THE 2010 HOLDEN COMMODORE, along with the 2010 Statesman and Caprice, has been awarded a 5-Star crash safety rating with the Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP).

The Commodore achieved its first 5-Star ANCAP rating with the 2009 update to the VE range, which included a front passenger seat belt reminder and an energy-dispersing shroud [...]

• 
• Comment
• Read More

HOLDEN HAS TODAY REVEALED its first major mechanical update for the VE Commodore and WM Statesman range at a press conference this morning at its Port Melbourne engine assembly plant.

The current 3.6 litre V6 engine has been succeeded by two new engines: one a 3.0 litre direct-injected V6 and the other a 3.6 litre V6, [...]

• 
• Comment
• Read More

BARELY A WEEK ago, GM’s new product chief Bob Lutz was telling the world that the Pontiac G8 would be born again as a Chevrolet Caprice. Now, it appears that’s not the case.

Lutz has announced on his Fastlane Blog that the “G8 will not be a Caprice after all”, and that the idea of bringing [...]

• 
• Comment
• Read More

ADDING TO SPECULATION already sparked by GM’s new ‘creative’ products chief Bob Lutz, a source within General Motors told Automotive News that plans are afoot to bring the discontinued Pontiac G8 back to American showrooms - but as a high-priced, low-volume flagship sedan badged as a Chevrolet Caprice.

The insider also said that GM intends to [...]

• 
• Comment
• Read More

NEWS SURFACED YESTERDAY that Bob Lutz, now with a new product role in the ‘New GM’, had reportedly confirmed continuation of Holden’s G8 export program to the US - but with the Commodore badged as a Chevrolet.

However, while Lutz was reportedly keen to spill the beans, Holden’s official response is a little more guarded.
“There’s [...]

• 
• Comment
• Read More

THE VE COMMODORE will continue to be exported to the US despite reports of its impending demise, according to former General Motors Vice President of Global Product Development, Bob Lutz.

(After announcing his retirement in February this year, Lutz is to return to the ‘New GM’ as a product Czar - a role described in [...]

• 
• Comment
• Read More

General Motors has announced that it will pull the pin on the next generation of large rear-wheel-drive cars for the North American market. The current Pontiac G8 and Chevrolet Camaro will be the only cars to utilize the Zeta rear-wheel-drive architecture developed in Australia and used beneath the Commodore.

Global product development vice-chairman Bob Lutz delivered [...]

• 
• Comment
• Read More

The number of consumers looking to convert Holden Commodores to run on LPG Autogas has been growing rapidly in recent times as the cost of petrol makes the conversion an appealing proposition.

Australia’s leading LPG equipment suppliers are reporting stronger sales of retrofit Autogas engine kits as consumers look to free themselves from the volatility of [...]

• 
• Comment
• Read More

Revisions introduced on the ‘09 model have seen Holden’s family hauler, the Omega sedan, awarded a maximum five-star ANCAP rating. This is good news for the masses as the Omega is Holden’s highest selling locally-produced model.

In addition to standard front, side impact, and curtain airbags, the VE now receives an energy-dispersing shroud around the steering column to [...]

• 
• Comment
• Read More

It was bound to happen sooner or later and here it is: the first conversion kits for the Pontiac G8 and G8 GT that replace the US models’ front end bodywork and badges with that of our SS Commodore or HSV Clubsport.

JHP Vehicle Enhancements in Australia is responsible for the kit and is providing G8 [...]

• 
• Comment
• Read More