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Holden Commodore


Troutman
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The earliest examples of the new "VE" Holden Commodore are appearing on roads around the country. Engines are carried over from its predecessor the "VZ" (all-new motors came in 2004), which is the so-called "Alloytec" 3.6 litre V6 for most models. This motor is built in Melbourne and exported in various forms for such companies as Alfa Romeo.

 

All previous Commodores have been based on Germany's Opel Omega (including the Monaro aka Pontiac GTO), but as this model is now discontinued, Holden went ahead with an all-Australian design. Cost was 1-1.2 billion dollars.

 

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The fleet-oriented base model is called Omega and is the first Australian car with stability control on all models. There is a more luxurious Berlina (below) and Calais, with sports-sedan variants including the top-line SS-V (above). This is powered by a 270 kW 6.0 Gen IV V8, which incidentally is also an option on the lowly Berlina. The V8s have a new six speed automatic, or six speed manual.

 

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Unusually, the long wheelbase luxury models (Statesman and Caprice) have been released at the same time as the regular models. Wagon and utility versions will come, and a new Monaro is a possibility also. Four out of 5 long-wheelbase models are exported to markets such as the Middle East, giving Holden the budget to give Statesman/Caprice an almost completely unique body, with only the front doors common to Commodore.

 

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The main criticism of the line-up is its emphasis on performance rather than fuel consumption, at a time when Australia's once dominant large-car segment is dwindling and fuel prices have driven the Corolla to strip the Commodore of its best-seller status. Holden (and Ford Australia) are working on diesel motors amongst other measures in response, though reports are that the next generation Commodore may not be a full-size car at all.

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Update:

 

"AUSTRALIA'S biggest-selling car, the Holden Commodore, will be exported to the US, it has been unofficially confirmed at the Detroit motor show."

 

"The Commodore SS, a V8- powered sports sedan, will be sold as a Pontiac from late this year or early next year."

 

"We are seriously planning to import a lot of Commodore SS sedans as Pontiac G8s," Mr [bob] Lutz said, adding that Holden could export up to 50,000 Commodores a year if the model was priced correctly."

 

http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2007/01/08/1168104921065.html

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To clarify MTS' point, the stylist of the Monaro indeed distanced himself from the tarted up Pontiac version with tacked-on vents and smaller (17 vs 18") wheels.

 

Monaro:

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GTO:

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Hopefully they don't butcher the new Commodore quite so much - either way it will be much the same mechanically - ie similar to Corvette.

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