It’s an old saying, but an applicable one: don’t knock it until you try it. That’s Holden’s message to loyalists ahead of the 2018 ZB Commodore’s launch this month.
Motoring reported on Tuesday that Holden chairman and managing director, Mark Bernhard, urged longtime fans to get behind the wheel of the imported Commodore before crying foul over the nameplate’s transition to a front-wheel drive, four-cylinder and V6-powered car.
“The car drives much better than any other vehicle in the competitive set,” he said.
Holden said the Commodore’s “competitive set” includes the Mazda 6, Volkswagen Arteon and even the Kia Stinger. Berhnard also added the car drives so well thanks to extensive Australian development and chassis tuning by the same team that’s worked with locally-built Holden cars for years.
“Is it a true Commodore? Absolutely. We wouldn’t call it that if we didn’t think it could live up to the nameplate,” Bernhard proclaimed.
Although Holden has high hopes for the ZB Commodore, the brand also realizes the nameplate’s glory days are far behind it. The brand predicts lower sales than the retired and locally-built VF Commodore. The VF Series II Commodore sold 23,676 examples in its final year on sale.
Comments
For over 60 years Australians loyally supported the Holden name,our very own car there was a sense of pride when you drove a Holden. But the the real truth behind Australia’s own Is no matter what letter you put after the GM. It Is an American company controlled by Americans. Some of the best designs penned In Australia never saw the light of day,yep those decision’s were made In Detroit. There are many stories over Holden’s history that show the complete control Detroit had on the every day running of Australia’s own. An American friend said to me once oh so you build cars In Australia to which I replied where do you think your Pontiac GTO G8 and Chev SS come from Finally It seemed Detroit had acknowledged the Holden name. Sadly recent turn of events, not just the closure of manufacturing GM have thumbed their nose at the at this once great Aussie Institution. So I like many Australians will find It too hard to embrace a German car and call It of all things a Holden so In closing thanks for the return In loyalty GM.
Had the Pontiac G8 sold better globally, it might have been a different story for the Holden plant. Perhaps If the G8 was built on the Alpha platform and had the capability of AWD it might have sold better. Now, whether that is the fault of Australia or Detroit is up for debate.