Holden will add a sport-inspired RS model to its Barina small car range this year.
Although it has not been officially confirmed for the New Zealand market, Driven can reveal that the Holden Barina RS will feature unique exterior styling including sports body kit with larger rear spoiler, front and rear sports fascias and side skirts, new 17-inch alloy wheels and exclusive-for-RS paint colour, Orange Rock.
The Barina RS also offers sports interior finishes including sport seats with RS branding and flat-bottomed steering wheel.
Local engineering development work for the RS includes a unique electric power steering tune undertaken by Holden's engineers to suit Kiwi and Aussie roads.
The Holden engineering team has been involved in thousands of kilometres of validation work and is now undertaking in-country evaluation on public roads and at the Lang Lang Proving Ground ahead of the Barina RS launch, which is likely to take place in November.
Full specifications and features of Barina RS including pricing will be available at launch.