Holden has released initial details of the fully imported Commodore ahead of its Australian launch in early 2018. This of course, follows the cessation of local manufacturing by Holden at a date yet to be revealed late in 2017.
In an interesting move, journalists have been provided with an extensive array of details on many areas of the NG (code for Next Generation) Commodore. Much of this is under strict embargo, with dates to be provided later for releases of various items; infotainment, safety, technology, driver assistance, and more. Being able to absorb information in preparation for future news stories is always welcome.
It’s good to be trusted by Holden to do the right thing and I sincerely hope every journalist honours the embargo. Or gets crossed off the list for future invitation if they break the trust.
It comes as no surprise that the big emphasis on the initial media information is on the sporting Commodore flagship model. It will come with a V6 engine putting out 230 kilowatts of power and 370 Newton metres of torque through a nine-speed automatic transmission to an all-wheel-drive system. Adaptive suspension technology and torque-vectoring will further add to its dynamic ability.
Engineered in Germany and to be sold in other markets as the Opel Insignia, new Holden Commodore has a significant amount of Australian engineering input.
“Holden has been engaged in this program from the outset to ensure the next-generation Commodore lives up to its legendary nameplate,” said Jeremy Tassone, Holden’s engineering group manager for vehicle development, with just a trace of hyperbole.
Tassone tells us, “We’ve had our Holden engineers engaged in this global program from the outset and we’re continuing to do extensive tuning and development, racking up thousands of kilometres at our Lang Lang proving ground in Victoria to ensure it’s got that Holden magic.
“The V6 engine with the all-wheel-drive system is a combination that the Holden team drove into the global vehicle program because we know our customers and this performance option is important to them. While it may not be built here, we’ll deliver a Commodore that our customers will love in 2018”
“The next-generation Commodore will reset benchmarks in its class, as has every Commodore since 1978,” said Holden’s executive director of sales, Peter Keley.
Keley went on to say, “Commodore will also race in Supercars from 2018 and be on the road as police cars in Australia. Commodore is changing and bringing incredible technology and refinement with it but will continue to offer customers that quintessential Commodore experience they have loved for nearly four decades.”
As well as the V6 engine Commodore will also be sold with a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine and, interestingly, 2.0-litre turbo-diesel front-wheel drive models also coming to Australia. No specifications on these engines have yet been provided to the media. Both engines will drive the front wheels only.
Ford Australia did a hopeless job of promoting its excellent four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine in the Falcon, it remains to be seen if Holden can do better.
The full-on sporting Holden V6 is presumably going to be relatively expensive. May we speculate that a detuned lower spec version with two-wheel-drive (the front wheels) may be offered later?
Forget about a V8 engine, that’s not going to happen. You may have noticed that the V8 Supercars racing series has quietly been renamed Supercars…
The NG Commodore will be sold as a five-door hatchback and station wagon. The lack of a sedan may hinder sales, but time will tell.
Infotainment will included Apple Car Play and Android Auto on an 8.0-inch configurable LCD instrument display, but Holden has asked us not to provide further details at this time.
Similarly the NG Series commodore will have very good safety and driver assistance systems that we have been asked not to talk about.
Reading between the lines we are going to be drip-fed information on the new Commodore in coming months as part of an extensive campaign to build public interest in the Euro Holden.
