Holden Commodore Motorsport Edition 2017 Review

What’s it all about?

The Motorsport Edition is one of three limited-run models that farewell the locally-developed and manufactured Holden Commodore and mark the end of local production by Australia’s car brand, before a fully imported model based on Germany's next Opel Insignia takes its place next year.

Based on the VFII SS-V Redline, it is effectively a parts-bin special designed to deliver an exclusive high-performance package for true fans of the red side. And as its name suggests, it's designed to particularly commemorate the Commodore near-four decades of on-track achievements. The badge’s palmares include more than 460 Australian Touring Car Championship and V8 Supercars race wins.

The Motorsport Edition is powered by the same 304kW/570Nm LS3 V8 as the Redline but adds four-mode Magnetic Ride Control suspension (yep, as per Holden Special Vehicles) and high-rate rear sub-frame bushes, uprates from 19- to 20-inch staggered alloy wheels and Bridgestone rubber. It also gets cross-drilled Brembo brake rotors front and rear and engine and transmission cooling. For more on the engineering story click here.

How much will it cost?
Pricing of the Motorsport Edition starts at $61,790 (plus ORCs) as a six-speed manual and climbs to $63,990 with a six-speed automatic transmission. For comparison sake, a standard Redline manual will set you back $54,490 ($56,690 for the auto).

Motorsport Edition cosmetic touches includes an embroidered dash, a black painted roof, red driving light surrounds, red or black mirror scalps, new red-lined alloys, unique badging, a unique lip spoiler or optional wing, appropriate decals individual vehicle numbering and a unique build option code 'KOM'. That stands for King of the Mountain -- a reference to both Peter Brock and the fact Commodore has won the Bathurst 1000 24 times.

Otherwise equipment is as per the SS-V Redline. That lot includes a slippery diff, head-up display, front/rear park assist, forward collision alert, lane departure warning, blind-spot alert, reverse traffic alert, remote engine start for the auto, five-star ANCAP safety, six airbags, MyLink infotainment with 8.0-inch touch-screen, Bose premium audio, sat-nav, dual-zone climate-control and powered seating. For more on the product and pricing story go here.

Why should/shouldn’t I buy it?
The big change compared to the Redline is the MRC suspension, which delivers three distinct steps in ride and handling balance. Touring is the equivalent of the SS’s FE2 tune, Sport is the equivalent of the Redline’s FE3 set-up and Performance/Track takes it all up another step again.

So, you get reasonable on-road civility stretching all the way through to the ability to go super-hard on the racetrack when the mood and opportunity presents itself. The stiffened subframe bushes, added brake capability and cooling simply means the car will hang in there longer on the track than before.

Given its head at the Phillip Island Grand Prix circuit, the Motorsport Edition happily galloped down the main straight at 220km/h-plus, braked straight and strong, turned in with a feel-some front-end and then would stick or slide out sideways as only a big and powerful rear-wheel drive can … Depending on your desire and skill of course.

The manual remains that bit clunky, but for purists it’s the only way. Me? I found the paddle-shift auto to work pretty darn well.

In other words, this is familiar Commodore V8 stuff; fast, balanced and spacious, capable of a trip around the block, Mount Panorama or Australia. Your choice.

Such capability makes it a very tempting purchase. Combine that with its rarity and you’ve got a car that should appreciate in value from the moment it leaves the showroom.

When is it available in Australia?
Potential buyers have been invited to register their interest in the Motorsport Edition and its two fellow travelers, the Director and the Magnum ute, since mid-December. Full details were released on January 19 and all three cars were expected to sell out quickly.

Just 1200 Motorsport Editions are being built for Australian consumption, with 200 of those offered up-front to Holden dealers and past and present employees. The other 1000 are for public consumption.

New Zealand gets 151 examples of the Motorsport Edition, the ‘51’ a tribute to racing legend Greg Murphy who drove with that number throughout his career.

Who will it appeal to?

If you love Holden Commodores and the enjoyable driving they have delivered in the modern era, especially since the advent of the Zeta architecture-based VF arrived on the scene in 2006, then this is a car you will desire.

Where does it fit?

The Motorsport Edition sits in the VFACTS large category, but really it’s uncategorisable other than as an instant classic because of the past and future it represents.

So, what do we think?

Civilised at legal speeds and eminently capable of ripping up a racetrack at 10-10ths, the Motorsport Edition is a terrifically enjoyable drive and a great way for the homegrown Commodore’s sporting attributes and racing successes to be celebrated.

Holden Commodore Motorsport Edition pricing and specifications:

Price: $61,790 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Output: 304kW/570Nm
Transmission: Six-speed manual
Fuel: 12.6L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 293g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: Five-star (ANCAP)

Also consider:

>> Chrysler 300 SRT8 (from $65,000 plus ORCs)
>> Ford Mustang GT (from $66,205 plus ORCs)
>> HSV ClubSport (from $83,490 plus ORCs)

Related reading:
>>Holden Commodore VFII SS-V Redline 2015 Review
>>Holden VFII SS-V Redline Video Review
>>$20m and fuel economy price for Holden VFII

Further MY17 Commodore reading:
Holden Magnum review
Holden Motorsport Edition review
Final Aussie Commodore: Magnetic attraction to special-editions