Holden: Imported Commodore won't disappoint

Holden says its new imported Commodore will live up to its iconic nameplate.

After 38 years of rear-wheel drive Australian-made Commodores, the first front/all-wheel drive imported model to wear the name will undoubtedly be a hard sell, but GM Holden is confident the new European-built car can satisfy local customer demands.

The new Commodore will arrive in 2018 after the home-grown, Adelaide-made model is retired forever late next year. However, Aussies could get glimpses of the new car much sooner. The car is in many ways a rebadged version of Opel's next-generation Insignia, which will make its world debut at the Paris motor show late next month.

motoring.com.au asked Mark Bernhard, Holden chairman and CEO, if the imported car risked alienating existing buyers.

"The next-generation Commodore will have the performance and the technological capability behind it to carry the Commodore name," he responded categorically.

While Ford Australia has decided to put its long-running Falcon nameplate to bed when production ceases in eight weeks (October 7) -- rather than apply it to a mid-size Ford sedan like the Mondeo --, Holden insists the European-designed Commodore will live up to its hallowed homegrown forebear's name.

"That's part of the reason why we feel so confident using the Commodore nameplate, because the car will [meet existing Commodore customer expectations]."

It's understood that a high-performance all-wheel drive twin-turbo V6 replacement for the popular V8-powered Commodore SS will head the new line-up, which will also include mainstream four-cylinder petrol and diesel versions of the large liftback and wagon. There will be no ute.

Bernhard refused to answer further questions about the 2018 Commodore, but said the current Aussie-built model will be sent off in style – although the final MY17 version may not appear until next year and will be stockpiled for sales well into 2018.

"We'll have some surprises as we get into 2017," he said, then refusing to confirm reports of various limited-edition models including a born-again Commodore 'Director' special.

"It's not confirmed. That's speculation," Bernhard stated.

Considering how popular Ford's swansong Falcon XR6 and XR8 Sprint models were (all but selling out before they were built), Bernhard suggested a similar scenario will play out with the final edition Commodores in 2017, as customers are already placing deposits with dealers, sight unseen.

"I suspect it's happening without knowing specifically. But our dealers are going to look after those loyal customers they’ve had for many, many years.

"[And] we have to sell cars over the course of the whole year as well, and we think demand will be pretty strong right across the portfolio for next year."

Almost 40 per cent of Commodores sold so far in 2016 have been packaged with a V8 engine, and the Holden supremo said the factory will meet demand -- something that eluded Ford.

"I'm not surprised with the success of the V8 Commodore," said Bernhard.

"Our job will be to match customer demand. So if customer demand swings more towards V8s we would like to think we can move with that trend."

"Customers won't go wanting," he stated.

Unlike Ford, Holden doesn't have a specific date for when its Elizabeth assembly plant in Adelaide and its Port Melbourne engine factory will close. Bernhard said only that GM Holden was "working towards a closure some time during the fourth quarter [of 2017]".

"It's going to get into a lot of complications around what volumes are and things like that. So that's a decision that's certainly a long way away from today," he added.

"The current plan is to produce V6 and V8 [models] and all three body styles all the way through [to closure]."

Ford Australia decided to cease manufacturing its Falcon ute early, and the Holden boss said such a move isn't out of the question for Holden either.

"It's not in the current plan but again that'll be down to customer demand."

Holden's final homegrown Commodore upgrade and the limited-editions it will spawn are currently undergoing engineering and testing and, like Ford's Falcon Sprint specials, are designed to give GM's last Australian-made large car a fitting send-off.

Indeed, Holden's MY17 large-car range should be the fastest, best handling and best sounding vehicles to ever wear the Commodore name.

— with staff