Holden Commodore designer comes home

The man who helped create the Holden Commodore for most of its model life -- Michael Simcoe -- has returned to Australia after seven years overseas.

But he won't be coming back to retire -- he has one more Commodore to complete, the next all-new model due before the end of this decade.

The former head of Holden design was promoted in 2003 to run General Motors' styling studio in Korea, before being promoted again to a senior design role in Detroit the following year.

But after seven years abroad, and almost 30 years with GM, it's time for Simcoe and his family to come home.

"It's been an amazing experience, and I've learned a lot but it is time to head home," he told the Carsales Network in Detroit overnight. "I won't miss the Detroit winters; it'll be nice to get a suntan."

Simcoe said he has been away for so long that he will need time to get "back in touch" with Australia again.

"Of course I still feel Australian, but I know more about Detroit and what's happening in America than I do in Australia because I've been away for so long. The country has changed a lot since I left."

The Australian new car market has changed a lot too: it eclipsed 1 million annual sales three times since he took up his overseas roles.

But the Commodore has not been so lucky. When Simcoe was still at Holden, Commodore sales were at their peak, nearing 100,000 per annum: today Holden sells fewer than half that amount.

Although his new role puts him in charge of all General Motors' design in the Asia-Pacific region -- which will involve fortnightly visits to GM studios in Korea from Holden's home base in Melbourne -- he will still have a significant role in the next generation Commodore.

"I'm not coming back specifically to do the Commodore, it is one of many vehicles we work on. The guys at Holden obviously are doing a great job. But you could say I will have some influence on the next Commodore. I'm not retiring yet!"

Simcoe, 53, has worked for Holden since 1983 -- and had a hand in the design of all Commodores from the VL model released in 1986 to the current generation VE model released in 2006.

He is also credited with penciling the Commodore coupe concept car -- sketched out on a spare canvas on a lazy Sunday afternoon -- that eventually became the modern Monaro, and led to the start of Holden exports to North America.

He returned to his old home on the north-west outskirts of Melbourne two weeks before Christmas, but was in Detroit this week for the annual motor show.

He hopes to finally get a chance to get his two classic cars -- a 1956 Lancia Aurelia B20 GT and a 1961 Aston Martin DB4 Series II -- back on the road after being in various states of disrepair since he's been away. "But I doubt I'll have much spare time on my hands," he said.

Simcoe's move completes a reshuffle of "the three Amigos" from Holden who have been working in General Motors' design centre in Detroit.

Former Holden designer Andrew Smith -- who led the styling of the latest Holden ute before he left for his Detroit posting five years ago -- has moved a little closer to home. He relocated to Korea last August to head the GM styling studio there.

And colleague Max Wolff, who penned the Torana concept car in 2004, among many other vehicles, last month left General Motors to join the opposition: Ford's luxury division Lincoln, after being in charge of Cadillac design for the past few years and working for General Motors for almost two decades.

In a press release announcing Wolff's appointment, the global design boss of Ford, J Mays, recognized his talents while at Holden.

"Max's drive, talent and knowledge of automotive design within the premium segment of the market make him a great addition to the global design team." Said Mays, chief creative officer and Ford Motor Company's group vice president of Design, in a statement. "He is a recognised design leader and has a successful track record in the development of production and concept vehicles, including the Holden SSX show car."

A graduate of Monash University in Victoria, Wolff will report to Moray Callum, Ford Motor Company's executive director of Design, The Americas.  He will help Lincoln introduce seven all-new or updated vehicles in the next four years, and design the brand's first-ever mid-size car.

Read the latest Carsales Network news and reviews on your mobile, iPhone or PDA at carsales' mobile site...