Opel boss: 'Proud' if Insignia becomes Commodore

Opel global boss Karl Thomas Neumann has declared he would be proud if the next generation Opel Insignia became the first imported Holden Commodore.

But he also stressed that such an outcome was not his decision to make.

The locally-developed and built Commodore, which was released in its final VFII specification last Sunday, will cease production in 2017 when Holden's Elizabeth plant is closed.

The rear-wheel drive V6 and V8 Commodore is widely tipped to be replaced by the next generation front and all wheel drive, four-cylinder and V6 Insignia, which has recently broken cover testing in heavy disguise.

While neither Holden nor Opel is confirming the Insignia will be the next Commodore, the replacement for the existing Commodore has been chosen and is being developed. The Insignia is due to make its global debut around the time the Commodore ceases production late 2017.

And the two companies are working closely on future product, with the new five-door Astra launched at the Frankfurt motor show overnight confirmed for Australia and New Zealand.

Asked if he was confident the Insignia would do the job if it became the next Commodore, Neumann told Australian media at a round table at the show: "I would be proud of it."

But he also cautioned that wasn't a confirmation that Insignia would become Commodore.

"I don't want to comment on the Commodore because I don't want to communicate any product news here, but we are very proud when an Opel product is selected to be a Holden car.

"We don't do that, Holden does that."

He also stressed that if Holden had selected Insignia it wouldn't simply be placing a Commodore badge on it. Insignia is being developed on the latest E2XX GM mid-size architecture as well a variety of other cars such including the new Chevrolet Malibu and next Buick Regal.

Therefore a Commodore derivative based on E2XX would have its own identity too.

"We give Holden the flexibility, we are not telling them keep it [an Opel model] like it is and put a badge on it," Neumann said of Holden models developed from Opels.

"We are supporting them and working with them.

"And we did this with past launches in Australia to make this a car which becomes a Holden car and I think this is really important and I think it is important for Opel too that we are allowed to use group technologies."

The current generation Astra GTC and VXR have joined the Holden line-up this year, as has the current Insignia VXR and the Cascada convertible.

Holden has previously sold Opels under its own badge including the Astra, Vectra (which was also locally built), Corsa (Barina) and the Zafira people-mover.

Opel also had a brief and unsuccessful foray selling its cars under its own badge in Australia in 2012-13.

Neumann said he expected a better reception for Opel models badged as Holdens than they experienced under their original title.

"As you know some parts of the Holden portfolio will be based on Opel product," he said. "It will be retargeted for the Australian market. There will be engineering work done on them to fulfil specific expectations the Australian customers have and speaks to the Holden brand.

"So we will fine-tune the drive and feel of the cars, obviously also all the feature selection of the cars.

"But we do think specifically with the Insignia and the Astra we have product [that] is very nicely fitted to the Australian market and that is why we are pursuing this direction."