took part in an expedition to take the first Australian-made 4x4 car-based SUV on a grueling 3500km trip to one of the most remote parts of the wilderness at the very tip of Australia and then on to Thursday Island.
The Holden Adventra 5.7-litre, V8 all-wheel drive estate was the first vehicle of its kind to make it to the top and completed the three weeks of non-stop four-wheel driving without a single malfunction including wading through 42 crocodile-infested river crossings, some almost up to door-handle height.
Its modifications were limited to two spare wheels, a comprehensive off-road tool kit (which was never opened) and two extra fuel cans to cover the 700km+ distances between refueling stations.
In the Middle East, the GM products have consistently ranked as finalists in Middle East Car of the Year awards judged by Autocar Middle East magazine and last year we presented the Saab 9-3 as the winner of the Best Premium Mid-Size car for 2007.
Damien Reid
Group Editor – Automotive
TMF Publishing
Autocar Middle East
F1 Racing Middle East
DUBAI, UAE