2018 Holden Commodore Preview Drive | Is This A Case Of Right Product, Wrong Name For Holden’s New Family Car?
Holden has been Australia's large car king for almost 70 years, riding a wave of success that started with the first 48-215 sedan in 1948 and, apart from a few jibes from the Ford Falcon over the years, has enjoyed unmatched success with models like the Kingswood and Commodore.
This year marks a massive change for the brand however, with ‘Australia’s own’ car company switching to a full-importer status as the last Aussie-made Commodore prepares to roll down the line in a few weeks time, meaning the next generation car will be sourced from another of General Motors’ portfolio of brands, just like the rest of Holden’s range.
Despite the sweeping changes, Holden is determined to keep the Commodore nameplate alive, and knows that this is a car it cannot get wrong - even though large car sales volumes are set to continue sliding and SUV’s (like the coming Equinox and Acadia) are set to take over as the volume sellers.
With so much riding on the Commodore badge, Holden is understandably keen to prove that the new ZB Commodore - a version of the Opel Insignia - is the right fit for Aussie buyers, inviting Australian media along for a preview drive of a selection of pre-production validation vehicles to highlight the all-important Australian engineering work that’s set to become a crucial selling point for the new model.
Vehicle Style: large hatch and wagon
Price: TBA
Engine/trans: 191kW/350Nm 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo petrol, 230kW/370Nm 3.6-litre 6cyl petrol
Fuel Economy Claimed: TBA
OVERVIEW
There’s no escaping the fact that this new Commodore will be unlike any other before it, with traditional Commodore selling points like rear wheel drive, V8 engines, a ute version and even a traditional sedan all meeting their maker.
Instead the new Commodore will come with a choice of front or all-wheel drive, powered by a choice of turbocharged four cylinder petrol or diesel engines or a flagship petrol V6. The wagon will remain but the sedan will morph into a five door hatch, reflecting the Commodore’s Euro-centric Opel origins.