Next Holden Commodore to gain from LaCrosse

Make no doubt about it, the Buick LaCrosse is a large car. But while it's longer than Holden's current VF II Commodore, its wheelbase is shorter and it's narrower. In other words, the designers of the LaCrosse have placed boot space ahead of rear-seat accommodation. Arguably, that rules it out as a packaging model for Holden's next Commodore, which for the first time will be imported from Germany post-2017.

Reliable sources have already revealed to motoring.com.au that the 2018 Commodore sedan and wagon are most likely to be a rebadged Opel Insignia after the Elizabeth production plant in South Australia closes down.

But the LaCrosse is based on the Avenir concept that was designed by Aussies at Holden's own styling studio in Port Melbourne.

With Australian designers and engineers playing a smaller but still-significant role in the development of the next Commodore, we could see styling and mechanical details from the LaCross trickle down into the new, large, family car for Australia.

All the portents indicate the front/all-wheel drive Commodore will be underpinned by the E2XX platform underneath the LaCrosse and the latest Chevrolet Malibu. At this stage it's unclear if the new Malibu will make it here, since its right-hand drive future is uncertain and it would be close to the first FWD Commodore in size, but in lieu of a replacement for the current Holden Malibu, Holden would be without a mid-size passenger car.

LaCrosse is powered by an all-new 3.6-litre DOHC V6 with direct  injection. Producing 227kW and 363Nm for the LaCrosse, the V6 drives to the front wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission. This engine deactivates cylinders to save fuel through its Active Fuel Management system and also conserves fuel through its idle-stop system. It would be a viable successor to the current 3.6-litre SIDI engine in VF II.

We quizzed some of GM's most senior executives about this earlier this month when the wraps were lifted off the new LaCrosse by GM president Dan Ammann and GM's North American president – and former Holden MD – Mark Reuss, .

"We'll see," was all Reuss would say in response to questions about a hybrid LaCrosse – with technology that could carry through to the Commodore as well.

GM is very focused on weight reduction currently, so like both the LaCrosse and Malibu the FWD Commodore is likely to be very much lighter than the current rear-drive Zeta-based VF II, spec for spec.

"The new LaCrosse is nearly 300 pounds [roughly 136kg] lighter than the previous model to dramatically improve efficiency and responsiveness and ride and handling. We've also stepped up to a new five-link rear suspension system," said Ammann at the reveal.

GM shaved a similar amount from the weight of the smaller Malibu when that car was revealed earlier this year – so 300 pounds seems like a common target for new-gen GM designs.

Some of that weight might get back on board if Holden opts for an all-wheel drive system in higher-performance variants of the new Commodore range, which could be based on the next-generation Insignia VXR. The LaCrosse has such a system, Ammann revealed during the unveiling.

"The advanced AWD system improves traction in situations where you'd expect but also improves handling and cornering on dry roads," he said. "This car [LaCrosse] is another statement about the ongoing improvement at GM."

Other touches that the LaCrosse has introduced – and might end up in both the Insignia and the Commodore – include an electronic shifter for the automatic transmission. Replacing the conventional cable used in the previous LaCrosse, the electronic system reduces NVH and offers designers greater flexibility in developing the centre console.

Along with Ammann and Reuss at the Buick stand was Liz Wetzel, who is director of Buick Interior Design and reports to Sharon Gauci, formerly a Holden designer for several generations of Commodore interior colour and trim.

Wetzel revealed that there was no direct connection between Holden and the LaCrosse interior, but: "the interior is very Avenir-inspired, with a flowing sculptural IP that is very harmonious in its design and flows from IP into the doors. It has this floating console look.

"If you look at the Avenir, it has that as well. And the floating console is enabled by our electronic precision shifter which is a new element for Buick and this is the first Buick to get this new feature. Packaging is very compact – holds purse, iPad.."

Wetzel also said about the new car's frameless glass and touch interface that it was "very modern looking...

"If you look at that whole centre stack compared to previous LaCrosse, it is so clean, very minimised, and the whole idea is to make it easy on the eyes, non-distracting and very intuitive."