Holden and Opel are readying the next generation of Commodore as a 2018 model after the VF generation ceases production in 2017. Word from Stefan Jacoby, General Motors International head, is the vehicle has already begun testing in Oz.
“We are driving this car already in Lang Lang,” Jacoby told Australia’s Drive in Detroit at the 2015 North American International Auto Show.
The vehicle has been under development by both Holden and Opel and just recently was brought to Australia to begin testing on the Lang Lang proving ground just outside of Melbourne.
Jacoby confirmed the next generation Commodore will be remain a four-door sedan, but indicated it will make the switch to front-wheel drive. The styling is expected to reflect the Opel Monza concept, also expected to reflect a new generation Opel Insignia. Though, the Buick Avenir may give us more clues to upcoming Holden design language as Buick and Opel become further engaged through design.
“I’m coming from a front-wheel-drive group, the VW-Audi Group [Jacoby was previously CEO of VW America], with this company we don’t believe there is a true disadvantage between a front-wheel-drive Audi, at the time, towards a rear-wheel-drive BMW,” Jacoby explained. “You know that BMW is changing its entire C-segment vehicles to front-wheel drive?”
Despite ditching the historic rear-wheel drive V8 configuration, Jacoby is confident the newest iteration will live up to the Commodore nameplate.
“We understand what Commodore is and we understand that better than anybody else and it is very obvious that the Commodore successor needs to be stronger than today’s model – and we will do everything to do that, with modern technology,” he said.
“With today’s technology, especially with downsizing, we can over perform a traditional six- or eight-cylinder.”
There are rumors to point to a new Opel Insignia including a gas-electric hybrid powertrain. Jacoby elaborated on this saying, “We have to ensure with this modern technology, better fuel economy, better CO2, better weight ratio than today’s model, we can achieve the better performance.”
Stay tuned as we await further news on the new Commodore.
Comments
Hint: Aveair will never reach production if Insignia is the new Commodore.
So, does this mean Regal will be replacing Park Ave in China? Possibly they plan to reskin XTS for that slot? Maybe they will cede that market segments to Caddy in total?
Hint the Avenir will reach production but it may just not be a Commodore in Australia.
The XTS is going away as the platform it is on will go away and the Lacrosse and later the Impala will be on the new platform.
Buick will still remain Viable in China and if anything add a new model or two there.
The only real question is what will Holden get. bases on the info here it appears the Regal replacement may take the Commodores place as a FWD I hate to say, But the Avenir based Holden still could be coming under a different name as the top car in the line with a new name.
Still too many unanswered question to know.
Jacoby has no clue, every Commodore owner says they will not buy a FWD commodore. the nameplate stands for RWD family sedan than rivals cars costing double the price. a VF Calais-V is $46k here and has more features than a Merc E250 which is $96k, for that money you can get the HSV Gen-F GTS which goes up against the $270k E63 AMG. I doubt the next one will live up to its expectations and HSV are RWD specialist (they did produce 3 AWD models, one limited edition HSV only and 2 Holden AWD derived models. Their passion though is RWD).
@holdenisaustralian. I find it a bit laughable how badly the US is underestimating the sales impact of a fwd “Commodore”, I mean they surveyed 110 people to find out the majority of us want to keep the name apparently. Well GM I’m a member of a large national Holden car club where I would say 99% of us buy a new Holden every 2 years minimum. Now we had an online member survey this week with roughly 1700 members completing the survey (duplicate responses aren’t possible due to unique log in and isp recog). 87% said they would drop the Commodore name for the import, 73% said that GM should drop the Holden name completely once local manufacturing ends and a whopping 94% said they would never buy a fwd imported Commodore. GM management have failed to understand (made obvious with the new let’s go there ad campaign) that once they stop making Commodore here the majority of ex loyal Holden buyers will look at the import the same way we now look at a Toyota Camry, bland, unassuming, we don’t want front wheel drive and most importantly the car will be seen as the enemy that killed OUR car.
I find the down votes regarding my previous post a bit sad. I am only voicing the opinion of Holden consumers who replied to a poll. It’s not personal and I have many American friends from my time in Iraq and Afghanistan that I respect and value their friendship a great deal. At the end of the day Holden won’t be selling what we want to buy in a fwd sedan so we won’t buy it. Why anyone would down vote that except for gm corporate is beyond me. Retail 101 is make sure your selling what the consumer wants, not hate them for not wanting your new product.
David,
As a HT and E3 man myself ( you’ll know what that means) I think your Post above was bang on target.
You said what I already knew. The Australian/American cultural connection is really tight but I really believe GM have totally misread and under-estimated the backlash that they are about to face.
Most people I know take it as an insult that GM intend to whack a Commodore bagde on an FWD Import. Trying to pass it off as a Holden is even worse.
Imported ‘Holdens’ only have credibility due to the locally produced Commmodore. Once the Commodore ( and local production ) is gone, the essence of the Brand will be gone also.
To quote a previous stupid Advert I cam honestly say ” I’ll always drive a Holden ( E3 & HT are keepers) and I’ll keep buying new cars” ( just not a GM FWD)
@holdenisaustralien writes: “every Commodore owner says they will not buy a FWD commodore. the nameplate stands for RWD family sedan”
Well, when Ford and GM have closed their factories, there is no more automobile production in Australia.
What will those “every Commodore owner” then buy as a new car, when only the “rivals cars costing double the price” are available?
When RWD is a must, then you will opt for the new Renault Twingo, right? The new Twingo has even the engine in the rear.
““I’m coming from a front-wheel-drive group, the VW-Audi Group [Jacoby was previously CEO of VW America], with this company we don’t believe there is a true disadvantage between a front-wheel-drive Audi, at the time, towards a rear-wheel-drive BMW,” Jacoby explained. “You know that BMW is changing its entire C-segment vehicles to front-wheel drive?””
Because normies don’t know (or care), and their C-segment vehicles are the ONLY FWD cars BMW plans on building; the rest of the range (3er, 5er, etc.) will remain RWD.
As for differences between FWD and RWD, there are several: dynamics, styling (dictated by powertrain placement), etc. Guy is talking out of his arse.