Commodore safeguards sales

Is it too cynical to suggest that there's no such thing as coincidence where the motor industry is concerned?

Holden has just raised the stakes in new car marketing by including side impact (curtain) airbags and air conditioning as standard for all Commodore sedan models -- a matter of weeks before Ford's new FG Falcon goes on sale (more here).

The curtain airbags provide dedicated protection for the heads of vehicle occupants in both front and rear seats. Side impacts are the major contributing factor in crash-related head trauma and this has been neglected by car makers in the past, so -- irrespective of any ulterior motive Holden may have -- the change of specification is a welcome one for buyers of Omega, Berlina, SV6 and SS models in the VE Commodore range.

Along with the safety upgrade, Holden has also effectively raised the base Omega model's specification to mirror that of the Lumina limited edition model, adding side-impact airbags (to protect the thorax -- separate from the curtain airbags), alloy wheels, a revised grille and body-colour door handles and mirror housings. In addition, the Omega is offered in a new exterior colour, 'Karma'.

The added features will also be standard for the coming Sportwagon models, with the further addition of rear park assist sensors. Buyers will start taking delivery of the new wagon variants from around the middle of the year.

"With six airbags and ESP now standard on Commodore sedan and the soon-to-be-launched Sportwagon line-up, we believe potential buyers will see this as a fantastic value-for-money proposition," said Alan Batey, GM Holden Executive Director of Sales, Marketing and Aftersales.

The revised VE Commodore range goes on sale March 15.

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