Holden's 2018 Commodore wagon to go high-ride

GM Holden has revealed a crossover derivative of its next-generation Commodore, which will be released in Australia simultaneously with the sedan and wagon next February.

Adopting a name previously used by HSV, Holden's 2018 Commodore 'Tourer' was revealed this morning alongside its German twin, the Opel Insignia Country Tourer.

GM Europe's all-new crossover wears protective body cladding and rides 20mm higher than the 2017 Opel Grand Tourer and 2018 Holden Commodore Sportwagon on which it's based.

Designed by Opel in Germany alongside Holden's first imported Commodore sedan (based on Opel's all-new Insignia Grand Sport liftback), the Tourer will be available exclusively in V6 all-wheel drive from Down Under.

That means it's likely to be flagship of Holden's 2018 Commodore line-up, for which a V6 AWD powertrain was exclusively developed and will be sold – at least in the sedan and wagon – alongside front-drive 2.0-litre turbo petrol and diesel versions.

Like the V6 sedan and wagon, the Tourer crossover will be powered by a 230kW/370Nm 3.0-litre petrol V6, driving GM Opel's new 'Twinster' AWD system via a nine-speed automatic transmission.

Holden said it resisted the urge to dust off the Adventra badge for its third 2018 Commodore body style (there will be no Ute this time round).

"Adventra was a stand-alone vehicle, albeit built off the Commodore base -- this is a variant in the same way ‘Sportwagon’ is a variant," said product communications manager Mark Flintoft.

Apart from adding 20mm more ground clearance, the Commodore Tourer is 20mm longer than the Sportwagon (and almost 110mm longer than the sedan) and adds silver plastic front/rear skid plates, black lower body and wheel-arch protection, dual exhaust outlets and roof rails.

Few other details have been released, but the sedan and wagon's optional 40/20/40-split, one-touch folding rear seatback (a first for a Commodore) will be standard in the Tourer, as will the 'Sports' drive mode button from other V6 AWD models.

The Commodore Tourer is likely to come as standard with all of the new Insignia's safety and convenience technologies, including Autonomous Emergency Braking, Adaptive Cruise Control, Speed Limit Cruise Control, Lane Departure Warning, Lane Keep Assist, Forward Collision Alert, Side Blind-Zone Alert, Rear Cross-Traffic Alert, massage seats, heated front and rear seats, ventilated front seats, active noise cancellation and a foot-operated power tailgate (wagon only).

Carryover Commodore features will include an 8.0-inch colour touch-screen with MyLink, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto infotainment.

The Tourer should also come with the same cargo volume as the Sportwagon (1640 litres -- well down on the outgoing model's 2000 litres), but will be around 200kg lighter than the last homegrown Commodore wagon thanks to GM's new E2 platform.

Holden communications director Sean Poppitt said the Commodore Tourer was the next step in the evolution of one of Australia’s best-loved vehicles, and combined the best attributes of SUVs, wagons and sedans.

“The next-generation Commodore Tourer gives the range a new level of appeal, combining Australia’s love for SUVs with the practicality of a wagon and the driving appeal of a sedan. Whether you’re a weekend warrior, or just like the idea of being one, the Commodore Tourer gives our range a new dimension," he said.

“Commodore Tourer comes with a high-tech AWD system and also lets customers select specific driving modes, giving them the flexibility to be able to get off the beaten track – whether that’s finding secluded camp spots, quiet surf beaches or boutiques in Bondi.”

Holden design director Richard Ferlazzo said the Commodore Tourer continues the 'Sculptural Artistry Meets German Precision' design theme first presented by Opel with its 2013 Monza concept.

“The Commodore Tourer body-style is designed for the self-aware buyer who appreciates the style, seating comfort and practicality of a sportwagon with a bit more capability,” he said.

“The Europeans have always excelled at finding this balance of style and robustness and the Commodore Tourer is a great example.”