Holden Commodore SSV
Following secret information on the new VF Commodore being leaked, probably after a harbour cruise for Holden dealers hosted by the company’s chairman Mike Devereux, Holden has put out a press release on the vehicle.
Detailing major price cuts, backed up by increased levels of equipment, the release gives a wide range of information on the VF Commodore.
Cuts in recommended retail prices of the VF Commodore are huge – ranging from $5000 to $9800.
Holden has introduced a new name for the lowest cost model – the Commodore Evoke. Hopefully the name that won’t be confused with the Range Rover Evoque, a medium SUV with a price range that kicks off at $50,000. Not sure of what Holden is thinking of here…
Holden Commodore Evoke
With a price tag of $34,990, the Commodore Evoke carries a high range of standard equipment, that includes Auto Park Assist; front and rear parking sensors; rear view camera; an eight-inch, high-resolution colour touch screen; MyLink app-embedded technology including voice recognition and Siri Eyes Free integration; full iPod integration and built-in apps, including Pandora and Stitcher SmartRadio.
Holden Calais has had its recommended retail slashed by over than $8000 to just $39,990. The Calais also has Blind Spot Alert and Reverse Traffic Alert; keyless entry and push button start.
The flagship Holden Calais V has had the largest price cut of them all, dropping by $9800 to just $46,990. It offers astonishing value for money, with Forward Collision Alert; Lane Departure Warning; heated front seats; and eight-way adjustable driver seat.
Holden Calais V
Then there’s the convenience of satellite navigation with full colour mapping, live traffic updates and traffic management control. Calais V has a Bose premium audio system and the sedan is fitted with a sunroof.
Holden Commodore’s sporty range also offers excellent value, the SV6 will sell for $35,990, down $6,800. Commodore SS has had an even larger price drop, down to $41,990, a reduction of $5800.
The SV6 is powered by the 3.6-litre SIDI V6, while the SS uses the latest iteration of the 6.0-litre Gen IV V8 engine. Both are standard with a six-speed manual transmission.
Styling has been enhanced by the use of side skirts, a lip spoiler on sedan, and chrome exhaust tip. A wing spoiler is a factory-fitted option on the sedans for $500.
Both sporting Commodores have the same specifications as the Commodore Evoke specifications, to which are added Blind Spot Alert, and Reverse Traffic Alert.
The RRP for Commodore SS V is now comfortably under $50,000, slashed by $9800 to $45,490. The price drop isn’t so dramatic on the Commodore SS V Redline, at $51,490 for the sedan, it’s down by $6300 on the outgoing VE. The Redline adds Forward Collision Alert; Lane Departure Warning; Head-up Display; and the premium Bose audio system. There’s a sunroof on the sedan.
Commodore SS V Redline is the real deal in sports sedans, with Brembo brakes, forged 19 inch alloy wheels and an updated sports-tuned FE3 suspension package.
Holden dealers are now taking orders for VF Commodore models. The start of production begins late in May.
Price cutting doesn’t do any favours for existing owners of any product, automotive or otherwise, and rampant slashing of prices by many thousands of dollars is very bad news for those who have bought a Commodore in recent times. Of course, very few of them will have paid full retail so the price cuts on the VF aren’t as devastating as they first appear.
Holden’s new VF Commodore is a great looking machine that’s bang up to date in style thanks to a shape that could easily have been used on a European luxury saloon. There are two distinctly different VF commodore front ends, one for the upmarket variants the other for the sporting variants.
Talking of European cars, the price of the new Holden Commodore range is about a third of that of the major German models of the same size and performance as our home grown Aussie machine.
We have been invited to the official launch of the new VF Commodore in Canberra on May 27 – 28 and will provide complete driving reports shortly afterwards.
Note: The prices shown above do not include government or dealer delivery charges. Contact your local Holden dealer for drive-away prices.
