The 2018 Holden Commodore will share a platform with the next-generation Opel Insignia. It’s a pretty safe bet to take. The long-standing nameplate will move from rear-wheel drive to front-wheel drive, and most likely offer all-wheel drive for a performance variant.
That’s something we’ve been fairly concrete on for some time. But Motoring dives a little deeper into where the Holden Malibu and current Holden Insignia will stand once the 2018 Holden Commodore does show face.
If the 2018 Commodore does share a platform with a new Opel Insignia, which will be the E2XX platform as seen on the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu, the Holden Malibu would be rendered redundant. Holden is investing large sums into the Insignia name currently through the introduction of the performance VXR variant. The Insignia would move to become Holden’s bread-and-butter, and the Commodore would sit atop the lineup. Think Chevrolet Malibu and Chevrolet Impala positioning.
Of course, everything here is still pure speculation, but is the most plausible scenario regarding the Commodore nameplate. Holden has yet to confirm the next Commodore is actually coming from Opel, but we expect to hear more on it once the 2016 VF Commodore Series II is released sometime this fall.
What we do know is the next Holden Commodore is already testing in Australia, and has been for some time. There may be a coupe variant on the way too, as Opel has trademarked the Monza name in the country merely weeks ago. Finally, to appease the RWD V8 crowd, a new sport car will be introduced to fill the shoes of the current beloved rear-wheel Commodore.
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You may laugh at this suggestion but here it is. Let the Australians use the new Camaro platform to create a Commodore sedan and El Camino type ute and you might get many benefits, even if it is not built in Australia.
Holden fans will be happier but in the USA the El Camino could provide a less thirsty and more EPA appealing vehicle for recreational truck enthusiasts. Remember the 2025 CAFE requirements need a less thirsty truck equivalent that has appeal.
This is what Bob Lutz proposed. It was shot down by the Presidential Auto Task Force.
The problem today is Cadillac is protective of Alpha and doesn’t want Holden-Opel-Vauxhall cannibalizing ATS-CTS sales. Camaro is the exception as there is no other way to build it without Alpha.
The problem with El Camino is that the Obama EPA questioned classifying a the G8 ST as a pickup truck for CAFE. It is questionable if the Obama EPA would deem an Alpha-based El Camino as a pickup, and could instead classify it as a 2-seat passenger car.
Elections have consequences. Had Romney won, Commodore probably would have stayed RWD, and we probably would at least have an El Camino on track today.
That would be cool, but GM no longer throws money out the door. Retrofitting the Alpha platform would cost a pretty penny to gain maybe 5000 additional units in Australia. If they could get that number to 100k units by selling to world markets, it might be feasible. The Ute really never sold that well Australia.
As for the Commodore, there’s no reason they could use the CTS as a platform mate. But with GM, you don’t know what they are thinking. They might be planning to take Cadillac down there, in that case, a CTS or a CT5 based Commodore would be redundant.
GM would have sold twice as many Utes (El Camino) as they have SS in the USA.
Sadly true…never mind the ho hum “oh another Malibu styling they cursed the SS with. Even I can’t tell a SS apart within a glance when I see one on the street (which has been almost never). I keep mistaking Malibus for SS’s in my eagerness to spot one in the wild.
Probably would’ve sold more utes than Malibus even! There is a company over there that has been importing utes and converting them to LHD for some time (forgotten their name and location), but you’d also be up for a pretty penny since they only import SS’s and HSV Maloos. Then if you get a manual model, you’ll want to spend a bit extra in getting a GM Motorsport (no, not GM’s Motorsport division, but an Australian racing team owned by Phonsy Mullan, a former V8 Supercar driver and current V8 Jetboat racer and friend of an old boss of mine at SGA Engineering) RipShift so you can have a lighter, more accurate shift compared to the bushed setup Holden uses for the T56 manual.
The next Commodore will be determined by what Buick Chinese needs!
Let’s not forget that the Buick Park Avenue (Commodore based) is a big seller for Buick China and due for replacement. I don’t see Buick quitting the segment or giving up a flagship.
Commodore will either be LaCrosse based or Aveair. This is why port holes have been added to this year’s Commodore.
You might be right!
Let’s cut the nonsense, Australian consumers have lost faith with Holden. No Commodore no Holden. A recent national survey identified consumers are no longer interested in the General (together with Ford) – take a look for yourself
http://www.carsguide.com.au/car-news/buyers-arent-considering-ford-or-holden-survey-33387#.VY39j3DCarU
Despite attempts to gain No 1 sales leadership, GMH time in the sun is over! Poor market product and poor understanding of the Australian marketplace – SUVs are the future here! Captiva are you for real?
Like all surveys, the answer you want will dictate “where” you ask the question.
Yesterday’s report on the insignia was not a good start for a new model, too small, too heavy, too slow and very thirsty.
That and anyone in a remote area will not buy an insignia, yes it has an inflation kit but what use is that if you structurally damage a rim or completely remove the tire from the rim on our rough roads? I sometimes wonder If GM America give any serious thought to our requirements.
The wise and humble will want to keep an eye on the Omega platform. Good things are to come from there.
As for the UTE I am sad to say it is gone. We lost ours and you have lost yours. I was a past owner and wished we had it back but understand the smaller truck sales prevent the numbers being sold that would make it worth the investment.
A Ute here would sell like crazy for 2 years and then it would die off to very few once those what it get theirs. The low volume would drive the price to where the truck is a better value.
Joe,G, The commodore Ute is a big seller here in OZ, always has been. The Ute retains it’s value where is the commodore sedan depreciates very quickly. Commodore SS Utes kept in good nick will fetch good dollars once local production of the Commodore stops.
The next Gen Commodore is already under going testing in Australia, it is an Opel Insignia but unlike any insignia you have seen, it being much larger than the current Insignia. It will feature 4cyl and V6 unfortunately it will be front wheel drive.
Many of us who currently buy the Commodore for the V8 and rear wheel drive, and the V8’s do sell well here accounting for 30% sales of commodore and ute. come 2018, we will shift allegiance to Chrysler Australia and buy the 300C as it’s rear wheel drive and V8 option. Since at present there looks to be no performance V8 Commodore in the future from Holden/GM and no camaro, those of us who want a performance car will buy the Mustang and the Dodge Challenger when it goes on sale here.
GM/Holden are going to loose a lot of customers.
Let’s be honest, GM-USA don’t have any regard for us here in Australia. They will close down the Holden plant and within 2 years or less the name Commodore will be non existent. Despite the fact that the majority of Australians have grown up with and prefer to own rear wheel drive cars, they will be a thing of the past, the majority of GM cars fed into Australia will be front wheel drive and probably 4 cylinders at that. Chrysler should recognise a golden marketing opportunity to fill the gap created by GM.