Holden to debut new Commodore at Motorclassica

Holden’s all-new 2018 ZB Commodore will make its first public appearance at the Motorclassica classic and collector car exhibition next month.

Billed as Australia’s most prestigious automotive event, the eighth annual Motorclassica will take place from Friday, October 13 to Sunday, October 15 at Melbourne’s Royal Exhibition Building.

Previously seen only in images and presented to the press only in pre-production prototype form, the production version of Holden’s German-built, Opel Insignia-based Commodore goes on sale next February.

It will be available in liftback, wagon and crossover (but not ute) body styles, with entry-level, Calais and VXR trim levels, and with front-wheel drive 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol and diesel, and all-wheel drive 3.6-litre V6 powertrains.

Alongside the first imported Commodore -- which replaces 40 years of homegrown versions, the last of which will cease production in Adelaide the following week on October 20 – Motorclassica 2017 will celebrate 100 years since the first Holden-bodied car was made in Australia.

This took place decades before General Motors started making Holden-branded cars in Australia, starting in 1948 with the including the 48/215.

The ‘FX’ Holden will be displayed in prototype form alongside three significant Holden concept cars -- including the EFIJY and Hurricane – and, in the first time such a tribute has been assembled, a display of all eight generations of Australian-made Commodores.

The final day of Motorclassica 2017, October 15, will also see Holden mark the end of Australian manufacturing with the Dream Cruise in Adelaide.

Besides Holden’s exhibit, Motorclassica will once again continue its tradition of presenting a unique mix of rare, exotic and collectable cars and motorcycles from around the world alongside the latest contemporary high-end sports and performance models.

Motorclassica 2017 will again play host to the Australian International Concours d’Elegance, daily Club Sandwich car club displays, the VIP Lounge for entrants and special guests, and the Saturday evening Classic Car Auction, conducted this year for the first time by Mossgreen.

The event begins with the annual Tour Classica, which will see Motorclassica cars convoy from Alexandra Gardens on the banks of the Yarra River, through the Melbourne CBD to the world-heritage listed Royal Exhibition Building on Thursday, October 12.

A major highlight of Motorclassica 2017 will be a celebration of Ferrari’s 70th anniversary, one of only a select number of events officially supported and sanctioned by the Ferrari factory in Maranello, Italy.

As the featured marque in the Concours d’Elegance, in addition to a tribute display inside the Exhibition Building, Ferrari will be represented by the Ferrari Club with 70 cars for Club Sandwich display on the Saturday.

Motorclassica will also pay tribute to 110 years of Lancia, with the national Lancia Rally set to bring a number of historic rally cars in original race livery and a display of rare models.

These will include one of just two 1947 Lancia Aprila Spyder Gransport Ghia that exist in the world, a limited 1957 Lancia Appia GT Zagato and a Lancia Flaminia Supersport Zagato.

This year’s Motorclassica — the official charity for which is the Peter MacCallum Cancer Foundation — will also recognise Australia’s status as the first country outside the USA to race speedway with a display of vintage speedway midgets from the 1930s to 1960s.