Diesel Commodore looms on horizon

This engine is one of the silver bullets that Holden hopes will help guarantee the long-term viability of its VE Commodore line-up in an environment where the small- and medium-car classes are steadily eating into its market segment.

The state-of-the-art 3.0-litre turbo-diesel V6 matches -- at least on paper -- the credentials of any similar-sized oil burner being offered by the likes of BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Audi.

Featuring a double-overhead-cam, four-valve-per-cylinder layout and common-rail injection, the VM Motori-built RA 630 powerplant ekes out an impressive 184kW at 4000rpm and a rippling 500Nm at 1800rpm, according to the manufacturer's figures.

By comparison, BMW's 3.0-litre diesel puts out 160kW/480Nm, Mercedes-Benz's 3.0 V6 offers 165kW/510Nm, while Audi's similarly sized unit has 165kW/450Nm.

Apart from its formidable power and torque outputs, which eclipse those of the base-model Commodore's 3.6-litre petrol V6, the VM Motori diesel unit also promises ultra-frugal fuel consumption.

It's no secret that Holden has been evaluating diesel powerplants for some time now.

Twelve months ago, Holden boss Denny Mooney revealed to CarPoint at the Sydney motor show: "We have a (diesel Commodore) prototype running around, but there are a lot of barriers to diesel right now.

"Not every service station has diesel fuel. And there's the stigma associated with the smell. You know, if you get diesel fuel on you it's like a cologne, it stays on you.

"So you've got to overcome that stigma that a lot of consumers have on their mind -- that they're dirty, smelly... which they aren't. Modern diesels are very clean, as most of us know, but the public doesn't necessarily see it that way."

However, the state of play has altered markedly over the past 12 months, to the extent that several manufacturers -- including Alfa Romeo, BMW, Jaguar and Mazda -- have been virtually tripping over themselves in their rush to fast track diesel variants of their offerings to the market.

Holden has already dipped its toe into the water with the recently launched Astra CDTi, and well-placed sources suggest a diesel Commodore will be in showrooms by October next year.

The addition of a diesel variant is seen as a must in a changing automotive landscape where the large-car segment can no longer take it as a given that even hitherto loyal fleet buyers will flock to it.

Soaring fuel prices and rapidly evolving small/medium cars have made a big impact on the large-car segment, as reflected by the sales figures. Even an ageing Toyota Corolla has been selling at the rate of nearly 4000 units per month so far this year (compared with about 4600 per month for the formerly all-conquering Commodore).

This clearly means Holden and Ford need to get smarter with the way they position their large cars, and that's exactly what they are doing.

Having a state-of-the-art diesel Commodore variant is seen as an imperative within Holden, and the VM Motori powerplant certainly appears to fit the bill -- if the raw figures are anything to go by.

The Italian-based (but owned by Penske and DaimlerChrysler) diesel engine specialist claims its 3.0-litre engine "is particularly flexible in its design and can be tailored to... a low-rev, high-torque workhorse for a commercial vehicle or a refined, high-speed engine for a luxury car."

VM Motori also claims that the engine's packaging means that it can be fitted into "surprisingly tight" engine bays.

Stay tuned…the diesel Commodore might shape as the most enticing variant yet. Who wouldn't like V8 torque coupled with four-cylinder economy?

Over the next four decades, the company supplied diesel engines to various carmakers, before being bought out in 1995 by Detroit Diesel Corp. There was change again in 2000 with the purchase of Detroit Diesel by DaimlerChrysler AG.

In 2003 USA's Penske Corporation purchased a 51 per cent stake, and today the company is co-owned by Penske and DaimlerChrysler (49 per cent stake), and produces diesel engines for a variety of carmakers, including Hyundai and Chrysler/Jeep.

VM Motori RA 630 turbo-diesel V6 specifications
Displacement: 2987cc
Configuration: DOHC 60-degree V6
Injection: Common rail CP3
Max power: 184kW/4000 rpm
Torque: 500Nm/1800 rpm
Weight: 240kg
Emissions: EURO V